‘I’m working on it. I don’t pretend it’s easy.’

He kissed the top of her head.

‘Goodnight,’ he whispered.

She went upstairs and he was left alone.

Midnight. The clock in the kitchen chimed. The room was in darkness except for the tree lights that still glowed and flickered.

Santa smiled at the figure in the doorway. ‘Have you come to say goodbye?’

‘I wasn’t sure if you’d be here,’ Bobby said. ‘You’re supposed to have gone back to the North Pole by now.’

‘That’s one of the advantages of being the boss. You can change the rules to suit yourself. I thought I’d pop back to see how it was going.’

‘It’s been brilliant.’ Bobby sighed happily. ‘He’s still here. He liked the picture and everything. He even remembered what it was.’

‘Did you think he wouldn’t? Yes, well, I suppose you couldn’t be blamed for thinking that.’ Santa’s voice was gentle as he added, ‘Let’s face it, he’s not much of a father.’

‘Yes, he is,’ Bobby said instantly. ‘He’s the best.’

‘Doesn’t spend as much time with you as he should, though, does he?’

‘He’s very busy. He has lots of other things to think of. But he always comes back to us, because he loves us best in all the world.’

For a moment Santa seemed lost for words. At last he said, ‘I know he does.’

‘Did he tell you?’

‘I just know. He loves his family so much that it hurts, but he’s not good at saying things.’

‘And we love him best in all the world too,’ Bobby said firmly. ‘I do, and Mitzi does, and Mum does.’

‘Well, I don’t know-’

‘She does. I know she does.’

There was a silence before Santa said, ‘Never mind that. Tell me about Mitzi. Did she have a good day?’

‘Oh, yes. Dad gave her that Marianne doll with the riding habit-the one she asked you about the other day. You must have told him.’

Santa grinned. ‘Let’s just say that I can give him a nudge in the right direction. That’s not always easy, because he’s a stubborn fellow who doesn’t listen as often as he ought.’ Seeing Bobby about to flare up, he added quickly, ‘Now, be fair; you know that’s true.’