Page 79 of All Yours

The lights twinkled, making the fir cones sparkle. Willow made a sound of surprise and Robyn couldn’t help but laugh and kiss her head.

‘I know, darling, isn’t it beautiful!’ she whispered as Willow bounced in her arms.

Robyn arranged the baby cushion in front of the tree and propped Willow against it, snapping a picture on her phone and sending it to the girl group first.

Girl Gang WhatsApp group

Robyn: Willow’s first Christmas!

A second later the replies came all at once.

Wren: She’s adorable! Can’t wait for her to meet our twins.

Amber: Gotta say, that’s making me broody . . .

Isabella: And me. Can you imagine? A little baby Etienne running around Honeybridge!

Amber: I don’t think Honeybridge is ready for two Etiennes!

Rosie: She’s a beauty, Robyn. She’s so like you.

Rosie’s comment made her blink. She studied Willow every day, looking for signs or similarities – not to her, because that was obvious. Willow had the same auburn colouring, the same heart-shaped face, the dimples beside her mouth – but she looked more to see signs of her father. The colour of Willow’s eyes was changing slowly to a bronze. Just like Fox’s.

She sent the picture to Fox before she let herself overthink it. Same image, same caption.

The ticks went blue and she clutched the phone tightly, thinking of all the things she should say, secrets she should share. Was it fair on him to not tell him? But if he wasn’t going to be a permanent fixture in their lives, what was fairest to Willow?

Fox: Gorgeous! Looks like you’ve been busy.

She smiled, couldn’t help it.

Fox: We’ve been a bit distracted here!

A selfie loaded.

The five-footer was standing, still bare, in the background. Reggie had a glitter moustache, George had a bauble hanging over each ear, Fox wore a garland of tinsel and Dingbat was eating what looked suspiciously like a Christmas fairy.

Robyn burst out laughing. The chaos looked crazy and homely and noisy, and it gave her a warm feeling just to look at the picture, until she really took in what Fox had draped himself in. Silver tinsel. Meg’s favourite. Her heart sank. All her thoughts about whether to tell him about Willow or not seemed to fade away. He wouldn’t be able to commit to them. How could he? He was still heartbroken over Meg.

She scooped the baby up again and held her against her chest. Willow snuggled in close, and Robyn whispered into her hair.

‘I’m not going anywhere, baby. If it’s just you and me for ever, Willow, then I won’t let you down.’

Chapter Forty-Four

Fox

Brothers from Another Mother WhatsApp group

Alex: Where you been all afternoon, Fox?

Etienne: We had a quick beer at the rowing club. Missed you.

Walker: Haven’t seen you since the stag?

Fox: Went to get a Christmas tree.

Alex: Is that all? Amber tells me there’s a woman on the scene . . .