“Are you going over to see her?”
“No, she’s into this superstitious crap about us not seeing each other before the wedding.” Josh put his phone away.
“You’re going to have to avoid Amy from now on.” Matt said, folding his arms over his chest to indicate he still wasn’t happy.
Well, that makes two of us.
“I know what I have to do.” Josh frowned.
Of course he knew. Hadn’t his father always drummed into him that he must always do ‘the right thing’ especially where girls were concerned? But yet again doing the right thing felt bloody awful. Josh had been here before and a part of him had never stopped regretting the choices he’d been forced to make.
And now he was going to have to hurt Amy all over again.
“Amy, have you got a sec?” Holly had a small stack of boxes in her arms. She seemed distracted, anxious even, which was unusual for her.
“Sure. Is everything okay?” Amy went forward to take some of the boxes from her, glad to have someone else’s problems to think about for a change.
“Just a tad stressed.” Holly smiled a tight smile. “This is the first wedding I’ve arranged for someone else and it’s proving…stressful. The bride-to-be is being a little difficult. Actually forget I said that, it’s really unprofessional of me.”
Holly sank into a chair and leant forward, head in hands.
“Is she a bit of a bridezilla then?” Amy knew it was bad of her to be glad but what the hell, she couldn’t help it.
“Mmm.” Holly smiled ruefully. “It was so much easier with my own wedding last year but then I suppose some weddings are easier than others?”
“I’m sure that’s the case.” Amy reassured her. “What was that favour you wanted?”
“Could you take these boxes over to Hotel Paradis?” Holly asked. “ You’d be best taking Tash too, there are rather a lot of them.”
“What’s in them?” Amy felt conflicted, wanting on the one hand to escape the Chalet, but not wanting to bump into Josh’s bridezilla of a fiancée. Maybe she’d be able to dump them in the hotel reception and then leg it before she had the chance to come across her.
“There’s a mock-up of the table decorations and samples of the food we’ll be serving at the mountain cantine after the chapel ceremony. It is all as I discussed with her by email so there shouldn’t really be any problems. I don’t know why she’s insisting she sees them at this late stage but what the customer wants…” Holly groaned. “Sorry, do you mind Amy? Only I’ve got so much left to do I can’t really spare the time this evening.”
I can do this. It will be fine.
Like immersion therapy. She needed to get over, Josh therefore helping with his wedding to another woman was actually the best thing she could be doing.
Yeah right!
But she had to help Holly, partly because she was her boss but also because she liked her. She’d never seen Holly looking so stressed and knew she had to do all she could.
“It’s fine Holly. Tash and I will have it all covered.” Amy tried to smile but the news about Josh’s parents seemed to have shaken the ability to smile out of her. She never would’ve imagined…
Somehow she pictured them in their period cottage on Exmoor forever; his dad taking their two border terriers out for walks while his mother worked on a new patchwork project.
It’d felt like grieving the first time round she’d lost them, when Josh dumped her but now she felt the full force of that grief all over again.
“I’ll go and get Tash, and we’ll head off.” Amy walked over to the door before Holly could notice anything was up. Usually she had good radar for upset staff but it’d clearly been knocked off course by bridezilla.
“Thanks Amy,” Holly called out after her.
Amy walked into the dorm room. Tash was lying on her back on her bunk, listening to her iPod. Amy waved to catch her attention and Tash removed her headphones.
“You’re not going out tonight are you?” Amy asked.
“No, thought I’d have a night in. You okay?”
“I’m fine.” Amy shrugged. Maybe if she said it enough times it would come true. “But I need your help. Holly’s stressed out. She wants us to take some stuff up to the Hotel Paradis…where the…well, where the bride is staying.”
Tash whistled. “Josh’s intended you mean? And you agreed?”
“I don’t see how I had any choice but anyway, Holly is stressed so of course I said yes. It’s not fair to ask her to get the others to do it, because they did dinner tonight.
