Alfie in the Snow. Rachel Wells

be best. I just don’t …’ Her voice cracked and I went to rub her legs. ‘I haven’t really thought about it,’ she said. Then she tried to smile.

      ‘You must come to us,’ Claire suggested.

      ‘Only if you want to, of course,’ Jonathan quickly added.

      ‘We’re all having lunch together, it’ll be loads of fun,’ Polly said.

      ‘Well, I hate to impose.’ Sylvie sounded uncertain.

      ‘Why would you be imposing? The more the merrier I say,’ Matt said.

      ‘And you can bring something,’ Franceska added. ‘Claire and Jonathan will do the turkey, we will bring potatoes and vegetables, Polly brings pudding.’

      ‘That doesn’t really leave much,’ Claire pointed out.

      ‘I’ll bring champagne,’ Sylvie said. ‘How about that?’

      ‘Well we never say no to champagne,’ Polly laughed. She was right, they didn’t. They didn’t say no to wine either, to be frank.

      ‘Great, that’s settled,’ Tomasz said. ‘We’ll have a proper traditional Christmas.’

      ‘An Edgar Road family Christmas,’ Jonathan added.

      ‘Let’s drink to that,’ Claire said and I licked my lips. I was thinking already about turkey and all the lovely left-overs that George and I would be treated to. I really did love Christmas, it’s my favourite time of the year.

       Chapter Ten