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I said, ‘Listen, about Nick –’

Alex said, ‘Look, I understand. The best man is Daisy’s father. And always will be. I’m not going to interfere.’

I tried to explain again about Nick coming round that night, but Alex got all angry and said, ‘I don’t want to talk about this anymore, Juliette.’

Then he said he had to go. The hotel was swamped and he needed to help out, but he told me to call room service if I needed anything.

Felt really sad when he left. Because I could tell he’d sort of closed himself off from me. He was all cold and distant. And I realised how much I missed the old Alex. The one I went running with.

Still. I made the best of things.

Ate all the stew, cheeseboard, fondant pudding. Drank quite a bit of brandy. WatchedThe Real Housewives of Orange Countyon the great big flat-screen telly. And generally had a nice time, except I couldn’t help wishing Alex had stayed.

Sunday December 20th

Daisy slept in untilhalf pastseven this morning!

Must be something to do with the big thick hotel curtains.

Had fresh croissants for breakfast, courtesy of room service. (Daisy made a real mess of hers – it took AGES to pick croissant crumbs out of the thick-enough-to-lose-your-shoes carpet).

Before we left, I asked the receptionist if Mr Dalton was around so we could thank him. But she said he’d left earlier this morning.

I felt like a soggy balloon.

Alex had arranged a car to take us back to Great Oakley.

Apparently, he’d been very insistent about putting the baby seat in the back. And having water and food in the car, in case there were any delays on the road.

Then the receptionist went on about how thoughtful Alex was and how she loved working for him. ‘He’s a wonderful employer,’ she said. ‘Always thinking of other people.’

I’m not sure I can handle thinking of Alex as a nice man. It was bad enough when he was just drop-dead gorgeous. But nice too?

The car ride back was lovely. But all I could think about was Alex. And at times, what Alex looks like with no clothes on.

Monday December 21st

Will NOT text Alex or anything stupid like that.

I’ve tried to explain about Nick. He doesn’t believe me. And as Althea says, that should tell me everything I need to know.

She said, ‘If a man doesn’t trust you, forget it. Move on. Find someone better.’

The trouble is, I can’t think of anyone better than Alex.

Still haven’t done my Christmas shopping.

I used to be so organised.

It’s like my brain has been stolen and replaced with Nana Joan’s.

Which reminds me – Nana Joan!

Need to arrange getting her to the pub for Christmas dinner.

Because so many kids think Santa’s Grotto is in our back garden, Dad put his Santa suit on today and let the kids in for some free (only slightly out-of-date) packets of crisps.

He was the most efficient Santa I ever saw, getting the children in an orderly queue and giving them all exactly one minute and thirty seconds to tell him what they wanted for Christmas.