Dreaming of Christmas Read online

  She did her best to stay calm, and told them all about her job. She did not, of course, make any mention of Damien’s article about Billy. The more she thought about it, the more distasteful it felt – a betrayal of trust that might not bother her editor, but which seriously worried her. She hastily moved the conversation on to Martin and Mandy.

  Martin was doing well in his job – something to do with animal feeds – and he looked just as happy now as he had done all the way through university. He and Mandy had met in freshers’ week and had been together ever since, and Zoë couldn’t suppress a feeling of envy at the cosy family they now constituted with their little girl.

  Juliet was still sounding upbeat, and she looked it too. Zoë listened as she updated the others on her life. She was still unattached, but she didn’t appear to mind. She was playing squash and had bought herself a bike, and she felt very fit as a result. Zoë admitted that she too had been working out in the gym over the past few months, following a fairly rigorous exercise regime in the evenings after work, determined to be ready for skiing. Lorna, on the other hand, looked as if she would benefit from extending her aerobic activity outside of the bedroom.

  They were well into their final descent towards Salzburg airport when Mandy asked the question that had been exercising Zoë’s mind increasingly as the holiday had drawn closer.

  ‘So, you and Grant? Are you going to be okay seeing him again?’ She sounded concerned, and there was a serious expression on her face.

  Zoë swallowed hard before replying, hoping that her determined air would fool the others. ‘It’ll be fine. A lot of time’s passed and it’s all water under the bridge now.’

  For a second she caught Juliet’s eye, then looked down hastily. Beside her, Mandy was still curious.

  ‘Will this be the first time you’ve seen him since you split up?’

  ‘Yes, but like I say, we’re both grown-ups. It’ll be fine.’

  As she said it, Zoë found herself questioning her choice of words. Grant was still in many ways anything but grown up. His attitude towards life the last time she had seen him had still been as immature as when she had first met him. She wondered if his interests still centred on rugby, kitesurfing, snowboarding and beer. She mustered a smile.

  ‘Anyway, I promise I won’t do anything to spoil what’s going to be a super holiday for everybody.’

  Mandy gave her a sympathetic look.

  ‘I heard that you’d split up, Zoë, but what happened? Why did you decide to go your separate ways, if you don’t mind me asking?’

  Zoë shook her head. ‘No, of course I don’t mind. It was very simple – I didn’t decide anything. He did. He informed me over breakfast last Christmas Eve that he’d found somebody else and he wanted out.’

  ‘He broke up with you at Christmas?’

  ‘Great timing, eh?’

  ‘What, just like that? No advance warning? Surely you must have suspected something.’

  Zoë shook her head again. ‘Nope. Nothing. At least, nothing serious.’

  ‘Christmas must have been rough.’

  ‘My mum and dad were great. I was a wreck, and if Mum hadn’t been there, I’m sure I’d have burnt the turkey and probably set fire to the house. I suppose I was sort of in shock, really.’

  ‘Damn right you were. How awful for you, and how callous of Grant.’ Juliet didn’t look like she was going to forgive him any time soon.

  At that moment the aircraft bumped through the last of the clouds and the view opened up below them. Zoë saw a thick covering of snow on the roofs and, in spite of the memories that had been awakened and her qualms about seeing Grant again, she felt a surge of excitement. She was delighted to hear it in her voice as she finished answering Mandy’s questions.

  ‘But, you know something? I’m coming round to thinking it was maybe all for the best. Far better to make a clean break now, rather than discover his infidelities when I’m old and grey.’

  She read considerable understanding and sympathy in Mandy’s eyes and, encouraged, carried on with a fortitude in her voice that she didn’t really feel.

  ‘Anyway, let’s try not to make this holiday about me and Grant. What about you lot? Are you looking forward to skiing?’

  Across the aisle, she saw Lorna shake her head.

  ‘Not me. I’m here for the five-star luxury and the rich men. It’s amazing how a well-stuffed wallet makes a man so much more attractive.’

