All I Want For Christmas by Julie Coffin Read Free Book Online Page B

her. Men like Rick did that all the time. Why should Matthew be any different?
    She began to gather up the plates and cups, piling them onto the tea trolley. Cream and jam daubed Matthew’s crumpled serviette. She stared at it, remembering how he’d looked, sitting so relaxed in the armchair, his lean face no longer tense and strained. Something she’d never seen before.
    Leaving Zoe doing a jigsaw puzzle she’d found when in the loft, Lauren went to the kitchen to wash up and put the remaining food into containers.
    Why didn’t I give some to Matthew to take with him?
she thought, snapping on the plastic lids. With a long night looming, he’d probably have been glad of them to eat.
    She raised her hand to her forehead, recalling the sweep of his lips across her skin, then, annoyed with herself, plunged her fingers into the frothy hot water and began to scour a plate.
    * * *
    â€˜How will Father Christmas know where I am?’ Zoe asked as Lauren bathed her later that evening.
    Lauren smiled down into the child’s worried eyes. ‘Father Christmas knows everything,’ she soothed. ‘He’ll know exactly where you are.’
    â€˜But how?’ Zoe persisted, standing up to be wrapped in a warm towel and lifted over the side of the bath. ‘Who will tell him?’
    â€˜The Christmas robin,’ Lauren replied, gently drying the little girl’s hair. ‘Every garden has a robin. Haven’t you noticed? And they let Father Christmas know all that’s happening.’
    â€˜Is that why there’s robins on Christmas cards? And your tree?’
    â€˜I expect so.’ Lauren picked up Zoe’s pyjamas from the towel rail, then buttoned her into them.
    â€˜Can I have the story about the snowman?’ Zoe asked, sliding her feet into her slippers.
    â€˜If you hop into bed, I’ll read to you, then it’s off to sleep before Father Christmas gets here.’
    â€˜When’s my Daddy coming back?’
    Lauren switched on the bedside lamp and pulled back the flowered duvet. ‘Tomorrow. He’s working at the hospital all night.’
    Zoe wriggled down into the covers, her brown eyes troubled. ‘You won’t go away, will you?’
    â€˜Of course I won’t, sweetheart. My bedroom’s right next to yours.’
    â€˜Will you leave my door open in case I have nasty dreams? They sometimes come in the night.’ Zoe’s fingers were clenching into the fabric of the duvet. ‘When my Daddy’s not there.’
    Lauren stroked the little girl’s cheek. ‘Of course I will, poppet. And Daddy’s not far, only a phone call away. Now, shall we have that story?’
    She’d hardly read two pages when the phone rang. Leaving Zoe with the book, Lauren picked up the extension in her bedroom.
    The voice was unexpected. Matthew’s. He sounded worried.
    â€˜Lauren, it’s Zoe’s presents. I’ve still got them in the car. I meant to bring them in when she wasn’t looking, but with all the excitement, I forgot. By the time I come off duty in the morning, it’s going to be too late. She’ll be awake by then and devastated if Father Christmas forgets her.’
    Lauren lowered her voice in case Zoe could hear. ‘It’s all right, Matthew. I’ve made up a stocking for her. Just little things. I wasn’t sure . . .’
    â€˜That I’d even remember?’ Matthew questioned, and she could imagine the hurt expression in his blue eyes. ‘You don’t have a very high opinion of me, do you, Lauren?’
    â€˜Well, you do have a lot on your mind all the time.’
    â€˜I suppose I deserve that reply.’
    Lauren’s brain was already racing ahead. ‘Zoe can have her stocking first thing, then we’ll have the rest of the presents round the tree later—when you get here. You can slip into the lounge and add yours while I distract her. It won’t be