What did she know? What did she know about relationships? Nothing: that was the truth. And it would have been better for everyone if she’d realized that sooner. Before she’d opened her mouth at her best friend’s wedding.

Erik grabbed an ax from the sled. He looked entirely at home in this beautiful, white wilderness. “Are we ready to find a tree? Searching for the perfect Christmas tree is a family tradition.”

“Sounds good.” Tradition. Everyone seemed to have them at Christmas, except for her. She was forced to borrow other people’s.

Her hand still in Zac’s, Holly tipped her head back and studied the trees around her. Some were bent under the weight of the snow, forming strange, otherworldly shapes. All around them the thick white snow reflected the muted blue light.

Alix thought she could happily look at it for the rest of her life. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Robyn nodded. “Arctic light. People often assume it’s dark here at this time of year because the sun doesn’t rise above the horizon, but far from it. It’s heaven for a photographer.”

Alix thought of the photographs on the wall in the cabin and how they’d perfectly captured the scale of nature. Robyn and Christy clearly shared an artistic talent, although she was pretty sure her friend didn’t know that.

“That tree!” Holly pointed, and Robyn raised her eyebrows.

“We might have to find one a little smaller than that.” Robyn held out her hand, tentatively, as if she wasn’t sure what the response would be. “Do you want to come with me, Holly?”

Holly didn’t hesitate. She let go of Zac and slipped her hand into Robyn’s. With Suka padding along next to her, she walked along the snowy track into the forest.

Anticipating all the accidents that could befall her, Alix went to follow, but Zac caught her arm.

“Let them have some time together. They’ll be fine. We can see her. Relax.”

Relax? How? She’d blown a lot of things, but she wasn’t going to blow this. “She’s my responsibility.” She wanted to hover behind the child in case she fell. Wrap her in an extra layer in case she was cold.

“She’s our responsibility. And we’re taking it seriously. But maybe it will do her good to have a little time with Robyn.”

“We don’t really know Robyn. And they don’t know Holly. They won’t know her capacity for accidents. She’ll probably try and chop the tree down herself.”

“They’re being careful. Look.”

She looked and saw Robyn holding tightly to Holly’s hand as they took a closer look at a tree. She thought about the tears she’d seen in her eyes and how careful she’d been when approaching the child.

“It must be strange for her to see Holly after all this time. She seemed emotional about it.”

“Not surprising, I suppose. Big family rift and no contact for a few decades? This must be a pretty momentous visit for her. Potentially life-changing.”