Button? Funny, I actually called her Holly. She was darting about all morning today. Clearly lost. Then she took a liking to my boots and settled there. Well, I bundled her into the car so she didnt freeze, poor thing, the man grinned…
Emma, honestly, how unlucky can you be? How many times have I said it, that bloke Martin was never right for you! Emmas mum scolded her.
Emma stood there with her head lowered, though she was thirty-seven not long ago, inside she felt like a guilty schoolgirl sent home with a detention slip. There was a sharp sting in her chest for herself, her failed marriage, and their little girl. Midway through the sparkliest time of year, and here they were, just the two of them, no head of the house.
Im off, Martin had muttered, breezily, that evening. Emma hadnt quite registered what he meant.
Off where? she said automatically, planting a bowl of homemade stew down in front of him.
For goodness sake, Em, youve your head in the clouds. You never see what matters! How have I managed all these years with you? Martin rolled his eyes, all theatrics.
Emma barely had a second to ask, when Martin began his monologue:
I cant do this anymore! That yappy dog of yours, always shrieking. The little ones always ill. Wheres the romance, Emma? Have you seen yourself lately? What have you become? he finished, practically spitting fury.
Emma tried to catch her anxious reflection in the glass of the cabinet, failing as tears spilled over. She just stood in the kitchen, tears streaming, feet planted.
Martin couldnt bear tears. He looked at the stew with a sigh, shoved the chair back, and began packing his bags.
Button, sensing something was amiss, whined and circled Emmas legs, desperate to comfort her.
At least now Ill finally get a decent sleep without that racket, Martin announced, lugging his battered holdall through the doorway.
But what about Daisy? Emma whispered, picturing their five-year-old tucked up sound asleep, who would be heartbroken.
Sort something, will you? Shes your daughter in the end! he retorted, and to the sound of Buttons whimpering, Martin strode out the door.
Emma sat up in the kitchen the whole night, clutching Button close. The little dog licked her hand, trying to lift her spirits, sensing something horrible had happened.
Days passed before Emma mustered the nerve to tell her mum. Mum would ring on and off, asking how things were. Emma would mutter everythings fine and hurriedly switch off her phone.
Any luck with work, then? You found anything suitable? You know, youll be sorry if that Martin ditches you, no money to live on Mum said, popping over.
That was when Emma finally burst into tears explaining that employers werent exactly lining up to hire her, and that Martin had left days before.
Her mum tutted and shook her head, blown away by the news.
I saw this coming a mile off. Youve been together five years, had a child, and he never even bothered to walk you down the aisle, Mum huffed, softening a little at the sight of her crestfallen daughter and granddaughter.
So what on earth are you planning now? she asked at last.
Emma shrugged:
Ill figure something out. Ill get a job at Daisys nursery as a teaching assistant, she said with resignation.
Youll never get by on a teaching assistants pay and dont forget the dog needs feeding, her mum added pointedly, never much of a pet person, and truthfully, shed barely tolerated Button since Emma brought that scruffy thing home.
She seemed ready to launch into a lecture but stopped, noticing Emmas barely-contained tears.
All right, enough crying. Ill help. If you need me to watch Daisy for a bit, just say, she relented with a sigh.
Another week slipped by. Emma landed the job at Daisys nursery. Together theyd head off to work in the mornings. Daisy was delighted.
Mummy, could we take Button with us to nursery as a little helper? Grannys always grumbling that shes tired of the walks. And Button could help you clean up plates and watch over us at nap time, Daisy beamed.
Emma laughed and hugged her daughter. But in her heart, every time Daisy asked:
Mummy, will Daddy be back soon? Will he make it home for Christmas?
Emma couldnt bring herself to tell Daisy the truth. She fumbled together a story about an important work trip, even picked up the phone to Martin to try to talk, but he brushed her off:
Emma, just let me get on with things. Tell Daisy Im a secret agent and Ive gone off on a top-secret mission. Ill be away a long time, hed said, barely pausing before asking her if shed seen his tie.
Where on earth is it? Cant welcome in the New Year without a proper tie, he sighed, hanging up.
Emma sat in silence. She didnt know how shed get through Christmas by herself. Or how she could possibly explain things to Daisy.
And then it happened out of nowhere. Daisys grandmother took her to the doctor Daisy had a cold, but was getting better. As they rounded the corner, there was Martin.
Daddy! Daddy, youre back! Daisy called out with such joy, she ran straight to him.
Martin looked as if hed been electrocuted. He forced a half-smile and quietly told Daisy that he and Mummy wouldnt be living together anymore. Then he hurried off.
I might pop in if I can, he muttered at the end.
