The Mills & Boon Ultimate Christmas Collection. Kate Hardy

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СКАЧАТЬ tried to walk but, shrouded in darkness, I couldn’t seem to remember how to do it, worried I’d trip on something.

      “OK, you ready?”

      “Ready,” I said.

      “One, two, three,” he said, taking his palm from my eyes. “It’s done! Again. And ready to decorate. So get your skates on and let’s do this!”

      I gasped, and put a hand to my mouth. “Micah! How did you get it done?” The ballroom stood empty before me. The ceilings had been redone, the new reproduction chandeliers hung. New downlights had been fitted, and the scorched smell had evaporated. The walls were fixed and painted. The ash and rubble had been removed, and the floors waxed to a shine, ready for the tap of dancing shoes.

      “It wasn’t me,” he grinned. “Kai got everyone together, and with all hands on deck…”

      “But yesterday… I just thought there was too much to be done.” I guess I’d been the one who’d given up hope, and hadn’t noticed they’d all pulled together one last time.

      “Where is he?”

      Micah pointed to the ceiling. “Upstairs. Mentioned something about measuring up the suites.”

      “You guys…” A group of the tradespeople had clustered by the doors. “…Are the best! We can get this party started now!”

      They let out a cheer, and I hugged them one by one, promising them free holidays at the lodge with their families once we were open for guests. Tears stung my eyes as I realized my dreams were about to come true. Despite the fire, the setbacks, the fear, it was all going to be OK. We’d host our very first party at Cedarwood, on time, and on point.

      Two days later, Kai sat beside me, going through paperwork, while I made a list of things that still had to be done. Micah walked in, arm wrapped around Isla, and I hid a grin. Isla winked at me, and I knew it meant they’d talked about her past, and Micah would love her all the more for it.

      “Team meeting?” he said.

      “Yup. We have exactly five days until the party and I want to make sure we’re all aware of what needs to be done.”

      Kai shuffled his papers into a stack, and waited.

      “Kai is double-checking the safety aspects and the mobility aids. We want to make sure Imelda can get around every inch of the lodge if she so desires.”

      “Got it,” Micah said, scribbling notes.

      “Isla, where are you at?”

      The gardens were taking the longest to do because there was only Isla to do it, and the weather hadn’t been ideal. Most days she sat out there in driving winds and sheeting rain, until I pulled her inside, and admonished her with the war cry, you’ll catch your death. It reminded me of my mother – she used to do the same thing when I was younger, like she was doing some kind of penance weeding our garden in inclement weather.

      Isla fidgeted with her hair. “There’s so much to do, and I’m worried we’ll run out of time. I’ve been concentrating on clearing the west side so at least it’s tidy, but I was hoping to get some flowers planted and the fountain up and running. The grounds, though… well, they seem to go on for ever.”

      I gave her a reassuring smile. “You’ve done a great job, Isla. Seriously. I’ll try and think of a way to get you some extra help. In terms of resources and equipment, just let me know what you need and we’ll order it. If you concentrate on the immediate area around the lodge itself, that will be enough. But it would be great if the fountain did get finished.”

      Kai spoke up. “We have got a couple of people coming in for the fountain – someone to look at the electric water pump, and another guy to fix the render, and then Isla can plant the water lilies.” We chatted for the next hour, our notepads filling with last-minute jobs. Stress tried to creep into my shoulders, but I pushed it away, giddy with the thought that we were almost there, if only we could work doubly hard once more. I only hoped we all had enough left in the tank to do it.

      Everyone scurried away, ready to round up help and get the jobs done. Outside was a flurry of activity, men jostling as they went to and fro to the bins, some hooting and hollering about lending a hand.

      With the furniture delivery imminent, I didn’t have time to help Isla out in the garden – cleaning the lodge would take an age and we just didn’t have the people power. I did the unthinkable and called Mom, hoping she’d be amenable to my request.

      “Clio, hi,” she said. “No more fires?”

      I detected a touch of empathy in her voice. I double-checked the phone to make sure it was in fact my mother’s number. “Not yet, but the day is young.”

      She tutted.

      “Mom, I need your help. I know you’re not keen on Cedarwood, for reasons I can’t fathom, but will you come and trim the hedgerows? Our landscaper is swamped and we’re running out of time. I can’t really afford any more helpers.”

      “So you found it?” she said, her voice anxious.

      “Umm?” The hedges surrounded the front of Cedarwood as a boundary line; they weren’t exactly hidden.

      “The maze.”

      “The maze? No!” Micah and I had played all over the grounds of Cedarwood as children and had never come across a maze. “Where’s the maze?” And how on earth did she know about it?

      “It’s on the eastern side of the estate, near the lake.”

      “We haven’t got that far back yet.” There was a collection of chalets on the eastern border, more spacious, with extra bedrooms.

      “Leave it hidden, please. I’ll help you if you promise me that.”

      “Well…” Part of me wanted to drop the phone and run through the grounds to find it… first, though, I hoped Mom would explain herself. “Why?”

      “I don’t want to talk about it. But will you do me that one thing?” There was an edge to her voice, as if she was one step away from screaming.

      I sidestepped her demand. “Did you used to work here?”

      “A long time ago.”

      “And?”

      “And then the doors were closed.”

      “Why, what happened?”

      “It’s such a long story, Clio, and I’d rather not get into it with you over the phone.”

      I tried to gauge every nuance in her voice for clues as to what had taken place. Did I detect a brief hint of guilt? I couldn’t be sure. Not wanting her to shut down completely, I asked again, “So, Mom, I’m really in a bind, can you help with the hedges?” And hoped in person I’d get some answers.

      “If you promise me you’ll leave the maze hidden.”

      “I guess that leaves me no choice. OK, it’ll stay СКАЧАТЬ