Page 10 of Reunion at Mistletoe Lodge
“Wait!” Liam called after them as they started to walk away. “We really can’t leave here.”
“Mr. Shields,” the driver of the mystery limo called to him. “Sorry, Sir, but if we don’t leave now, you’re going to be late.”
Emily stopped and swung them back around to face Liam. “You may as well phone and cancel your date because I’m not joking when I say I want you out of here in two hours.”
“Can we speak about this?” Liam implored, his eyes darting from his driver to them. “Look, give me until the morning, then we can meet and discuss this.”
“There isnothingto discuss,Mr. Shields,” Emily told him frostily while Barb just stood watching the scene between her friend and Zac’s brother unfold. A strange numbness settled over her. “I’ll send someone to help you pack.”
Emily pulled Barb, and they stalked into the lodge, ignoring Liam. The warmth inside did nothing to thaw the ice around Barb’s heart.
“The nerve of that man!” Emily prickled and gave Barb an encouraging smile. “Are you okay?”
“Honestly, I don’t know.” Barb’s brows drew together. “I… I’m feeling quite numb and confused.”
“At least we’ve solved one mystery.” Emily tried to lighten the mood. “We now know whose limo that is.” She tilted her head to look past Barb, pointing to the vehicle before meeting Barb’s eyes. “Are you looking forme or Oscar?”
“You,” Barb said, forcing a smile and pulling Oscar’s inhaler from her pocket with shaky hands. “I forgot to give you Oscar’s inhaler.”
“Oh!” Emily took the device. “Rose has one similar.”
“You know how to use it?”
“I do,” Emily confirmed, taking the inhaler and slipping it into her pocket. “Why don’t you let me get you some of my grandmother’s special hot chocolate?” She whispered behind her hand. “She puts a splash of rum in it.”
Barb laughed. “Although that sounds really appealing, right now, I have to stay fully focused on Charlotte.” She swallowed down the burning lump and cleared her throat. “My kids, Christmas, and my friends are all I want to think about right now.”
“Of course,” Barb said, smiling. “At least have a normal cup then while we wait for Liam to leave.”
Barb nodded and followed Emily into the lodge's cozy living room, where two fireplaces on either side of the room crackled invitingly. Emily asked one of the staff members to get two hot chocolates and moved Barb to a cozy corner of the room where they could see the driveway.
“Was it just me, or did Liam try to get me to leave the lodge?” Barb asked in disbelief, giving her head a slight shake.
“No, you didn’t imagine that,” Emily assured her. “The douchebag actually tried to coerce you by offering to pay for your stay elsewhere.”
“Do you believe him about Zac?” Barb’s frown grew deeper. She was still not sure that Liam was who he claimed to be. “I know this is going to sound really strange. But for the life of me, I can’t shake the feeling that Liam is lying.”
“About Zac?” Emily looked at her curiously.
“No, about being Liam!”Barb stated.
“Oh!” Emily’s eyes widen in realization. “You mean you think the Liam who is standing in the driveway frantically talking on his phone,” she pointed out of the tinted windows, grinning at Liam’s obvious distress over something, “is actually Zac?”
“Yes.” Barb nodded, smiling at the waitress, who handed her a cup of steaming hot chocolate. “Thank you.”
The woman handed Emily a mug before leaving them.
“I’ve seen Zac’s brother on television, and I have to tell you that other than the expensive suit and slick hairstyle, Liam and Zac are identical,” Emily pointed out. “I’m not sure I’d be able to tell them apart if they were dressed alike.”
“I know my husband. And that man out there,” Barb pointed to Liam, “isnotLiam Shields but Zac. I know it in every inch of my being.”
“Then…” Emily said, her eyes glinting with mischief. “Let’s set out toprove it, and while doing so, we can figure out what the heck is going on with the Shields family.” She pulled an excited face. “A Christmas mystery!”
Barb’s eyes widened as she took a sip of the sweet, warm beverage, her heart skipping a beat at the idea. “How?” Her eyes searched Emily’s. “How do we prove he’s Zac and what he’s up to?”
“First, we bait and trap him,” Emily suggested with a shrug. “That’s the easy part. I saw the look that flashed in his eyes when you mentioned the divorce. So we can use that.”
“What do you have in mind?” Barb was getting drawn into Emily’s scheme.
