She wished now she’d said something years ago, instead of assuring Alix that everything was fine.

“She’s alive. I consider it my greatest achievement.” Alix gave Seb a brief hug, too. “I hope your meeting went well.”

“It was good, thanks.” His tone was polite, but didn’t invite further questions. Christy wouldn’t have minded except that he’d used the same tone with her.

She didn’t actually know how the interview had gone. The moment he’d arrived back, she’d asked, “How was it?”—she was human, wasn’t she?—and he’d said that the people seemed nice and that they’d let him know as soon as they’d made a decision.

Christy had hoped for more detail. When were they making a decision? Before Christmas? After Christmas? How many more candidates did they have to see? She’d wanted to know every question they’d asked and what he’d said in response, as if that information might somehow have helped add some much-needed certainty to her crumbling world. Seb had refused to say more than It’s done now, which was true, of course, but didn’t help her work out probabilities. Done in a good way or in an I messed that up way?

She tried not to feel hurt that he wasn’t being more open about it. She knew this was a sensitive subject for him, and she was trying to respect that. At least now she understood why he was behaving the way he was. She understood him.

Zac emerged from a room, carrying a suitcase. “Welcome to paradise. I’ve packed up the last of our things.”

“I don’t want you to go.” Holly clutched his hand. “I want us all to live here together. Mummy and Daddy, you and Aunty Alix.”

That might be a little too cozy, Christy thought. Also, she felt increasingly awkward around Alix.

Did her friend feel it, too?

She glanced at Alix, who was laughing at something Zac said and nodding over a suggestion he made for transferring their luggage across to the other cabin.

Christy watched this exchange, sensing a change and not understanding it.

They consulted one another. Made suggestions. If there was tension, they were hiding it.

Had they reached some sort of truce?

Christy frowned, curious. She glanced at Seb to see if he’d noticed, but he was listening carefully as Holly told him about a trip to find a Christmas tree.

“So,” she said as she hung up her coat, “you two must be dying to have some time off so that you can do your own thing.”

“We have a nighttime sled ride booked,” Alix said, “and also a snowshoe trip.”

We? Did she say we?

Whatever they’d planned to do, she hadn’t thought they’d be doing it together.

“I thought you’d already have done the sled ride.”

Robyn unzipped her coat. “A sled ride with the dogs is so special, Alix thought you’d want to do that with Holly.”

Christy felt guilty for feeling resentful toward Alix. Not only had she taken care of Holly, but she’d saved the special things for Christy to do.