Nothing Left to Lose - Part Sixteen

Chapter Sixteen

The reality of life after Cosmo was a stark contrast to the weekend they’d shared. Work was fortunately quiet, and her overactive mind seemed to respond well, her ideas for the next clothing range were coming thick and fast, which could only be a good thing.

Outside of work, there were only two weeks until the wedding, and so Heidi was headlong into the preparation of both her mother’s, and her own dress every moment that she was home. The chaos mounted by the day as she tried to work out how to transport two such delicate yet bulky items too. On a more practical level, the day before she was due to fly she was still finishing her own dress, there was so much to do, and yet so little time.

She’d spoken to Cosmo at least once a day, often more like three times since he’d left her after such an amazing weekend. Whilst she was to be thrown to the wolves as part of the wedding party, he had the luxury of arriving on the morning of the wedding, knowing that his presence any earlier would only complicate things for both her and Eleni. He’d also booked into separate accommodation, a lodge across the valley, Eleni hadn’t told Cesare that their marriage was over yet, but he told Heidi that staying somewhere else would avoid any awkward situations with his soon to be ex-wife. He wasn’t about to be the one who told Cesare, and definitely not on his wedding day.

It angered Heidi that yet again Eleni’s well being was everyone’s concern, but she could see Cosmo’s point, but it didn’t mean she wouldn’t miss his presence during the difficult days with her family. But then, as Sadie was more than happy to remind her, if he wasn’t there, she wouldn’t have to hide her feelings, or see him close to his soon to be ex-wife, both things that seemed hugely impossible as she travelled through the air, destination Chamonix.

The flight was uneventful, and fortunately the dresses travelled safely, she checked them both as soon as she got through baggage claim. Nikos was there to meet her at the airport there, and she’d never been so glad to see a friendly face. She liked Nikos. He was different to the rest of the family, normal. 

                “How are you Heidi?” he asked, helping her load her bags into the car after a brief friendly hug.

                “Good thanks. How are you? Not long till you leave for Dubai?” She slid into the passenger seat and smiled.

He nodded, “no, can’t wait. I’ve just had some details on my accommodation. It looks fabulous there.”

                “But no drink!”

He laughed, “actually, there is some alcohol, but no it’s nothing like the culture I’m used to. What about you? I saw you on breakfast TV a few weeks ago. Not that I’m an avid watcher, but you caught my eye. Launching a range?”

He drove the car out of the airport, and Heidi answered, “thanks. It was a success, I’m going to New York in a few days to meet with a contact out there, been offered a perfect job. Just got to decide whether I can hack it Stateside.”

                “Wow!” he was indicating to pull out onto the highway, “Congratulations! This wedding seems to be a turning point for us all! Me to Dubai, you to New York, and then there’s Eleni, she’d heading to California, though she’s struggling with Cosmo, I don’t know if your mother told you?”

Heidi made the appropriate noises as he filled her in that bit of gossip. But he didn’t linger on his sister; instead he made her laugh with stories of Oxford life as he drove them up the mountains to the resort nestled deep in the Alps.

The A-frame hotel was just like she imagined it would be, nestled in the snow, an alpine picture postcard. The reception staff were uber efficient and within moments she was being helped to her room with her bags, and more importantly her mother’s wedding dress.

Stopping only briefly in the room, she unpacked her own dress, shaking out the travel creases, then gently and lovingly carried her mother’s dress to her room.

                “Emergency fitting!” she burst into the bedroom as he mother opened the door. Accepting an awkward hug she carried the packaged clothing to the bed. “Have you got the shoes?”

Her mother rushed in her wake, suddenly like an excited schoolgirl.

                “Yes. Of course, and the flowers are coming tomorrow.” As Heidi opened the dress bag, her mother sighed, “I can finally relax now.” As she ran her hand over the delicate fabric, she smiled, “I can’t thank you enough for this.” 

Not good with compliments, she gave an awkward smile, then helped her mother into the dress she’d made and stepped back. She looked beautiful, and as her mother looked at her in the full length mirror, she could see the tears welling in both their eyes. “You look stunning Mum.”

                “It’s beautiful!” her mother sighed, turning full circle, admiring herself in the mirror. “And it’s all thanks to you Heidi!” She turned to her daughter, “How can I ever thank you for this?”

