INTIMATE STRANGERS 10

‘Perhaps Daddy will take you into town to see Santa Claus at the weekend,’ Kerrien suggested.

‘I shouldn’t think he’ll have the time. Martine is coming you know.’ The children’s faces fell. It was obvious to everyone that the prospect did not appeal to them very much.

‘I thought the idea was for her to get to know the children better. Perhaps it would be the perfect opportunity, taking them to town.’ Kerrien was not a little tongue in cheek at the idea. After all, shopping with small children in tow, was always something of a nightmare. If that didn’t put her off, nothing would!

Kate spent the next day busily preparing for Martine’s visit. She cleaned and baked and tried to make the house as nice as possible for the impending royal visit, which was how Kerrien was beginning to see it. So far, she was managing to control her feelings very well, she thought. She was slightly scared about meeting this woman, this doctor colleague of Ashton’s, and not a little curious. She knew that sh