Christmas At Willowmere. Abigail Gordon

the spare bedroom here has an en suite, as you know, so I can accommodate him temporarily if he accepts my offer. I don’t think having the kids around would bother him. It’s easy to see he’s good with children, and you are only next door.’

      ‘I can see that your mind is made up,’ she said, still bemused by this latest turn of events.

      ‘Only if you are in favour of the arrangement, and don’t forget he has yet to be asked.’

      ‘Yes, I know, and if he agrees it probably won’t be for long. He’ll soon be off on his travels again. So, yes, it’s all right by me, and now I’m going home or I’ll never be up on time in the morning.’

      ‘Promise me you won’t stay awake, worrying,’ he begged, ‘as nothing may come of it.’

      ‘I’ll do my best,’ she said, and went to have a peep at Polly and Jolly before going to the annexe next door. As she looked down at them, beautiful and innocent in sleep, Anna felt peace descend on her.

      She might have just done the wrong thing, but wasn’t it better to keep up the charade of Glenn being just an acquaintance rather than never to see him again? That was what would have happened if she’d told James not to offer him the position.