Where was his quiet retreat now? - 'What about a live Christmas tree?' Two small faces turned expectantly towards him. 'Live Christmas tree?' Margaret echoed. 'A real tree in a pot,' Richard explained. 'We'll go to the garden centre. If we can find the right tree you can bring it inside and decorate it for Christmas, then afterwards put it out in the garden.' The delight in their brown eyes generated a strange mushy feeling in his intestines. Lack of sleep, he told himself firmly. - back cover (Chatswood, 1998)
