Page 85 of Only for Christmas

‘Stay here; I’ll find out who it is.’ Lucas disappeared into the hallway, leaving Sarah feeling like her carefully constructed world was crumbling around her.

Any fears it was an unwelcome visitor vanished when she heard excited voices in the hallway. With Fred jumping at their heels, Max and Elliot raced into the lounge, and Sarah was nearly knocked off her feet as they bundled into her. She hugged them and breathed in their chocolatey scent.

‘Merry Christmas!’ they shouted, bouncing up and down and making her laugh. It was enough to lift her spirits.

‘Merry Christmas,’ she said, and kissed them both. ‘This is a nice surprise.’

‘We came to fetch Uncle Lucas.’ Max wiped his cheek where she’d kissed him. ‘He’s spending Christmas with us.’

‘Are you coming too?’ Elliot looked up at her, wide-eyed and adorably cute.

‘I’m spending Christmas with my family,’ she said, smoothing back his hair. ‘But I have got you both presents. I’ll give them to you before you leave. They’re not to be opened before Christmas Day, okay?’

Max nodded. ‘Okay. We got you a gift too.’

Sarah was taken aback. ‘You did?’

‘We made it,’ Elliot said excitedly. ‘It’s a tree.’

‘Don’t tell her!’ Max shoved his younger brother. ‘It’s supposed to be a surprise.’

Sarah laughed. ‘A tree? Will it fit in my flat?’

‘It’s a small tree.’ Max pointed to her fireplace. ‘To go on your thingy.’

‘My mantelpiece?’

He nodded. ‘So the robins can perch on it.’

‘Oh, that’s lovely. Thank you.’ She hugged them again.

‘I’ll fetch it.’ Elliot went racing into the hallway. ‘Muuuummy!’

Elliot reappeared moments later carrying a wrapped gift, followed by Lucas and Harper.

Lucas’s sister was wearing a cream sparkly jumper and heeled boots. With her make-up and nails done, she looked confident and gorgeous.

‘Here it is!’ Elliot handed her the mini tree modelled in plasticine.

‘Aw, thank you. I love it. Can you put it up for me?’

He ran over to the fireplace, joined by his brother.

‘Lucas told me what happened last night,’ Harper said, coming over and hugging her. ‘How awful. I’m glad that S.O.B. has been arrested.’

‘Who’s been arrested?’ Max looked shocked.

‘Oh, no one important, darling. Just a nasty man Sarah works with. Carry on with what you’re doing.’ Harper rubbed Sarah’s shoulder. ‘How you holding up? You doing okay?’

‘I’m not sure.’ Sarah gave a half-shrug. ‘I’ve no idea what the fallout will be, but I’m glad it’s over. I’ve resigned myself to looking for another job. Knowing Stephen, he’ll manage to persuade the board of directors of his innocence. There’s no way I can stay if he continues working there.’

‘Don’t rush into any decisions,’ Lucas said, lifting Elliot so he could reach the mantelpiece. ‘If the charges stick then he won’t keep his job. The hospital wouldn’t want the bad publicity, and with Tyler’s video evidence I can’t see any court dismissing the charges. At the very least they’ll suspend him in the short term, pending the investigation.’

‘Maybe.’ Sarah hoped he was right. She really didn’t want to leave her job.

Harper dropped onto the sofa and patted the seat next to her. ‘What did the police say when you told them what’s been happening?’

‘Not much.’ Sarah joined Harper on the sofa. ‘They took down all the details and said there’d be an investigation. It helps that Mrs Kelsey downstairs can corroborate Stephen turning up here last week. There’s a record of the phone call to Lucas, and hopefully she’ll cooperate with the police.’

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