Page 92 of A Merry Little Christmas

Bernice blinked nervously. ‘Just let one of the team know if you’d like to reserve a room later.’

Merry laid a hand on Nell’s arm. ‘We’re going to have a lovely day, OK? We’re going to relax and stuff our faces with cake and – oof …’ Her face contorted with pain and her fingers tightened around Nell’s arm.

‘You’ve gone into labour, haven’t you?’ she murmured. ‘Trust you to wait until Cole drove off.’

‘No!’ Merry insisted firmly. ‘They are Braxton Hicks. I just need a sit-down and a cuppa. Honestly!’ she added, looking at Bernice, who seemed to have lost her serene smile all of a sudden.

‘In that case, I recommend the cinnamon buns from our café,’ said Bernice, clearly not entirely comfortable with the way Merry was leaning on her desk for support. ‘But save room for your lunch at one o’clock. Any questions?’

‘Is there a code for the Wi-Fi, for my friend?’ Merry asked.

Nell stopped waving her phone around in search of an extra bar of signal to listen.

Bernice shook her head. ‘We actively encourage you to switch off your phones while you’re here. It allows you to be more present and it’s more relaxing for our other guests without the sound of phones ringing. Leave the busy world behind for a few hours, it’ll still be there when you go home, I promise.’

‘I don’t want to leave the world behind.’ No Wi-Fi? Nell stared at her in dismay. What if Olek was trying to get hold of her? Or Max? And she still hadn’t been able to let Irena know how many there would be for dinner tomorrow. Although if Olek didn’t show up, there was no way she was going to his family home without him. Even if that meant staying at home on her own, at Christmas … She couldn’t even turn up at her parents’ house last minute, they had already left for their cruise. She could cry; this had the makings of the worst Christmas of her entire life.

‘I do,’ said Merry, with feeling. ‘For a few hours, I want to be the old me. The one that people look in the eye instead of in the stomach, swiftly followed by a raft of personal questions, starting with “boy or girl?” and ending with “can I touch it?” No, love. No, you can’t.’

Nell noticed the tight set of Merry’s jaw. It looked like both of them needed to chill out today.

‘Great. Well, the Enchanted Spa will offer you the privacy you deserve.’ Bernice attempted a nervous smile.

‘But what about emergencies?’ Nell asked, still worried about her lack of signal.

Bernice looked over her shoulder and lowered her voice. ‘If you head up right to the top of the car park, near the smokers’ shelter, you might get a stronger reception.’

Nell looked outside. The snow was coming down heavily now, big fat flakes floating lazily onto the shrubs, lawn and statues in the landscaped garden in front of the building, and already her footsteps on the path were no longer visible. Cole drove a truck, Nell reminded herself; whatever happened, no matter how heavily it snowed, he would be able to get through. If Merry should go into labour, she would not be giving birth at the Enchanted Spa. Olek’s van would be able to get through the snow too, she thought. There was still time for him to come home. She bit back a sob.

Oh, darling, please come home, wherever you are, please come home.

‘I won’t be going out there,’ said Merry, ‘emergency or not.’

‘I’ll have to,’ Nell replied. ‘I’ll just have to hope it stops.’

‘Forecast says this is in for the day,’ said a man pushing a cart stacked high with fluffy towels.

‘Freya and Harley will be thrilled; they’ve both wished for a white Christmas,’ said Merry, her eyes sparkling.

‘I’m just wishing I’ll wake up with Olek beside me,’ Nell said morosely.

‘Of course.’ Merry chewed her lip. ‘We’ve got so much to catch up on.’

Nell gave her a brave smile. ‘We have.’

‘I’m sorry I haven’t been there for you.’ Merry touched her arm.

‘There’s no need to apologise,’ she countered. ‘I’ve been selfish, so wrapped up in my own problems that I neglected you when you needed a best friend.’

Bernice cleared her throat. ‘Follow me, ladies, and we’ll get your spa day started.’

She glided down the corridor ahead of them like a swan, thought Nell, taking Merry’s bag and gown from her. Merry waddled and huffed, and Nell … well, she dragged herself along with the weight of the world on her shoulders. She should book in for a massage too, see if someone could remove the knots of tension from along her spine.

Merry leaned closer to her. ‘Do you think if I had the baby here, they’d give me a free membership for life?’ she whispered.

‘I’d rather not find out, if it’s all the same to you,’ she replied.

‘I could wallow in the jacuzzi and have a water birth,’ Merry mused.