Chapter 5
Chapter Five
As the SUV wound its way up the snow-covered road, the Parkes family estate came into view.
Camilla felt Jade's sharp intake of breath beside her and allowed herself a small smile.
The sprawling mountain lodge was indeed impressive, its wooden exterior blending with the surrounding landscape while still exuding an air of luxury and grandeur.
"Welcome home," she said, giving Jade's hand a gentle squeeze.
As they pulled up to the front entrance, Camilla could see several figures waiting under the heaters on the wide, covered porch. She took a deep breath, steeling herself for the introductions to come.
The driver opened the door, and Camilla stepped out first, offering her hand to help Jade. “Don’t worry about your luggage,” she whispered. “The staff will bring it in.” As they approached the porch, a tall, distinguished-looking man with salt-and-pepper hair stepped forward, his arms outstretched.
"Camilla, sweetheart!" he boomed, enveloping her in a warm hug. "It's so good to see you."
"Uncle Robert," Camilla said, returning the embrace. "It's wonderful to see you too." She stepped back and gestured to Jade. "I'd like you to meet my fiancée, Jade Thompson."
Uncle Robert's eyebrows rose slightly, but his smile remained warm as he turned to Jade. "Well, well. It's a pleasure to meet you, Jade. Welcome to the family."
Jade stepped forward, her smile bright and confident. "Thank you, Mr. Parkes. I've heard so much about you. Your chocolates are divine, by the way."
Robert chuckled. "Please, call me Robert. And I'm glad you enjoy them. We have plenty of them here." He put his arm around a dark-haired woman who joined him. “And this is my wife, Lara.”
Next to step forward was an elegant woman with perfectly coiffed blonde hair and impeccable makeup. "Camilla, dear," she said, air-kissing both of Camilla's cheeks. "You look fabulous as always."
"Thank you, Aunt Vivian," Camilla replied. "You're looking well yourself. Jade, this is my Aunt Vivian, founder of Vivian's Glow cosmetics."
Vivian's eyes swept over Jade, assessing. "Lovely to meet you, dear. I must say, your skin is absolutely radiant. I’d love to know all about your skincare routine."
Jade laughed. "Camilla actually gave me some of your products. They're wonderful."
“Excellent.” Vivian beamed. "I think you'll fit in just fine here."
Camilla felt Jade's hand, clasped in hers in between handshakes, growing slightly clammy, but the actress maintained her composure.
Lastly, Theresa emerged, looking impeccable as usual and flanked by her husband, Mark.
"Camilla, Jade," she said, plastering on one of her fabricated smiles. "So glad you could make it. I hope the flight was pleasant?"
"It was fine, thank you," Camilla replied coolly.
Theresa's eyes swept over Jade, sizing her up from head to toe. Her gaze lingered on Jade's outfit and perfectly styled hair. "Well, Jade," she said with a hint of amusement, "I must say, you're not quite what I expected when Camilla said she was engaged to a woman."
Jade raised an eyebrow but maintained her composure. "And what exactly were you expecting?"
"Oh, you know," Theresa waved her hand vaguely, "something a bit more... stereotypical, I suppose."
Camilla set her jaw. "I wasn't aware there was a dress code for being a lesbian.”
Theresa's smile tightened slightly. "No need to get defensive, cousie. It’s just a compliment to your... fiancée." She turned back to Jade. "So, tell me, how did you two meet? What do you do for a living, Jade?"
Before Jade could answer, Camilla stepped in. "I think we can save the interrogation for later, don't you? We've just arrived, and I'd like to show Jade around."
Theresa's eyes narrowed slightly, but she nodded. "Of course. We'll have plenty of time to chat over dinner. I'm looking forward to hearing all about your whirlwind romance."
As they entered the house, Camilla squeezed Jade's hand reassuringly. She could feel the tension in Jade's grip and knew they'd need a moment alone to regroup.
The great room boasted soaring ceilings with exposed wooden beams, a massive stone fireplace, and floor-to-ceiling windows that offered breathtaking views of the snow-capped mountains.
Leather sofas and armchairs were artfully arranged around the fireplace, creating cozy seating areas on the polished hardwood floors.
Rich, jewel-toned rugs added warmth and color to the space.