  She was grinning, but Zoë got the feeling she probably wasn’t joking. She returned her attention to Mandy.

  ‘And you, Mand?’

  ‘Definitely – although I don’t know if I’ll actually put on skis. I’m looking forward to the mountain air and the chance to have a rest and put my feet up.’ She pointed to her daughter. ‘Bella and Martin have been taking lessons on the dry ski slope.’ At the sound of her name, the little girl leant forward in her seat and looked past her mother towards Zoë.

  ‘Daddy’s pretty rubbish, but I’m ever so good.’

  ‘Good for you, Bella. I look forward to skiing with you all.’ Zoë looked out of the window again. ‘They say the snow conditions are the best for years. We should be able to ski from the hotel right to the lifts and back again.’

  The Fasten Seat Belts sign lit up and they began their final approach. Looking out of the window, it was clear that they were flying up a valley to reach Salzburg airport, and the wingtips rose and fell scarily as the aircraft yawed from side to side, following the meanderings of the river below. As they landed, they could all see from the piles of snow alongside the runway that the recent snowfall had been heavy. The weathermen had been dead right about the terrific skiing conditions that awaited them.

  Once they had collected their luggage, half deafened by non-stop Christmas songs blaring out of the loudspeakers, they emerged from the restricted area of the airport and found a smart gentleman in a dark suit waiting to greet them. In his leather-gloved hands he was holding a sign marked Grand Hotel Schlossberg. As he led them outside, he explained in excellent English that their journey to the hotel should take just over an hour. It had indeed snowed heavily for the past three days, but he reassured them that the main roads were now all clear. Zoë reflected what effect half a metre of snow would have had on the British roads – chaos for a week, probably.

  The first part of the journey was on a good motorway, heading due south along a wide valley that gradually narrowed. The snow-covered mountains formed a stunning backdrop ahead of them. The road surface had indeed been meticulously cleared and, as at the airport, there were huge banks of snow at the roadside, testifying to the recent work of the snowploughs. Gradually the slopes left and right of them became steeper and the scenery more spectacular. The valley walls were now sheer cliffs and the river alongside the road was iced over. There was deep snow everywhere. Houses and farms looked as if they were half buried under a thick white blanket.

  After a while, they turned off to the left and headed up another valley, which climbed gradually through the snow-covered pines. The sky had now cleared and there wasn’t a cloud to be seen. Amazingly, there was a railway line alongside the road and the driver informed them that the tracks disappeared into a tunnel at the head of the valley, but that Bad Bergstein was a few miles before that. The views as the road snaked its way up the valley were stunning, with glimpses of white peaks high above them. As they approached their destination, the valley widened out and they began to spot ski lifts and distant figures skiing through the fir trees on both sides of the valley.

  Bad Bergstein was a very smart old ski resort, with many of the buildings probably dating back to the heyday of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Some of the houses were rather fine fin-de-siècle residences, while others were more traditional chalet-style buildings made of weathered wood, or with white walls and dark wooden balconies. The sloping roofs collected and held the snow as an extra layer of insulation. After the recent snowfall, they looked like iced cakes.

  As their dri
ver took them past a small lake, now completely frozen over, Zoë could see figures skating on it or strolling around the edges, enjoying the last rays of the afternoon sun. They drove on up a gently sloping road lined with shops and hotels, and everywhere they looked they saw people wearing brightly coloured skiing clothes stomping about in heavy boots. She felt a shiver of excitement at the thought of getting back on skis once more. Christmas lights and decorations hung everywhere, and she heard Bella and her mum counting no fewer than six big Christmas trees on the pavements. She glanced over at the little girl, whose eyes were shining. She had almost forgotten how exciting this time of year was for children, and it brought a smile to her own face, in spite of the prospect of what, or rather who, awaited her at the hotel.

