Revenge of a Chalet Girl: by Lorraine Wilson Page B

an honourable ‘out.’ And if she had to obtain that in a dishonourable way, well, so be it.
    But if he really wants to marry Juliet, he’ll marry her.
    A warm salty tear trickled down her cold cheek. Despite her scarf and gloves her fingers felt numb and she could barely feel her toes in her Ugg boots. Yet she couldn’t bring herself to care enough to move back to the fire or move about. The black cloud of depression seemed closer now, no longer on her distant horizon but hovering, waiting to blot out all the light in her world.
    “Amy?” Tash slipped onto the bench beside her. “Come here, sweetheart.”
    Amy leant towards her and Tash put her arms around her, the warmth and kindness broke through the barrier of restraint and Amy sobbed as she rested her head on Tash’s shoulder.
    After a few minutes Amy lifted her head and fumbled in her coat pockets for a tissue, eventually locating one.
    “Sorry.” She blew her nose.
    “You have to let him go.” Tash said.
    “Maybe, maybe not. I’ve got a plan,” Amy replied.
    And then, as the sun slid down behind the mountains, she sat with Tash beneath the darkening sky and told her what she was intending to do.

CHAPTER SIX
    Amy knew she had to do everything she could to stop Juliet getting her hands on Josh and Josh’s money. If his parents weren’t around to look out for him she would have to do the job.
    His explanation had swept away the remaining lingering anger she’d directed towards Josh. But wasn’t she really just furious at life? She’d turned it all on Josh because that was easier, less scary than admitting life could be capricious and unfair. That people you loved could be suddenly whisked away from you by death or by simply choosing to walk away…
    But if anyone could understand that it would be Josh. Having lost his parents like that…well, if she explained about her depression she had a feeling he, of all people, would understand.
    Life was difficult enough without toxic people and Amy was sure Juliet was toxic.
    Josh was too damn decent, that was the problem.
    It was just as well Amy wasn’t above a bit of scheming herself then.
    And luckily for Amy, Juliet was arrogant. She’d treated Tash and Amy like invisible nobodies. Probably how she treated all staff, merely a part of the background.
    She’d thought she might have to stake out the mountain cantine today to spy on Juliet. After all, everyone stopped at the cantine at some point during the day for lunch or a drink when they wanted a break from the pistes. But an inspired phone call to Niall had got her the information she needed.
    “You’re not really going through with it, are you?” Sophie asked, her expression disapproving. “Why don’t you change your mind and come skiing with us today?”
    “I have to do this,” Amy said crossly, sorting out a bag to put her swimming stuff in. “I’m getting a day pass for the Hotel Paradis Spa. Apparently Juliet prefers to pamper herself rather than go skiing.”
    And actively doing something about this is the only way I know how to avoid sliding into depression again.
    “I think you should just leave it,” Tash said, sliding into her salopettes as she lay on the bunk bed. There wasn’t enough space in the small room for all four of them to change at the same time.
    “Yeah, if they want to get married, that’s their call. There’s not much you can do about it.” Amelia touched up her make-up using a powder compact. “I think you need to give it up.”
    “While I appreciate all your advice, I know this is something I need to do,” Amy said crossly, throwing her hairbrush, purse, phone and deodorant into the bag.
    Look where your previous suggestions got me, girls, and then tell me I need to follow your advice.
    She bit back the retort. They’d only been trying to help. If she hadn’t been so poleaxed by seeing Josh again maybe she would’ve been strong enough to reject their advice and suggestions that simply weren’t