The Christmas Sisters: The Sunday Times top ten feel-good and romantic bestseller!. Sarah Morgan

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      Suzanne knew she was supposed to smile but couldn’t quite manage it.

      Her stomach was in a knot. It had been two years since Hannah was home. Would it be difficult?

      “I hope she doesn’t miss Manhattan. It’s wonderful during the holidays.” She walked to the window and stared at the jagged profile of the mountains in the distance. Already they’d had more snow than usual for the time of year. How would Hannah react? Would she get cabin fever? Would log fires and home baking be enough to keep her here, or would she be wishing she’d made an excuse as she had the year before?

      Behind her back, Posy exchanged worried glances with her father. “You’ve never been to New York at Christmas.”

      “Beth has told me all about it.” Suzanne turned. “She takes the girls skating in Central Park.”

      Stewart cleared up the empty boxes. “That patch of ground in front of the henhouse often freezes over. It would work as a skating rink.”

      “You’d have to pick up the chicken poo first.” Posy stuffed the empty wrapper into her pocket. “You think I should buy skates for Martha? She could be the world’s first skating chicken. Oh, and great news. She laid this morning! I’ve been over there this morning giving her love and attention. Why is the desk from the study up here?”

      “Because Hannah may need to work. If something important comes up, I don’t want her to feel she has to leave.”

      “She’s not the leader of the free world. I’m sure she can be spared for a few days without the economy plunging.” Posy smiled. “Relax. And now I have to go.”

      “You’re working this afternoon?”

      Posy exchanged looks with her father. “I’m taking Luke ice climbing.”

      Suzanne felt the blood drain out of her face. The tips of her fingers tingled. “Have you checked the forecast? Leave a note of your route. Let us know what time you’ll be back.”

      “I will leave my intended route with Dad, but you know what it’s like at this time of year—things change as we go along. Please don’t worry. I’m good at what I do. It’s the reason they pay me.”

      “There’s not enough money in the world to make it worth you taking a risk.”

      Posy crossed the room and hugged her. “We’ll be fine. Luke doesn’t know the area, but when it comes to ice climbing, the man has serious skills. Not that I intend to tell him that, because his ego is doing just fine without the boost.” She walked to the door and Suzanne called out to her.

      “Thanks for the logs, sweetheart.”

      “You’re welcome. Now go and put your feet up and have a cup of tea. Ho ho ho, away I a-go.” Posy left the room and they heard her feet clattering on the stairs and her voice calling for Bonnie.

      Suzanne sank onto the edge of the bed. “Did you know she was going ice climbing?”

      “Yes.”

      “But you didn’t mention it to me.”

      “I didn’t want to worry you. Neither did she.”

      “I’m officially worried. How could I not be?”

      She felt like this every time Posy went into the mountains. She couldn’t concentrate until she knew she was safely home.

      Stewart sat down next to her. “Posy is a skilled climber and she’s careful.”

      “She’s too much like her mother.”

      “Be thankful she isn’t like her father.” Stewart stood up. “Then we’d really be in trouble.”

      Suzanne didn’t argue with that. She’d tried hard to like Rob because of Cheryl, but it hadn’t been easy and Stewart had actively disliked the man.

      If Cheryl hadn’t met Rob, would she be alive now?

      It was a ridiculous way to think, because without Rob there would be no Hannah, Beth and Posy.

      “This whole thing with Hannah—” She took his hand. “I’m overcompensating, aren’t I?”

      “Yes, but I understand.”

      She knew he did. She also knew that the loss hadn’t only been hers. Stewart had lost the life they’d planned together, the future they’d mapped out so carefully.

      And then she felt guilty, because no matter how many compromises or changes they’d had to make, they’d lived and they had a beautiful family.

      “Hannah guards herself. Shuts everyone out. And I can’t blame her. No child should have to live through what she lived through.”

      “They all lived through it, Suzy, not just Hannah.”

      “I know, but Posy was so little she barely remembers it. Beth remembers it, but her reaction was what you’d expect it to be. Hannah was older. It was different. More complicated. And some of that was down to her relationship with Rob.” It made her heart ache to think of it. “All I want is for us to be a normal family. But we’re not, are we? We never have been. There is so much damage.” And not just to her family. She took a deep breath. “It would have been twenty-five years this week.”

      It had been a day much like this one, she remembered. Changeable weather. The mountains playing a game of hide-and-seek behind the clouds.

      And then the accident.

      Five people had gone up the mountain and only one had walked away.

      It was one anniversary she wouldn’t be celebrating.

CHAPTER SEVEN

       Posy

      THE GLENSAY INN was a traditional Highland coaching inn with stone floors, rustic wooden tables and a beamed ceiling. A log fire crackled and danced in the hearth and hurricane lamps hung either side of the bar. In the summer people spilled out into the garden, but on a freezing winter’s night like tonight the place was crowded, the atmosphere thickened with the smell of whiskey and locally brewed beer. A stranger venturing inside out of the cold would find warmth not only by the fire, but also in the welcome.

      Posy and Luke fought their way to an empty table close to the fire.

      It took about five minutes to cross the room because she knew almost everyone there and they all had something to share with her about her dad, her mom, the mountain rescue team and the weather forecast.

      When they finally reached the table, a roar of laughter had them both glancing toward the bar.

      “Someone is having a good time.” Luke unzipped his jacket and hung it over the back of his chair.

      “I hope you weren’t expecting somewhere private.” She unwound her scarf and waved at Geoff, the landlord, who raised his hand in return. Ignoring the throng СКАЧАТЬ