Читать книгу Five Ladies Go Skiing: A feel-good novel of friendship and love - Karen Aldous - Страница 18

Emerging before us were cute wood and stone chalets blanketed in snow, scattering the landscape among modern concrete and newer, wooden high-end chalets, with glass gable walls. Despite the hostility of the roaring grey rocks, I was surprised to see a glowing sunny village populated with traffic and people bustling around with bags, cases or skis. The pretty scene began melting my fears and as we slowed and inched closer, I saw a young family, rosy-cheeked and bursting with vigour and laughter, strolling alongside our car.

‘It’s so vibrant,’ I said, feeling the glare of all the surrounding snow hit my eyes. I pulled down my sunglasses. ‘And busy. I can’t believe the number of cars that are here.’

Lou looked over with a reassuring glint in her eye before pulling down a pair of Ted Bakers off her head and setting them on her nose. ‘Beautiful, isn’t it?’

I smiled back.

‘Don’t worry, you’ll barely see any cars tomorrow,’ Angie said. ‘It’s change-over day so they’ll all be parked up by tonight. You may get some locals drive up in the morning.’

‘It’s not what I imagined,’ Cathy added, opening her window and blasting the neat line of her bobbed hair. ‘I thought we would be in a lonely little hamlet with only chamois for company.’

I raised my arms and stretched out, whacking Lou on the arm. ‘Sorry, Lou! Me too. Isn’t it strange how you build a picture in your mind – but there’s plenty of life here by the look of it.’

‘And wine.’ Lou’s pearly-white teeth beamed at me. ‘I can’t wait. You look considerably more awake now. You OK?’

‘Yes. Thank you, again.’ I smiled. Lou had asked so many times, and so many times I’d nearly caved in. That was why I found it easier to be on my own at home. I didn’t have to answer their questions, deal with the fussing. I didn’t want my thoughts and privacy invaded. I was safe and not forced to talk about Mike because I really didn’t know who Mike was anymore. Maybe I was afraid that one of them would tell me the truth about him. I don’t know that I wanted to hear it. I was safer on my own. I could think and torment myself without being questioned or judged. And no one could judge Mike because his behaviour wasn’t up for discussion.

Although, I feared, this week with friends, my emotions could tumble out so easily. And while my friends would understand, what would be the point? We were on holiday. I would only dampen their enthusiasm and they were so fired up, however anxious they were about skiing for the first time – apart from Angie, of course.

And what difference would it make to them if they did know about Mike? It was my problem – why would I put myself through the humiliation? He was gone, and nothing was going to change what he did. I sighed, feeling in desperate need of that wine.

‘What is that huge building there?’ I asked spotting a monstrous concrete structure with lots of steps.

Angie didn’t even look up. ‘That’s got to be the lift station. That’s where we get the gondola, the lift to the top. And just along here on our left we should see Kim. Ah, is that her?’