The Christmas DELIVERY

How could Jen make the festive season perfect for her girls when her heart was breaking?

- Alison Paterson

The mid-winter sky was a steel grey, heavy with the promise of snow. The black and white landscape, product of a deep frost, was only enlivened by the bright coats, scarves and hats worn by Jen and her two little girls, who were walking down the country lane.

Their breath hung in the chilly air as they chatted happily.

‘We’re almost home now,’ said Jen. ‘Who’d like some hot chocolate by the fire?’

‘We would, Mummy! We could have pink marshmallows on top,’ replied the children, jumping up and down with anticipation.

‘Of course,’ Jen smiled. ‘And I will have some white marshmallows on mine.’

But as they carried on along the lane towards the cottage, Jen sighed inwardly. It was such a pretty house, and this would be their first Christmas in it, but things hadn’t worked out as planned. Here they were, two days before Christmas, and it was just the three of them.

Jen was trying hard to give her girls a special time, and their excitement was building. The lovely little Christmas tree had been chosen from Mr White’s market garden and was now standing in the cosy sitting room.

Getting the tree steady in the pot with the girls had been entertaining. Jen had crawled under the lower branches to wrestle with the trunk. Pine needles had dropped into her hair and pricked the back of her neck.

Five-year-old Lydia had been given the important role of standing in the middle of the room to give Jen directions, and she had earnestly assured her the tree was straight.