Tash swung her legs over the side of the bunk and climbed down. “I bet you’re curious. Don’t you want to meet the woman who’s marrying your ex? Suss out the competition?”
“She’s not the competition,” Amy said quickly. “I’m not into splitting up relationships. That’s even if I wanted Josh back. Which I don’t.”
She’d been cheated on, post Josh, and it wasn’t something she could do to another woman.
Tash laughed and winked. “Honest guv. I believe you. Thousands wouldn’t.”
Heat crept up Amy’s neck. “Shall we get ready to go then? I think we’ll have to bother with our ski jackets and scarves, it’s freezing out there tonight.”
“And pretty hot in here if your face is anything to go by.” Tash smirked and pulled a hoodie on over her long sleeved t-shirt. “Okay, okay, I’ll shut up.”
“Chance’d be a fine thing,” Amy muttered.
“I promise, no more teasing. Not for ooh, at least ten minutes.” Tash linked her arm through Amy’s.
“That long, eh?” Amy stuck her tongue out at her as they headed for their coats. “Let’s just get this over and done with.”
They trudged through the snow, their breath visible in the freezing night air that stung their cheeks and made their noses run – the only parts left exposed to the elements. Christmas trees outside shops were decorated with twinkling white lights or classic red bows. Perhaps they stopped you at the border and confiscated any tacky tinsel or flashing Santas?
Bare branches of trees were also decorated with tiny white lights that reflected on the sparkling surface of the snow. But somehow Amy wasn’t feeling very Christmassy.
“So, what’s the plan then?” Tash asked.
“We leave these boxes at reception and make a run for it,” Amy replied.
“Really?” Tash turned to look at her. “You don’t want to see what she looks like?”
“I’m not sure.” Amy sighed, kicking at the fresh snowfall not yet cleared from the pavements. “Part of me wants to. Maybe I should get it over with? Perhaps it would help me…you know, accept it?”
I need to find a way to goodbye forever. I have to let go.
“Closure?” Tash asked.
“Hmm,” Amy mumbled.
Funny how the impending wedding felt more like a funeral. In a way it was a funeral for her - a death of all the hopes she’d secretly been hanging on to. But she had to accept she’d been wrong with her conviction that she and Josh were meant to be together, that somehow he’d come back to her. Did her believing that mean she really did forgive him, deep down?”
She aimed another kick at a fresh snowdrift and almost lost her footing.
“Hey, careful there? Was that Josh’s head you were imagining by any chance?” Tash asked.
“No, I was just thinking about all those films where they go on about ‘the one’ and how ‘it’s meant to be.’ I blame them. It’s all a load of crap basically, isn’t it?” Amy smiled grimly.
“You’re still really into him aren’t you?” Tash asked quietly.
“Yes.” The truth escaped her lips before Amy could shoot back the bolt to keep it in.
“Can you forgive him for whatever he did to hurt you so much?” Tash stopped walking and had turned to face Amy. “I know you didn’t tell us everything. You didn’t need to. We’ve all been there in one way or the other.”
Who had hurt Tash? It didn’t seem the right
time to ask.
“I’ve been asking the same question and the thing is, I don’t know,” Amy answered honestly. “He wasn’t there for me when I really needed him. I can’t help thinking if he’d been there then things might’ve been different.”
Amy felt tears pressing at her eyelids and blinked them back fiercely.
I am not going to be depressed again. I’m simply not. Don’t I know better by now than to waste time on the ‘if onlys?’
“Unless he hit you, cheated on you, stole from you or turned out to be married to someone else I’d say it’s worth trying to forgive him.” Tash rested her boxes on an icy railing, her face sombre. “It’s up to you of course but I bet you’d feel better if you did.”
Amy looked hard at Tash. “God, what type of men have you been out with Tash? No, don’t answer that. What about revenge? I thought you believed in it.”
“Of course.” Tash grinned, her serious expression vanishing as she carried on walking towards the centre of Verbier. “You punish him first and then you forgive him, obviously.”