Daisy stood there, face frozen, quietly whispering:
Please dont pop in anymore.
Later that night, Daisys temperature spiked again. Within two days, they had the GP in.
Daisy curled into herself, refusing to eat, refusing to speak. It seemed as though she just didnt want to get better.
Possibly its just stress, the doctor shrugged, when Emma filled him in on the drama with her ex.
Emma blamed herself.
I shouldve just told her outright; Daisys clever, shed have understood, she confessed to her mum, who could only shake her head.
Two days later, another blow landed. Grandma had Button out for a walk and, in a hurry, left the lead behind. Button, always a character, made a break for it.
Right then! Youll just have to freeze out here until you come running back, Granny huffed, storming back to the flat. She was focused on getting medicine to Daisy, but the missing dog was too much for Daisy.
Emmas promises that theyd find Button no matter what fell flat. Daisy was resolute:
When Button comes back, then Ill eat she said, turning to the wall.
This is all down to your soft parenting, Emma. The girls spoilt. I warned you… her mother began.
You could have watched Button, Mum, instead of lecturing me, snapped Emma, surprising everyone with her outburst.
Well! Everything I do is for you lot, her mum retorted, marching off in a huff.
Emma trailed the neighbourhood for hours that night. Daisy, exhausted, finally drifted into a fitful sleep. Emma, desperate, hoped Button would find her way home, but no luck. Chilled to the bone, she slumped into bed, sleep eluding her.
Daisy woke just after sunrise:
Mummy, I dreamt of a Christmas tree! We decorated it, and we found Button! she said, eyes shining.
Emma mustered a small smile. A tiny artificial tree stood in the corner, their makeshift attempt to bring in a festive feel, but Daisys heart was set on a big, real tree.
If we had a proper tree, Button would come back. Just like in my dream! she sobbed.
Emma sighed. Buying a real pine just wasnt possible money was too tight. She called Grandma, but she refused to come:
Seems a dogs more important than your own mother! Think on that, she snapped.
So, Emma realised they were on their own. Good thing the weekend was coming. Daisy barely wanted to get out of bed. By evening, with New Years just around the corner, Daisy broke down:
Still no tree, Mummy. And Buttons not coming back, just like Daddy.
Emma stroked Daisys hair, choking back tears herself. She quickly asked the next-door neighbour, a lovely old lady, to sit with Daisy, and dashed outside.
The crisp, wintry air stung her cheeks, snowflakes dancing all around. People bustled by, clutching shopping, all in good spirits Emma didnt see them. She was scanning every street, whispering endlessly:
Where could you be, sweetheart? Where did you get to?
She suddenly found herself among the Christmas tree sellers. A gruff man in a tweed coat rocked from foot to foot beside the last few trees.
After a tree, are you? Only a couple left Ill do you a deal, he piped up, glancing at the sky.
Emma watched as a happy young couple bounded up and bought one.
Well then, how about it? This ones the last. Ill help you home with it the man offered.
Emmas eyes stung with helplessness. She had no money on her, and even her rainy-day savings wouldnt cover the asking price.
She felt embarrassed. Then she spotted some broken branches in the back of his lorry.
Could I maybe have those branches? If theyre just going spare? she asked quietly.
The man eyed her, then the branches, and sighed:
Of course. Ill help you carry them.
Emma breathed thank you, and started explaining herself:
My little girls unwell, she just wants a tree, and our dogs run off and Christmas just isnt falling into place this year
For some reason, he listened closely. His own wife had left not long ago, and the loneliness stung all the more during the holidays. Perhaps he needed someone to help, too.
Suddenly, another man appeared:
That tree for sale? he asked, pointing to the last tree.
Sorry, all gone. Try the chap next door, hes got a few left, said the seller, jerking his head.
Emma looked up in surprise.
Come on, Ill carry your tree home for you, the man smiled, revealing himself not as gruff as hed first seemed.
You heard me before I cant pay you, Emma stammered.
Its all right, he nodded gently.
What happened next could only have happened at Christmastime. The man swung open the lorry door and there, curled in a chunky jumper on the passenger seat, was Button. She blinked, confused, but safe.
How did you find Button? Emma gasped, tears prickling again.
Button? Oh, I called her Holly! Shed been bustling about all morning, clearly lost, and then she tucked herself at my feet. I lifted her into the van so she wouldnt freeze, poor girl, the man smiled.
His name was Paul, kindhearted and a natural with animals and kids.
From then on, Emmas home brimmed with warmth and light. Whether it was the magic of Christmas or something written in the stars, who knows. What mattered was they became a proper family. Every now and then, Button would answer to the name Holly, but she didnt seem to mind one bit.
