Revenge of a Chalet Girl: by Lorraine Wilson

weather is like.” Tash shrugged. “Who cares? We’ve got the day off and don’t have to cook tonight, that’s all that matters.”
    Amy stared down at her feet, cheeks burning. She couldn’t share her plan to stop the wedding with Tash, or anyone for that matter; they’d only try to talk her out of it. Not that she had much of a plan yet. She just had to use the time to think.
    “Is it Josh?” Tash asked.
    “Ssh.” Amy grabbed Tash’s arm, glancing anxiously behind them, hoping no one had heard. “Not now please Tash. This really is hard enough already without the whole world knowing about it.”
    Tash raised an impressive eyebrow at her, scarlet eye shadow accentuating her cat like eyes and making them seem even bluer than usual.
    Amy knew what that eyebrow meant.
    ‘Later’.
    Tash wasn’t about to let her off the hook for too long. Amy’s mouth tightened. She was going to stop the wedding with or without her blessing.
    Amy reached into her bag for her purse. Retail therapy was not her first choice of distraction for dealing with stress but if the ski lifts were going to be closed…
    “Amy, can I have a word?” Amelia touched Amy’s arm, making her jump.
    “Sure.” Amy eyed Amelia warily.
    Not another intervention? But that was more Tash’s style than Amelia’s.
    “Is there anything between you and Matt?” Amelia asked, her cheeks flushed unnaturally pink. “Only I saw you two kissing the other night and um…we’ve been getting on really well.”
    Amy breathed out in relief. So that was it. It was a little galling that Matt could transfer his affections so rapidly. But she was pleased. Matt was a nice guy and who knew? He might smooth off some of Amelia’s sharper corners.
    “No, not at all.” Amy smiled. “He’s all yours Amelia. Go for it.”
    “Er, thanks.” Amelia’s features softened into a smile as she sat down on the lower bunk and took out her make-up bag.
    How easy it would be if I could fall for someone unattached and let Josh go.
    For a moment Amy wavered. But this wasn’t about her, it was about protecting Josh.
    Or was it? Really? Amy stared at her reflection in her own compact mirror. A pale face stared back at her, a sleepless night evident in her bloodshot eyes. Was she lying to herself?
    Just a little bit, maybe. She wanted to protect Josh but she also wanted…more. Amy pushed down a surge of emotion.
    Not now, I can’t deal with thinking about the future now.
    The lakeshore at Montreux was crowded, the path lined with lit wooden chalet stalls. The Alps on the other side of the lake were swathed in thick angry cloud but above Montreux the sky was clear, the air biting and crisp.
    Amy pulled her scarf around her neck, tucking it into her coat to keep out the cold air, her eyes drawn to the exquisitely made Christmas decorations, the nutcracker soldiers and gingerbread houses. She’d already bought some quirky felt purses from a stall in the Mongolian Yurt. They’d do as presents for the girls and Holly. The handmade soaps and scrumptious looking Swiss chocolates looked great too; her mum would love them, not that she’d get them home in time for Christmas.
    She’d enjoyed seeing the re-enacted medieval market at Chateau Chillon while Scott had gone off in search of his reindeer contact but her French hadn’t been up to understanding the commentaries and story telling.
    Reindeers? For frick’s sake!
    Poor Scott and Holly being bombarded with all these last minute demands. What next? Would Juliet insist Father Christmas drove the sleigh?
    This market at Montreux was more her thing – shiny, sparkly, pretty things. Delicate strings of flower-lights caught her attention. She wanted to buy a couple of sets but where would she put them? Maybe it was time to look for a job where she could rent her own place, however tiny.
    They all wandered into the large covered food court next to the Ferris wheel, passing trees decorated with tiny white lights, sparkling against bare