Before I had a chance to think about what he might mean by this, let alone formulate a reply, the kitchen door opened and Sofia came running in, followed by Angela.
‘Is he all right?’ asked the little girl, eyes only for Steve. ‘I’ve been thinking about him all night.’
‘Yes,’ said Nick. ‘He’s done brilliantly. You can see for yourself.’
Sofia flung herself down on the floor and stroked the dog gently. In response, he opened his eyes and gave her hand a lick.
‘Oh! Heisbetter!’
‘Well done, you two,’ said Angela. ‘Did he eat any of his chicken?’
‘All of it,’ said Nick, pointing to the empty bowl. ‘And he can have some more in about two hours.’
I stood up.
‘Right, I’m going to go and jump in the shower, and then I’ll go and see Marilise.’
Twenty minutes later, I was pushing open her bedroom door. She was already awake and sitting up in bed.
‘Good morning,’ I said, drawing the curtains. ‘Have you slept well?’
‘Not at all,’ she replied. ‘Call it the nonsense of an old woman, but I have been so worried about that dog. I kept waking up, wondering how he was, and wishing I could do something to help.’
‘Steve’s fine,’ I said. ‘Nick and I stayed with him all night and now he’s doing well – getting up a bit and eating and drinking.’
Her hand flew to her heart.
‘Oh, what a relief! He is a nice dog, but I was more worried about what the effect would be on Nick if he were to die. Until that boy learns to lean into the love of his family, Steve is his greatest comfort. Now,’ she continued, ‘I would like to go downstairs for breakfast today, please. I feel too far removed from all the action.’
I sent a quick text to Angela to let her know, then helped Marilise with her morning routine before we made our slow way downstairs. Breakfast was eaten in the kitchen, and when we arrived, everybody was there. Astrid jumped up to help Marilise to her chair, and I accepted a cup of coffee gratefully from Greg. Initially, the talk was all of Steve and his recovery; we had to tell the story of the whole night and how we had looked after him. When that topic was finally exhausted, and I was beginning to think that Steve was the most high-maintenance patient I’d ever had, Nick spoke.
‘It’s nearly December,’ he said. ‘And I was thinking that it’s time to decide how we’re going to decorate the house.’
A little murmur of interest went around the table, and I could see people darting looks at one another – all except Marilise, who was smiling at me. ‘It hasn’t been done for decades, so there’s no traditions to constrain us. In fact, the only tradition I’ve ever known was that the housewasn’tdecorated, so we want to throw that one out, for sure.’
‘Can we have a tree?’ asked India. ‘There’s room for a huge one.’
‘Done,’ said Nick. ‘Anyone else?’
‘Reindeer,’ said Sofia, hugging Reddo, who came everywhere with her. ‘Not real ones, I suppose, but some big ones outside.’
‘Reindeer, tick!’ said Nick.
‘For my part,’ said Astrid, ‘I’d like dozens and dozens of lights. That’s what Christmas is about, isn’t it, bringing light to the darkness?’
Nick smiled.
‘Definitely lights, they’re on the list.’
‘It will make me very happy to see Lyonscroft dressed up beautifully for Christmas, as she was when I was a young bride,’ said Marilise. ‘I am sorry that my son was so aggravated by the festive season and did not make happier memories.’
‘Nick’s turning it around now, though,’ said Astrid. ‘The new memories will overwhelm the old.’
‘I believe this, too,’ said Marilise. ‘But I have some old memories that may contribute. The decorations that were in the photographs we looked at yesterday – I think, as long as they have not been moved or disposed of many years ago, that some of them are packed away in the attics. Angela, if you do not mind helping me, I would like to insist that Laura takes the afternoon off to help Nick with this endeavour.’
‘Me?’ I said. I wasn’t sure how I felt about that.
‘You,’ said Marilise firmly. ‘You have so much Christmas spirit longing to be let out. Please, help Nick.’
