Hattie brightened. “I did the same at college. Romance novels were my happy place.”
“Erica loved thrillers and crime, and Claudia biographies and cookery books—we each thought the other’s reading choices were pretty awful. Erica teased me about romance and I teased her about reading crime but then we realized we’d never actually read each other’s books. So that’s what we did. One evening after a bottle of wine, we swapped. We each picked one from our favorites and the others read it. Then we talked about it.” She leaned back against the sofa, remembering. “Those discussions were such fun. We’d pick apart everything. Why the romance heroine behaved in the way she did, why crime fiction won awards when romance fiction was ignored and denigrated. Why violence was celebrated and stories about relationships—probably the single most important thing in our lives—dismissed as froth.”
“I hope you’re not asking me that question,” Hattie said, “because my only answer is snobbery.”
“That’s the conclusion we reached.” Anna sat up. “Anyway, it started from there. When we graduated, we used our book club as an excuse to meet up. Once a year we book a hotel for a week. Occasionally near a beach, but often in a city because Erica loves that. It’s a week to chill out, relax, do some sightseeing, catch up and talk about books.”
“Always a hotel?”
“Yes. The idea was that it was a week where none of us had to do anything except relax together. No one had to cook. We could order room service. There was nothing to do but enjoy ourselves. And the weird thing is we can go months without seeing each other, and when we finally get together it feels as if we only saw each other yesterday. That’s friendship, I suppose. It’s the reason I look forward to it every year.” And she needed it. Her friends were better than therapy. Definitely cheaper.
“But this year your summer gathering didn’t happen?”
“Claudia had some personal issues back in the summer—we all agreed to push it back to Christmas. We thought it would be cozy and festive. And it is.” Anna glanced from the fire to the tree. “I felt conflicted coming away at this time of year. It’s a special family time. Families should be together at Christmas, shouldn’t they?” Only after she’d said the words did she realize how tactless they were, but fortunately, Hattie didn’t seem upset.
“It’s a magical time of year. How many children do you have?”
“Two. Twins. Boy and a girl.”
“That’s nice.” Hattie was watching Delphi. “Family is the best thing.”
“Yes.” And to Hattie, Delphi was family. Not Erica. Anna felt a stab of sadness, but knew it wasn’t her place to interfere. “What you’ve done to this place is fantastic and I couldn’t feel more Christmassy if Santa dropped in for a visit. I have that same feeling that I used to have when visiting Santa.”
“Good.” Hattie stretched out her hands toward the fire. “But that isn’t why you chose to come here, is it?”
“No.” Anna tried to shift her position without waking Delphi. “It was Erica’s choice.”
“And she chose it because of me.”
“So it would seem. Although I didn’t know that at the time.”
Hattie was frowning. “Why now? Why wait twenty-eight years to get in touch?”
“Twenty-eight years?” Shock made Anna respond without thinking. “She only found out about you recently—” She stopped talking, feeling suddenly disloyal.
Hattie stared at her. “She didn’t know about me? Is that true?”
“Why wouldn’t it be?”
“Because I’ve known about Erica—although I didn’t know that was her name—all my life. My father was always honest about his past.”
Now it was Anna’s turn to stare. How honest? It was hardly a pretty story. Had he painted himself as some sort of wounded hero?
She wished she’d never started this conversation. What if she revealed something Erica would rather have kept private?
It was strange, Anna thought, to think that Hattie and Erica were related. Strange to think about all the years that they’d lived parallel lives, never intersecting. But they’d intersected now, and that was going to have consequences.
She tried to be tactful. “I think a conversation is needed, but between you and Erica.”
“We’re planning to talk later, although I have no idea what the outcome will be. If she didn’t know about me until recently, then I’m starting to understand why it would have been an adjustment. This was helpful, thank you.” Hattie stood up. “I hope you still have a chance to discuss books, whether it is here or somewhere else. I envy you that.”
Anna hoped it was going to be here. She couldn’t think of anywhere more perfect to spend a week. If Erica wanted to leave, then of course she’d leave, but that didn’t stop her hoping they’d be staying.
“You obviously love books.” She glanced at the bookshelves, which were crammed with everything from leather-bound classics and travel guides to paperback novels. There was something for everyone, including a book she’d already bought Pete for Christmas. “You don’t belong to a book club? This would be the perfect place to hold it. Or maybe in the bookstore.”
“The town has a book club, but the bookstore doesn’t have a room big enough to accommodate everyone. I’ve invited them to use this room for their meeting on Wednesday. Hopefully, that will work out and we can make it a regular thing.”
“You’re not part of that group?”
“No. Mostly because I don’t have time to read the book before the meetings, which makes me feel as if I’m failing at yet another thing. It’s more pressure.”
“And you already have plenty of that.”
“It’s been a difficult few years. I should check Erica and Claudia have what they need—” Hattie paused in the doorway. “If Delphi wakes up—”
“Then we’ll come and find you.”
“I’m sure you have a million things you’d rather do than babysit my daughter.”
“I really don’t,” Anna said. “Snuggled up here in your cozy library with a Christmas tree, a log fire, all these books and Delphi—that’s as close to bliss as it comes for me.”
“In that case, I’ll go and finish my jobs and then come back for her.” Hattie paused. “You and Erica should eat dinner in the restaurant this evening. You must be hungry after your journey.”
“Would you join us?” Anna hoped Erica wouldn’t kill her for issuing the invitation. “No pressure, obviously. I don’t want it to feel awkward.”
“Thanks, but I have to put Delphi to bed and settle her down. Fortunately, our private rooms are just off the main hallway so I’m always available if needed, but it’s the part of the day I try and keep just for her.”