‘Perhaps you should have thrown it out of your life, along with him.’

‘I haven’t thrown him out of my life. I never could. It was really the other way around. The day after that picnic he got a call that changed everything. Suddenly it was “big time,” and he was never really ours after that. That’s why I was surprised he recognised the moment. I should think it feels like another life to him by now.’

‘Maybe it does,’ Santa said wistfully. ‘Another sweeter life that he lost somewhere along the way.’ He gave a brief laugh. ‘He’s not a very clever fellow, is he?’

‘Cleverer than I thought,’ she murmured.

‘I think you should go now,’ he said abruptly.

‘Can’t I stay? I could get you a beer and-’

‘Go,’ he said with soft vehemence. ‘It’s better, believe me.’

‘Yes,’ she said with a sigh. ‘I suppose it is.’

When she’d gone Santa stood looking at the doorway, as though hoping she would return. When she didn’t, he switched out the tree lights and sat for a long time in the darkness.

CHAPTER FIVE

ALEX could still remember the first Christmas of his marriage, when he and Corinne had gone out early on December the twenty-sixth, and dived into the sales. She had an eye for a bargain, and they had triumphantly carried back home several pieces of household equipment at rock-bottom prices.

As they’d prospered they hadn’t needed the sales and Alex, who had been able to buy her anything she wanted, had been bemused by her continued enthusiasm. So it hardly came as a surprise that she was set on attending this year.

He came downstairs to find several newspapers spread out on the kitchen table with four eagerly debating heads leaning over them.

‘Washing machine!’ Jimmy was making a list.

‘Shoes,’ Corinne added. ‘And a lawnmower-’

They went on compiling the list and Alex, who had learned wisdom, stayed in the background.