‘I have some shoes you can borrow,’ said Angela. ‘I missed Stir Up Sunday, so I’m going to get that pudding made today, with Greg’s help, unless you need him?’
‘I can help Laura,’ said Nick. ‘And I’ll help Sofia, too, with that snowman. At school we used to steal one of the master’s hats for ours to wear; they looked very dignified.’
Forty-five minutes later, we were togged up and helping Marilise outside. Before he had disappeared into the kitchen to help with the Christmas pudding, Greg had carried a small armchair outside.
‘This is thick and padded,’ he said, wiggling the feet into the snow. ‘It should keep the cold out, and Angela’s added a couple of hot water bottles. Right, see you in about six months,’ he said gloomily. ‘Making this pudding always feels like it takes that long. Cooking’s not my thing, but I know Ange needs me today.’
We wished him luck and turned happily back to the snowy scene outside. The sun was filtering through the clouds now, and the garden looked magical with the sparkling snow lying in a thick blanket over everything. I made sure that Marilise was comfortable, then went to help Sofia and Nick, who were already scooping great handfuls of snow into a pile. Nick caught my eye and smiled, and a glow flooded through me, all the way to my toes. I smiled back dreamily, only leaping back into action when Sofia said, ‘Come on, I’m doing all the work here.’
I glanced over at Marilise, who looked blissful, but also awarded me a quick flick of the eyebrows.
She knows, I thought, but I didn’t mind. As we were packing snow up to make a body, India emerged from the house.
‘Mind if I join you?’ she said. ‘Mum’s gone to help with the Christmas pudding, but it’s too nice to be inside.’
We worked hard until we had a good, fat snowman shape, almost as tall as I was.
‘Okay,’ said Sofia, who was almost unrecognisable from the child who had arrived a few days before. Gone was the wan expression and the averted eyes, and here was a little girl who radiated happiness and confidence, although she always had her reindeer, Reddo, with her. Right now, he was tucked into her coat, just his sweet little face poking out at the top. ‘Now, oursnowman needs eyes, arms, a nose, legs, a mouth, ears and clothes.’
Nick roared with laughter.
‘He’s going to look pretty special,’ he said. ‘Are you sure about the legs?’
Her forehead creased momentarily as she studied the snowy figure.
‘Well, maybe we can draw those on, but everything else. Laura, India, can you go and find some sticks for his arms and stones for his mouth?’
We nodded and, with a quick check on Marilise, scurried off to hunt the items down as Sofia continued issuing instructions.
‘We need to go under the trees at the front of the house,’ said India. ‘It won’t be very snowy there, so we’ll be able to find things more easily.’
‘Good idea,’ I said, jogging after her and wishing I was as fit as a fifteen-year-old horsewoman.
It didn’t take long to find some suitable sticks and a selection of nut cases and cones for the mouth, as India said these would stay stuck in the snow better than stones. As we went to leave the wood, I hesitated.
‘India, is your mum okay? She looked worried this morning and kept checking her phone – it’s not like her.’
‘I know,’ said India, biting her lip. ‘I think she was expecting Philip to be here by now, or at least have said when he was coming, but he won’t.’
‘I see. Okay, well, let me know if there’s anything I can do. Hopefully, he’ll get his act together soon.’
‘Hopefully not,’ snorted India, and started off back to the garden again, at what she probably thought was a stroll, but which raised my heartrate trying to keep up.
Everyone else returned at about the same time and we added our adornments to the snowman and stepped back to admire our work.
‘What do you think?’ Nick asked Marilise. ‘Handsome fellow, isn’t he?’
She studied our effort, taking in his stick arms with little gloves dangling on the ends, his carrot nose and the rather dashing dark green hat Nick had come up with.
‘I think you have all done a splendid job,’ she said. ‘I have not seen such a fine snowman in many years. I would like some photos,’ she continued, taking out her phone. ‘Laura, dear, would you? I think if I take my gloves off, my poor old fingers will be too shaky for a good shot.’
‘Of course!’ I said, taking the phone from her. Nick and India also took photos, and we showed Marilise the results.
‘So wonderful,’ she said. ‘I will send off for prints of some of these to put in my album. Thank you.’
She was beginning to look rather pale, so I suggested she go inside for her nap.
‘Will we swim today?’ she asked, as I helped her into bed.
