One More for Christmas

Her husband, her little girl, her big sister—they were her world. She’d made the family she’d always wanted.

“Daddy! Hug, hug, hug.” Tab shot out of her chair and sprinted across to him. He caught her and swung her high in the air.

“How’s my girl?” His gaze found Ella’s, and she knew that although he was holding Tab, he was talking to her. He’d seen her message and immediately come home. He knew how difficult this would be for her.

And she wouldn’t talk about it in front of Tab.

“I’m doing okay.”

He shifted Tab onto his hip and held out his other arm to Ella.

She went to him immediately, and he curled her into him and held her tightly. The feeling of warmth and closeness made everything hurt a little less.

“Samantha called me.” She leaned her head against his chest, feeling the rough texture of his wool coat against her cheek. It felt cold, as if winter had crept into the fibers and settled there. “I have to go into the city.”

“I saw your message. Don’t go. It will upset you and I don’t want that.”

Tab stroked her hair. “Are you sad, Mommy?”

“No. How could I be sad when I have you and Daddy?” She kissed her daughter. “Go fetch the painting we did for Daddy.” She waited for Tab to leave the room and then turned to Michael. “I have to go.”

“You don’t have to, Ella, but I know you will.” He hung up his coat, loosened his tie and undid his top button. He sounded tired. “If that’s what you want, then I’m coming with you.”

“What? No way!”

“I love you. I want to support you.”

Her heart was hammering. He couldn’t come with her. And she couldn’t tell him the reason.

“Someone has to look after Tab. I’m not taking her to a hospital.”

“We’ll get a sitter.”

“We’ve never left her with a sitter. It’s fine. I don’t need you to be there.”

He gave her a long, thoughtful look. “You don’t want me to be there. What I don’t understand is why.”

“I just—it will be difficult. With my mother, it always is.”

“So you say.” There was an edge to his voice that made her heart beat a little faster.

“Are you suggesting I’m exaggerating?”

“No, but as you’ve never let me meet her, it’s hard for me to understand what you mean. Why are you so afraid to introduce us? We’ve been together more than five years, El, and apart from Sam, she’s our only living family.”

And that would matter to him, of course, because Michael had lost both his parents when he was in his twenties. Ella picked up a photo of them laughing with Michael and felt a tug of envy. It was a perfect family scene. They’d been older parents and he’d been an unexpected but welcome surprise. Love shone out of that photo. “I know how long we’ve been together. And I’m grateful for every minute.” She put the photo back. “It’s also been five years since I saw my mother so it’s not as easy as you make it sound.”

“I know.” He folded her close. “And I know how much that upsets you. But I don’t need to be protected from the situation.”

She squeezed her eyes shut, guilt making her feel a little sick. Why hadn’t she just been honest right from the start? But she hadn’t, and now she didn’t know how to tell the truth. “The priority is to keep everything as normal as possible for Tab. I want her in a warm, secure environment with someone she loves. And I won’t be doing this alone. Sam will be there.”

“Where are you going, Mommy?” Tab was back by her side and Ella caught her hand.

“Mommy has to go on a trip to see Aunty Sam. But I’ll be back tomorrow.”

“Is Aunty Sam in the hospital? Did she have a heart attack?”

Tab missed nothing.