The Book Club Hotel by Sarah Morgan

Author:Sarah Morgan
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2023-06-21T12:18:26+00:00

THIRTEEN

Erica

Faced with a crisis, Erica felt more in control than she had for weeks.

The subject of her father, making contact with her sister, the confusing emotions—that all tied her up in knots. But this—this, she could handle. This was a crisis that required clear thinking and action, and that was her strength. She had the ability to cut through emotions and drama and see what needed to be done. She knew she could help Hattie.

And maybe she could calm her conscience at the same time because she felt awful about the way she’d reacted when Hattie had knocked on her door. It hadn’t crossed her mind that Hattie might know of her existence, but clearly she’d been told about Madeleine.

She heard her mother’s voice in her head.

We each chose a name. He chose Madeleine, I chose Erica. Madeleine Erica. You became Erica the moment he walked out that door.

She owed Hattie an apology, but that would have to wait because right now she didn’t like what she was seeing.

Hattie had held it together well during that unpleasant exchange with Stephanie, but now she looked as if she might crumble on the spot. Stephanie’s vicious attack had made so many holes in her self-esteem you could almost see the confidence draining away. Her eyes had a glassy look and her breathing was fast and shallow.

Erica reckoned she was a few short breaths away from a full-blown panic attack.

She opened her mouth to speak, but Noah got there first.

“You handled that well, Hattie. I almost cheered. I bet everyone else did, too.” He put his hand on her shoulder. “It’s okay. Everything is fine.”

Erica would have said the same herself, only without the shoulder rub.

Unfortunately, neither seemed to soothe Hattie.

“Everything is not fine.” There was a note of hysteria in her voice and she breathed in short, rapid snatches. “I just lost my housekeeper and apparently, I’ve already lost my chef, only unlike Stephanie he didn’t have the courtesy to shout at me before he drove into the sunset.”

Noah’s hand was still on her shoulder, strong and supportive. “A housekeeper who has been giving you grief for two years, and a chef who constantly behaved like a toddler midtantrum.”

“Maybe, but he’s a great chef.” Hattie wrapped her arms around her middle. “Brent thought he was a creative genius.”

“He was unpredictable and a liability.” Noah was blunt. “And as for Stephanie, you did what needed to be done. Said what needed to be said. Not easy. I was proud of you.”

Hattie didn’t appear to hear him. She didn’t seem aware of anything that was going on around her. “She’s right.” She muttered the words to herself. “I have let Brent down. I’ve tried to keep things going the way he wanted them, to do the things he would have done, but I’ve failed. I’ve lost his two key members of staff. He was excited when he appointed them. He said that they’d really put the place on the map. And they’re gone because of me.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.