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Taking her cue from Nick, Frankie smiled at his phone, which was recording. ‘Maybe you too can find love for Christmas.’

‘It doesn’t suck, but it’s mid. We need something else.’

‘A less fussy director,’ Frankie muttered to herself.

‘Can you cuddle one of the dogs? That’ll look good as well as underpin the message that it’s the dogs that find love for the owner.’

Frankie called Gilbert over but Nick shook his head. ‘Too big. I want one you can hold in your arms.’

Looking over the selection of dogs on that morning’s walk, Frankie ruled out the really muddy ones, which left Toffee.

The little cockapoo was happy to be lifted up.

‘Still with the hat?’ Frankie asked

Nick did a thumbs-up.

‘Maybe you too can find love for Christmas.’ Frankie smiled then went to put the little dog back on the ground, but Toffee squirmed in Frankie’s arms, trying to lick her chin. Frankie laughed and took a step back, only to trip over a tree root. Toffee jumped free as Frankie overbalanced, landing squarely on her bum in the mud. Toffee then jumped up, grabbing the white fluffy bobble on the end of her hat, pulling it off Frankie’s head before scampering away.

‘Oh no! Sorry,’ Frankie said, trying and failing to stand in the slippery mud. She eventually got to her feet, dismayed to see how muddy she was. ‘Do we need to do that again?’ she asked Nick.

But Nick was grinning widely as he reviewed the footage.

‘I’m dead! That was bussin’! This might give you serious TikTok clout!’

* * *

With bruised pride to match her bruised bottom, Frankie eventually got home after dropping the dogs off. Caked in dried mud, Frankie peeled off her clothes in the boot room before making her way to her bathroom where she showered off the rest of the mud. Wrapped in her fluffy dressing gown, she went to make a coffee when someone rang the bell.

Frankie opened the door to a massive bouquet of flowers with two legs sticking out from underneath. Recognising the shoes along with the slightly swollen ankles, Frankie ushered Valentina inside.

‘These are for you. I thought I’d share the love. And then you can share by telling me how you got on last night!’ Valentina smiled sweetly at her while Frankie closed the door.

‘With what?’ Frankie said, playing dumb as she went to place the flowers carefully on the table, her smile hidden by the voluptuous foliage.

‘You know fine well with what. With Jay! Don’t wind me up!’ Valentina followed her to the table and sat on one of the dining chairs.

‘I had a really nice night.’

‘And?’

‘We chatted and reminisced. He’d really like us to be friends. Again. And I’d like that too.’

‘Good. Life’s too short. A lot of friendships aren’t smooth sailing; there’s ebb and flow and… and other watery comparisons. Look at me and Leanne. She can piss me off no end at times, especially when she dumps me for a more exciting offer but we’re still friends. Now, it’s just our brother we need to work on.’

‘Hmm. He’s clearly got the Bartoli stubborn streak.’

They both sat for a moment, until Frankie reached out to touch the flower arrangement, admiring the roses, carnations and lilies which were bound together with pink and blue ribbons.

‘These are beautiful.’

‘Yeah, and I have another two bunches, just as big, at home.’

‘Part of your maternity leave present?’

Valentina nodded. ‘I got one from all my colleagues, another from one of my favourite clients and this one here, is the one Todd gave me.’ Valentina pulled a bit of a face. ‘I didn’t really want his one.’

Frankie looked more closely at Valentina, wondering what was behind her not wanting Todd’s bouquet.