‘What did Zara mean, that Liam made Alex cry?’ Tina asked.
Quinn cursed. He’d thought he’d got away with that. He didn’t want to tell her anything that could ever get back to Zara. And Alex had kept Liam’s problem with alcohol under wraps for years so he wasn’t about to spill that but maybe the town should know that Liam wasn’t as squeaky clean as they believed. Then maybe Alex moving on wouldn’t be such an issue.
‘Can I count on your discretion?’
‘Of course.’
That wasn’t likely but he’d take it. ‘Liam had an affair.’
He didn’t think one night could technically be counted as an affair but the betrayal was still the same.
Tina gasped. ‘No!’
‘Yes, I’m afraid so. They were very happy together but then his best friend died and he took it very badly. Alex tried everything to get him counselling to no avail but one of the ways he found comfort was in the arms of someone else. This was about eighteen months before he died. Alex knew then that their relationship was over but she stayed because she wanted to support him through his grief. She is a good, kind person, a wonderful wife and mother. She never deserved that.’
‘I never knew.’
‘No one did, she kept that secret because she didn’t want the people of the town to shun him when he needed their support to get over his grief.’
‘That’s… noble. Most women would want revenge.’
Quinn shook his head. ‘She isn’t like that, and she knew Liam wasn’t himself.’
‘That poor girl,’ Tina said.
‘Yeah. But that’s why her happiness is so important to me now, she’s been through enough.’
‘I’ll sort it, you mark my words.’
‘Thank you.’
He walked to the door and Tina let him out. As he walked up the road he let out a sigh of relief.
Dear Alex,
You only have a few days left before I disappear forever. Maybe you’ve started to get a good idea of who I am or maybe you still have no clue, but you probably shouldn’t put all your duck eggs in one basket.
The bauble I leave tonight will be another big clue to my identity. It’s one of my hobbies, something I love to do, although I’m sure it will find a home with someone else who loves that hobby too.
Snowy hugs,
St Nick
CHAPTER 16
Alex was busily making a few more Christmassy decorations to sell in her shop. Since getting back from their visit to Santa there had been a steady flow of customers all looking for last-minute gifts. Her book page baubles were proving very popular as gifts so she was making more of those. They didn’t take too long and she had a bit of a production line going where she was trying to make ten different ones at the same time. Zara was also making a few, and Alex had promised her that if any of hers sold all the money would be hers. Zara’s were simple but really effective. Alex looked around the shop. Half of her stock had been emptied over the last few days so she wanted to try and restock as much as possible. She was still open tomorrow and probably until lunch on Christmas Eve, but that was up to her if she wanted to work that late. She might just take the day off to do Christmas activities with Zara.
‘Hello!’
Alex looked up to see Violet standing in the doorway and her heart leapt. Quinn and Alex had been intending to pop by to see Violet that evening to talk to her about their relationship. Quinn had gone to talk to Tina so she felt a bit vulnerable possibly having to face her wrath by herself.
Fortunately, Zara was there to break the ice.
‘Nanny!’ Zara abandoned her craft efforts and ran over to give Violet a hug.
‘Hello, my beautiful girl,’ Violet said, enveloping Zara in her arms.
‘We went to see Santa this morning and I asked him for a new dad and a new husband for Mum,’ Zara told her. ‘He asked Quinn if he wanted to be my dad and he said yes and that he loved me very much. And he asked him if he wanted to be Mummy’s husband and he said yes and now I think they might get married and I’ll probably be the bridesmaid. Harley is going to be bridesmaid at her mummy’s wedding to Jake so I think I’ll probably be bridesmaid too for Mum and Quinn. And then I’ll have a new daddy and I’m so excited because I love Quinn too.’
