There was a moment before he seemed to catch on to what she might be suggesting. “Am I? Are you?”

She nodded.

Putting down his drink, he took her face in his hands and planted a loving kiss on the tragically scarred cheek. “I hope that’s a good enough answer,” he told her gruffly, “but if it isn’t I can take off all your clothes and kiss every other part of you as well—and if that still doesn’t convince you I’ll just do it all over again.”

Chapter Fifty-Five

It was just after six in the evening, with the sound of a brass band playing “Good King Wenceslas” drifting up from the street below, and the red glow of a brazier reflected in the window, as Dan prepared to leave his office. Everyone else had gone home, and he was in a hurry to get to the coach house to help with preparations for the early Christmas party. However, just as he was about to turn out the lights there was a knock on his door and to his surprise Archie came in, his face red from the cold, and his dark hair appearing even more mussed than usual as he tugged down his hood.

“Hello, son,” Dan said warmly. “Wasn’t I supposed to come and pick you guys up? Is your mum with you?”

“No, she’s at home,” Archie told him, not quite meeting his eyes. “I came because there’s something I need to tell you.”

Realizing it was something serious, Dan said, “OK. Shall we sit down?”

Archie nodded, but when Dan returned to his chair he remained standing.

What he had to say didn’t take long, partly because he spoke quickly, but also because he’d obviously rehearsed it. When he’d finished he put a small package on the desk and shoved his hands back into his jacket pockets.

Dan regarded the package thoughtfully, taking in its meaning along with everything Archie had said. In the end, in spite of already knowing the answer, he asked, “Are you sure about this?”

Archie nodded. “It’s how it’s got to be, know what I mean?”

Not sure that he did know, Dan pointed to the empty chair and said, “Sit down, let’s talk about it some more.”

Archie stepped back toward the door. “No point,” he said. “I just want you to pass those on, if you will.”

“I will, but I don’t think this is the way to do it.”

Archie merely shrugged. “No right way, no wrong way.” With the ghost of a smile he added, “Reckon it’s your way though.”

Catching the humor, Dan arched an eyebrow and looked at the package again before returning his steady gaze to Archie. “What about your mother?” he asked soberly.