Page 78 of A Billionaire for Christmas
‘Fuck me,’ exclaimed Lucca, plonking himself down heavily onto the sofa. ‘What a night. Poor Papa. I hope he’s going to be okay.’
‘Me too,’ agreed Freda, chewing her nail. ‘Mother must be really worried. I thought she was going to tell us she loved us at one point.’
Levi stifled a chuckle. ‘Shock does strange things to a person. That was quite the unsolicited outpouring of apologies and regret.’ He pulled Molly down to the sofa next to him. ‘You were brilliant. So cool under pressure. You knew exactly what to do and when to do it.’ He gave her an admiring look.
‘That’s the benefit of having eight years of running a busy kitchen under my belt, a nurse for a mother and a father in recovery from a heart attack. I’ve been through this before. Armand is in good hands. The quicker he gets to hospital, the quicker he’ll recover and be up and about. Usually within a couple of days.’
‘Thank you, Molly. I needed to hear that.’ Freda curled up next to Lucca and Toby on the sofa opposite. ‘And sorry about your own father. Is he okay?’
‘He’s fine. He’s recuperating somewhere in the Caribbean. He and Mum are on a cruise.’
‘So you’re on your own for Christmas?’
Molly deliberately avoided Levi’s gaze. ‘My, erm, plans kind of changed recently. I had intended to spend the day in the kitchen at the main resort hotel, but now I’ll be free to…’
…spend the day on my own, trying to get the deeds to my apartment and restaurant back.
Levi tightened his grip on her hand.
‘Do you have to leave tomorrow?’ Freda pleaded. ‘I was so looking forward to you teaching me to cook. I’ve really enjoyed it.’
Molly let out an involuntary snigger. ‘I’m not sure we have enough eggs left. You went through sixteen this morning to make one poached egg. If I ever do open a cooking school, please never swing by.’
Freda laughed. ‘See? I need you. You’re the only person who’s honest with me. Levi, ask her to stay.’
It occurred to Molly that she hadn’t felt this level of warmth, excitement, frustration, abhorrence, worry or, indeed, overwhelming horniness, in a long, long time. She’d become a numb husk just getting by on a mix of gloomy despair and lethargy towards sorting out her business. And she had Levi and his bonkers family to thank for it. They’d woken her from the emotional coma she’d been in since Ava died. She glanced shyly at Levi. She was feeling all the feels, and it felt like her body was making up for lost time. Being snowed in here at the lodge, around this madcap family with all their drama, was infectious.
Levi put his arm around Molly’s shoulder. ‘I know I haven’t been the easiest person to get on with. I’m truly sorry for being such a jerk about everything. But would you please consider staying for Christmas?’
‘Is that because you suspect I cook the best Christmas dinner on the planet, or because you need me to save you from Freda’s undercooked turkey and salmonella poisoning?’
‘Both.’
Lucca groaned. ‘Please, Molly. Please stay. Levi is so much nicer when you are around. I’ve never heard him so much as apologise to anyoneever. Youmuststay. Forever, if possible.’
Molly gazed at Levi sitting next to her, every bone in her body screaming to say yes. ‘I’d love to stay, but I have something very important to do tomorrow.’
‘The bucket list? What’s the deadline?’ Levi asked.
‘Tomorrow at 6p.m. I’ll never get it done unless I spend all day doing it.’
‘Bucket list? On Christmas Eve?’ Lucca exclaimed. ‘Sounds fun.’
‘We’ll help,’ offered Freda. ‘But why the deadline?’
Molly explained about her friend, the list, the restaurant and the solicitor and was amazed to find her tear ducts intact. For the first time, she could talk about her situation without having an emotional breakdown.
‘We can do that no problem,’ Lucca assured her. ‘Then you can email the evidence through before the deadline.’
Molly felt a swell of gratitude for the people around her.
Toby glanced repeatedly at Freda before Molly saw him pluck up the courage to speak to her. ‘I’m sorry to hear that Reuben called the wedding off.’
Freda inhaled noisily. ‘I think deep down I knew it was coming. I just didn’t know what to replace him with, if that makes any sense. I’m trying to find my passion. Something that I’m good at.’
‘Well, it’s obviously not cooking,’ laughed Lucca.
‘Something will come to you. You’ve got a lot to offer,’ Toby said warmly.
