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“It was her mum’s favourite,” Dad says, appearing at our side. His voice is husky with emotion as he rubs my arm.

“I’m so sorry,” Paisley says. “I didn’t know.”

“Christmas was always going to be difficult this year,” Dad tells her. “It’s not your fault at all. Come on. Let’s get some more wine out and open the whisky. Drinks all round!”

I give a short laugh, moving back and wiping my face. Nobody is taking any notice of me and Mitch as they get up to greet the boys, and everyone starts helping themselves to drinks and chips from the bowls.

“You okay?” Mitch asks, dipping his head to look into my eyes.

I nod. “Sorry. It just washed over me for a moment.”

He cups my face. “It’s the first time I’ve heard you sing like that. Did you used to be in the church choir?”

“Yeah. I haven’t sung for a long time.”

“Why not?”

“Jayden wasn’t religious, and he used to mock people who went to church. I learned to keep my faith and beliefs to myself.”

His expression darkens. “You should sing every day,” he tells me fiercely. “Do you hear me?”

I nod, my emotion still near the surface. Still holding my face, he bends his head and gives me a long kiss.

When he eventually lifts his head, I look around to see a few of the others watching us, smiling, and then… oh dear… I realise Millie has woken up and is watching with wide eyes.

There’s no time to say anything though, because Dad’s putting on some music, and it appears to be turning into a small party. Everyone’s talking at once, it seems, laughing and joking. Bear has caught Harri’s hand and is spinning her around to I Wish it Could Be Christmas Everyday, Jake’s teasing Cate and Lettie about something, Darcey’s showing Millie a ballet move she hasn’t done before, and Blair’s making Dad laugh.

“I’m so lucky to have so many good friends,” I say to Mitch.

“Me too,” he says, looking at them all. His gaze returns back to me then, and for the first time I realise how his hair is slightly dishevelled.

“Did you have a good time with the guys?” I ask.

“Mm. The Black Anchor has fifteen different Islay malts.”

“Did you try them all?”

“No… I don’t think so. I lost count after three. Or was it four?”

“Single or doubles?”

He just pulls an eek face, and I giggle.

“Ollie fell in a rose bush in your garden,” he says. “He’s got scratches all over his arms.”

I laugh and look around for him. “Where is he?”

“He… ah… nipped outside with Emma.”

My eyebrows slowly rise. “Is something going on there?”

“I would say yes, a hundred percent. But it’s supposed to be a secret, so…” He puts a finger to his lips in a tipsy Shhh.

I giggle again. “Naughty boy.”

“I’m enjoying myself,” he says. “It’s nice to be home.”

He holds my gaze for a moment, his eyes intense with The Look, before Jake calls him over about something, leaving me tingling again, my stomach flipping. Talk about a roller coaster of emotion…