Ellie was off school for five days in total. Despite being covered in spots which soon started to blister and scab she felt fine, apart from when her rash got a little itchy. A little cooling gel applied to the worst areas and she was back to her energetic self.
Steve took carer's leave for the week and with Kate staying in the flat, she had two adults focusing their attention on her which she loved. For the first time in her life it was as if she had a Mummy and a Daddy at the same time and they were a family.
Even better, Kate was still quite immobile on doctors orders which Steve was very insistent on making sure she obeyed, so Ellie had someone to cuddle up to permanently whilst they watched Disney films under a blanket.
"Elle," Steve said on the third day of such a marathon, "maybe we should let Kate have a break from all the Disney stuff," he suggested. He was completely over the animated films by now so he had no idea how Kate was faring. At least he was able to escape by doing chores or going out to the shops. "She might not want to come back here if we force her to watch it,".
Ellie looked up at Kate from where she was cuddled up to her, worried in case what her father threatened might come true.
"Its fine, Steve," Kate promised for what seemed the hundredth time. Whilst the films weren't all that bad, she was just enjoying the cuddle time with Ellie. It brought back memories of doing the same thing with Josh when he was unwell and she was going to make the most of it whilst she could.
The second week that Kate stayed with them, Ellie went back to school and Steve and Kate returned to work although Kate was mainly on desk duty. It soon became clear that Kate was never going to really get the hang of using crutches. She was still painfully slow on them even after a week and even with small distances around the flat.
Steve got to the point where he got so frustrated if she was keeping him and Ellie waiting that he occasionally resorted to carrying her, much to his daughter's amusement. She would laugh and giggle at his and Kate's antics as Kate would berate him for his behaviour.
Initially he had carried Kate in a bridal style, but seeing Ellie's and Kate's smiles he was keen to entertain. Now when he picked Kate up he would unceremoniously sling her over his shoulder in a fireman's lift.
The third week of Kate's stay was her last. At her clinic appointment the doctor decided she no longer needed crutches. Her ankle had healed enough to try some weigh bearing with the help of an orthopaedic boot. Although it was quite clunky, it made Kate a lot more mobile and independent and she no longer required Steve's assistance.
"Someone is going to be very upset that you're going to be moving out," Steve pointed out as they walked to Steve's car after the appointment. Ellie had got very used to Kate being around and had vocalised a few times to Steve and Kate that Kate should move in permanently. He didn't mention that he would miss Kate's presence as well.
"Yeah," agree Kate. Deep down she wasn't looking forward to being alone again either and the quiet and stillness of her flat took some getting used to when she finally did move out.
As September's turned in to October, people's thoughts began drifting towards Christmas. Kate was looking forward to the holidays. She had asked Mark if she could have Josh for Christmas and surprisingly he had agreed. Kate was now busily coming up with exciting ideas on how to spend the festive period with her son.
The Arnott family were also looking forward to their first Christmas with a child. It appeared that Ellie's belief in Father Christmas was still intact despite living with an older half-brother for four years.
Sue suggested having Christmas Day at Steve's parents as although Steve's cooking had improved in the last year he would struggle to do a Christmas lunch. Steve welcomed their suggestion although he was surprised to find that Ellie wasn't quite so enthusiastic when he informed her of the plan.
"What's wrong with spending Christmas Day at Grandma and Grandpa's?" Steve asked a little perplexed. Ellie didn't usually have a problem spending time at their home.
"Because Santa won't know I'm there," Ellie replied.
"Santa will know," Steve informed Ellie confidently.
"He didn't know where I was last year," Ellie countered sadly. She didn't want to miss out again.
Steve's heart broke when he realised that Ellie was at the Children's Home last Christmas and by the sounds of it hadn't received any presents. He vowed that he would make sure that this Christmas would more than make up for last years disappointment.
"Well we'll have to spend it here then," Steve decided. He wouldn't have his daughter worrying unnecessarily about not getting any presents this year.
Mrs Arnott didn't have a problem changing the plans when Steve told her about what Ellie had said. She too felt bad for her granddaughter that she hadn't had the best Christmas last year and wanted to spoil her.
The trouble was however, when Steve asked Ellie what she wanted from Santa, she refused to tell him. For some reason she was under the assumption that it had to remain a secret and she wasn't going to risk jeopardising her present by telling anyone.
When she refused to tell Steve he asked his parents and Kate to assist him, but they too were unable to get what Ellie wanted for Christmas from her lips. Any OCG would be happy to recruit her knowing she didn't give up information easily at all.
As the end of November approached, Steve began to panic that he still was no wiser about what Ellie wanted from Santa. His attempt at making this a special Christmas was going to spectacularly fail as she would be upset that she hadn't received what she wanted.
