Page 77 of A Billionaire for Christmas
They watched, trance-like, as the paramedics unpacked equipment, did a variety of checks and spoke to Armand about the heart condition he had clearly been hiding from his entire family.
Suddenly, Freda was nudging Levi out of the way to throw her arms around Molly. ‘Thank you. Thank you so much. And I’m so sorry about you taking the blame for the vodka.’
Molly raised her eyebrows.
‘And the wine mix-up, I knew it wasn’t you. And for burning the lunch yesterday while I was drunk. And for not telling anyone that the wedding is off.’
Levi looked incredulous. ‘You all stood by and let Molly take the blame?’
‘The wedding isoff?’ screeched Valerie. ‘Since when?’
‘Since Reuben dumped me this morning.’
‘Why didn’t you tell me? I’ve gone and booked Hotel Du Pont on Lake Garda. It’s the only way I could get Celine Dion to commit.’
Freda put a hand on her hip. ‘See? No wonder Rooby got cold feet. He had no say whatsoever in his own wedding.’
Lucca cleared his throat. ‘While we’re at it, it was me that opened the expensive wine. Molly was covering for me and Toby.’
Just then, Toby ran through to witness the scene. ‘What happened? I had my AirPods in.’
Levi looked furious. ‘Not one of us has treated you with the respect you deserve, Molly. Shame on the lot of us.’
‘Can we keep the family theatrics down, please?’ boomed one of the paramedics. ‘Your father’s heart rate just shot up.’ They worked diligently to strap him into the stretcher and repack their emergency kits. ‘We’ll ready him for transportation to Geneva HUG. It’s the nearest hospital. They have a bed and a medical team on standby. Who’s going with him?’
‘I will,’ said Valerie. She made eye contact with Armand, and they exchanged a knowing look. ‘We’ve been married nearly forty years. He’s not getting out of it this easily.’
Valerie walked over to Molly. She stood stiffly in front of her. ‘I, too, am sorry for the things I said.’
Levi cleared his throat loudly.
‘And the things I asked you to do.’ Valerie looked down and clasped her trembling hands together. ‘This is not the LeRoux family’s finest moment. Thank you for saving my husband’s life. We owe you.’
Molly shook her head. ‘No, you don’t. You absolutely don’t. I hope he recovers quickly and that you get to have your family Christmas.’
Valerie tilted her head. ‘You’re leaving?’
‘Petra messaged me earlier. The pass should be open tomorrow, and my replacement will arrive before the evening.’ It was all very bittersweet but probably for the best.
Valerie looked genuinely sad at the news. ‘But I didn’t ask her to replace you. I know I said I would, but I didn’t.’
Before anyone could say anything, the paramedics lifted Armand up and yelled instructions for everyone to stop bickering and open doors, and to pack his overnight bag and to gather all his medication to take to the hospital and to say their goodbyes.
‘I’ll come with you,’ Levi said to his mother. It was only when Levi let go and walked towards Valerie that Molly realised he had been holding her hand the whole time.
Valerie smiled, then looked across at Molly. ‘No. I’ll be fine. You stay here. I’ll ring you from the hospital.’
‘Are you sure?’ he asked.
‘Positive.’ Valerie went around each of her children and hugged them tight, leaving them gobsmacked. ‘Freda, call me, darling. I want to know everything that happened with Reuben.’
They went outside to wave them off. As the helicopter lifted into the dark night, a shooting star shot across the sky.
Thanks, Ava, prayed Molly silently.
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