In Need of a Wife

On Christmas Day, Sasha’s parents came to share in the festivities. The roast turkey had just been set on the dining-table when the doorbell rang. Sasha and Marion had their hands full bringing in all the accompanying dishes to serve with the turkey, so Nathan went to answer the call.

There was a murmur of voices. Sasha idly wondered who it could be. She didn’t have to wait long to find out. Brooks entered the room, his arms laden with presents. Jane followed, carrying a big plate containing a massive plum pudding surrounded by bon-bons for the children. Behind them came a voice that Sasha

recognised all too well.

Hester Wingate.

She entered the room, complaining bitterly as Nathan ushered her in before him. ‘I broke my word. I swore I’d never enter this house that Seagrave built for me.’ She found Sasha’s eye and looked sternly at her. ‘But I can hardly go to meet him on the other side without knowing he had done a proper job of it, can I?’

Sasha hastened to her side, uttering reassurances. ‘Of course, you had to come and see for yourself. We’ll set three more places at the table for you and Jane and Brooks, and have Christmas dinner together. Afterwards I’ll show you through all the rooms.’

‘I’d like that,’ Hester agreed, ‘but I still think I did better taking all his horses.’

‘I’m sure that’s right,’ Sasha said, inwardly rejoicing that Hester had finally found peace and goodwill to all men. Especially with Seagrave Dunworthy.

* * *

LATER THAT NIGHT, when their visitors went home and the children were tucked up in bed asleep, Sasha and Nathan relaxed together on one of the chesterfields in the lounge. The lights were out except for those on the tree, and they reminisced over the day in a mood of blissful contentment.

‘Life is full of chance,’ Sasha mused. ‘If we hadn’t met in the park, if Tyler hadn’t turned up, if I hadn’t been desperate for a place to live, you would never have found me, Nathan.’

‘Sasha, my darling, after we met in the park, nothing was left to chance. It was only a matter of time.’

‘How could you be so sure I would come here?’

‘I wasn’t.’

‘What would have happened if I hadn’t turned up?’

‘I would have come to you.’

She turned on him in exasperation. ‘You didn’t know where I lived. Or where I might have moved to.’

He grinned. ‘Yes, I did.’

She suddenly recollected that he had found her parents’ address, and not through the telephone directory. ‘How?’ she demanded.

His grin grew wider. ‘Computer games.’

She heaved an impatient sigh. ‘Stop teasing.’

‘When I slipped the address of this house into your bag, I also slipped in a tiny technological device.’

‘You bugged me?’

‘No, darling. That’s against the law,’ he said sanctimoniously. ‘I was simply tracking your bag. Wherever it went.’

‘What if I’d left it in a bus? Or had it stolen?’

‘The first stop gave me your parents’ address. I figured they’d always know where you were.’

‘Promise that you’ll never do such a thing again.’

‘I promise.’

‘Why did you do it?’

‘Because, my love, I was in need of a wife.’