In one corner stood a grand piano, its glossy black surface reflecting the warm glow of the fireplace.
"This is the heart of the house," Camilla explained. "We spend most of our time here when we're not outdoors."
She led Jade through to the formal dining room, where a long, polished mahogany table dominated the space. "And this is where we have dinner. Though sometimes we prefer to eat more casually in the great room."
Camilla gave Jade a quick tour of the gourmet kitchen.
Stainless steel appliances gleamed, and the marble countertops were impeccably clean.
"You don't need to worry about coming in here," she said.
"If you want anything, you can simply ask one of the staff members.
They're always discreetly around to attend to our needs.
We have chefs, housekeepers, and even a private ski instructor.
Everything's taken care of, so all we have to do is relax and enjoy ourselves. "
Jade nodded, looking slightly overwhelmed by the grandeur and the concept of having staff at their beck and call. "This place is beautiful," she said.
Camilla smiled, leading her through the house. "My father, my uncle and my aunt bought it together when I was fifteen so it’s like a second home to me. There are seven bedrooms in the main house, plus an outbuilding with another two for the kids."
“Kids?” Jade asked.
“Yeah. They sleep in the outbuilding with a nanny so their parents get a break. Theresa and Mark have a seven-year-old daughter and a nine-year-old son. They’re probably outside playing, you’ll meet them later. Theresa is Aunt Vivian’s daughter, and Uncle Robert and Aunt Lara never had kids.”
As they made their way upstairs, Camilla marveled at the winter wonderland outside the large windows.
She always treasured the crisp mountain air, the blanket of snow covering everything in sight - it was like stepping into another world.
But for more than one reason, she was far from at ease this year.
She opened the door to their bedroom and ushered Jade inside, closing it behind them.
Apart from a fresh lick of paint, nothing had changed in the room she’d claimed as her own when she was a teenager.
The king-size bed dominated the space, its heavy wooden frame and plush linens promising comfort after long days on the slopes.
A cozy sitting area by the fireplace offered a perfect spot for quiet evenings, while the balcony beyond the French doors provided a private view of the mountains.
Once they were alone Jade's carefully maintained composure crumbled.
"Oh my god," she babbled, her words tumbling out in a rush as she covered her mouth with her hands.
"This place is amazing. But it's so much scarier than I thought it would be.
I mean, lying to their faces like that? Your uncle and aunt seem so nice, and here we are, just..
. And your cousin Theresa, the way she looked at us? I don't know if I can-"
"Jade," Camilla interrupted, placing her hands on Jade’s shoulders. "Take a deep breath. You're doing a great job, truly. But you need to lower your voice. These walls aren't as thick as you might think."
Jade nodded, visibly trying to calm herself.
"Listen to me," Camilla continued. "You don't need to worry. If anyone asks a tricky question, I'll step in. And I won't leave you alone for a moment, so you won't get into any uncomfortable situations. Okay?"
Jade took another deep breath, then nodded. "Okay. You're right. I can do this."
"Good. As we discussed on the flight, Theresa is the one to watch out for, so be prepared."
“What about Robert and Lara?” Jade asked.
"They're good people. Uncle Robert is a lovely man.
He's always been supportive and genuinely cares about the family.
In a way, he's been more of a father figure to me than my own dad sometimes.
Aunt Lara is a sweetheart too, she's got a good heart.
They've had their struggles, never being able to have children of their own, but they've always been there for the rest of us, and I spent some time with them after my father… "
Jade's eyes widened as realization dawned on her. She covered her mouth with her hand, her breath hitching. "Oh, Camilla," she said softly, "I'm so sorry. Here I am worrying about myself while it’s your first Christmas without your father. That must be so hard for you."
Camilla felt a lump form in her throat at Jade's words.
She hadn't expected this sudden show of empathy, and it caught her off guard.
For a moment, she struggled to maintain her composure, the facade of strength she'd been holding onto since her father's passing threatening to crumble.
"It's... it's okay," she managed. "I'm just trying to focus on getting through this week.
On making sure everything goes according to plan.
" She paused, taking a deep breath to steady herself.
"Anyway, now you know a bit more about who we're dealing with.
Just remember, you're doing great. Now, why don't we unpack and then rest a bit?
We're expected to join everyone for an early dinner at five. "