Baby It's Cold Outside (17 page)

‘Absolutely sure,' I said. I threw my arms round him.

‘This is amazing,' I said, kissing his face all over. ‘But what about all our stuff?'

‘Mum's skis are at the lodge and she says you're welcome to borrow them,' Jamie said. ‘And your boots and clothes are all here aren't they? I know mine are.'

But I shook my head.

‘They're in Edinburgh,' I said. I'd joined Harry and Louise on a skiing weekend in France at the start of the year to celebrate their fortieth birthdays and by the time I next visited home, the ski season was over. So though normally my skiing stuff stayed in Claddach so we could head off at any time, just when I needed them most, they were a hundred miles away.

‘I could get them,' I said to Jamie, looking up at him from under my eyelashes. ‘Can I get them? Please. We can't go if I don't have my stuff, and Tansy won't know…'

‘Oh go on then,' he said, kissing me on the nose. ‘I'll go downstairs and chat to her – just in case she spots any wayward sparks.'

As Jamie's footsteps disappeared down the stairs, I reached out with the witchy part of my brain and grabbed my ski boots in their soft carry-bag, and the rucksack full of my skiing kit from the top of our wardrobe in our small Edinburgh house. As both bags dropped onto the bed in a shower of sparks, I allowed myself a small smile. A night away with Jamie in the most romantic location, and using magic to make it happen? That, I thought, was definitely Esme one, Tansy nil.

Tuesday

Chapter 24

We were up at the crack of dawn the next morning – before anyone in the house stirred – and into the car while it was still dark.

Jamie drove – I hated his dad's enormous Land Rover but he quite enjoyed driving it. He said it was like taming a wild beast, even though it was so fancy and new it almost did everything for him. We pulled out of Mum's drive and instead of turning right to head back down the hill into Claddach, we went left. The road narrowed here – though it had been ploughed – and rose up into the mountains through a series of hair-raising switchbacks. It was absolutely beautiful watching dawn break over the loch far below us and the sun begin to light up the snow-covered roofs of the houses in Claddach, which nestled under the foothills.

‘How did Tansy react when you told her we were going?' I asked, once my hastily gulped coffee had kicked in and I was feeling more human.

‘She was a bit minty,' Jamie said. ‘I think she wanted to be invited along too.'

I turned to look out of the window, so he wouldn't see my smile.

‘She said I should be getting to know Parker,' Jamie carried on. ‘But your mum said I had the rest of my life to do that.'

The thought struck me that perhaps Tansy was viewing her trip to Scotland as some sort of test. Seeing how Jamie measured up against the wonderful Michael. If he didn't make the grade, it was entirely possible she could go back to Boston, marry Michael, let him adopt Parker and we'd never hear from her again.

Tansy one, Esme one, perhaps.

‘Maybe she's right,' I said. ‘Maybe we should turn back so you can spend some more time with your son.'

‘Too late now,' Jamie said, turning into the lane that led to the cottage. ‘And your mum was talking sense when she said we've got all the time in the world to get to know each other. Once we've sorted out regular contact visits it'll all be fine.'

Unless Tansy plumped for Michael to be daddy, I thought. I knew I had to tell Jamie the truth, because Tansy seemed in no hurry to spill the beans while she was busy playing her own version of happy families with my fiancé, But then we were pulling up outside the lodge and this wasn't the time or the place.

‘Today and tonight is all about me and you,' Jamie said, pulling up the handbrake and turning to me. ‘This isn't the wedding week we'd planned and there have been more than a few major hiccups along the way, but let's enjoy ourselves today and look forward to Saturday.'

He kissed me gently.

‘I love you, Esme McLeod, and I can't wait to marry you.'

I grinned at him.

‘Right back atcha, James Brodie,' I said. ‘Doesn't mean I won't whip your arse on those slopes though s enjoy ourselves today and look forward to Sat'

We took our bags into the lodge. It was small but absolutely beautiful – of course. All wooden, like a traditional alpine chalet, the front door opened into a living area with a tiled floor and a small boot and ski storage room off to one side. One end of the lounge was a kitchen with everything you'd need to cook a gourmet meal – though I think the most cooking that was ever done there was toast in the mornings – and the other had French windows opening out onto a tiny terrace with an amazing view of the slopes. The bedroom, with its en suite shower room, was next door and had the same view.

