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‘Holly, is it?’ Kathleen asked, with a knowing sirl, not that we’ve talked much’

‘Claude broke into her house earlier, too,’ Jack explained ‘Through the cat flap’

Kathleen laughed ‘I’d like to have seen that!’

‘He basically did a belly flop,’ Jack said, s at the memory Then he rubbed Claude’s back to try and wake hiet up’

Sleepily, Claude opened one eye, and stared at Jack With a bit of prodding, he juht only be walking next door, but Jack wasn’t taking any chances

‘Are you sure you can’t stay a little longer?’ Kathleen’s eyes were sad as she reached out to grab Jack’s hand ‘I get so few actual visitors these days … and I’ve so enjoyed our chat’

‘So have I,’ Jack assured her, feeling a little guilty about leaving She looked so lonely … ‘But I’o Maybe I could coh? Another day?’

Kathleen’s face brightened, and she squeezed his hand before letting go ‘I’d like that a lot’

‘Then it’s a plan’ Jack tugged Claude away fro around at the bottom of the counter where Kathleen’s hao and see Holly’

Claude trotted obediently back towards the front door at the sound of Holly’s na to think that Claude understood a lot iven him credit for

‘Thanks again for the tea andoutside Beside hierbread I hope you have a lovely Christmas, if I don’t make it back before then’

‘And I hope you find everything that you’re looking for,’ Kathleen told hierbread into his hand Claude barked his approval at that

‘So do I,’ Jack adood place to start – with a visit to Holly ‘Merry Christle Bells’ as he walked, Claude trotting alongside hierbread

Sleepily, I kept pace with Jack, as his long legs covered the short distance between Kathleen’s and Holly’s houses in big strides Glancing across the road, I saw that there was still no car in the driveway of hts on either Still no McCawleys

I sighed It was a sha at Kathleen’s house until Daisy and Oliver found their way hoingerbread But Jack obviously had his own reasons for wanting to go back to Holly’s house I had my suspicions about what they were, too

Obviously, humans weren’t all that different from us ani, to have somewhere to call home – whether that was a whole house or a basket with a blanket For me, my people were very clear in ed – even if they seeotten

But Jack didn’t seeed to

Maybe he could belong to Holly, or to Kathleen Kathleen had the advantage of no Perdita and gingerbread, but Holly … Jack had seemed very happy ere there earlier

I resolved to watch more closely this tiht be home for Jack – and if so, how I could help him realise it Sometimes people needed a little push, I’d found – like a cold nose in the ear when Oliver slept in pastto persuade Jay to put down his tablet and pet me

I liked Jack I liked the idea of hi it somewhere that meant he was on hand to rub between my ears whenever I needed it

After all, the McCawleys had left me behind It was only natural that I’d have to find soulf that stretched between us now At least until they came back

Jack knocked on Holly’s door, and I sat patiently beside him on the mat, sparkly lead attached There was no need to escape this time; I felt certain that Holly would let , and she’d given me some of Perdita’s food

It had been okay, I supposed Butfood while Jack and I were off working

Yes, that seeht Really, I’d fallen onwinter, and I’d ed to find three people anted to feed and look after me

It was all down to natural charm

Holly opened the door, a bright s the McCawleys then?’

‘Afraid not,’ Jack said, reaching down to pat ood as a rub between the ears, but it was co ‘You took your icicles down?’