Simon didn’t show up the next day. I spent the morning hours on the settee in the parlor, watching snow fall in gentle puffs. By early afternoon, I moseyed back to my bedroom and read. I ate whatever my mother put in front of me. I napped. I talked to the baby and to Jeremiah. He even hugged me. Twice.

All in all, a relaxing day. Perfect, really.

I missed Simon.

Bugger the man. I wanted to yell at him. I wanted to kiss him. Mainly, I wanted his arms around my back, holding me tight and promising never to let go.

He never stopped by.

He did, however, drop off all my favorite sweets from a small bakery in Bath, something I found out only later as I’d still been sleeping at the time. Mum and I oohed and ahed over the fancy presentation while Jeremiah made short work of the truffles before heading upstairs to meet up with Mason and a few of his other friends to play on his Xbox, leaving Mum and I alone.

I stared down at the treat in front of me, then at the small curl of steam floating upward from my cup of tea. “I don’t know what to think about our conversation yesterday.”

Mum smiled, but it was filled with sadness. “I don’t expect you to condone my actions. I don’t.”

“Where’s Dad?” I asked.

Mum began to pick up the wrappers and the lunch plates. “Out.”

“Where?”

“He didn’t say.”

I narrowed my eyes on her back. “Will he be here for Christmas?”

Mum turned around, her eyes shadowed. “Are you worried about that?”

I blew out a long breath. “Yes. I guess I am.”

“Of course he’ll be here.”

“All right. Did Dad go off with Simon?”

Mum dried her hands on a dish towel and set it aside before resuming her seat at the table. “Yes. Your father said he’d be home this evening but not to hold dinner for him.”

“Where did they go? Why? Dad’s so angry with Simon right now.”

“He is, true. Simon asked him. I don’t know more than that, Ella. I’m sorry.”

I frowned, my hands falling to my stomach in a protective gesture. More of my family couldn’t fall apart. My breath shattered as I considered the possibility my parents might split up.

“You’re sure you two are okay?”

Mum leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to my cheek. “No need to worry over us. Your father and I are better than we’ve been in years. Now, rest up.” Mum handed me my Kindle and shooed me from the kitchen.

After settling onto the settee, I clicked on my e-reader, staring down at the words in front of me without seeing them.

I set my e-reader aside and turned to face the window, wishing I knew more about my father’s day-jaunt.