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‘No way. That was even worse than Alex’s.’
‘Hey! I thought I was pretty good at Santa impressions.’ Mack tickled Spencer under the arm.
‘No, don’t!’ Squealing, Spencer slid across to the other side of his chair, knocking his glass over as he did so.
‘Careful.’ Mack laid out some napkins, soaking up the orange juice.
‘Don’t worry. We’ll clean that up along with the rest of the after-dinner muck.’ Susan waved her hand, dismissing the spillage, and stood up. ‘I’ll get you another one, love.’
‘Thank you.’ Spencer looked around the table. ‘I think it’s just you, Percy. You’ve not had a turn.’
Percy paused, his fork halfway to his mouth, and blinked. ‘Me? Oh, I’m rubbish at impressions. I don’t think I’d sound anything like him.’
‘You’ve got the same beard, though.’ He pointed to Percy’s beard. ‘And it’s real, isn’t it?’
‘It sure is.’ Percy tugged on it. ‘But I don’t think I can pull off an impression of the big man himself.’
‘Go on, try. Please?’ Putting his elbows on the table, Spencer clasped his hands together, in a pleading tone.
‘Just this once, then. Because you’ve asked so nicely.’ Percy cleared his throat and holding his tummy, he rocked back and forth. ‘Ho ho ho.’
Poppy watched as Spencer pulled Mack closer to him, covered his mouth with his hands and whispered in his ear.
Mack widened his eyes, and as if asking him to keep the secret, he held his finger over his mouth.
Turning to Poppy next, Spencer leaned in close and whispered in her ear. ‘It’s him. I think Percy is the real Santa.’
Keeping her face serious, she copied Mack and held her finger to her lips.
Spencer nodded seriously before looking sideways at Percy, but Poppy noticed him sit up a bit straighter as he began to cut up his potatoes.
‘Do you know what Santa’s favourite thing to do is on Christmas Day after spending all night travelling the world delivering presents?’ Flora asked in a hushed tone, leaning across the table towards Spencer.
‘No. What? Sleep in front of the fire?’
‘Nope. Guess again.’
‘Umm, eat mince pies?’ Spencer grinned.
‘Nope. He likes to play a game of Monopoly.’ Flora raised her eyebrows.
‘Really?’ Spencer looked from Flora to Percy and back again before lowering his voice. ‘Do you think he’ll let me play?’
Sitting back in her seat, Flora shrugged. ‘Ask him.’
But it was his eldest brother the little boy turned to. Spencer pulled Mack towards him and whispered in his ear again, at which, straightening his back, Mack looked at Percy and grinned.
‘So who’s up for a game of Monopoly this afternoon?’
‘Absolutely. There’s nothing I like to play more after a good Christmas dinner.’ Percy smiled.
‘Great!’ Mack looked at Gus and then around the table. ‘Before we play, Gus, do you want to tell everyone what you’ve done.’
Gus shrugged nonchalantly before mumbling, ‘I’ve set up a fundraising page online.’
Mack shook his head and chuckled. ‘He’s raising money to pay off your debts, Flora.’
‘What?’ Flora laid her cutlery down. ‘A fundraising page? Online?’
