Page 57 of I’ll Be Home for Christmas

When the soup was ready it took a lot of persuasion to get Grumps to sit down and eat. Nobody said a word at the table. Conversation felt wrong. They all needed to keep their strength up with the soup and the accompanying bread, but it was clear nobody really wanted to enjoy the food when they were so worried. The silence was deafening.

Until the phone rang, the shrill sound piercing the peace.

Her heart was in her mouth when Grumps took the call.

And she felt a tidal wave of relief when he told them, ‘They’ve found her.’

* * *

Chrissie sat in the chair Jonathan had brought up to Meg’s bedroom in his chalet, and watched Meg sleeping.

Jonathan had found Meg just before the emergency services did, although they were close behind and saw to it that she was taken straight to the hospital to be checked, to get her warm again, and to monitor her. Jonathan had made his phone call to the family on his way to the hospital once the roads were clear enough.

Even though they had already been told that Meg was going to be okay, it had still been a tense wait for Jonathan’s next update, but it had come a couple of hours later. Meg was recovering well. She would be monitored a while longer before she was discharged to go home with him.

Their parents had already been over to see Meg and she’d spoken to them a bit, but was exhausted they said. Now, while Jonathan and Sarah worked hard to clear the paths outside both chalets, Chrissie was waiting for her sister to wake up so she could talk to her.

She looked so peaceful. The only movement was the covers moving rhythmically up and down with Meg’s breathing. Perhaps she’d have to leave her, talk later, let her sleep off the ordeal.

Chrissie went over to the window to move her body after being huddled in the chair for so long. The blizzard had eased off as if it had never been there at all, and outside was peaceful and beautiful once again.

She wasn’t sure how long she stood there, but eventually she heard a shuffling noise behind her and turned to see Meg, bleary-eyed, trying to sit up in bed.

‘Here, let me.’ Chrissie went over and reached for the pillows to plump them behind Meg to make it easier for her.

‘Chrissie?’ Meg croaked, ‘What time is it?’ The room was dark except for the soft lighting from the standard lamp in the far corner. Jonathan had moved that up here too so that whoever checked on Meg could see her without the main light disturbing her.

Chrissie handed her the glass of water from beside the bed. ‘It’s almost midnight.’

Meg gulped some of the water and Chrissie reached out to pop it back on the bedside table for her when she’d had enough.

‘I can’t believe I caused all this fuss.’ Meg closed her eyes again.

‘We were all worried,’ said Chrissie.

Meg opened her eyes. ‘All of you?’

Chrissie nodded. ‘Yes. I mean, we couldn’t even enjoy our dinner.’ Her attempt at a joke worked and Meg smiled.

‘What was it? Not fondue, if you tell me I missed out on that I’ll be gutted. I could eat that every day of the week.’

‘It was the Alpine soup.’

‘The one with potato and leek?’

‘Apparently you like it. Mum was cooking while she was worrying.’

‘Some things never change.’ She smiled gently. ‘I could eat a big bowl of that soup right now, with a huge chunk of bread and loads of butter.’

Chrissie leapt up and grabbed her coat from the chair.

‘Where are you going?’

‘To get you some soup.’

‘I had a sandwich at the hospital – not a very nice one, but I’ve eaten. And it’s almost midnight. Don’t be silly.’

But Chrissie was going to do this. ‘I won’t be long.’