“Oh, right.” Amy trudged on through the fresh snow, her feet dragging as the Hotel Paradis came closer into view. Her heart rate increased to a persistent thrumming against her ribcage. If only she could have Tash’s no-nonsense approach to life. She always seemed to have an answer for everything.
“Ready?” Tash raised an eyebrow as they approached the revolving doors.
Amy nodded and they made their way to reception. She kept a look out for anyone who could possibly be Juliet.
“Hi there, Niall,” Tash flashed a smile at the night duty receptionist. Amy recognised the Irish guy by the fair complexion and freckles that gave away that he wasn’t a native. She’d seen him out and about in town. There were so many different nationalities in this town it was often easier to try English first, before her rusty school French. “We’ve got these boxes for a Miss…what’s her name Amy?”
“Juliet Davidson.” Amy put her boxes onto the reception counter. “Can we just leave them here and go?”
Niall pulled a face. “No, I’m afraid not. She gave specific instructions they were to be brought straight up to her room. It’s room number three one two. I’d help you with the boxes only I can’t leave the desk.”
“Oh.” Amy hesitated. If she’d thought her heart was beating rapidly when she entered the hotel now her pulse raced so fast she felt faint.
“We’ll go straight up. Thanks Niall. Maybe we’ll catch you later for a drink?” Tash made her way to the lifts and Amy reluctantly followed her.
“Not tonight, I’m on duty until six a.m.” Niall winked at Amy and lowered his voice. “Maybe another night. Good luck with the bride-to-be, I’ll be here if you need to sound off afterwards.”
Great, yet more confirmation that Juliet was difficult. What on earth was Josh doing marrying someone like that? Maybe it was the wedding stress making her ‘difficult.’ Weddings did turn some quite ordinary woman into bridezillas.
After all, her own sister had turned into a complete nightmare. No one had so much as exhaled in the family home until Emily had set off on her honeymoon.
She trudged towards the lift.
“Hurry up Amy.” Tash awkwardly balanced the boxes while pressing the door hold button.
Amy reluctantly hurried towards the lift and stepped in. Once the doors had closed she checked her reflection in the mirror and hastily took off her faux fur hat, then ran her fingers through her hair in a futile attempt to neaten it up.
She turned to Tash. “The last thing I need right now is hat-hair.”
“Here.” Tash put the boxes on the floor and reached into her bag, handing her a lipstick. “Put this on while you’re at it.”
Amy took it, not wanting to say she never usually wore lipstick, only lip gloss or a slick of Vaseline. She put it on anyway and had to admit the bright red shade looked good, defining her lips. Somehow it gave her more confidence. Lipstick girl wouldn’t take any crap from bridezillas.
“I don’t think there’s any way she’ll know who I am, do you?” Amy said, suddenly nervous.
“Maybe not but you need to be prepared for her finding out.” Tash shrugged. “We’ve got the advantage on her – the element of surprise is very important in psychological warfare.”
“Warfare?” Amy laughed. “Surely it’s not as bad as all that?”
The doors opened onto the third floor and she stepped out, her heart beating hard in her chest.
“Of course it is,” Tash said. “What would you do without me? Even if you don’t want Josh back this is still a competition.”
“Hmm, I suppose.” Amy took a deep breath in to relax her body. “You’re right about one thing – I am lucky to have you.”
“No problem.” Tash walked briskly towards room three one two. “I’ve been there myself. I know how much it can help to have the right friends around.”
Before Amy could ask her about it Tash had knocked on the door.
“Come in,” A posh voice ordered imperiously from inside the room.
Tash raised her eyebrows and knocked again. After all they didn’t have a key card to let themselves in, and their arms were full of boxes.
“Oh for God’s sake.” A woman Amy presumed to be Juliet swung the door open.
Whatever Amy had been expecting it hadn’t been this. She might as well be looking in a mirror – Juliet was petite like her, with fair skin and hair and green, cat-like eyes.
She looks like me.
Albeit a better groomed, more polished and older version of herself. How Amy might look if she had the time and money to lavish on her appearance. Amy’s head buzzed.
