‘I just wondered if you had any final instructions for me,’ he said now.

‘No way. It’s Christmas. Get off home to your family.’

‘I don’t have a family.’

‘Well, get off home, anyway. Or wherever you get off to.’

‘Wherever I am, I’ll be keeping an eye on things. I thought that you would be, too.’

‘Mark, lighten up. It’s Christmas. There’s nothing to keep an eye on.’

‘All right, but perhaps you’d better give me a contact number where you are. I know I can call the cellphone, but another number is always useful.’

He hesitated. Nothing was likely to happen, but it was as well to be prepared.

‘OK. The phone number of this house is-’

He stopped. Corinne had wandered out into the hall and was looking at him, her head on one side.

‘No,’ he said. ‘This is a private number. I can’t give it out and I’d rather you didn’t contact me at all. In an emergency, use the cellphone, but it had better be life or death or there’ll be trouble. I’ll call you when I’m ready.’

‘But-’

‘Goodbye, Mark.’

He hung up and looked at Corinne with a touch of defiance.

‘Thank you,’ she said warmly.

He put out his hand and she took it between both of hers. ‘I’m glad you came,’ she said. ‘It’s going to be a great Christmas.’

Her eyes were as warm as her voice and he tightened his hand. But the next moment she stepped back, smiling and saying, ‘It’s time for bed. I’ll see you in the morning. Goodnight.’

Next morning the snow lay thick on the ground as they had Christmas Eve breakfast.

‘Are we going to see Uncle Jimmy?’ Mitzi asked.

‘No need,’ Corinne said. ‘I’ve already called the hospital and he can come home. I’m going to fetch him later. You three can go shopping.’

The children cheered, but a few minutes later Alex took her aside.

‘It’s a bit soon for him to be leaving hospital, isn’t it?’