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What was in store for her as her girls grew up?

Were she and Matt going to spend the girls’ teenage years awake and worrying?

What would she do if they chose to live halfway round the world?

Sometimes you can hold on to someone too tightly.

She watched as Poppy threw a snowball at her sister.

Right now, she wanted to freeze time, to keep her little family in this exact happy place forever. But that wasn’t realistic, was it? Time moved on, children grew, life happened and families changed shape. And all you could do was try to adjust, to give what support was needed and to love without condition or restriction.

She heard her father’s voice in the background again.

“What’s Dad saying?”

Her mother gave a burst of laughter. “He says it would have been easier to let you go if you’d been a difficult teenager, but you always were an easy child. If you’d been like Cissy Hatton’s girl, we would have pushed you out the door.”

Brooke laughed, too. “I’ll try and be more difficult if that would help?”

“We want you to be you. That’s all.” Her mother cleared her throat. “Now, tell us what you’ll be doing on Christmas Day. Have you made a plan? Does the woman who owns the house mind having the children there?”

“She likes the children. You won’t believe this, but Mabel is M.M. Kingston.”

“The author? No! You’re not serious.”

“I am. I was as shocked as you. We didn’t guess at first but then she showed us her library—” She told her parents the whole story.

“We haven’t seen her in years. She came to the store a few times and she was wonderful. You were there, Brooke.”

“I remember. She joined us for one of our weekly Story Time sessions. She brought a broomstick, and we all dressed up.”

“That’s right. And then she stopped coming. She hasn’t written in years. Something happened, didn’t it? I think there was a rumour that it was some family thing.”

“I don’t know about that.” Brooke was intentionally vague. It wasn’t her place to share Mabel’s story. “But she’s warm and welcoming and she and Elsie have been writing a story together.”

“I can’t wait to talk to Elsie about it. What an experience. And if she ever wants to come and sign at the store again, we’d love to have her. Do tell her that. We still run our Story Time sessions and they’re very popular.”

“I will.” She glanced out the window again and saw Matt carrying Poppy towards the house. “I should go, Mom. They’ve finished their snowman and I need to help Matt with the children.”

“Of course. And I’m glad we had this talk, honey. I’m glad you felt you could tell us how you feel. I hope you know you can always do that. I’d love to speak to you, Matt and the girls tomorrow, but if you’re all caught up in the excitement of the day then don’t you worry.”

Brooke’s eyes were swimming again. “Of course we’ll call. It wouldn’t feel like Christmas if we didn’t talk to you. And I can’t wait to see you the day after. I love you both.”

“We love you, too. Now, go and dry those girls before they catch their death.”

Brooke ended the call and stood for a moment, the tears spilling from her eyes.

She didn’t hear the door open, nor did she hear Matt’s soft curse as he saw her crying.

She didn’t know he was there until he folded her in his arms.

“What happened? What’s wrong?”

“I called my parents.” She wiped her eyes and eased away from him. “We had a long chat. I told them how I felt.”

“And they made you feel bad?”

“Yes. No.” She pulled a tissue out of her pocket. “Not in the way you mean. They listened. And they were understanding. I don’t think they realised, Matt. I built it up in my head as this massive thing, and in the end it wasn’t really.”