Page 38 of I’ll Be Home for Christmas

‘It was challenging,’ Meg replied.

Chrissie’s cutlery clanked against her plate. She glared at her sister. ‘You went?’

Sarah thought it was obvious, given they’d been together outside when Chrissie arrived, but obviously her mum hadn’t quite put two and two together. Perhaps she’d expected some loyalty and Sarah felt immediately guilty. But she’d enjoyed Meg’s company and she had no reason not to like her auntie.

‘How long have you been here?’ was Chrissie’s next demand of Meg.

‘I arrived not long after Sarah. We’ve been getting to know each other.’

Chrissie had another mouthful of food, but before she’d even swallowed, she shook her head and left the table. Tension hovered in the air. She came back with a big glass of water which slopped a little when she put it down.

‘I’m not a monster,’ Meg said to her sister.

Chrissie said nothing.

Sarah noticed Grumps put a hand over Meg’s. Meg looked upset, like she was about to explode.

‘Won’t you two at least try to talk?’ Nanna’s voice came out small, as if she was scared of the reception her words might get.

‘I tried,’ said Chrissie, ‘the day I buried my husband.’

The chalet fell silent.

‘I came outside to find you.’ Her mum glanced Sarah’s way then honed in on her sister again. ‘You were with Heath.’

Meg’s expression fell. Whoever Heath was, this didn’t sound good.

‘He was upset⁠—’

‘Save it!’ Chrissie yelled.

‘I’m sorry,’ Meg tried. ‘I didn’t mean⁠—’

‘You never do!’

This was awful. And Sarah hated how uncomfortable her grandparents looked.

Meg stood up and threw down her napkin. ‘You’ll never let me forget it, will you, Chrissie? Any of it, no matter how many times I try to apologise or keep my distance. I am so, so sorry for what I did, but I’m done trying to reach you or understand you.’

Chrissie opened her mouth to say something, but Sarah was pretty sure the upset on Nanna’s face was why she didn’t follow through.

Meg kissed her mum on the cheek. ‘Dinner was lovely, but I need to get out of here.’ She gave Grumps a quick hug, cast a smile Sarah’s way, but probably only because Chrissie couldn’t see that, and then she left.

They finished their dinner in silence.

They’d all obviously heard the door open and close, but again, nobody said a word. Sarah saw a flinch on Nanna’s face, but that was it.

As they cleared away the plates, Sarah tried to distract Grumps. ‘Look at the snow – it’s falling heavier now.’

He smiled and his shoulders dropped a little. He loved the snow. ‘I think it’s going to be a whiteout. You won’t be able to see a thing other than snow come morning.’

‘It’s magical,’ said Nanna as she and Grumps left the table to go and sit in front of the fire. Chrissie went with them and Sarah excused herself for a bath, claiming she still hadn’t warmed up after her visit to the Jungfraujoch.

Was this what the atmosphere at the chalet was going to be like from now on until she left after Christmas? How was she going to work through her own problems with this going on?

What a total mess.

And what if Meg decided to leave now that Chrissie was here? Sarah got the impression that if that happened, the sisters would never work things out.