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Back The Chalet Save as PDF
Chapters (75)
  1. Cover
  2. Praise for The Chalet
  3. Dedication
  4. PART ONE
  5. 1
  6. 2
  7. 3
  8. 4
  9. 5
  10. 6
  11. 7
  12. 8
  13. 9
  14. 10
  15. 11
  16. 12
  17. 13
  18. 14
  19. 15
  20. 16
  21. 17
  22. 18
  23. 19
  24. 20
  25. 21
  26. PART TWO
  27. 22
  28. 23
  29. 24
  30. 25
  31. 26
  32. 27
  33. 28
  34. 29
  35. PART THREE
  36. 30
  37. 31
  38. 32
  39. 33
  40. 34
  41. 35
  42. 36
  43. 37
  44. 38
  45. 39
  46. 40
  47. 41
  48. 42
  49. 43
  50. 44
  51. 45
  52. 46
  53. 47
  54. 48
  55. 49
  56. 50
  57. 51
  58. 52
  59. 53
  60. 54
  61. 55
  62. 56
  63. 57
  64. 58
  65. 59
  66. 60
  67. 61
  68. 62
  69. 63
  70. Epilogue
  71. Acknowledgements
  72. Keep Reading …
  73. Prologue
  74. About the Author
  75. About the Publisher

‘No! No, of course not,’ Simon says, clapping Matt on the back effusively. ‘I’m only sorry my wife has wasted your time in this way.’ He emphasizes wife in a way which couldn’t have sounded more sneering if he’d tried – he might as well have said ‘stupid little wife’ and be done with it.

Cass is fussing over Inigo and pretending she isn’t listening, but I see her redden and tears brim at Simon’s words.

‘It’s honestly fine,’ Matt reiterates magnanimously. ‘I’ll pop by for a drink later in case there’s anything you need.’

As soon as Matt is out of the door, Simon’s face darkens. ‘Right. Well, now you’re back, Cass, I should go and find Hugo and tell him the good news that you’re here. Can’t have him tramping around in this weather for no good reason.’ Simon gives Cass a final disparaging look – she is still dandling Inigo on her knee and pretends not to notice – before he storms out of the chalet, banging the door behind him.

Cass looks up at me. ‘I’m sorry if I worried you, Ria.’ She looks back at the baby and I see the tears which were brimming fill her eyes and roll slowly down her cheeks.

I sit down next to her. Though I barely know Cass at all, right at this moment I feel sorry for her. Anyone would.

‘Are you OK?’ I say, lamely. ‘Can I get you anything?’

She shakes her head. ‘I’m fine. I’m sorry for causing a fuss. All I wanted was a bit of time to myself.’

She hands the baby back to Sarah, who takes him and stands over by the window as if she’s looking out at the view. I wonder if she is listening to our conversation. I pat Cass gently on the knee and say ‘I understand’, though it’s not true because I don’t understand at all. Sarah seems to have Inigo most of the time so I’m not sure what the problem is for Cass or why she feels she needs time to herself. Perhaps she means time away from Simon – that I can understand.

Another couple of fat tears roll down her cheeks and she swipes them away with the heels of her hands. ‘It’s weird being here,’ she almost whispers, her voice hoarse. ‘Simon came here a long time ago with an old girlfriend. I know it’s silly, but … I hate things like that. I keep wondering if he had a better time with her than he’s having now with me and Inigo.’ She looks down, as if embarrassed by her outburst, having suddenly confided in me, unbidden. She wipes her face again.