Page 43

“She doesn’t have young children to think about.” He pulled her closer. “You’re allowed to be disappointed. It’s because you care, Brooke. You care that everyone you love is happy. You care that everyone has the best time.”

“I wish I didn’t care so much.”

“We don’t wish that. We love that about you. I know how hard you’ve worked to make this Christmas perfect.”

But sometimes caring was exhausting. It felt like an impossible juggling act—pleasing one person meant disappointing another. Whatever she did she ended up letting someone down.

“And all that planning was a total waste of time.” She stood up, determined to pull herself together. “Can you pass me another pillow please? They’re behind you.”

She and Matt finished making up the bed.

“Maybe we can make this fun.” He settled the last pillow in its place. “Being here takes off all the pressure, doesn’t it?”

Did it? Maybe it took the pressure off him, but she had as much pressure as ever if not more. She had to figure out how to pivot and make this work. And on top of that, there was still the pressure of worrying about her parents.

And what if they didn’t get to see her parents at all? Then they’d have to go through the whole thing again as soon as possible, and how were they going to do that? Matt had limited holiday and the girls were restricted by school holidays. They’d come this far, and it wasn’t even going to count.

She smoothed the bed. She had to focus on the moment. On the things she could control.

“This room is gorgeous.” She tried to think positive thoughts. “It will do us nicely. We’re lucky Mabel has been so kind and generous. What do you think of Izzy and Jason? It’s weird to be spending Christmas with people we don’t know.”

“They seem easygoing, which is going to be important if we’re snowed in together. The last thing we need is anyone moody or high-maintenance. Or who hates kids.”

“Izzy was sweet with the kids. They said they weren’t a couple—” Brooke frowned and Matt glanced at her.

“You think they are?”

“No. I don’t know.” She shrugged. “There was something about the way he looked at her and the way she wasn’t looking at him.”

“That makes no sense at all.”

“It makes perfect sense to me. And this is the point where I remind you that I am responsible for at least three weddings in our friendship group.”

“You’re thinking of planning a wedding while you’re here?”

“I’m interested in people, that’s all.” She pondered. “And talking of people, why do you think Mabel doesn’t celebrate Christmas?”

“There could be no end of reasons for that. She lives here alone, or so it seems,” Matt said. “She lost her husband. Maybe it feels like too much bother. Or maybe she never celebrated Christmas.”

“But we know she did.” She thought about what Elsie had said. She always used to have a tree, but she doesn’t anymore. And because that makes her sad, she tries not to think about it. How had Elsie discovered that? What else did she know? Maybe Christmas was full of unhappy memories for Mabel.

Brooke decided she needed to have a quiet conversation with her daughter to find out what else she had discovered.

Thinking of Elsie made Brooke realise she hadn’t seen her daughter in a while. She turned and then stood up and checked the bathroom and then the other bedroom. There was no sign of her.

“Where’s Elsie?”

“I don’t know. Last time I saw her she was in here with us. Maybe she’s downstairs with Mabel. She seems very taken with her. Either way, she can’t have gone far.”

Brooke stared at him. “You left her with Mabel?”

“No. I think she went off by herself.”

“Matt! You have to watch her.”

“Why? Elsie is eight. She’s responsible. And where is she going to go? It’s good that she feels comfortable with Mabel.”

“She’s a little too comfortable. She keeps saying things that make me want to hide under the table.”