The Christmas Sisters. Sarah Morgan

“I’d love that.” Cheryl hugged her. “We’re going to be friends forever. Promise me we’ll be friends forever.”

       “I promise.”

      SUZANNE GLANCED AROUND the room again. “I’m not sure about the rug. Do you think we should give her the sheepskin from our bedroom?”

      “What I think,” Stewart said, “is that you should stop.” He put the lights down and held out his arms to her. “Come here.”

      “Why?”

      “Do I need an excuse to hug my wife?” He lowered his head and kissed her and she forgot about Hannah. She was eighteen again, and in love with a man who wanted all the same things she did.

      “Where do you want these?” Footsteps and the sound of Posy’s voice interrupted them.

      She was carrying logs under one arm and used her other hand to shield her eyes. “Whoa. Sorry. If I’d known you were occupied, I would have sung loudly to announce my arrival.”

      Stewart stopped kissing Suzanne. “Don’t sing. I beg you don’t sing.”

      Posy pulled a face. “Maybe the two of you should get a room. I’m way too young to witness this.”

      Suzanne eased out of Stewart’s arms. “Put them in the basket by the fire. Thank you, honey.” She watched as Posy dropped the logs into the basket. Two of her three daughters were settled and happy and she was grateful for that. Both Beth and Posy had found the life they wanted.

      Posy straightened and glanced round the room. “It’s pretty, Mom. I almost want to move in myself. This turret bedroom is great. I bet we could rent it out on Airbnb and make a fortune.” She noticed the Christmas tree in the corner. “What’s Eric doing in here?”

      “Eric?” Stewart adjusted the lights. “I can just about handle you naming the chickens, the sheep and the pigs, but since when have we started naming trees?”

      “Trees are living things. At least, that one is. Meet Eric, the eco tree. He comes complete with roots. I repotted and nurtured him this year and look how he’s grown and flourished. Usually I put him in the barn when we have guests over Christmas.”

      Suzanne added a couple of books to the nightstand. Hannah had always loved books. “Will Luke want a tree? He doesn’t strike me as the kind of man who needs to be surrounded by glittery trappings.”

      “Everyone has to have a tree at Christmas.” Posy unwrapped a nut bar and took a bite.

      “Which is why Hannah should have one, too. Don’t drop crumbs in here. I just cleaned.” Suzanne eyed her youngest daughter, thinking once again how like Stewart she was, always on the go. It occasionally surprised her when she remembered Posy wasn’t his child.

      But she might as well have been. Stewart was the only father she remembered.

      “I was up at five and I haven’t had breakfast.” Posy took another large bite, catching the crumbs in her palm. “Hannah won’t remember to water him. Eric will die. And I bet she won’t even come to his funeral.”

      Suzanne knew she was supposed to smile but couldn’t quite manage it.

      Her stomach was in a knot. It had been two years since Hannah was home. Would it be difficult?

      “I hope she doesn’t miss Manhattan. It’s wonderful during the holidays.” She walked to the window and stared at the jagged profile of the mountains in the distance. Already they’d had more snow than usual for the time of year. How would Hannah react? Would she get cabin fever? Would log fires and home baking be enough to keep her here, or would she be wishing she’d made an excuse as she had the year before?

      Behind her back, Posy exchanged worried glances with her father. “You’ve never been to New York at Christmas.”

      “Beth has told me all about it.” Suzanne turned. “She takes the girls skating in Central Park.”

      Stewart cleared up the empty boxes. “That patch of ground in front of the henhouse often freezes over. It would work as a skating rink.”

      “You’d have to pick up the chicken poo first.” Posy stuffed the empty wrapper into her pocket. “You think I should buy skates for Martha? She could be the world’s first skating chicken. Oh, and great news. She laid this morning! I’ve been over there this morning giving her love and attention. Why is the desk from the study up here?”

      “Because Hannah may need to work. If something important comes up, I don’t want her to feel she has to leave.”

      “She’s not the leader of the free world. I’m sure she can be spared for a few days without the economy plunging.” Posy smiled. “Relax. And now I have to go.”

      “You’re working this afternoon?”

      Posy exchanged looks with her father. “I’m taking Luke ice climbing.”

      Suzanne felt the blood drain out of her face. The tips of her fingers tingled. “Have you checked the forecast? Leave a note of your route. Let us know what time you’ll be back.”

      “I will leave my intended route with Dad, but you know what it’s like at this time of year—things change as we go along. Please don’t worry. I’m good at what I do. It’s the reason they pay me.”

      “There’s not enough money in the world to make it worth you taking a risk.”

      Posy crossed the room and hugged her. “We’ll be fine. Luke doesn’t know the area, but when it comes to ice climbing, the man has serious skills. Not that I intend to tell him that, because his ego is doing just fine without the boost.” She walked to the door and Suzanne called out to her.

      “Thanks for the logs, sweetheart.”

      “You’re welcome. Now go and put your feet up and have a cup of tea. Ho ho ho, away I a-go.” Posy left the room and they heard her feet clattering on the stairs and her voice calling for Bonnie.

      Suzanne sank onto the edge of the bed. “Did you know she was going ice climbing?”

      “Yes.”

      “But you didn’t mention it to me.”

      “I didn’t want to worry you. Neither did she.”

      “I’m officially worried. How could I not be?”

      She felt like this every time Posy went into the mountains. She couldn’t concentrate until she knew she was safely home.

      Stewart sat down next to her. “Posy is a skilled climber and she’s careful.”

      “She’s too much like her mother.”

      “Be thankful she isn’t like her father.” Stewart stood up. “Then we’d really be in trouble.”

      Suzanne didn’t argue with that. She’d tried hard to like Rob because of Cheryl, but it hadn’t been easy and Stewart had actively disliked the man.

      If Cheryl hadn’t met Rob, would she be alive now?

      It was a ridiculous way to think, because without Rob there would be no Hannah, Beth and Posy.

      “This whole thing with Hannah—” She took his hand. “I’m overcompensating, aren’t I?”

      “Yes, but I understand.”

      She knew he did. She also knew that the loss hadn’t only been hers. Stewart had lost the life they’d planned together, the future they’d mapped out so carefully.

      And then she felt guilty, because no matter how many compromises or changes they’d had to make, they’d lived and they had a beautiful family.

      “Hannah guards herself. Shuts everyone out. And I can’t blame her. No child should have to live through what she lived through.”

      “They