Josh picked someone who looked like me!
The thoughts consumed her so much she actually forgot to speak.
“Well?” Juliet snapped. “Can’t you talk or something?”
It was tempting to pretend she was in fact mute, just to wrong-foot Juliet. But it would be a hard pretence to keep up long-term.
“Hi there,” Tash said, not remotely bothered by Juliet’s irritable glare. “We’ve come from Chalet Repos. Holly sent us with some things you wanted.”
“Well obviously.” Juliet scowled. “I’d have thought you’d have the brains to ask reception for a key card. Well I suppose you’re here now. Bring them in then.”
Amy walked into the room and smiled awkwardly at the group of women sitting on the sofa and chairs. She put her boxes on the dressing table and floor and shot a desperate look at Tash.
“Let’s go.” Amy mouthed.
They headed back to the door but Juliet barred their way. “And where the hell do you think you’re going?”
“Sorry?” Amy met Juliet’s eye, startled and irritated she’d automatically apologised. She wished she hadn’t, now. All she could think about was Josh making love to Juliet and she couldn’t erase those images from her mind.
Juliet tutted. “Well obviously I need you to serve the food and take notes so you can report back to Holly whatever her name is. Where is your notebook?”
Amy felt almost compelled to look in her pockets, even though she knew for a fact she didn’t have a notebook anywhere.
“I’ll take notes on my phone.” Tash pulled a smartphone out of her pocket. “We’ll take the boxes out on the balcony to get them organised and bring things in then. We weren’t expecting to do more than deliver them so we’ll need a minute to prepare.”
“Honestly,” Juliet huffed. “Josh convinced me to give this ski-themed wedding a try and I thought ‘why not’? It sounded different but I’m not convinced that girl knows what she’s doing.”
“The wedding last year went without a hitch.” Tash replied, a hint of steel in her voice.
Amy felt too angry to trust herself to speak. They moved out onto the freezing balcony but they hadn’t even closed the doors before they heard one of Juliet’s friends comment. “She obviously can’t get the staff.”
Amy realised she was grinding her teeth and had
to resist the urge to slam the doors shut behind them.
“What a bitch.” Tash rolled her eyes dramatically.
“Shh, she’ll hear us,” Amy hissed.
“And your point is?” Tash grinned.
“And I can’t believe you didn’t tell her to piss off.”
“I told you, this is warfare, we’re gathering information, getting to know our enemy.” Tash said. “And she’s a bitch. Don’t tell me you missed that?”
“She could be stressed out by the wedding. Lots of brides become a bit…stressy.” Amy knelt down and began to open up the boxes to work out what was in them. She tried to locate the food samples first.
Tash leant against the balcony railing, seemingly unbothered. “Don’t make excuses for her, a bitch is a bitch. Trust me, my bitch radar never fails.”
“But Josh wouldn’t marry a bitch, he’s lov…too nice.” Amy’s cheeks burned with heat despite the cold night air.
I nearly said he was lovely. Get over it Amy. He’s marrying her and that’s that.
“She’s not a woman’s woman. I bet she behaves quite differently around men. I’d put money on Josh knowing a different Juliet.” Tash moved unhurriedly to the boxes and took the film-covered platters of mini-rostis and raclette while Amy picked up the plate with the very tempting Swiss chocolates.
How can Josh be marrying that woman? How?
“I don’t know why we’re serving these to her. It’s a bit late to change her mind.” Amy felt her heart sink down to her boots as they headed back into the room. “Holly will go ballistic if any drastic changes are made at this stage.”
When they entered the room Juliet kept her back to them and continued her conversation with her friends even though she must’ve felt the draught of icy air from the open doors. Then she waved a hand at them impatiently, signalling they should bring the platters over, but still didn’t turn to look at them.
Amy knew Juliet had no idea who she was. She was like the snooty guests they get at Chalet Repos occasionally, the ones to whom all staff were invisible.
Revenge of a Chalet Girl Page 5
