face glowing with delight. âWe havenât got any shiny ones like those,â she told Lauren, tugging at the zip of her anorak. âDaddy did hang my paper chains in the dining-room but they didnât reach all the way, did they, Daddy?â
He ducked his head as he came inside and lowered the rucksack to the floor. âI hope everythingâs in there,â he said, giving it a doubtful look. âZoe helped me pack it, and wanted her entire wardrobe included.â
âShall we take it upstairs, Zoe? See where youâre going to sleep?â
Lauren expected Dr Trevissick to say goodbye, but when he didnât she led the way up the stairs, with him following closely.
âLook, Daddy! Thereâs flowers on my duvet,â the little girl shrieked. âLots and lots of flowers. And a really, really grown-up bed, too.â She skipped round the room, examining everything. âAnd really, really grown-up curtains. And a grown-up cupboard with dangly golden handles.â She sat on the dressing-table stool and gazed in the mirror. âMy bedroom at home has all baby things, hasnât it, Daddy?â She frowned at her reflection. âWith pink rabbits on. I like these flowers best.â
Her father looked ruefully at Lauren. âI hadnât thought to change anything. Itâs the same as when she was born. Anna chose it all.â
His face became more angular when he said his wifeâs name.
âWill you stay for tea, Dr Trevissick?â Lauren asked quickly. âOr are you due at the hospital?â
âNot until eight.â He hesitated for a moment. âAnd donât you think itâs time we dropped the Dr Trevissick bit, Lauren? My name is Matthew.â
CHAPTER FOUR
Lauren repeated the name in her head.
Matthew.
It suited him. She realised he was looking at her intently, one eyebrow raised, in a way she was beginning to recognise.
âI think we can drop the formalities away from work, if thatâs okay?â
Lauren smiled. âOf course, Dr Trevissick,â she said, and saw his mouth curve upwards.
Zoe was already leading the way downstairs, eager to discover more about her temporary home. Her mouth widened with pleasure when she opened the door and went into the decorated lounge.
âShall we make the tea now, Lauren? Daddyâs very hungry.â
âJust what I was going to suggest. Do you like mince pies?â
âDo I, Daddy?â
âProbably,â Matthew replied, his gaze travelling the room, taking in the sweet- smelling little tree with its twinkling lights and glittering glass baubles, the holly-wreathed pictures, and mantelpiece hung with swathes of pine and red ribbons. âEverything looks very festive,â he commented, sinking down into one of the comfortable armchairs.
âYou can have a little sleep, Daddy, while Lauren and meâs getting tea. Come on, Lauren.â
Matthew threw Lauren a despairing look, which she countered with a grin and, taking Zoe with her, went into the kitchen.
âRight, Zoe,â she said, rapidly undoing plastic containers and setting some large plates on the kitchen table. âWill you put these mince pies and sausage rolls out for me, while I make the sandwiches?â
Keeping a wary eye on the little girl, she buttered slices of bread and filled some with ham and tomato and the rest with cheese and pickle.
âDo you think Daddy will like these?â Lauren asked.
Engrossed in carefully arranging sausage rolls round the edge of a plate, Zoe nodded. âMy Daddy likes everything. So do I. The sausage has fallen out of this roll. Can I eat it?â
With everything loaded onto a tea trolleyâher grandmother had always insisted on using it for visitorsâLauren wheeled it, rattling, along the uneven boards of the hall and into the lounge to find Matthew, head leaning back against the chair, eyes closed. All lines of tension were smoothed away from