“One more day!” they yelled in unison.

“Oh my goodness! Are you ready for him?”

“Yes!”

“Okay, let’s do a checklist and see. Have you got your stockings ready?”

“Yes!” They were rolling around her bed now, giggling.

“Mine’s got snowflakes and squirrels on,” said Jackson.

“And mine’s got . . . What has mine got, Jackson?”

“Yours has got snowflakes and reindeer.”

“Yes,” agreed Lucas, nodding vigorously.

“Phew, well that’s the stockings sorted,” said Nory, smooshing her pillows against the headboard and sitting up. “Now, did you remember to send your letters to the North Pole?”

“Yes. I put two stamps on mine,” Lucas said seriously.

“Okay, we can check letters off our list. Now the final thing: Have you been good this year?”

Both boys stopped suddenly. This was serious stuff. Nory could see them calculating their misdemeanors.

“They’ve both been very good this year,” said Thomas, who was standing in the doorway. At this, Jackson and Lucas whooped with joy and relief. “Boys, did you know Aunty Amie is in the bedroom next door? I’m sure she’d love to see you.”

Nory was sure she would too, but possibly not at seven o’clock in the morning after Jake Noel’s Christmas cocktails.

“Hey, Thom,” she said. Keep it light and friendly, she thought, since this was the first time they’d spoken since their argument.

“Listen, I’m gonna need your help today. We’re snowed under and the kids are home. Shelley’s doing a wreath-making session at the hotel, and I’ve got last-minute orders to drop off.”

“Oh. Okay. Sure, do you need me to mind the boys for you?”

“No, I’ll take them with me on my rounds. I need you to take a load of table centers up to the castle for me. The marquis has got family arriving for Christmas and he needs them this morning.”

“Oh, Thomas, come on!” Nory flopped back against the pillows. Typical that her brother would punish her by making her go up to the one place she needed to avoid like Krampus! “Can’t you take them, and I’ll take the other orders?”

“No. There’s too many. I’ll have to take the van and you haven’t driven the van before.”

Nory shrugged sulkily. “Can’t be that hard.” She pouted.

Thomas held the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger, a reaction to stress he’d inherited from their dad.

“Look, the gears are a bit sticky, and I haven’t got time to take you out for a practice run. You can fit the table centers in the back of the Audi if you push the seats down. I’ve already put the snow chains on for you.”

Nory closed her eyes and puffed out her breath. She could hear Ameerah being bounced on in the room next door.