I dropped my bag on the floor and slid open the door. Jamie followed me out on to the terrace and we stood together, breathing in the cold air. It was too early for anyone to be on the slopes yet but the gondola lift that ran from just next to where we stood was beginning to operate.

Jamie pointed.

‘The gondola is running,' he said. ‘And a fair few of the slopes are open, apparently. So the drag lifts at the top will be working too.'

I clutched his arm in excitement.

‘This is it,' I said.

‘What's it?' Jamie asked.

‘A way for Dad to get here.'

I went back inside and picked up a map of the ski slopes that was lying on the small table, then I went back out onto the terrace and unfolded it, as Jamie watched, bemused.

‘Look,' I said, pointing at the slopes on the other side of the mountain. ‘This road is open and Dad can drive up to the lift here.'

There was another gondola that led up to more draglifts on that side. All the lifts met at the top, where there was a café and a bar.

‘Then they could go up to the top, and ski down this side. We can collect them from there.'

I was bouncing from foot to foot in excitement.

Jamie grinned.

‘It's definitely an idea,' he said, cautiously. ‘But it's not without flaws.'

‘Olivia can't ski,” I said. “That's one flaw. And there's Chloe's kids to think about.'

Chloe's three little ones were only seven, four and two. There was no way they'd make it down a tricky ski run.

‘And we're not sure if all the ski slopes will be open,' Jamie pointed out.

‘Well let's go and find out,' I said.

We laughed as we got dressed in our sallopettes and jackets. Jamie looked like a plonker in his helmet but he was adamant we had to wear them so I didn't argue.

By the time we were ready, the gondola was running so we hopped in and sat holding hands as it soared over the trees. I loved skiing. Loved it. Growing up where we had, we spent lots of time on the slopes as kids. We had ski lessons like children in other parts of the country had netball.

‘Excited?' Jamie asked as I looked down on the few people who had already started making their way down the slope.

I nodded.

‘About skiing and about Dad maybe coming this way,' I said.

‘Don't get your hopes up,' Jamie warned. And it turned out he was right. We got to the top of the mountain, and sat in the café eating bacon sandwiches – we'd left so early we'd missed breakfast and we needed energy for our day on the slopes.

Jamie peered out of the window at the opposite side of the mountain.

‘That drag lift isn't on,' he pointed out.

The waitress put a teapot on our table.

‘That side of the mountain's completely closed,' she said. ‘Avalanche risk, and the slopes are too dangerous.'

‘For how long?' I asked.

She shrugged, not caring one way or another.

‘Few weeks,' she said. ‘My tips are taking a battering.'

I looked at Jamie, disappointed.

‘That's that then,' I said. ‘We'll have to find another way to get Dad here.'

He reached out and took my hand.

‘We will,' he said. ‘Don't worry.'

Chapter 25

Once I'd got over the disappointment of my plan to get Dad to our wedding turning out to be a damp squib, we had a lovely day.

I was quite a sporty type anyway. I did a lot of running and loved getting out in the fresh air, but there was something about skiing that just made me feel amazing.

I loved the cold air on my cheeks as I swooshed down the slope, the mixture of fear and exhilaration as we tackled the only black run – the hardest, steepest runs – in the resort, which luckily was one of the ones that was open.

Jamie and I had skied together loads of times so we barely spoke as we skied, just weaving in and out of each other, laughing as I overtook him, then watching him shout over his shoulder at me as he took the lead.

It was just the most perfect day. We went back to the café at the top for lunch, wolfing down cheese and ham toasties in a hurry to be back outside, before clipping on our skis once more.

Eventually, at about four o'clock, as the sun dipped behind the mountains and the sky darkened, the lifts began to close and we knew it was time to call it a night.

Happy, exhausted and glowing with the cold, we clambered back into the gondola then weaved our way back to the lodge.

