She started to breathe heavily.
She knew it.
He looked grave.
‘Months. A year at best. You will need the stability of Viktor to get you through.’ And they looked into each other’s eyes in calm horror because, yet again, this was to be a fleeting affair.
Chapter Sixty-Eight
It was the last day of term before the Christmas break, and Emme was on her way to collect Harry and Bella from school. The school day was ending a little later today, due to class Christmas parties, so Emme braced herself for the children to come out high on sugar and games. As Emme walked across the square past the Grand Hotel Sommar, its Havana Grey horse and cart waiting outside in the snow, her phone rang.
It was Tristan on FaceTime from a lush, sunny estate. Rolling green hills framed him in the background; his handsome, healed, face was sunkissed in shot.
‘Hey,’ Emme said, showing him where she was.
‘Hey, I sorted my flight! I’ll be back late Monday.’
Monday. Bliss.
There would be no school run on Monday, and Bill would be home for Christmas. Surely Lexy wouldn’t need Emme for much, although she had certainly found excuses to keep her busy. A flash went through Emme’s mind that perhaps she should keep it quiet that Tristan was returning, then she could get away with saying she was off Christmas shopping.
Can’t wait.
‘Shall I come to Zurich to meet you?’ she asked excitedly.The thought of riding in a helicopter back from Zurich to Kristalldorf next to Tristan gave Emme a thrill.
Tristan’s broad, sexy smile filled the camera and she took it as a yes. She still couldn’t really believe that Tristan Du Kok was into her, a temporary nanny from the UK, when he could have anyone in town. But his smile looked genuine. His electric touch was more than genuine, no matter how much caution Cat heeded.
Emme weaved through the school gates.
‘I’ve got to go, the kids are coming out of school. I’ll call you back later?’ she said.
‘Sure thing, speak in a bit,’ Tristan said, as he kissed the camera and Emme hung up.
‘Emme!’ Harry shouted. ‘I won the Christmas talent show for my taekwondo!’
‘Well done, dude. That’s great!’
‘Emme! I got a chocolate reindeer!’ Bella said, thrusting it in her face. ‘For winning musical chairs!’
‘Never in doubt!’ Emme cheered.
Emme’s contentment at how far she’d come turned to mild irritation when she remembered the chocolate reindeer she had bought the kids– and left up at Vitreum. It was fine, they didn’t need any more right now.
‘Stupid game!’ Arjun said as he sidled up to Bella, a contemptuous and haughty smile on his princely face.
Cassie arrived.
‘You didn’t win?’ she asked Arjun cheerily. ‘Oh dear.’
The sarcasm in her voice was palpable.
‘End of term, kids!’ Emme beamed. ‘Who’s getting a visit from Santa next week?’
‘Santa is a work of fiction,’ Arjun harrumphed, as heopened out his arms and waited for Cassie to put his coat on for him. She half threw the hood onto his head.
‘And I am out of here!’ Cassie said under her breath to Emme.
‘Of course, when do you fly?’
