Page 46 of Merrily Ever After
Freya seemed to have gone shy and simply nodded. Santa beckoned her to come closer.
‘And what is on your Christmas list this year?’ he asked kindly.
Freya inched forward, cupped a hand to her mouth and hissed in the loudest whisper in whispering history, ‘I want my mum to get back together with my dad. That’s what I want.’
Her words slammed into me like a train and a tight band formed around my chest. I had no idea that was how she felt. Beside me, I heard Harley swear under his breath. Under normal circumstances, I’d say something about his bad language, but compared to his sister’s revelation, I barely acknowledged it.
Beneath his red hat with the faux-fur trim, Santa’s eyes slid nervously to me. ‘I see.’
‘Hey, Freya, don’t you want a guitar?’ said Harley with a forced laugh.
Freya looked back at us, and embarrassment flashed up on her face as she realised that we might have overheard her.
‘That as well,’ she said to Santa. ‘But mostly the first thing.’
‘Hohoho, a guitar,’ replied Santa, stroking his beard. ‘Some of my elves play the guitar. I’ll have to see if there are any in my workshop. But, for now, would you like to choose something from this sack?’
Freya delved into the bag by his feet and while she was occupied, Harley sucked in a breath.
‘Sorry about that,’ he said. ‘She’s only a kid, ignore her.’
‘I know, I don’t mind,’ I said weakly, lying through my teeth. ‘It’s fine.’
Freya tucked the present under her arm and said thank you to Santa, and Harley took her hand and marched her out.
‘I hope your daughter gets her wish,’ said Santa, holding my gaze. ‘Merry Christmas, my dear.’
‘Merry Christmas to you too,’ I replied, trying to keep my voice steady.
I didn’t have the words to tell him that Freya wasn’t my daughter, that her Christmas wish was the opposite of mine. And what was I supposed to do with this information? Ignore it, as Harley suggested, and plough on with the wedding regardless?
Then there was Harley. Clearly an unhappy boy who might possibly be being bullied at school, feeling so lonely that he’d rather go back to Canada without his family than stay here. I’d promised him I wouldn’t tell anyone else, but was that the right thing to do?
‘Let’s go,’ I said to the kids, taking Freya’s hand. ‘I need to get you back to your dad.’
And I needed a lie-down in a darkened room. The business of being a stepmother was turning out to be even more difficult than I’d imagined.
Chapter Fifteen
Emily
30 NOVEMBER
It was Monday evening before Emily next made it to Springwood House. She arrived at five, already later than planned, because after she’d been on bus duty and broken up no end of dramas, she’d stayed to help some sixth-formers with costumes for their annual Christmas pantomime.
‘Hello, back again?’ Kylie smiled at Emily after letting her into reception.
‘Yes. I’m going to try to come as often as I can while this is all new to my dad. I don’t want him to feel he’s been forgotten.’
‘Will your sister be coming?’ Kylie asked. ‘Or are you the only one who lives close by?’
‘I don’t live far away,’ Emily replied. ‘But Ray doesn’t have any other family, so it’ll be just me.’
‘Oh right.’ A look of confusion crossed the younger woman’s face and then she giggled. ‘He’s in his room. Quite a character, your dad, isn’t he?’
‘Oh dear, please don’t say he’s been wandering around naked again?’ Emily winced.
Just then, Maude meandered into reception, holding asatin clutch bag, her lips painted a bright red. ‘Is my taxi here, yet?’ she fretted. ‘At this rate, I’ll miss my flight.’
