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‘Fox,’ she said, one last time.
‘I need to think,’ he said as he stumbled away.
Chapter Fifty-Eight
Fox
This was one Christmas Day Fox wasn’t going to get over in a hurry. His head was still a mess, his boots were undone, and he was lost for words as he pulled up at Millie’s house and the boys spilled out of the car. He’d said to Robyn he needed to think, but his thoughts were too jumbled to get anything straight. Back at the hospital, he’d collected the boys in a daze and driven, just to get away. To get some space. To sort his head out. To think.
Millie was waiting on the doorstep wearing a Christmas hat and bauble earrings, holding a stocking in each hand, one for each of the children. Or the ones that she knew he had. Fox wiped his face roughly with his hands as he walked up the drive.
‘Happy Christmas to my favourite brother-in-law,’ Millie said as she stood on tiptoes to hug him.
‘Happy Christmas, Millie,’ he said back and squeezed her tightly for a long moment, wishing everything was as straightforward as the affection he had for her.
‘You okay?’ she asked as they headed in. ‘You look a bit tired.’
‘Long story,’ he said, wishing he could tell her everything, but feeling like Christmas Day was probably not the right time to be confessing that a one-night stand had resulted in a new baby, and that Robyn had just professed her undying love for him. Instead, he said, ‘It was the masked ball last night and then Rosie and Wren had their babies . . .’
Millie squealed in delight and led him into her cosy front room where the boys were already poking presents under the Christmas tree in a bid to identify them. Fox was in the middle of telling her the story and introducing the babies’ names when the doorbell rang again.
‘Who can that be?’ Millie asked. ‘Unusual on Christmas Day!’
Fox had a sudden sinking feeling as a memory sharpened in his mind. How could he have forgotten? He smacked his head with his hand.
‘Oh my God,’ he said from behind his hands. ‘I think I invited Erin to Christmas dinner.’
‘What?’ Millie said, open-mouthed, frozen midway across the room. Fox dropped his hands and turned to face her.
‘I forgot I’d asked her at the masked ball. And then I forgot to tell you.’
Millie blinked and they studied each other’s faces for a full ten seconds, before Millie snorted with laughter. ‘Nothing like a bit of notice,’ she said through her giggles.
‘And that was nothing like a bit of notice,’ Fox said, half-heartedly laughing himself and kicking himself again.
‘Things must be going well then,’ Millie said, clapping her hands. ‘Go and let her in!’
Fox exhaled loudly, wondering what the hell he was doing. How was Erin coming to lunch when he’d just found out he had a baby with Robyn? It was absolutely the last thing he wanted, or needed. To add insult to injury, the boys skidded in, having heard the doorbell.
‘Is Robyn here? And Willow?’ they asked excitedly. Fox’s heart hurt as he realised for the first time that the boys were talking about their sister, Willow, and they didn’t even know it. He had so much to work through.
‘No, boys, this is a friend of your daddy’s,’ Millie said gently.
Fox heard the boys groan as he went to open the door.
Erin stood on the doorstep wearing a jumper with a Christmas tree on it.
‘Ho ho ho!’ she said shyly and he saw the flush immediately on her cheek. Little glass baubles hung from her ears, and she carried a small Santa sack of gifts. She beamed and stood on tiptoes to kiss him on the cheek.
Fox led her through to the kitchen where Millie was hurriedly rearranging the table to add another place.
‘I’m not too early, am I?’ Erin whispered to Fox.
‘Not at all . . .’ Fox replied, hoping it sounded true.
‘You’re right on time!’ Millie stepped into the gap, arms extended in welcome. ‘You must be Erin? I’m Millie. So happy to meet you!’
Millie was magnificent, making Erin feel at home, and showing genuine interest in getting to know her. They soon discovered they were both Agatha Christie fans and then there was no end to the conversation. How many books had that woman written?
