‘Whatever for?’‘Mike’s away, and Barbara doesn’t want to be alone over Christmas and the New Year,’ Ruth said.While I could appreciate Barbara’s need for company over the festive season, I was bitterly disappointed. Christmas is such a family time and, if I was honest, I viewed Dawn more as a member of our family than she was of Barbara’s, although I respected that Dawn was her daughter and therefore Barbara had a right to lay claim to her.‘Ask Dawn what she wants to do,’ Ruth said. ‘If she wants to stay with you, I’ll tell Barbara she’ll visit her for Christmas Day only.’This would still limit my plans for giving Dawn a really special Christmas, but it was better than nothing.‘And what about her father?’ I asked. ‘Is Dawn going to see him too?’‘No,’ Ruth said. ‘He will be spending it with his partner and baby.’‘OK,’ I said dejectedly. ‘I’ll ask Dawn what she wants to do.’Later, when I told Dawn about her mother wanting her for Christmas, I could tell she was struggling with the decision, clearly having divided loyalties.‘Look, Dawn,’ I said after a while.
