The Summer Seekers

She’d have to keep her eyes glued to the child. “What if she has a bad dream or something?”

“You’ll be there.”

“But she’d want you.” Her heart was hammering against her chest. “There wouldn’t be any backup.”

“You don’t need backup.”

Yes, she did. She couldn’t do this. She had to say no—for Holly’s sake.

“Christy—”

“She won’t be any trouble.”

“Are you kidding? Your daughter can get into trouble in an empty room.”

“True... But you know that, so you’ll be watching her. She’ll be thrilled to have some ‘girl’ time with you, and I’ll join you a few days later. Please, Alix. I know I’m taking advantage of our friendship, but there’s no one else I can ask.”

Alix wanted their friendship to be about confidences and cozy chats. She didn’t want to have sole responsibility for a child.

Say no, say no, say no.

“All right.” She’d get through it somehow. If Holly cried, she’d use toys as a bribe. How many could she cram into her baggage? “If you’re sure.”

“You’re the best.”

“Better hold the praise until I return her alive and phobia-free.” Maybe she should buy a book on childcare... “What about Aunty Black Sheep? Have you told her?”

“Not yet. I wanted to check you’re okay with the plan first.”

She was far from okay—but what choice did she have?

Alix ran the tips of her fingers over the silver waterfall of her dress. She’d need a strategy, with every scenario mapped out. As well as toys she’d have her laptop, so they could watch movies. She knew her friend rarely resorted to that, but she wasn’t Christy. She didn’t want Holly looking back on this as the worst Christmas ever.

She felt a gnawing anxiety. Their friendship had never required her to do something this challenging.

She opened a file on her phone and started making notes. “Right. What do you want me to do?”

“You’re still flying back to London at the weekend? Come over to the house as planned next week. That way you can travel together.”

“She’s never been on a plane before.”

What if she lost Holly at the airport? What if she handed her passport over and turned to find the little girl gone? What if Holly had a meltdown and decided she didn’t want to fly anywhere?

“Will you stop worrying? This whole trip is a dream come true for her.”

And that, Alix thought, was the problem. She wasn’t the right person to be in charge of a child’s dreams. She was worried for Holly, but she was also worried for herself and Christy.

If she got it wrong, what would that mean for their friendship?