A Slippery Slope (10 page)

‘Running away? She hardly moved all the time she was here,’ Verity
said.

‘I know. I think that may have something to do with her being hit
on the head though. Perhaps she’s lost her memory or something. It happens in
humans, so I suppose it can happen in dogs. She was always running away
apparently and they think she used to run into the mountains to look for Claude.
It was understandably very distressing for them.’

‘I’m sure,’ Verity said. ‘You ... said they had no use for
Mistral. And ... that she’d forgotten her job description. What does that mean?
Don’t they want her? Did ... did they dump her?’

‘No.’ Josh shook his head. ‘They wouldn’t do that. Claude loved
Mistral – her name is Sabine by the way, but I’m still calling her Mistral.
Anyway, they wouldn’t abandon her. They were trying to find her a new home but
they weren’t having much success. After Claude’s death, she kept burying things
as well as running off, and when a couple of other handlers tested her, she was
hopeless. It’s as if she’s lost her sense of smell. And this was before her
accident, remember. A good sense of smell is at the top of the list of
requirements for an avalanche dog. Especially an air-scenting trained dog such
as Mistral.’

‘So what will happen to her? Have you returned her to the family
already? I would have liked to see her again. I’ve grown very fond of her. In
fact ...’ Verity looked Josh directly in the eye.

‘No, Verity. She is not coming back here with you,’ Josh said.

‘But they don’t want her and we can’t just leave her,’ Lucy
pleaded.

‘We ... we could arrange for her–’ Verity began.

Josh cut her off. ‘She has a new home, so don’t worry about her.
She’ll be fine. Although I’m not sure I can say the same for her new owner.’

‘So the family found someone? That’s good news,’ Verity said.

‘Do you know who her new owner is?’ Lucy asked, clearly still a
little worried.

Josh ran his hand through his hair and sighed. ‘I am.’

‘But ... but ... you don’t even like her!’ Verity said,
astonished.

‘Apparently I do. I offered to take her and they agreed. She’s at
home, curled up in front of my fire as we speak. And no doubt, stinking the
place out. Something else that seems to have happened to her after Claude’s
demise. Wind, apparently, wasn’t a major problem before. It may have something
to do with her change in diet and they’ve told me what she should be fed. I’m
hoping that will help.’

He shook his head and drank his coffee. He still couldn’t believe
that he was now the proud owner of a very smelly, ex-avalanche dog.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Verity
was amazed that Josh had adopted Mistral but she thought it said a great deal
about his true character. She’d also thought a lot about her own behaviour
towards him and she realised that not many bosses would have tolerated it.

She knew of course, that it would have been an absolute nightmare
for him if she and Lucy had walked out – especially during Christmas week. His
reputation in the ski holiday business would be severely damaged if his guests
were left to fend for themselves. Not that he would have let that happen. She
was sure he would have managed to sort something out. His business was very important
to him and that was completely understandable. It should be.

And that made her behaviour seem even more appalling. He’d
actually been very reasonable … and very kind. She must find a way to thank
him.

‘I know we’ve bought Josh a little gift for under the tree,’ she
said to Lucy, after showing Josh out, ‘but I’d like to get him something extra.
Just a little ‘thank you’ gift.’

Lucy nodded. ‘I agree. I still can’t believe he’s adopted Mistral
but I’m so pleased. It means we get to see her again. I really liked having her
here even if it was against all the rules.’

Verity giggled. ‘Before he left, he asked me to remind him to add,
‘No dogs allowed’ to all his info packs. Just in case any future chalet girls
feel tempted to take in a stray!’

Lucy laughed. ‘What did you say?’

‘I told him he’d better include cats as well. He said it will now
forbid ‘all and any living thing, other than human’. So I told him about those
two guys we had here when he was away and how I wasn’t sure if some of the
guests would pass the ‘human’ test.’

‘Oh, Mum, honestly! You really do seem to like winding him up,
don’t you?’

‘Do I? I hadn’t noticed. Anyway, he just sighed, ran his hand
through his hair as he often does, and said he’d clearly have to rethink the
whole thing but that if I had any doubt at all in the meantime, perhaps I would
ask him first. He was smiling though, so I’m sure he was joking.’

‘He’s got quite a good sense of humour, hasn’t he? When he’s not
angry, that is. I don’t know why Jo said that he was a bit of a miserable git.
He doesn’t seem at all miserable to me. So, what do you think we should buy him
then, for Christmas? We’ve only got today to get it because it’s Christmas Eve
tomorrow and I think it’s going to get a bit hectic around here.’

***

Christmas Eve wasn’t exactly hectic but it was a very full day.

As usual, the guests went skiing after breakfast whilst Verity and
Lucy spent the morning baking. They made mince pies and festive-themed cupcakes
for afternoon tea and put the finishing touches to the Christmas cake they’d
iced the day before by adding handmade marzipan and icing, polar bears, a
little mountain, a tiny
Chalet Marianne
and some not-to-scale trees.