  By the time they reached their hotel, the views had changed from lovely to spectacular. The mountains were all around them, with the peaks of the Tauern Alps clearly visible against the darkening sky in the distance. Ski runs weaved in and out of the snow-laden fir trees, and the occasional old wooden hut or barn poked up from the white covering that threatened to submerge it. There were still skiers on the slopes, but it would be dark before long and the lifts would soon stop. Zoë found herself hoping the pistes wouldn’t be too crowded, although as Christmas was in just seven days’ time, things would no doubt get busier and busier.

  The hotel in the flesh was every bit as impressive as the website had indicated. The rows of wooden balconies formed dark horizontal lines across the front of the big white building, giving it a very traditional Austrian look, and the roof with its wide overhanging eaves was covered with a thick coat of snow. Dusk was falling and the trees alongside the drive and in front of the entrance had been strung with sparkling lights. There was a huge Christmas tree right outside the main entrance, decked with silver and gold baubles. It looked very festive, very beautiful and very welcoming. From behind her, Martin spoke for just about the first time.

  ‘Wow, what a place!’

  His daughter joined in, sounding equally impressed.

  ‘It’s beautiful. Look, Mummy. It’s wonderful.’

  Mandy smiled at her. ‘I know, it’s like something out of a fairy tale.’

  Zoë gave Bella a grin. ‘Maybe there’s a handsome prince in there, waiting for you.’ As she spoke, the image of Grant appeared uninvited before her eyes and she shook her head to clear her thoughts. ‘I think we’re going to love it here.’

  ‘Take a look at the flashy cars in the car park. Bound to be loads of lovely rich men, just you wait and see.’ Lorna sounded distinctly predatory, and Zoë saw Mandy roll her eyes.

  The minibus drew up right outside the main entrance and the driver came round to open the doors.

  ‘Just leave your luggage. It will all be brought to your rooms.’

  Zoë and Juliet exchanged glances. Yes, this was going to be a special holiday.

  ‘If you’d like to follow my colleague, he will take you inside.’

  A man in a white shirt and a bright green waistcoat appeared at the glass doors and came hurrying down the steps to greet them.

  ‘Grüss Gott, meine Damen und Herren.’ He gave them a smile. ‘Welcome to the Schlossberg. If you would like to come with me…’ He stood to one side and they followed the direction of his outstretched hand.

  As the glass doors hissed open, they walked up the steps, past a couple of ski racks and into a high-ceilinged, spacious lobby with a sparkling ultra-modern chandelier. There was a massive Christmas tree at one end and the reception desk was positioned along the left-hand side. The place was a winter wonderland. The wood-panelled walls were festooned with holly branches and shiny silver baubles, alongside huge heart-shaped ornaments studded with pine cones. Garlands of pine and fir branches hung from the ceiling and a dozen smaller trees in pots were lined up against the walls, giving the impression of entering a magical forest. A lingering scent of cinnamon hung in the air, and all around there were oranges and cinnamon sticks on display. On the counter was a tray of chocolate and marzipan confectionery in various Christmas shapes, and even the staff behind the reception desk had entered into the Christmas spirit, with plastic reindeer antlers on their heads. Even the manager, impeccable in a dark suit, was wearing an elf’s hat. The place was wonderfully warm, and exuded elegance and comfort. Zoë gave a little sigh of appreciation. It certainly made a wonderful change from her flat, which was decidedly spartan in comparison.

  ‘Go straight across to the lift, please.’

  The smiley man in the green waistcoat led them past the reception desk and ushered them into the lift. Even this had been decorated and the ivy, baubles and pine cones around the door made it look as if they were entering Santa’s grotto. He pressed the button for the top floor, and the doors closed silently behind him. There was almost no sensation of movement as they were whisked up to the sixth floor. The only sound was a discreet chime as they reached their destination and the door opened.

  ‘This floor is exclusively for the use of your party. Erika here will look after you, and if there’s anything you require, she or I will be delighted to help.’

  There was a smaller version of the steel and glass reception desk right opposite the lift, and behind it was another smiling face, this time belonging to a dark-haired girl in a white dirndl blouse with a tight green bodice. She was wearing a red and white Santa hat on her head and alongside her on the counter stood a bushy little Christmas tree, decked with tinsel and twinkling with fairy lights. Bella gazed at the scene in wonder, eyes wide open, mouth gaping.

