And now, faced with Zac and the memory of possibly the biggest confrontation of her life, Alix finally saw the merit in that approach. If she’d been meek and kept her mouth shut, she wouldn’t now feel like a lobster dropped without warning into a vat of boiling water.

“Any other problems?” Christy gave a hysterical laugh. “The whole cottage? How long have you got?”

He gave her a searching look. “Old properties can feel like that sometimes, but this place is sound. All it needs is a little loving care.”

That was what she needed, Alix thought. Loving care. Failing that, wine. And if Zac was joining them for dinner, she was going to need more than one glass.

“I set the table.” Holly tugged at her hand. “You’re next to Uncle Zac.”

Oh joy. Her evening was getting better and better.

Alix focused on Holly. “Why don’t you take me up to your new bedroom? I can’t wait to see your polar research station.”

She followed Holly upstairs, telling herself that it was one evening and she could get through one awkward evening. But she resented the fact that what should have been fun and relaxing would now be full of stress and tension. More importantly, Zac’s presence meant that it would be harder to talk to Christy.

It was some small comfort that it would undoubtedly be an ordeal for him, too.

Holly pushed open the door of her bedroom, and Alix stopped, stunned by what she saw.

“That’s... Wow.” She stepped inside and glanced around. It was truly creative. What she wouldn’t have done for a bedroom like this when she was a child. “You have the northern lights on your bedroom wall. And the snow sparkles.”

“Mummy did that with special paint.” Holly scrambled up onto the shelf bed, and there was a horrible tearing sound as her dress caught on the ladder. She froze and looked at Alix.

“Oops. Want me to tell your mummy for you?”

Holly yanked at the dress and launched herself onto the bed, the movement finally dislodging her hair clip. “No, I can tell her. A dress is stupid.”

Alix thought about the time Christy had spilled juice on her dress and been heartbroken. She’d been too scared to tell her mother, even though it had been an accident. In the end Alix had taken the blame. Holly, it seemed, had no such concerns.

She sat cross-legged on the top bunk, her knee poking out through the torn dress, her hair tumbled and messy as she showed Alix her latest favorite toys.

Alix smiled. “You look snug there. Did Daddy build you that?”

“Uncle Zac. He can make anything. And he’s actually been to a real research station.”

A touch of hero worship there, Alix thought. Oh to be young.

The fact that he could make a little girl’s dreams come true didn’t make her feel any more comfortable around him.

“Alix! Holly!” Christy shouted up the stairs. “I’m serving drinks.”