‘Yeah? What’s weird about that? I mean, I know we need to go back to the UK and Mum and Dad are in the middle of some relationship mid-life crisis shit, but of course we’re going to come back. There’s you and Jacques for a start. Unless you’ve invited him to England. And Tommy comes to visit here and although he’s really annoying most of the time, he’s also quite cool. And you heard me say “hot milkshakes”. Burim’s going to love those.’
Orla didn’t know what to say at all. Revisiting Saint-Chambéry had never been on her agenda. Up until recently she hadn’t known the village existed. She had been to many places in the world but she’d never gone back. Suddenly that hit her full force. Was it like everything else in her life? She dipped in and out, taking what she needed at the time, but disregarding the bigger picture? Was that also what her sister thought she did?Wasthat what she did?
The reindeer made a noise and Erin jumped from the stool, rushing towards Burim who put a protective arm around her shoulders. Orla got up too, moving towards the scene.
‘The baby comes now?’ Burim asked. ‘This is so cool, Erin.’
‘I told you it was cool here,’ she answered, hugging him close.
‘It’s not cool,’ Tommy interjected. ‘It’s freezing!’ He blew out a breath. ‘But what is cool is the fact that now you two are actually together we don’t have to listen to Erin’s phone making noise all the time.’
‘Why don’t you three go back to the house?’ Jacques suggested. ‘Take Gerard’s truck back to the village and pick up mine. Make some food.’
‘But what if something happens and you need the truck?’ Tommy asked him.
‘I will call you. Come on, Tommy, Erin and her friend have been outside for hours. Make a fire at the house, make some food. I will let you know what’s going on,’ Jacques reassured.
‘Who is your friend?’ Burim asked, looking confused.
‘He means you,’ Erin said, laughing.
‘But I am your boyfriend, no?’
Erin gasped, putting her hands to her mouth. ‘Did you just ask me to be your girlfriend?’
‘We marry one day,’ Burim said. ‘I think you know this.’
Erin squealed and wrapped her arms around him again.
‘Oh, wow,’ Tommy said. ‘Can’t wait to get back to the house and be a third wheel.’
‘Chaperone, please, Tommy,’ Orla said seriously.
It was so much quieter once Tommy, Erin and Burim had left. Only the crackling of the fire and the occasional sound from the reindeer broke the night air. She had taken photos for the magazine but somehow, despite this being her ultimate mission, her reason for being here, it felt altogether intrusive.
‘I cannot believe this,’ Jacques said, sitting on the stool next to her.
‘I know,’ Orla said. ‘Burim coming here all the way from Albania.’
‘Oh… I was talking about the reindeer but?—’
Orla smiled. ‘I know you were. Tonight has been… a lot.’
‘Yes,’ he agreed.
‘Is everyone OK?’ Orla asked. ‘Everyone who came to help look for Erin. I feel bad that they did that and she was absolutely fine.’
‘You prefer that she was not fine?’ he asked, his eyebrow raising slightly.
‘No, of course not, I just… don’t like to put anyone to any trouble.’
‘Orla,’ Jacques said, his angular jaw lit up by the glow of the fire. ‘The thing you have to understand most about Saint-Chambéry is that nothing is too much trouble for people that care.’ He elongated his legs and stretched his arms above his head. ‘I find this hard when I arrived here. Look at my house. I built it with the intention of no one coming near, let alone inside. But, even here, on the very edge of a community, they get you.’
She laughed. ‘You made that sound like you’ve been captured.’
‘Well,’ he said, turning to look at her again. ‘Maybe I have.’
Both his expression and his words had her stomach churning.
