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“I’ll be waiting.” Corinna’s disapproval traveled across thousands of miles.
“Thanks. I’ll—” But Corinna had gone, and Beth was standing with a phone in her hand and a creeping sense that nothing she did was ever going to be good enough.
The cold air seeped through her clothing and she shivered and pushed her way back into the café.
She’d forgotten how pressured and unforgiving work could be.
Posy glanced at her. “Are you getting a divorce?”
Sisters could be so blunt. “It wasn’t Jason. It was my old boss Corinna, who I was hoping would also be my new boss.” Divorce? There was no way she and Jason would get divorced. It was a disagreement—that was all. All marriages had them. “And if you could keep your voice down, that would be great.”
“Corinna?” Posy frowned. “Corinna the evil—I’m not saying the word here because my customers
are sensitive, but the word I’m thinking of rhymes with witch.”
Beth hated to be reminded of Corinna’s bad side, especially so soon after a call when it had been very much in evidence. “I have to send some ideas through to her by 2:00 p.m. her time, which means I have until 7:00 p.m. to come up with a genius idea that will knock her stilettos off her feet. Will you be okay if I go back to the house and work?”
“I’ll manage.” Posy glanced up as the door opened and Suzanne hurried in. “Mom. Everything okay? How is Vicky?”
“Worse. I’ve called Dr. Burn and asked him to check on her. I’ll go back tomorrow.”
“I thought you’d be on your way to the Christmas Market by now.”
“I was, but I had an email from Hannah. She must have sent it last night, but I only check my emails once a day.”
Beth contemplated a universe where a person checked their email only once a day. “What did she say?”
“She’s arriving earlier than planned.”
Posy was balancing a tray of coffee. “How much earlier?”
“Today.”
“Everyone is coming home early,” Posy said. “There must be something in the water.”
Suzanne was frowning. “I confess your dad and I are worried. Why would she be coming home early? Beth, have you talked to her lately? Do you know if something is wrong?”
“Last time I talked to her she seemed fine. Busy. She canceled dinner.” Beth felt a flash of guilt because she’d snapped at her sister. It hadn’t occurred to her that everything in Hannah’s life might not be perfect.
Suzanne glanced at the clock. “Her flight arrives in an hour. I’m going to call and let them know I’ll be late at the market.”
“I’ll pick up Hannah.” Posy moved swiftly to one of the tables, delivered the order with a big smile and then ripped off her apron. “You go to the Christmas Market and Beth can hold the fort here.”
Beth shook her head. “I can’t! I don’t know how to work the coffee machine, and anyway I have to spend the afternoon working on some ideas for Corinna.” She needed to compensate for not being part of that call. She needed to show Corinna she was both loyal and committed.
“Duncan knows how to work the coffee machine, and you have two kids, so I’m guessing you know how to multitask. Serving cake and coffee to happy people will stimulate your creative juices.” Posy hung up her apron and grabbed her coat. “You go to the market, Mom.”
“But Hannah is expecting me.”
Posy smiled. “Then she’s going to be pleasantly surprised to see her baby sister.”
Oh God, Beth thought. How could she have possibly thought that coming home early might be relaxing? And how was she going to develop a knockout campaign while she was serving shortbread and gingerbread men?
13
Hannah
Hannah hovered in the doorway of arrivals.
