First Published: 2017
Olivia Birch is a doctor who is in Liberia helping in the Haag pandemic.
There is a rule which forbids to have physical contact with others but Olivia breaks that rule when she and another doctor, Sean, get together.
Olivia returns to England to spend Christmas with her family, that is, her parents and her sister Phoebe. They usually celebrate Christmas in the estately home that her mother inherited from her own parents. It is an old house which has not been decorated or modernised, but Emma Birch likes it that way.
As the family get together in the house, they all have secrets. Edward Birth has received an email from someone called Jesse, who claims to be his son. In 1980 Edward had an affair in Beirut where he was a correspondent. Andrew knows that Jesse is telling the truth because his mother wrote to him before she died. Jesse was adopted and now he wants to meet him, and he travels to Norfolk. Edward ignores his emails because the affair took place when he was already in a relationship with Anne, so he doesn't want to risk her finding out.
Anne also has a secret. Her doctor has given her bad news: the lump she found in her armpit is a tumour. Anne won't tell her family until Christmas is over. The problem is that since Olivia is coming home, they will have to be quarantined, adn there is a risk that she might contract Haag. Anne doesn't care because she won't miss the opportunity to be with her daughter when there is a possibility that this may be her last Christmas.
Phoebe is the youngest daughter, and she is engaged to be married. Phoebe and Olivia have a very distant relationship and when they are together, there is tension. Olivia is toos serious for Phoebe's liking, and Phoebe is too shallow in her view of the world.
I am hooked and l am curious to know what is going to happen.
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