The lodge sat in a little group of similar buildings. Some were empty but some were obviously occupied by skiers who were beginning to switch on the lights inside and out – most of the little wooden cabins had strings of fairy lights outside all year round. Through the twilight, the lodges all looked cosy and welcoming.

Jamie opened the door and we peeled off our boots and wet skiing gear, then padded into the living room in our thermals – not the sexiest outfits I had to admit, but Jamie enveloped me in a huge hug just the same.

‘I've had the most wonderful day,' he said. I could smell his sweat and his aftershave and the combination made me dizzy with love and lust. I kissed him and steered him into the bedroom, not caring one jot that we were both a bit ripe from our day on the slopes.

Much later, I lay in bed and watched as Jamie headed for the shower. I admired his broad shoulders, flat stomach and narrow waist and he blushed.

‘Stop it,' he said. ‘You're making me feel self-conscious.'

‘You look at me,' I said, giggling.

‘That's different,' Jamie said. ‘You're beautiful.'

‘I think you're beautiful,' I said.

But Jamie just snorted at me and shut the door. I heard the shower start to run and I wriggled my toes under the duvet in pleasure. Yes things weren't going exactly to plan, but Jamie and I loved each other and that was all that mattered. We would get married somehow and declare our love in front of all our family and friends. Well, in front of most of them, I thought with a grimace. I hoped we wouldn't be missing Dad and Chloe. And of course there would be a couple of people we'd not expected to turn up, in Tansy and Parker. But I wasn't going to let them spoil the day. And yes our celebrant was more used to doing funerals, and the photographer was an expert in taking pictures of coffins, and perhaps the food was going to be a bit of a mish-mash, but I was confident my dress would be beautiful. And Jamie would look gorgeous in his suit that – thankfully – he'd brought up from Edinburgh himself.

When Jamie was done, I went into the shower, while he busied himself in the kitchen. I washed quickly, then put on some flannel pyjamas. I knew they weren't exactly sexy, but it was too cold for fancy lingerie. Then I padded through to the living room in my thick socks. Jamie was standing at the hob, stirring a pan.

‘I thought we were phoning for pizza,' I said, astonished. ‘Did you bring food with you?'

Jamie looked pleased with himself.

‘Fresh pasta with pesto,' he said. ‘And there's some posh ham if you want that with it. Then there's some ciabatta in the oven warming up, and your mum gave me a chocolate cake for pudding. Wine?'

‘Yes please,' I said. I pulled two glasses out of one of the cupboards and held them out for Jamie to fill up.

Then, sipping my glass, I wandered round the room, turning on the outside fairy lights so they twinkled in the night, lighting candles and setting the table.

Eventually we sat opposite each other, eating our pasta with our forks in one hand, and the fingers on our other hands entwined.

We talked about the wedding, looked at William Walters's photography website – which was actually brilliant and made me slightly less annoyed about losing our super-expensive snapper from Edinburgh – and threw around some more ideas about how to get Dad, Chloe and their families to Claddach, despite the closed road.

‘I think the only way is to go over it,' Jamie said, looking thoughtful.

‘Harry wondered about asking the mountain rescue guys if we could use their helicopter,' I said. ‘But Mum said we shouldn't because they're so busy.'

‘It wouldn't be right,' Jamie agreed.

‘Even if we were using magic we wouldn't be able to sort this one out,' I said, clearing away our pasta plates and bringing over the chocolate cake.

‘I really appreciate you not using magic, Ez.' Jamie stuck his finger in the gooey icing and I gave him a stern look.

‘It's tricky but it's not a disaster,' I said. ‘It's amazing how everyone's offered to help out.'

‘It's brilliant. And it just means there's nothing stopping me and Parker getting to know each other properly.'

‘Tell him,' said a little voice in my head. ‘Tell him now that angelic Tansy is lining up a new daddy for Parker.'

But Jamie was gushing about Parker again and watching the way his eyes lit up as he talked about his boy, I couldn't bring myself to spoil the mood. Instead I stayed quiet and cut myself another slice of chocolate cake. I seemed to have an appetite like a horse this week – I hoped all the skiing would cancel out the extra calories – I didn't want to have to find another wedding dress.