  Erika greeted them in excellent English.

  ‘Good afternoon and welcome. If I could just ask you for your documents, I’ll show you to your rooms. And those of you who need ski passes, please let me know and I’ll get them organised.’

  Once they had produced their passports, Erika took them on a brief tour of the floor. It was clear that they were up in the eaves, as the timber ceilings supported by hefty wooden beams sloped away on either side of the central corridor. The first room they saw – a fine, airy room with a big table in the middle and other chairs and tables dotted around the sides – was on their left, looking out towards the rear of the hotel. Here, too, the Christmas theme was repeated, with a tree hung with enough chocolate baubles to satisfy even the hungriest glutton. As they passed it, Erika plucked a huge chocolate star off the tree and handed it to Bella.

  ‘Fröhliche Weihnachten. Happy Christmas.’

  Without needing to be prompted by her mother, Bella gave her a beaming smile and thanked her, as Erika continued her introduction.

  ‘In here is your private dining room. You can take your breakfast here or in your rooms – as you wish. Breakfast is normally served between seven and ten, but if you prefer a different time, please just let me know.’ She waved vaguely in the direction of a bar with an array of bottles on display. ‘Everything is complimentary, so do help yourselves. If you want hot drinks or anything else, please tell me and I’ll get them sent up for you. There is a larger choice of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks in the main bar in your private lounge. Of course, there are tea- and coffee-making facilities in your rooms as well.’

  Zoë and Juliet exchanged glances and Juliet mouthed the word, Wow.

  Erika glanced down at Bella, who had already stuffed most of the chocolate star into her cheeks and looked like a little hamster. She smiled at the girl.

  ‘And you are very welcome to eat the chocolates on the tree, but only if your mother says it’s okay.’

  Mandy smiled at her daughter. ‘Just one a day, Bella. All right?’

  The little girl nodded, incapable of answering because her mouth was so full. Erika grinned and went on.

  ‘At the end of the corridor is the lounge, again just for your group. As Georg said, William specifically wanted this whole floor to be at your disposal.’

  So William was presumably Billy, Zoë thought to herself. He must be well known to them here at the hotel if they addressed him by his first name. Mind
you, anybody shelling out for a whole floor of a luxury hotel at Christmas time would no doubt be well known to the staff.

  ‘I’ll show you to your rooms now. I’m afraid it’s getting a bit too dark for skiing tonight, but if you want the pool, the thermal baths or the fitness centre, you can find them on the lower ground floor. One of my colleagues will provide you with towels down there, and you’ll find there are changing facilities.’

  Erika pointed along the corridor.

  ‘If you feel like meeting the rest of your party after I’ve shown you to your rooms, there’s afternoon tea and champagne waiting for you in the lounge.’

  Zoë looked across at the others and saw the expressions of awe on all their faces. This was certainly a far cry from the last time they had lived side-by-side together, at number 23. Her lasting memories of that house had been the damp, the cold and the resident rodent population.

  Chapter 5

  Zoë’s room was enormous, with a huge double bed almost submerged beneath a thick duvet, whose pristine white cotton cover made it look for all the world like a deep layer of snow. The walls were wood-panelled and there were two big windows. There was tinsel, hung with silver baubles, around the mirror and a bowl of fresh fruit and chocolates on the side. A stylish sofa stood against one wall, facing a huge flat-screen television, and there was a reading desk and chair in the far corner. Zoë walked across and looked out of the window. Even in the twilight, the view was amazing. She could see all the way over the dark mass of the town to the outline of the hills on the far side of the valley. The square tower of the church with its elegant steeple was just about the only roof without a covering of snow – the pitch was just too steep. In the distance off to her left was the massive bulk of the high mountains, occasional outcrops of rock showing up as dark stains against the smooth covering of snow. It was a stunning view and she was still standing there when she heard a soft tap on the door.