Heidi smiled, “you don’t need to thank me. I like doing things for you! If I can’t make something for someone I love then I may as well give up on making things for anyone.”

Her mother swiped at a tear, then looked at Heidi, “I don’t really think that I’ve done enough for you over the years darling, we were always too far away....”

As much as Heidi had craved more attention from her family, more signs of love, she found this open display of affection far too uncomfortable. Yes her mother could have done tons more for her, but now wasn’t the time to discuss it. Would there ever be a right time?

How had it ever got to the point that they couldn’t even hug each other poignantly without awkwardness?

An hour after she arrived, the wedding rehearsal was held in the heated marquee in the gardens overlooking the snow capped mountains that framed the hotel. It was a breathtaking view and Heidi was speechless. Her mother was serene, Cesare was as charming as ever, Lucas and Nikos seemed like firm friends, so Heidi sat back and watched the family mechanics. The only people not present were Eleni and Cosmo; both were due to arrive the following day.

It left her with the afternoon to herself. She had never skied, and hadn’t been to a resort like this. So she headed to reception, and asked for some information.  There were various options for the non skier, and she booked herself on to a husky sled ride.

It was exhilarating to whizz through the crisp air, sliding over humps and troughs as the dogs ran excitedly. And she was flushed with excitement when she got back to the hotel. None of the family were near the dining room, but even though she’d only been in the hotel that day, she was more than glad to eat alone.

It was seven o’clock so she made her way to the bar. The warm hotel bar was full, lots of people had gathered to celebrate the end of a day of perfect skiing conditions. She took a glass of Glühwein, a warm spicy wine with a crystallised sugar stick, and headed out onto the veranda to drink it.

The tables there were toasty and warm from the over head heaters which also offered a little light in the pitch black night. As she sipped away avoiding eye contact from the groups of men all guzzling beer, through the window into the bar she noticed her brother arrive. She was about to move inside and join him, catch up as she’d barely spoken to him in months, when she realised he was looking towards the door, a silly grin on his face. There appreciating his gaze, in full dramatic, attention seeking pose was Eleni. Suddenly Heidi felt sick, she had no intention of them either seeing her, or joining her. So she slid around the terrace to another heated table, away from the main view of the lounge and relaxed.

Below her in the poorly lit snow, were three children building a snowman, not knowing that a man, she presumed their father was giggling as he squeezed handfuls of snow into snowballs ready to ambush them. The children feeling the snow hit them dissolved into giggles then the three attacked him and he let them wrestle him down to the ground where they scooped tons of snow over him laughing.

She couldn’t remember ever laughing like that with her parents, being carefree and laughing at nothing and everything, and that was a very sad fact. She drained her wine, preparing for an early night with French cable TV when her phone rang.

Looking at the screen she saw the name ‘George’ flash up on the screen and her heart pounded with excitement, George was her cover for Cosmo, it wasn’t as if she could risk his name flashing up on her phone when she was with her mother...not that she was very often.

Picking up the call she couldn’t hide the smile, “hey you!”

                “How is it?” his warm voice asked. “Torturous?”

She chuckled, “the rehearsal is done, I had a dog sled trip earlier, now I’m stuffed from dinner, sitting on a veranda overlooking the valley relaxing, alone. And it’s bliss! How are you?”

                “Cold!” he announced and she could hear the humour in his voice.

For a moment she didn’t process that, but he was meant to be in Rome, hardly THAT cold. Suddenly her heart lurched, “does that mean...?” her voice faded as she dared to hope.

He chuckled, “I got in early, and have checked into this lovely little lodge, just across the river from you. The fridge is full of champagne and I’m just looking for someone to share it with. Can you think of anyone beautiful and amazing who would join me?”

Her body burst into a humming anticipation; the thought of seeing him again was SO overwhelming. With a sigh, she gave a dramatic answer, “not really, so I suppose you’re stuck with me!”

He gave a really sexy chuckle, and her insides turned to jelly as he replied, “being stuck with you is something I would DEFINITELY say yes to!”

She shivered at the hint in his voice, “I’m on my way, give me directions.”

                “I can do better than that, come out of the hotel, down the hill. In front of you is a bridge, I’ll meet you there, as soon as you can!”

As she ended the call she couldn’t wipe the smile of her face. Cosmo was here, and he’d make everything ok, she knew that.