Grace was stunned, but as she sat beside Ben with no idea what to say next, she caught sight of two people standing on the front steps to the hall, looking around while they talked agitatedly.
Ben had spotted them too. ‘You’d better go.’
‘Will you be okay?’
He turned to smile at her, though his eyes were weary. ‘I’m fine, Grace. You go now, I’ll see you tomorrow.’
She gave him a worried glance, climbed out of the car and heard him reversing down the road. She waited a moment then began to walk up to the hall.
James and Annabel swooped on her as soon as they saw her. Annabel was beside herself, declaring that the party was definitely over and they were heading back.
‘Don’t you EVER do that to me again,’ she shouted at Grace. ‘Where the hell have you been?’
‘I needed some time to myself,’ Grace told them, grateful that the music from inside was drowning out their remonstrations, and reluctant to tell them that she had been with Ben, knowing they were likely to read it all wrong.
They walked to the car. Once they were inside, Annabel refused to speak to Grace for the rest of the journey. Grace looked to James for support, but he stared stonily ahead as he drove, and made no move to dispel the fraught atmosphere.
Grace glanced out of the window, exhaustion creeping over her. The roads heading home were disturbingly hushed. The headlights’ full beam did their best to penetrate the black night, but to little effect.
It was hard to believe it was Christmas Day. She had a suspicion that when they got up again in a few hours, it would feel more like going through the motions than a true celebration. She remembered Ben, standing outside the hall tonight, so close and yet so far removed from the rest of his family. What on earth had happened to make it that way?
She was tempted to share her discoveries – it might thaw the frostiness in the car – but stopped herself, feeling she could be betraying Ben’s confidence. He would tell them about it himself if he wanted to.
‘People were saying we’re in for a heavy snowfall tomorrow,’ James said beside her, breaking her train of thought.
‘Good job you stocked up today then,’ Grace responded, after which they said nothing further.
Grace was relieved when the Roseby village sign flashed by them. As they pulled up outside the cottage, she remembered Millie with a guilt-laden jolt. How could she have left her alone out here? What if something had gone wrong and Millie had needed her? She hurried inside and found Emma lazing sleepily on the sofa, the television burbling in the background. ‘Not a peep,’ she reassured Grace. ‘I hope you had a good time.’
Grace said her thanks, and saw Emma out. Then she crept in to Millie’s room, peeked briefly at her daughter’s peaceful, sleeping face, whispered, ‘Happy Christmas, little one,’ and took herself off to bed.
When Grace woke up, she was pleased to discover that it had been a rare night without dreams. Her head felt groggy, however, and a dull ache began as she remembered what Liza had told her about Adam. She went in to see Millie, and found her standing holding the bars of the cot, cuddling Mr Pink while eying her full stocking in the corner with a mixture of wonder and apprehension.
Grace gave Millie a few presents to open. They had only got as far as unwrapping a board book and a jigsaw puzzle when the child began to lose interest, and Grace smiled as Millie grabbed Mr Pink, threw him ahead of her and crawled towards the door. As they were going downstairs, Annabel appeared and headed towards the bathroom. ‘Merry Christmas,’ Grace said, but Annabel just grunted.
James was already up and drinking coffee at the kitchen table.
‘I’m sorry if I scared you last night,’ Grace began as soon as she saw him.
‘Never mind. As long as you’re all right?’
‘I am … though I don’t know if Annabel will be talking to me today.’
‘Now don’t be too hard on Annabel,’ James said. ‘Remember, Adam went missing around here. So when you go MIA, she worries – she’s bound to.’
Grace felt chastened. James looked like he wanted to add something more, but then Annabel appeared.
‘Merry Christmas!’ she greeted them, hugging them all before going across to the kettle. ‘When are we opening presents?’
‘As soon as possible, I think,’ Grace replied, relieved that she appeared to have been forgiven. She jiggled Millie on her hip, then poked her tongue out to encourage her daughter to laugh.
‘Come on then, little lady.’ Annabel plucked her niece from Grace’s arms. ‘Let’s go and see what we can find under the tree.’