"What am I gonna do, Kate?" he fretted.
"What about getting Ellie to write a letter to Santa?" Kate suggested. "Only make sure you read it before you send it,".
"That could work," Steve agreed, thinking about how to approach the task.
That weekend, Ellie sat at the table in her room and wrote her letter to Santa after agreeing to Steve's suggestion. Steve had to supervise from afar as he was banned from the room whilst she wrote her letter.
Two hours later she appeared with her letter in a sealed envelope that she had lovingly decorated. "What's Santa's address, Daddy?"she asked. The front of her envelope was blank.
"Just put Santa Claus, The North Pole," Steve replied, improvising and Ellie slowly wrote that.
"Is there a post code?" she asked.
"No," Steve said. "You don't need one for Santa as there's only one Santa,".
"This will definitely get to him, won't it Daddy?" Ellie asked a little worriedly.
"I promise it will," Steve replied as he took the envelope. "We'll post it when we are next out," he informed Ellie, putting the envelope on the table by the front door.
Unfortunately that reply was a bit too vague for Ellie who trusted her Grandma a bit more when it came to jobs to do. Not knowing Steve's plan, Sue made sure her granddaughters letter was dispatched the next day before Steve had read it.
"Now what do I do?" Steve complained to Kate when he heard about what his mother had done. They were in the mall having a sandwich when the answer suddenly presented itself.
"Santa's grotto," Kate replied, seeing the poster advertising the upcoming event. She was keen to help Steve as she wasn't going to be outfoxed by a five year old.
Steve read the sign that Kate had seen and smiled. Operation Rudolph as they had taken to call it was not going to fail this time.
"Why are we visiting Santa if I've already written him a letter?" Ellie asked Steve as they joined the end of the queue for the grotto the next weekend.
"Sometimes letters go missing," Kate replied before Steve could. She had joined this trip at Steve's request as he thought two pairs of ears would be better at trying to hear what Ellie wanted for Christmas than one. This was after all, possibly his last chance at finding out what Ellie wanted. He couldn't afford to screw it up. After the trip to Santa, Kate was going to help Steve and Ellie get presents for Steve's parents. She was even hoping to help Ellie choose a present for Steve.
"Daddy!" Ellie scolded.
"What?!" asked Steve. He wasn't aware he had done anything to deserve his daughter's ire.
"You said that my letter would definitely get to Santa!" she huffed as she crossed her arms.
Kate suddenly realised she had said the wrong thing and landed her friend in it. "Most of them do," she corrected herself. "This is just being doubly sure," she continued. "And it's a chance for Santa to make sure he's remembered all the presents he needs,".
"OK," agreed Ellie eventually. "It is probably best I speak to him." She conceded. "It's a good job we didn't miss this, Daddy,".
As they neared the front of the queue, Ellie was getting quite excited, bouncing up and down on the balls of her feet. The big pompom she had on her woollen hat was lurching backwards and forwards as she did so. Eventually they reached the front of the queue and it was their turn to enter the large yurt like structure that was acting as todays's grotto.
A young woman dressed as an elf greeted them and took Ellie's hand before leading her to where 'Santa' was sat. Steve noted he was a rather rotund gentleman in a velvet red and white suit with matching hat. Big black boots and a black belt completed the ensemble. Wisps of wiry white hair poked out from under his hat and he had a thick moustache and beard. This was a gentleman who took being Santa very seriously as his facial hair was real. Steve could imagine him keeping it all year round just so that he was ready each winter time.
"Who have we got here?" he asked as he looked from the clipboard in his hands to the little girl before him. Silver round glasses were perched on the end of his nose.
"Ellie," Ellie replied confidently.
Santa looked back at his clipboard. "Ahhh… yes," he said as he made a show of looking for Ellie's name and then ticking it. "Have you been a good girl this year, Ellie?" He asked Steve's daughter as he put the clipboard down. Ellie nodded confidently. "Well then you better let me know what you would like for Christmas," he said as he lifted Ellie on to his lap.
Steve leaned forward in anticipation. This was it! He was going to find out what he needed to buy.
"Can I whisper it to you, Santa?" Ellie asked.
"Can you lip read, Kate?" Steve asked.
"No," answered Kate.
Steve's shoulders slumped in defeat. This wasn't how this was supposed to go at all. Kate reached over to put a consoling hand on his arm.
Unaware of the problem that this request was causing the little girl's father, Santa happily agreed to it and leaned his ear down.
Ellie cupped her hand to Santa's ear and told him what she wanted most. "I want a new Mummy,".