Purchase Link - https://books2read.com/christmas-at-snowflake-lodge
Excerpt
Wresting with her
emotions over taking a short term contract at Snowflake Lodge, Jessica decides
to take her young assistant, Kirsten, along for the ride.
Kirsten
was sobbing into a tissue and Jessica felt like Scrooge all over again. ‘It’s
only for a few weeks,’ she said, patting Kirsten on the arm, then handing her
another tissue as she paused sobbing just long enough to blow her nose.
‘Things
were going so well,’ Kirsten sniffed. ‘Am I not doing a good enough job? I can
work harder, you know. Show up earlier—’
‘It’s
not you, it’s me,’ Jessica said, aware that she was becoming a living
caricature of a comic strip character. ‘Things have got on top of me of late. I
need some time away. It’s only a short-term contract. And I know several
excellent plumbers who’d be happy to finish off your training.’
‘I
want to stay with you,’ Kirsten blurted, in a rare show of emotion which left
Jessica stunned. Usually quiet as the proverbial mouse, it seemed that in her
grief Kirsten was belatedly coming alive. ‘It wouldn’t be the same with someone
else. And it’s not just that … I was hoping that when my training was finished
… you’d take me on. As an assistant.’
Jessica
sighed. From one person who couldn’t wait to see the back of her, to another
developing an obsession. ‘Kirsten….’
‘I
thought we worked so well together. I know it was only supposed to be for a few
months, but I thought maybe if I tried really hard, if I studied everything you
said….’
Kirsten
trailed off, wiping her eyes with a tissue. Jessica stared at her. The truth
was that she had planned to take Kirsten on not just as an assistant but a full
partner, maybe even when she returned from Snowflake Lodge—don’t say “if”; it’s not come to that yet, has it?—but one reason
she wanted to get away was to escape all the drama that was blocking up her
forward progress like a knot of toilet tissue in an old u-bend. And you’re going to check up on your former
TV star grandfather who also happens to be wanted by the police on suspicion of
murder. Escape from drama? Not a chance.
‘Kirsten….’
‘Don’t
say it. Just don’t. It’s fine. I’m sorry.’
‘Kirsten
… this is a work contract, so you know, maybe they’ll let me bring an
assistant….’ The words had laid themselves down in a line before she had even
really thought about it. She just wanted someone to smile for a change, not cry,
not throw things at her, not offer her a fight, and not vomit all over her
living room wall.
‘Are
you sure?’
‘I
mean, I can’t promise anything. I’d have to ask.’
‘Oh,
Ms Lemond. I don’t know what to say.’
Aware
people at other tables had begun to stare at them, Jessica wanted to say something
more appropriate, but her life felt set in motion like a train on a downward
slope without any brakes. ‘Just say yes….’
‘Yes!’
Kirsten wailed, then leaped across the table and pulled Jessica into a hug.
Around them, people at other tables stood up and began to clap.
Author
Bio – CP Ward is
an author from the UK who currently lives and works in Japan. For more
information, please visit http://www.amillionmilesfromanywhere.net/cp-ward.html
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