“You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to.

“I do want to. Yesterday I was still getting my head around it all.” Christy added whipped cream and marshmallows to their chocolate and summarized everything Robyn had told her.

“Well.” Alix picked up a spoon. “I’m glad it wasn’t murder.”

“Me, too. And although I understand why my mother was wary, it breaks my heart, the thought of them losing each other like that. It seems like such a waste.”

“But you’ve found each other. In the end it has worked out.”

“I wish my mother hadn’t been so...rigid.”

“She was a good person, Christy. A truly good person. Maybe she wasn’t perfect, but she loved you, and that’s everything—” Alix shrugged “—or almost everything.”

“I know.” She felt a pang. “I still miss her every day.”

“Me, too.” Alix gave her a hug and then scooped up her mug. “Let’s sit by the tree. She would approve.”

Christy picked up her mug, and they wandered across to the tree.

Alix settled herself on the rug and sat cross-legged. “Remember when we used to do this at your house?”

Christy sat next to her. “We used to sneak down after my mother was asleep.” She sipped her chocolate. “I always loved spending Christmas with you. Still do. I’m glad you’re here.”

“Are you? I was wondering about that. I’ve been taking a long, hard look at myself. Not always a comfortable thing to do, I can tell you.” Alix poked at the whipped cream with a spoon. “You have your own family now. I shouldn’t still be hanging around at Christmas.”

“We love you hanging around. This is already our best Christmas ever.” Christy stared out at the snow falling past the window and then at the glowing lights on the tree. “Are you having a good time?”

“The best.”

Was that it? Was that all she was going to say?

Christy tried again. “I’m sorry you ended up sharing a cabin with Zac. I didn’t know that would happen. How have you been getting on?” Christy kept her tone casual and was surprised when Alix’s shoulders drooped.

“Awful.”

“Oh no.” That wasn’t what she’d expected to hear. “How? In what way? Did you have a fight?”

“No. We don’t speak.”

“You...don’t speak? Not at all?”

“We leave notes for each other and try never to be in the cabin at the same time. It works pretty well.”

Christy stared at her, appalled, and then saw a gleam in Alix’s eyes. “Oh you—you’re teasing me!”

“Possibly.”

“Why would you do that?”

“Because seeing you trying to hold back is entertaining. I had a bet going with myself on how long you’d last before asking me a direct question.” Alix grinned. “Holly told you, didn’t she? I knew she would. She can’t keep a secret. It bursts out of her. I tell you, she’s going to end up being a real gossip.”

If that was true then she’d fit well into village life, Christy thought. She’d be joining the book group and making vegetarian quiche. “She told me you kissed.”