Lizzie sat up and curled her little arms round her neck. ‘Don’t be sad. You don’t have to find a daddy for me. That’s why I asked Santa. So that you don’t have to worry about it.’
Bryony shook her head, tears clogging her lashes. ‘Lizzie, no, he can’t—’
‘I’ve been good,’ Lizzie said firmly, climbing onto Bryony’s lap. ‘I’ve been so good sometimes I’ve almost burst. And once I’ve got my daddy I’m never speaking to Sally again because she’s just horrid.’
Bryony smiled through her tears and stroked her daughter’s hair. ‘I know you’ve been good, angel, but it doesn’t make any difference. Santa can’t get you a daddy. I should have told you that before. He can get you toys and things like that, but not a daddy.’
‘Just wait and see.’ Lizzie gave her a smug smile and nestled down in her bed. ‘Night-night.’
Bryony closed her eyes. ‘Night-night.’
What was she supposed to do? She’d just have to wait until Christmas morning and hope that all the other presents that she’d chosen would compensate in some small way for not being able to produce a daddy.
But she knew that her daughter was heading for a crushing disappointment.
Bryony worked the morning of Christmas Eve and there was still no sign of Jack.
‘I think he’s at home,’ Sean said when she tentatively asked if he knew where Jack was.
Bryony frowned, knowing that it was very unlikely that Jack would be at home. He hardly spent any time at home, especially not at Christmas. He either stayed at her house or camped out with Tom or Oliver or stayed in his room at the hospital.
‘Are you spending Christmas with your mother?’ Sean pulled on his coat and reached for his mobile phone.
‘Lizzie and I are staying in our house tonight,’ Bryony told him, ‘and then we’re all going to Mum’s for lunch tomorrow. Tom and Oliver will be there, too, patients permitting.’
Sean lifted an eyebrow. ‘And Jack?’
She shrugged. ‘I don’t know. He usually comes but this year…’ She broke off and flashed a smile at Sean, suddenly needing to get away. ‘Are you off to see Ellie and the baby?’
Sean nodded. ‘They’re being discharged this afternoon, all being well.’
‘Give her my love.’
They went in different directions and Bryony drove to her mother’s, picked up Lizzie and headed for home.
Lizzie was so excited she was bouncing in her seat like a kangaroo and Bryony felt something tug at her heart.
‘It would be great if Santa brought you that nice new doll you saw,’ she said, but Lizzie shook her head.
‘I don’t want to be greedy. A daddy is enough.’
And after that Bryony fell silent, totally unable to find a way of persuading her daughter that her dream might not come true.
She cooked tea with a cheerful smile, hung the stocking on the end of Lizzie’s bed and left a mince pie and a glass of whisky by the fire for Santa.
‘Do you think he’d like more than one mince pie?’ Lizzie asked, and Bryony shook her head.
‘He’s going to eat a mince pie in every house. That’s rather a lot, don’t you think?’
‘Can we leave carrots for the reindeer?’
‘Sure.’ Bryony smiled and fished in the vegetable basket, hoping that Santa’s reindeer weren’t too fussy. Her carrots had definitely seen better days.
Lizzie bounced and fussed and squashed some of her other presents but finally she was bathed and in her pyjamas.
‘This is going to be the best Christmas ever.’ She hugged Bryony and snuggled down, her eyes squeezed tightly shut. ‘Santa won’t come while I’m awake so I’m going straight to sleep.’
Bryony bit her lip and then bent to kiss her daughter. ‘Goodnight, sweetheart. Sleep tight.’
And with a last wistful look at the blonde curls spread over the pink pillow she switched on the tiny lamp and left the room.
CHAPTER TEN
‘MUMMY, Mummy, he’s been.’
Bryony struggled upright in bed, watching as Lizzie dragged her stocking into the bedroom.
She looked for signs of disappointment but Lizzie’s eyes were shining with excitement.
‘This stocking is so lumpy. Can I eat chocolate for breakfast?’ She giggled deliciously as she poked and prodded and Bryony smiled.
‘I suppose so. Come into bed and we’ll open it together.’
‘In a minute.’ Lizzie dropped the stocking and sprinted out of the room. ‘I’ve got to find my daddy first.’
Bryony sank back against the pillows and gave a groan. ‘Lizzie, I’ve already tried to tell you, there won’t be a daddy.’