he positioned himself in the space she 'd made . `` besides , i really do n't want to hear about how she 's found someone else . '' `` she loved christmas , '' he said , smiling . `` we 're still on plan , james . this is an answer that pleases me . of course , dear , said alan , pecking his wife on the cheek . she never gives me a chance to try to pry into her life some more though , because she keeps the rest of the conversation light . 