Barbara Hannay - A Very Special Holiday Gift

But it was clear to her now that he’d cared very deeply about Liv.

‘I couldn’t keep her on track,’ Zac said, so softly Chloe almost missed it. ‘Liv never really looked on me as a parent. She wouldn’t accept me in a fathering role, so I had very little influence, I’m afraid. I think she was mad at our parents for disappearing the way they did and she saw me as an inadequate substitute. Before she was out of her teens she was into drinking and trying drugs. And then she was like a nomad, never wanting to settle. She didn’t want to study and she would never stay in one job for long enough to get any real skills. She was like a butterfly, always searching for a brighter flower.’

‘Might she have inherited that urge from your parents?’

‘Quite possibly, I guess.’

He stared unhappily up at the cabin’s ceiling and Chloe wished she could offer him wise words of consolation.

She did her best. ‘Honestly, I don’t think you should blame yourself for this accident, Zac.’

But he simply shook his head and closed his eyes.

* * *

It was ages before Chloe drifted off to sleep and when she woke a soft grey light filled the cabin and flight attendants were bringing around hot towels to freshen their hands and faces, as well as glasses of orange juice.

‘Morning, sleepyhead.’

Zac’s seat was already back in the upright position and he looked as if he’d been to the bathroom and washed and shaved.

Chloe yawned and hoped her hair wasn’t too messy. In a minute she would follow his example and freshen up. ‘What time is it?’

‘Seven forty-five. That’s Greenwich Mean Time, of course. If we were still at home it would be five forty-five in the evening.’

So...her parents had almost completed their first day in the hotel. Chloe hoped they were still enjoying themselves.

If she’d been in Brisbane, she would be putting the final touches to the office’s decorations and making last minute checks about the drinks and ice.

‘I hope you’re not worrying about your parents.’

‘No, I’m not.’ She knew they were in good hands and she’d left the hotel desk, the hired nurse and the chauffeur with all the phone numbers and information they could possibly need. ‘I was thinking about the office Christmas party tonight, actually.’

‘Really, Chloe?’ Zac was frowning at her now, although his eyes glinted with puzzled amusement.

‘I was looking forward to the party,’ she admitted, no longer caring if this revealed her inadequate social life.

‘You were looking forward to watching half the office staff get plastered and then staying behind to clean up their mess?’

She opened her mouth to protest.

Zac’s smile was gently teasing. ‘You’re going to see London at Christmas. I promise you that’s a thousand times better than the office do.’

‘I suppose it would be. When should we get our first glimpse of England?’

‘Oh, in about an hour.’

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