Verity was pleased they’d finished their Christmas shopping
yesterday because no sooner had they completed their chores and wrapped the
last of the presents than Etienne and Josh turned up to take them out to lunch.

Meribel was definitely getting into the Christmas spirit and
skiers and boarders alike were dressed as Santa or his elves or donned comical
reindeer hats or antlers. Carols were being sung; everyone exchanged Christmas
greetings, and locals, resident staff and tourists made merry all day long.

As darkness fell and ski slopes closed, crowds of spectators
watched the annual torchlight descent. Father Christmas arrived in his sleigh,
bringing screams of joy from delighted children and even from some adults,
including Verity and Lucy. The bars were packed from wall to wall and Verity
was actually relieved to return to the relative peace of
Chalet Marianne
.

Verity had decided that Christmas Eve should be extra special and,
because Lucy’s French was perfect, whereas Verity’s definitely was
not
–
she had arranged for some of the local children to come to the chalet and sing
a few carols. She also arranged for Etienne to dress as Santa and instead of
handing out the Christmas tree gifts before dinner that evening, Etienne handed
them out after tea, which they served later than usual.

Lucy was wearing an elf’s hat and was helping Etienne hand out the
presents, not just to the guests but to the children as well.

‘I can’t believe you’ve done this,’ Josh said, standing beside
Verity at the sitting room door.

‘You don’t mind do you? I know I should’ve asked yesterday but it
was all rather last minute and we didn’t know until this morning that the kids
would definitely come. I asked you as soon as I knew.’

He smiled down at her. ‘Don’t you mean ‘told me’? But I don’t mind
at all. In fact, I may include it in the info pack. The guests clearly love
it.’

‘Oh dear,’ she said. ‘I seem to be rewriting all your rules, don’t
I?’

His eyes met hers and she saw the look she hadn’t seen since the
day he’d kissed her.

‘More than you could possibly imagine, Verity.’

‘This is for you, Josh,’ Lucy said, handing him a small present.
‘But ... we have got you another gift, haven’t we, Mum? To say thank you. You
don’t get that until tomorrow though. We will see you tomorrow, won’t we?’

Josh looked surprised. ‘Er. Yes. Yes you’ll see me tomorrow. I’ve
got gifts for you, as it happens. But you shouldn’t have gone to the trouble of
getting me something. Thank you though. I really appreciate it.’

‘Don’t get too excited,’ Verity said. ‘We had absolutely no idea
what to buy, so we just got you something that we hope you’ll like – or at
least, will find amusing. We would’ve asked Etienne but we couldn’t reach him,
so we had to make do. And this one of course, we bought a while ago ... before
you went away, in fact.’

He opened his mouth to speak, closed it, clearly thought for a moment
and opened it again.

‘Thank you. I’m sure I’ll love it, whatever it is. Shall I open
this one now?’

 Verity and Lucy grinned at him.

‘This is just a jokey present, too, so don’t take it as anything
other than that,’ Verity said, ‘and remember, we got this
before
you
went away.’

Lucy gave her an odd look but her expression changed and she must
have realised that Verity meant it was before
that kiss
because she
nodded.

Josh opened the gift and his brows drew together before a huge
smile appeared on his lips.

‘Thank you,’ he said, chuckling. ‘I’ll treasure this. It’s a
lovely photo of the two of you.’

He shook the photo snow globe and little white grains of snow
fluttered down over a picture of Verity and Lucy standing arm in arm outside
Chalet
Marianne
.

‘You can throw it out when you get home,’ Verity said, grinning.
‘We just followed your rules in the info pack. All the gifts under the tree
have something about
Chalet Marianne
on them – including yours.’

‘I’ll do no such thing,’ he said. ‘This is taking pride of place
on my mantelpiece. If nothing else, it’ll remind me that I need to rewrite that
damn info pack!’

He laughed and Verity thought the sound was music to her ears.
More so than any of the carols she’d just been listening to.

‘And this one’s for Mistral,’ Lucy said. ‘Will you give it to her,
please?’

It was clearly a bone and Josh grinned. ‘Does this have a picture
of the chalet on it too?’

‘No,’ Lucy said, ‘but it did come from the joint of meat we cooked
for dinner on Sunday, if that counts.’

***

‘You look lovely, Mum!’

‘Please try to sound a little less surprised, darling. My ego
could do with a boost at the moment. I’m feeling really nervous about tonight.’

Lucy giggled. ‘I’m sorry. You always look lovely but tonight, you
look especially good. That dress is one of my favourites. Why are you nervous?
It’s only Etienne, Josh and some of their friends, after all. Or is it the
thought of karaoke that terrifies you? I must admit, I didn’t realise people
still liked karaoke but obviously they do. It was good of them to invite us to
the party though so I mustn’t complain.’

