“If you’re not leaving tonight, then would you like to sit down and talk for a while? Glass of wine? I’ll ask Chef to produce a plate of his delicious nibbles.” No doubt he’d scowl at her, but she’d weather it.
Erica gave a tentative nod. “I’d like that.”
Hattie felt warmth spread through her. They were going to talk. That was a start.
“Great. I should just check on my daughter, and then—”
The door flew open again, and this time it was Chloe who stood there. She was holding Delphi’s hand and there was panic in her eyes.
“Sorry to burst in, but Hattie, you need to come right now. It’s an emergency.”
Now what? The universe obviously hated her.
Delphi sprinted across to her and Hattie scooped her up. No matter that her daughter was growing taller and heavier by the day. If she wanted to be hugged, then Hattie was going to hug her.
“An emergency?” She held Delphi tightly. “Is it a guest?”
“No. Much worse. Chef Tucker threw a pan at the sous-chef and she walked out. Stephanie got involved, and had a terrible fight with Chef and he has also walked out. Actually, he drove, if we’re being literal. He took his truck and was last seen vanishing toward town.Which is a problem on many levels, because the restaurant is full this evening and we have no one in charge of the kitchen. The rest of the staff are panicking. Fortunately, the guests are so far blissfully unaware, but Stephanie is having one of her rants—”
Right on cue, Stephanie arrived at the door. “That’s it! I hope he has gone for good, but if he hasn’t then you need to fire him and I demand an apology. He may be a creative genius, but I will not be spoken to the way that man spoke to me this evening, and in front of staff, too.”
Delphi pressed her hands over her ears and cringed closer to Hattie. “Too shouty.”
Hattie didn’t disagree. She held Delphi close, rubbing her back with her hand.
“I can see you’re upset, Stephanie, and we’re going to figure this out. But we all need to stay calm.”
“Stay calm? Would you stay calm if a man called you an uptight, frigid b—”
Fortunately, Delphi’s crying drowned out the rest of the sentence. To complicate the situation further, Rufus, hearing the shouting, came shooting into the room barking, checking which of his family needed his protection.
Seeing Delphi safe with Hattie, he stopped barking and growled.
Stephanie took a step backward. “And that dog is a health hazard.”
Delphi buried her face in Hattie’s neck. “Shouty, shouty—”
Hattie tightened her arms protectively. “Please lower your voice, Stephanie.”
“Who is running this business? You or that child? Or is it the dog? There are days when I wonder. It puts a whole new spin on the phrasegoing to the dogs,and this place most definitely is.”
Hattie’s head was splitting. Right now her daughter was the priority because until she’d soothed Delphi, she wasn’t going to be able to have a rational conversation, and she couldn’t calm Delphi while Stephanie was shouting.
She was about to suggest that Stephanie wait in her office, when Anna stepped forward. She held a pretty decoration in her hand.
“Delphi? I found this on the floor. It must have fallen off the tree. Do you know where it was hanging?”
Delphi cautiously lifted her damp face from Hattie’s shoulder.
She looked at Anna and seemed to like what she saw because she released her choke hold on Hattie’s neck.
“No.” Her breath came in jerks. “D-don’t know.”
“I love decorating trees.” Anna’s smile was kind. “It’s my favorite thing. I’m sure you love it, too, am I right?”
Delphi sniffed. “Yes.”
“That’s great. Could you help me decide where to hang this?” Anna dangled the twinkling star from her fingers. “Shall I just pick somewhere?”
