tree, which was half trimmed, with open boxes of baubles and tinsel scattered round it.
‘We started on it this morning. I thought it would be nice to have it ready,’ said Janet quietly.
‘Brilliant idea,’ agreed Cassie. ‘Shall we finish it off together, darling?’
Alice agreed with enthusiasm, a lot less forlorn as she helped Cassie and Nick rummage in the boxes.
‘I’ll make some coffee then,’ said Janet, and Nick jumped up.
‘I’ll help,’ he said promptly. ‘I need a word with you, Janet.’
Alice Seymour was a thin little girl, rather tall for her age, with a mop of short tawny curls, freckles, and eyes the colour of moss, just like her father, with no resemblance at all to the photograph of the pretty blonde young mother who’d died when she was born.
She chattered happily to Cassie as they worked, full of questions about Julia and Emily.
‘I’ve got a present for Emily,’ she confided. ‘Janet helped me choose it. Will you give it to her, Cassie?’
‘I may be able to do better than that, darling,’ said Cassie, her eyes questioning as Nick came back with a coffee tray.
‘I’ve told Janet the plan and she thinks it’s a brilliant idea,’ he announced.
‘What plan, Uncle Nick?’ said Alice excitedly. ‘Is it something nice?’
‘Very nice—’ he began, then broke off as the phone rang.
Janet answered it, spoke briefly, then called Nick over, shaking her head in response to Alice’s eager demand to know if it was Daddy. ‘No, pet. It’s Mrs Cartwright. Have you found the fairy yet? It must be in one of these boxes.’
‘Mrs Cartwright sent her love,’ said Nick, hunkering down beside Alice. ‘I told her you were fine and she needn’t worry. She says you can go round and spend time with Laura whenever you want.’
‘Not today,’ said Alice promptly, clutching Cassie’s hand.
‘No,’ he agreed. ‘Not today. After Christmas some time. Talking of which, Cassie’s made a fantastic suggestion.’ He drew her to the stairs, sat down on the bottom step and took her on his knee to warn her that Daddy might be held up in New Guinea and not be able to get back in time for Christmas. Alice smothered a sob, and leaned against him so miserably Cassie badly wanted to snatch her from Nick to comfort her. Her eyes met his over the curly head, and she turned away quickly, busying herself with the search for the missing fairy.
Nick quickly outlined the plan for Alice to spend Christmas in the Lovell household with Cassie and her parents. ‘And Julia and Emily,’ he added.
Alice sat bolt upright, staring at him in disbelief, then jumped up and ran to Cassie. ‘Is it true?’ she demanded passionately. ‘Can I really have Christmas with Julia?’
At that moment, if Max Seymour had walked through the door Cassie would have caused him grievous bodily harm and revelled in it.
‘You bet,’ she said huskily. ‘If your father can’t get home for Christmas, I’m sure he’ll be happy to know you’re having a lovely time with my parents and me. And Julia and Emily, too,’ she added.
At which point Janet went off to have a private cry in the kitchen, while a supercharged Alice, in transports of delight, hindered Cassie’s efforts to finish decorating the Christmas tree, giggling wildly at Nick’s mutterings as he tried to get the fairy lights to work. Afterwards they sent out for pizza, and enjoyed a lively, noisy lunch in the kitchen with Janet.
‘I hope this New Guinea tribe of his eats Max for Christmas dinner,’ said Cassie viciously, after Janet had taken Alice off to pack.
Nick grinned. ‘I doubt they celebrate Christmas.’ He sobered. ‘It’s all a bit sad, really. Max and I used to be quite close for stepbrothers. But since the break-up that’s finished. I haven’t been in the country much at the same time as Max since, but when I’m in the UK I take Alice out for the day as often as possible.’
‘I know. She’s told me all about her outings with Uncle Nick.’ Cassie looked thoughtful. ‘Are there any women in Max’s life?’
Nick shrugged. ‘Not as far as I know. Alice never mentions anyone. But he probably keeps that side of his life from her. Lord knows he has ample opportunity. Alice doesn’t see much of him.’
‘Some people,’ said Cassie malevolently, ‘shouldn’t be parents. Come on—let’s hurry Janet up. Dad’s due at my place with Julia in a few minutes, if everything’s going to plan.’
After a grateful, emotional parting with Janet, the three of them set off for Shepherd’s Bush in a general mood of euphoria which intensified when they found a familiar, battered Range Rover had arrived before them. It was a good ten years older than Rupert’s, in need of a wash, and crammed with a highchair and baby seat, and a mound of luggage behind the wire mesh screen fitted to pen in the family dogs.
‘They’re here,’ said Cassie. Alice, white with excitement, her freckles standing out in relief, followed close behind as Cassie unlocked the door to reveal her father and Emily in the hall on all fours, playing trains.
‘Hi, Dad—be careful, you’ll do yourself an injury!’
Her father jumped up, smiling sheepishly, and gave her a hug. ‘Hello, sweetheart. Your friend Polly let us in.’ He peered behind her at Alice, his smile broadening. ‘And who’s this grown-up young lady, may I ask? Not Alice, surely!’
Alice greeted him shyly, delighted when he gave her a smacking kiss, then she dropped on her knees in front of the toddler. ‘Hello, Emily.’
‘Lally!’ said Emily, beaming.
Alice hugged her in delight. ‘She remembers me, Cassie! And her hair’s grown. It’s like mine.’
‘And the freckles,’ said Cassie, aware that Nick was watching the little scene with narrowed eyes.
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