The Resolution - The Morning After
Chapter 28
Caro wakes to bright light and a deep sense of peace. She feels warm, safe, and thoroughly relaxed. Rolling over, she notices the other side of the bed is empty. Slipping out from beneath the covers, she grabs the robe draped over a chair and pads into the kitchen, where Gregg is already making breakfast.
“Morning, sleepyhead!” he greets with a grin. “Coffee’s ready—pot’s on the hob.”
Caro wraps her arms around him from behind in a grateful hug. “I slept like a baby. I think it was your newfound massage expertise,” she murmurs, resting her cheek against his back.
Gregg lowers the heat, then turns and kisses her gently. “I suspect it was a mix of factors. But I’m glad you liked it.”
While she pours herself a cup of coffee, he resumes cooking, talking casually about the day ahead—steering clear of anything emotional.
After breakfast, Gregg makes business calls while Caro showers. They leave the house by 9:30.
On the drive to the chalet, Gregg updates her.
“Since your group clearly splits into ‘safe Intermediate’ and ‘experienced Intermediate,’ I’ve arranged for a second instructor for the rest of the week. Greta will take Jim, Lucy, Sally, and Susie. I’ll work with you, Tom, and Nick. This way, everyone gets the most out of their skiing.”
Caro turns toward him. “Smart. How much do we owe Greta?”
He glances at her, his tone quiet and a little sharp. “You only paid for one instructor, and that’s what you had. Going forward, you’ll still have one—Greta.”
There’s a beat of silence before he adds, distinctly, “After last night, I’m no longer your instructor.”
Realising her mistake, Caro reaches over and brushes his cheek. “Sorry. That was thoughtless. You’re right—now you’re my lover and my friend.”
Gregg takes her hand and gives it a light squeeze. “Exactly.”
At the chalet, the sky is a brilliant blue, and the air still. A perfect skiing day. As they get out of the SUV, Greta’s car pulls into the forecourt.
Gregg walks over and greets her warmly with a big hug, which she returns. Petite and blonde, Greta may look delicate, but she radiates competence and strength.
“Caro, meet Greta—my deputy at the ski school. Greta, this is Caro,” he says, and the way he looks at Caro tells Greta she’s more than a passing fling.
“Lovely to meet you, Caro,” Greta says with a sunny smile.
“You too, Greta,” Caro replies, returning the warmth.
Inside, the group is gathered in the lounge. As Caro appears beside Gregg, everyone looks between them—and then to Greta.
“Before anyone asks—yes, we had a lovely evening,” Caro says with a grin. “I’m going to put my bag away while Gregg explains the plan.”
Upstairs, she pauses halfway to glance back at Gregg, admiring the sharp line of his jaw, the strength in his posture. Memories from the night before make her cheeks flush.
Gregg, sensing her gaze, looks up and meets her eyes with a smile. Lucy and Sally exchange delighted looks.
Back downstairs, Gregg introduces Greta and explains the plan. Greta shares a bit about herself, and the others introduce themselves in turn.
“We’ll still lunch together and end the day as one group,” Gregg adds. “Anyone’s welcome to switch between groups as they like. I just want you all to have fun.”
“Who’s in my group this morning?” Gregg asks.
Tom, Nick, and Caro raise their hands. The others shake their heads resolutely.
Gregg checks that Greta has her walkie-talkie, and they all head out.
Greta’s team takes the two-seater lift to the blue run, while Gregg leads his smaller group up the gondola to the higher slopes. From there, they hop on a chairlift and a button lift to reach a black run.
“We’ll do the black, then a red down to the gondola. Let’s go!”
The slopes are clear, the visibility perfect. As they carve down the mountain, exhilaration builds. By the time they return to the gondola base, they’re breathless and beaming.
“That was insane,” Tom pants.
“Totally!” Nick agrees.
Caro nods, flushed and glowing. “I didn’t want it to end.”
“Greta just called,” Gregg says. “Ready to ski down and meet them?”
They all agree.
The descent is gentler. They relax into the rhythm, and the run seems easier now. Once at the bottom, they remove their skis and head inside to join the others for lunch.
Over lunch, the groups exchange stories.
“We hit the moguls!” Susie exclaims.
“They were brilliant,” adds Sally, grinning.
Greta smiles proudly. “They’ve got great technique.”
As food and drinks arrive, conversation buzzes across the table.
Leaning in, Gregg whispers to Caro, “We never discussed tonight.”
“Can you stay for dinner at the chalet? I’d like to be with the group.”
“Let me check with Hans.”
“And about staying overnight… I just don’t want him to think we’re overstepping.”
Gregg brushes a kiss against her lips. “He won’t. I own the chalet. Hans works for me—I just want to make sure there’s enough food.”
As he walks away to make the call, Caro turns to Greta.
“Tell me about Gregg?”
Greta smiles. “What do you want to know?”
“His business… background?”
“Businesses,” Greta corrects with a grin. “He owns the ski school, the Irish pub, the new restaurant across the valley, and about half a dozen chalets.”
“Wow,” Nick says. “He seems young to have built all that. Old money?”
“Not that I know of. I first met him when he was fourteen—here on holiday with his parents. Total natural on skis. We skied every year together. Strictly friends,” she adds quickly, glancing at Caro.
“After school, he took a gap year and worked here—ski instructing and bartending for Mick, who owned both the pub and ski school. They became close. He studied accounting at university in Austria and came back on weekends. Eventually, Mick had him manage the businesses. They flourished.”
She pauses, face softening.
“Then Mick got cancer. Gregg and Gunter cared for him till he passed. Turned out Mick had no family and left everything to Gregg.”
Caro watches as Gregg returns to the table. Greta finishes, “Since then, it’s all grown. He lives in Mick’s old house—now beautifully renovated.”
Gregg returns resuming his seat and draping his arm around Caro.
“Greta filled us in on your empire,” Tom teases.
Gregg smiles but shakes his head. “I’d give it all up to still have Mick. He was like a second father.”
A hush falls over the table until the waitress reappears, asking if they want anything else. They all decline.
Leaning into Caro, Gregg murmurs into her ear, “All set for tonight. No problem.”
She smiles, slipping her hand beneath the table to rest on his thigh.
“So,” Greta announces. “What does my group fancy this afternoon?”
“More moguls!” Lucy and Susie chime in, with Jim and Sally nodding in agreement.
“Great,” Greta replies, standing up.
Gregg turns to his group. “Same as this morning?”
All three nod in enthusiastic unison.