I realise this is only tangentially connected to Christmas but that's artistic licence and it was inspired by Jill's and Hannah's Christmas stories... somehow in my head ;)
Mari - thank you for your review and you will definitely get a Rachel/?DC? at a party, probably this weekend. That seems like a good time for a party!
Adrian was taking the girls to their Grandad's for mince pies and presents so when she saw he was calling her icy fear took Janet's breath.
'Ade? What's happened?'
'It's...' She heard him swallow, pictured his throat working.
'It's me dad.'
Warmth flooded through her again. Not her girls. Then a twinge of guilt, but Adrian was talking now he had got past beginning.
'… taken him in... heart attack... bit shaken up...'
'D'you want me to come pick them up?'
'It's not that I don't want them.'
'I know.' A tiny silence of understanding passed between them.
'Ten minutes.'