‘You don’t think that caring for the kids might have changed his mind about having them?’
‘No.’ Stella lifted a set of notes from the pile. ‘If anything, it seems to have convinced him that he’s made the right choice.’
‘Why?’ Ellie ducked under a bunch of mistletoe and walked into the reception area. ‘It sounds as though he’s done a brilliant job.’
‘He doesn’t think so.’ With a resigned shrug, Stella waved the notes. ‘I’d better get on. That road traffic accident this morning has increased the waiting time. Everyone is slipping and sliding on those pavements doing their last-minute shopping.’
‘Wait just a minute.’ Ellie reached into a drawer and handed her a slip of paper. ‘Secret Santa.’
‘What about it?’
‘Everyone has to buy a present for someone. Just £5. Chocolates. Bottle of wine. Joke book. Whatever, but if that’s my name on that piece of paper make sure it’s chocolates.’ Ellie grinned. ‘We’re going to put all the presents under the tree in the staffroom and have a grand opening. Which reminds me—are you going to the Christmas party? They need to know numbers by tomorrow.’
Stella hesitated. ‘I don’t know…’
‘You must go,’ Ellie urged, handing her another piece of paper. ‘It’s at the outdoor ice rink that they’ve set up by the lake. Little twinkly lights everywhere, Christmas carols and mulled wine. So romantic.’
Stella decided not to point out that she didn’t have anyone to be romantic with. ‘I’ll think about it.’ But that noncommittal remark wasn’t enough for Ellie.
‘Oh, please go. You’re a fantastic skater, I remember you taking a bunch of us a few years ago. If nothing else, you have an evening out, get some exercise and impress the men with your triple salco toe loops or whatever they’re called. We can have a lovely girly bonding session on the ice. There’s no chance I’ll catch Ben skating—you know what men are like. He’ll be at the bar with the guys. I need someone to peel me off the ice.’ Stella laughed. ‘I’ll think about it.’
‘And you’re sure you don’t mind working Christmas Day?’
Stella shrugged. ‘It’s fine.’ Given the option of working or sitting in the stable on her own, she was going to choose to work, even if working meant that she’d be shoulder to shoulder with Daniel. ‘Are you and Ben going away?’
‘No. Family Christmas at home, everyone welcome. Which basically means disorganised chaos. We’d love you to come over after you finish here. There’ll be loads to eat.’
Stella smiled, touched by Ellie’s generosity. ‘Thanks. But I’ll probably be so tired I’ll be glad to get home and be on my own.’
‘Stella, you can’t be on your own on Christmas Day! It’s a time to be with people! If you don’t sit there grinding your teeth, desperate to get away from everyone, it just doesn’t feel like Christmas! And what about turkey? Crackers? Presents? Silly hats? Too much champagne?’ Ellie sounded appalled and Stella managed a smile.
‘If that’s a description of your typical Christmas then I might come after all.’
‘I hope you do.’ Ellie gave Stella a quick hug and Stella felt a lump in her throat.
She had lovely friends, she reminded herself. People who cared about her.
Maybe she didn’t have a family of her own, but life wasn’t all about finding that one special person you wanted to be with.
But, for the first time ever, she wasn’t looking forward to Christmas.
Patrick’s arrival home was accompanied by a flurry of excitement and an even larger flurry of snow.
‘If I’d waited twenty-four hours I wouldn’t have had to struggle with that papier mâché snowman,’ Daniel observed as he sutured a laceration on a girl’s leg while Stella helped. ‘We could have made the real thing.’
‘You still can. And I’m willing to bet that papier mâché snowman will still be in Posy’s life in five years’ time.’ Stella gave the girl a tetanus injection. ‘I’m sure she’s missing you.’
‘Probably in the same way Alfie is missing all the toys that I managed to damage,’ Daniel drawled, tying off the final stitch and then applying a dressing. He smiled at the girl on the trolley. ‘That was a dramatic end to a Christmas party. How are you getting home?’
‘Is that an offer?’ Still tipsy, the girl looked at him flirtatiously and Daniel gave a faint smile.
‘It was a concerned question. I can see you’ve been drinking. Not a good end to the office party, spending an hour in here.’
‘Actually, it was a great improvement on the office party. For a start, you’re five times better looking than anyone I work with. And if I wasn’t here, I’d still be there, which would mean dodging my hideous boss who was dressed as Santa.’ The girl swung her legs over the side of the trolley and stood up shakily. ‘He was going “Ho, ho, ho” and pinching all the girls’ bottoms. That’s why I cut my leg. I dived to one side and slipped on someone’s abandoned sausage roll.’
Stella giggled. ‘Sounds like a great party.’
‘It’s one of those parties where you know if you don’t watch yourself, you’re going to end up losing your job.’ The girl looked down at herself gloomily. ‘This outfit is ruined. I wish I hadn’t drunk anything. I feel dizzy.’