‘I’m not going to be singing so that doesn’t bother me. It’s …
Actually, I’m not sure what it is. I just feel ... strange.’

‘Perhaps it’s because we would normally be at the Annual Christmas
Eve Party at Dad’s restaurant tonight, and it feels strange to be here
instead.’

‘Perhaps,’ Verity replied. ‘I did think about it a couple of times
after Josh invited us to this one. I ... I wonder if your father’s still
holding it this year. I suppose he will, and Daniella–’

‘Let’s not think about that. I’m sorry I mentioned it. Let’s just
go and have fun. I think I heard Josh’s car pull up a few minutes ago. They’re
probably waiting in the kitchen.’

‘Actually, I think it may just be because I’m not used to going
out at almost eleven o’clock at night!’ Verity said as Lucy took her hand and
led her from the bedroom. ‘I’m usually on my way to bed.’

Etienne wolf-whistled and Josh smiled and ran his hand through his
hair when Verity and Lucy walked into the kitchen.

‘You look ... lovely!’ Josh said, staring at Verity. ‘You both
look lovely.’

‘Thank you,’ Verity said. ‘But I do wish everyone wouldn’t sound
so surprised about it.’ She saw the confused look on his face and giggled.
‘Lucy sounded astonished too.’

‘I’m not astonished,’ Josh said. ‘I’m not even surprised. You
always look lovely to me. ... I mean ... you always look very nice. So do you,
Lucy. I mean–’

‘Stop digging that hole, Josh, as Mum would say. We get what you
mean, don’t worry.’ Lucy grinned at him. ‘Let’s go and get very merry. It’s
nearly Christmas Day!’

***

The chalet where the party was being held was almost twice the
size of
Chalet Marianne
and, as Verity soon discovered, every room was
bulging at the seams with people intent on getting very merry indeed.

‘Louis hosts the best Christmas Eve party in Meribel,’ Josh said
as the four of them made their way to a comparatively quiet corner.

Apart from the karaoke, there were of couple of local bands
providing music to dance to – assuming you liked
Bon Jovi
style cover
groups or a mixture of Pop slash Soul – which Verity did. There was a huge
games room with a pool table; an outdoor, heated swimming pool and a hot tub;
several bars throughout the chalet including one outside, and enough food to
feed the whole of Meribel.

‘He must be very well off,’ Verity said, thankful that she had
worn her ‘little black number’ rather than the trousers and blouse she
originally intended. Some of the party guests were wearing designer creations
whilst others sported jeans and T-shirts but she felt she blended in and that
helped her to relax.

‘He is,’ Josh said.

‘Have you known him long?’ Verity asked.

Josh nodded. ‘About sixteen years in my case, but Etienne’s known
him all his life,’ he said with a grin.

‘Let’s dance,’ Etienne said, grabbing Lucy’s hand and finding a
space amongst the whirling masses.

Josh smiled at Verity. ‘Are you up for that?’ he asked, nodding in
Etienne and Lucy’s direction.

‘Not without several drinks inside me, I’m afraid. But don’t let
me stop you.’

‘I’m fine standing here,’ he said. ‘Er ... would you like ... a
toffee vodka, wasn’t it?’

Verity tutted. ‘Not unless you want me dancing on the tables.’

His eyes narrowed for a split second. ‘Not particularly.’

‘You prefer women to behave with decorum then, do you?’

‘I prefer women not to lie to me and ...’ His voice trailed off
and he turned his attention towards the dancers.

‘You ... you think I’ve lied to you?’

‘No. I wasn’t referring to you. Sorry. Forget it. It’s in the
past.’

She studied his face as he appeared to watch the gyrating bodies,
his mouth in a tight hard line and his eyes fixed straight ahead. She thought
his mind was somewhere else entirely.

‘It clearly isn’t. Do you want to talk about it?’

He glanced at her briefly. ‘No, Verity. I don’t.’

‘Josh!’ A stunningly beautiful, dark-haired woman sashayed towards
him, her arms outstretched and her eyes alight with pleasure. ‘You came! And
Vérité, yes? Come and dance with me. I want to speak with you.’ She waved at
Verity in a seemingly friendly gesture, grabbed Josh’s arm and pulled him
towards the dance area.

‘No, Christelle,’ Josh said with a smile.

‘I want to dance, Joshua!’ Christelle pouted, clearly already very
merry. ‘Dance with me. It’s been so long.’

‘Don’t mind me,’ Verity said, smiling outwardly but inwardly
seething with irrational jealousy especially as the band were now performing a
ballad and that meant a ‘slow dance’ situation. ‘Go and dance with ... your
friend. I’ll be fine.’