Wish Upon a Star by Sarah Morgan

despite our efforts, our parents are still not sharing a bed,’ Katy said with an impatient sigh. ‘And they’re never going to get back together if they don’t share a bed. Everyone knows that adults should share a bed if they’re married. It’s how they mate.’
    Ben picked up another dinosaur. ‘What’s mate?’
    ‘You’re far too young to understand,’ Katy said disdainfully. ‘You’re just going to have to trust me.’
    ‘I don’t see how spilling blackcurrant squash will help,’ Ben muttered, and Katy rolled her eyes.
    ‘Because it will make the sofa sticky and wet you stupid, idiot baby.’
    ‘I’m not a stupid, idiot baby!!’
    ‘Then trust me and spill the squash!’
    ‘Mum will be mad.’
    Katy glared. ‘Do you want to go back and live in smelly old London? Do you want Mum and Dad to live together again or not?’
    Ben’s face crumpled. ‘Of course, I do, but—’
    ‘Then spill it, Ben! Just spill it and stop asking questions!’
    ‘But—’
    ‘Ben, you spill things all the time.’ Her tone was exasperated. ‘You spilt your milk at breakfast. You dropped your pasta at supper. Spill the blackcurrant before I strangle you!’
    ‘Mum says you’re not allowed to put things round my neck. And if I spill blackcurrant, it will ruin the sofa.’
    ‘That’s the idea. Don’t worry about that. It won’t cost them anything because they can put in an insurance claim, but that will take weeks to come through,’ Katy said airily, and Ben looked at her doubtfully.
    Katy ground her teeth. ‘Ben…’
    ‘All right, I’ll spill it.’ Ben snatched the squash from her, sprinted across the living room, tripped over a toy he’d left there and spilt the entire contents of the glass over the sofa.
    ‘Even better than I could have predicted,’ Katy breathed, staring at the spreading, deep purple stain on the sofa with admiration and satisfaction. ‘Well done, baby brother.’
    Ben’s lip wobbled as he stared at the mess. ‘Mummy’s going to be mad.’
    ‘Very possibly,’ Katy agreed, ‘but she isn’t going to be sleeping here tonight, and that’s the only thing that matters. Don’t worry, I’ll protect you.’
    ‘You shouldn’t have had a drink in the living room.’ Christy kept her voice level, reminding herself that it wasn’t good to shout at one’s children, especially when they were so clearly remorseful. Ben stood in front of her with his head down and his lip wobbling.
    ‘Katy told me to do it!’ He burst into sobs just as Alessandro walked in through the front door.
    ‘What’s going on here?’
    Christy sighed, wondering whether everyone’s family was as noisy and complicated as hers. ‘I haven’t had time to cook any dinner yet. Ben spilt blackcurrant all over the sofa. It’s ruined.’
    ‘Good thing,’ Alessandro drawled, shrugging his broad shoulders out of his jacket and loosening his tie. ‘It was ugly and uncomfortable and sleeping on it was having a detrimental effect on my spine. You’ve done me a favour, Ben.’
    Katy appeared in the doorway, a yoghurt in one hand and a spoon in the other. ‘That’s decided, then. You’ll just have to sleep in the bed with Mum.’
    Alessandro turned to look at his daughter, a gleam of suspicion lighting his dark eyes. ‘Are you behind this, Katherine?’
    Katy took a few steps backwards. ‘Don’t look at me like that. It isn’t good to intimidate your children. And you can’t blame me for the fact that Ben spills everything. You know he spills everything.’
    ‘Intimidate?’ An ebony brow rose as Alessandro surveyed his daughter. ‘Since when did I ever intimidate you?’
    Ben’s sobs grew noisier. ‘It’s all her fault. She made me do it and she—’
    ‘Hush.’ Christy pulled him into her arms and cuddled him close. ‘I’m not mad with you, sweetie, honestly. Don’t cry. Please, don’t cry. It isn’t important. It’s only a sofa.’
    ‘My house is turning into a war zone,’ Alessandro muttered,