Christmas at Prescott Inn by Cathryn Parry

Author:Cathryn Parry
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2018-09-11T19:19:48+00:00

* * *

BEFORE EMILIE HEADED to Nathan’s house with Claude’s dessert, she stopped by Katya’s room and knocked.

Sergei answered the door.

“Is Katya here?” Emilie asked.

He nodded silently and then stepped back for her to enter.

Katya was curled up on one of the double beds.

“I’m going to be out of the hotel for a couple of hours for a meeting. But I wanted to check up on you before I leave,” Emilie said softly. She sat on the bed beside her. “Katya, when I was at the town clinic today, I saw that they have a counselor on staff. If you’d like me to bring you to meet with the counselor for any reason, then just let me know.”

“I’m fine.”

Emilie leaned closer. “You can talk to me. I’ll help you how I can.”

“I’m most worried about sending money home to my mother. Our contract here is so tentative. Everything is fine, yes?”

Emilie swallowed. “Yes.”

“Will we be ready on time for our show?”

They had to be ready. As far as Katya was concerned, her costumes seemed to have all come in too small, but with some quick seamstress work on Emilie’s part, that could be easily rectified.

“We will be ready,” Emilie said firmly. “Are you okay with the choreography so far?”

“I am glad to have no spotlights on me. Or to be on a moving ship.”

“Do you mind the cold here?”

Katya shrugged. “It’s nothing.”

Katya and Sergei had been smart. They’d used their company money to purchase warm practice clothing, unlike some of the other skaters.

“Well,” Emilie said, straightening, “I’m going into town for my meeting. Is there anything I can bring you?” It concerned her that Katya and Sergei had been keeping themselves apart from everyone else. This wasn’t how they’d acted on the ship. Then again, on the ship, they’d been part of a vibrant community of crew members who also came from their home country.

“I’m fine,” Katya repeated. Emilie was at a loss for how to help her.

Emilie glanced up at Sergei, who was quietly studying Katya.

“Um, Sergei,” Emilie asked, “would you mind letting me talk privately with Katya for a moment? I would appreciate that.” She smiled brightly at him, and though she got a distinct inkling that he understood what she’d said, he didn’t move until Katya translated Emilie’s words for him.

When they were alone, Emilie whispered to Katya. “What is really going on to make you so sad? You can tell me. It’s safe now. It does have something to do with Sergei, doesn’t it?”

Katya closed her eyes and leaned back on the pillow. “Yes.”

“You’re not upset about your mother?”

“Oh, that is true, I am always worried for my mother. But at the moment, it’s Sergei.”

“Has he done something?” Emilie asked cautiously.

“No. It’s just that I don’t love him. He is merely a friend. When we were on the ship, we had our friends. Now, he only has me.”

“Does he know how you feel?”

“Yes.” Katya nodded. “I tell him.”

That was why he’d looked so miserable in practice. “Katya, how can I help you with this problem? It’s important to me that you’re happy.

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