20

Christy

“Imagine being surrounded by this much snow on Christmas Day. It’s like a fairy tale. Unfortunately I’m too full of food to go outside and enjoy it. If I eat another thing I’m going to explode.” Alix sprawled full length on the sofa, her head on Zac’s lap and her feet on Christy’s legs.

Christy nudged her. “Get up. We have to clear the wrapping paper. Robyn is arriving in a minute.”

Alix closed her eyes. “Clearing up is a job for the adults in the room. You and Seb. And I hope Robyn’s not bringing more food.”

“She’s bring Suka, and we’re going to play with the sled.”

Alix opened one eye. “You expect me to move after that meal?”

“You can cheer from the sidelines. This isn’t any old sled. Erik has a beautiful wooden toboggan. It’s a family heirloom. We’re going to pull Holly along on it. It’s the perfect Christmas activity.”

“In other words, I’m taking the place of the dogs.” Seb scooped Holly into his arms before she could fulfill her ambition of climbing the Christmas tree.

Alix closed her eyes again. “Zac and I will guard the presents.”

Christy’s day had begun with excitement and bulging stockings and quickly moved on to snowmen and snowballs. Zac and Alix had joined them for breakfast, and together they’d opened the rest of the presents that Christy had stacked carefully under the tree.

They’d eaten a delicious lunch, and now they were sprawled together, chatting, enjoying each other’s company.

Christy noticed Zac’s hand resting on Alix’s shoulder. It was a gesture of affection and intimacy. They were comfortable together, she realized. When had she ever seen Alix this comfortable?

Never.

She was desperate to know more, but there was no chance of a private conversation with everyone snuggled together.

She could wait, of course, but she didn’t want to wait.

Grinning to herself, she tugged out her phone and sent Alix a message.

So? How was the romantic trip? Did you see stars? Sex? How was it?

She pressed Send, heard the noise as it arrived on Alix’s phone and saw her check it and smile.

Her fingers moved swiftly, and her reply landed on Christy’s phone seconds later.

No idea what you’re talking about.

Christy was about to reply when she saw Zac glance briefly at Alix’s phone and then again, this time with closer attention.

He reached down and removed the phone from Alix’s hand.

Christy shrank down on the sofa. Oh crappity crap. Alix was going to kill her.

Zac typed a reply.

Christy hardly dared look at her phone.

Sex was great. Thank you for asking.

Alix snatched it back. “You shouldn’t be reading my messages.”

“Why not?”

“Because they’re personal. Read your own messages.”

“But your messages are more interesting than my messages.”

“That’s not my problem.” Alix stuffed the phone back in her pocket. “I deserve the occasional private moment with my friend.”

“Our friend.” His fingers toyed with her hair. “We were together on this mission to give Holly a memorable Christmas.”

“That was my responsibility. You were only ever the backup.”

And they were off, playing verbal tennis, and listening to them made Christy smile because it was Alix at her most relaxed and entertaining, and she’d never seen her like that with a man before.

Alix nudged her with her foot. “Why are you smiling?”

“I’m smiling because I’m happy.” For you, Christy thought. I’m happy for you.

Their banter was only interrupted when Erik and Robyn arrived with Suka.

The next ten minutes were a flurry of activity, dressing in warm clothing and finding the best slope for their snowy adventure.

Christy slid her arm into Alix’s.

“I’ve never seen you this happy.”

Alix smiled. “I love Lapland.”

“Are you sure it’s just Lapland that you love? Sorry!” Laughing, Christy let go of Alix’s arm and raised her hands in apology. “I vowed that no matter what happened I wasn’t going to interfere in your love life.”

“I interfered with yours.”

“We’ll probably carry on interfering. We can’t help it.”

“Mummy!” Holly’s shriek cut through the frozen air. “Watch me! Look at me!”

Christy watched her daughter shoot across the snow on the sled, carefully guided by Erik with Robyn running alongside, ready to run interference.

Taking advantage of a moment without childcare responsibility, Seb and Zac joined Christy and Alix.

“Shame we don’t have snow like this in England.”

“I know. I don’t want this to ever end.” She’d never felt happier, and yes, no doubt problems awaited them at home, but that was life, wasn’t it? You couldn’t control it: you had to learn to ride the bumps and be flexible in your expectations.

These relaxed, unstructured days were something she’d relished, and she was determined to re-create some of that feeling at home, even if it was only for a short time every day or on the weekends. Life was there to be enjoyed and explored. Somehow she’d turned it into an endless list of tasks to be done.

“We’re grateful to you both for coming early and taking such great care of Holly. You’re such good friends. The best.”

“Yes.” Seb looped his arm round her shoulders. “We should have paid you danger money.”

Alix glanced at Zac. “We had fun.”

Holly came running across to them. “Next Christmas I want Santa to bring me a toboggan exactly like that one.”

Christy scooped her up. “Unless Santa also delivers snow, it’s not going to be much use back home.”

“Can we come here?” Holly wrapped her arms around Christy’s neck. “I want to spend every Christmas with Aunt Robyn and Erik and Suka.”

Robyn joined them at that moment, and Christy felt a rush of embarrassment.

“She tends to say exactly what’s in her head. Don’t panic. We’re not really going to show up on your doorstep every Christmas.”

“I wish you would. I think it could be the start of a wonderful new family tradition.” Robyn held out her arms to Holly, who went to her willingly. “Would you like to visit Aunt Robyn again at Christmas?”

“Yes.” Holly hugged her. “I love you, Aunt Robyn.”

Christy saw Robyn’s eyes fill.

“I love you, too.” She sniffed and put Holly down next to Suka. “I don’t know why I’m emotional. You’re here for another three days. We need to make the most of it. But if you felt able to come to us again next Christmas, of course Erik and I would love it. All you have to do is find the cost of your flights.”

“But you have your business to run, and you might be full.”

“There’s always room for family.”

Family.

Christy was filled with warmth.

She was probably supposed to say sensible things like Wait until we know more about Seb’s job, or We need to see how much money the cottage sucks up. But instead she took Seb’s hand and felt him squeeze her fingers hard. She knew he was thinking the same that she was. They’d talked about it the night before, how wonderful it felt that their little family had been expanded. “We’d love that.”

“And Alix and Zac, too, of course. Oh my goodness, she’s off again—” Robyn ran after Holly who was following Suka through the snow.

“You heard her,” Christy said. “You have to come next Christmas.”

“She didn’t mean us,” Alix said. “She was being polite. Because we were standing here.”

“If we’re coming, you’re coming.” Seb was watching his daughter. “You don’t honestly think we can handle Holly on our own, do you? The minimum safe number of carers is four, but six makes it more comfortable for everyone. Add in Suka and we have a fighting chance of keeping her alive.”

Alix glanced at Zac. “Well, obviously we have no idea what—”

“No, we don’t.” Zac put his arm round her. “But whatever happens, we’ll come as friends. Alix can sleep on the sofa.”

“Thanks a lot. You have more experience of sleeping anywhere than I do.”

No doubt the exchange would have carried on, but Erik arrived carrying drinks.

“It’s Christmas, and it’s freezing cold,” he said, “but we should still drink a quick toast before we go inside and warm up.”

They all took a glass, and Robyn joined them, although she kept one eye on Holly.

“What are we going to drink to?”

Christy raised her glass. It wasn’t hard to know what to celebrate.

“To family and friends,” she said. “And the best Christmas ever.”