The Christmas Sisters

Melly’s coat was undone and Beth noticed she was wearing her best dress—clearly Jason wasn’t great at saying no, either—and that Ruby’s sweater was inside out and her socks didn’t match.

It didn’t matter, she told herself. They were alive, they were hers and they were here. She was so pleased to see them she could have cried.

She hugged them so tightly Ruby squealed a protest.

“It is so good to see you all!” She kissed first one child and then the other.

“That’s a nice dress, Mom.” Melly nodded her approval and Beth pulled her close, breathing in her daughter’s familiar scent.

She’d missed them so much. “How was your journey?”

Ruby burst into tears. “Daddy left Bugsy on the plane.”

Beth looked up at Jason and realized he looked exhausted. “You lost Bugsy?”

She wasn’t sure who looked more traumatized, her daughter or her husband.

She expected him to hand the problem over to her along with the kids and the luggage, but instead he crouched down next to Ruby, who was clinging to Beth.

“I called them, honey. They’re checking the plane to see if Bugsy is still on the seat.”

“What if he isn’t?” Ruby was wearing a traumatized expression that only the loss of Bugsy could produce.

“Then we’ll work extra hard to remember where you last had him.”

“I don’t know where I last had him!”

“She had him in that café,” Melly said helpfully, “when you gave her that mountain of fries.”

Beth raised an eyebrow. “You fed them fries?”

“Thanks, Mel.” Jason turned a shade of puce but kept his attention on Ruby. “We’ll find him, I promise.”

Beth winced. Although she understood what had driven him to say that, she also knew it wasn’t wise to make promises you couldn’t keep.

So did Ruby. “What if we can’t? Melly said Bugsy might be flying somewhere else now. He could even be in Hong Pong.”

“Kong,” Melly said, and Ruby’s face crumpled.

“I can’t live without Bugsy.” Her voice rose to a shrill wail and Po

sy appeared at the bottom of the stairs.

“Wait—” She put her hand behind her ear and glanced around, pretending not to see them, “I thought I heard Ruby’s voice, but that can’t be right because Ruby isn’t arriving for another few days.”

Ruby stopped yelling and took a juddering breath. “I’m here, Aunty Posy.” She gave a hiccup. “It’s me.”

Posy continued searching. “That’s weird, because I can hear her voice, but I can’t see her.”

“I’m here!” A gurgle of laughter escaping through the sobs, Ruby let go of Beth and ran to Posy.

“You are here.” Posy caught Ruby as she ran and swung her high in the air. “Well, hello! And is that Melly I see? No, that’s not Melly. It’s a beautiful princess. But what would a beautiful princess be doing in my house?” She balanced Ruby on her hip and held out her hand to Melly, who ran across to her with a shy smile.

“What happened to your face, Aunty Posy?”

Posy touched her free hand to her cheek. “Something has happened to my face?”

“You’re wearing makeup and you never wear makeup.”