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As she neared the jetty, her heart squeezed again. Poor Ned … how she’d hurt him. What would he do for Christmas now he was up here? Then there was also the question of the Big Day itself. She veered wildly between wondering how she could possibly invite him on Christmas Day and how she could possibly not.

She couldn’t leave him on his own. Maybe she could ask Jess what she thought. Wanda would definitely love him to stay; he’d always been a favourite of hers and she’d been almost as disappointed as her parents when she and Ned had split up – hence the invitation. Athene hadn’t been quite as much of a fan for some reason.

As for Arlo, she felt equally as guilty about him as Ned. Even though her head said she didn’t owe either man anything, her heart told her that she did. She’d come up here for a fresh start and only ended up making a complex situation worse. She should never have made a move on Arlo. It had been madness … yet the way her body tingled when she thought of that kiss …

Nothing could be done now. She just had to think of horrible associations every time she saw him. Him cleaning the loos at the house or picking up Pongo’s poo. That should put her off him.

So why was her heart beating so fast in anticipation of him waiting by the launch?

‘Oh.’

When she emerged from the wood on to the shore, there wasn’t a watercraft in sight, only ducks paddling around at the edge. Athene and Wanda were on the jetty itself, pointing at the fells on the other side. There was also no sign of Jess.

‘Where’s Jess?’ Katie asked Athene and Wanda.

‘She’s dropped one of her gloves and retraced her steps to try to find it,’ Athene said.

‘Oh? I didn’t see her on my way.’

‘She was exploring in the copse. I think she dropped it there,’ Wanda said. ‘That was about ten minutes ago.’

‘I thought I should help her look but we didn’t want there to be no one here when Arlo arrived,’ Athene said. ‘She’ll be here soon.’

‘How are the babies?’ Wanda asked. ‘Everything OK?’

Katie felt herself swell with happiness. ‘It’s fine. They are absolutely gorgeous and they have very loud voices.’

Wanda smiled. ‘That sounds good. The midwife said Tyrone had the finest pair of lungs she’d ever heard. Ian took to wearing ear defenders when he was in full flow.’

‘I think Mum and Dad could do with some.’

Athene pointed at the lake with raised eyebrows. ‘Oh look. It’s sheep man … again.’

‘And Arlo …’ Katie said, her pulse rising annoyingly.

Jess arrived, clutching a muddy glove in one hand. ‘Found it!’

Greg moored alongside the jetty in a boat that reminded Katie of the small cabin cruisers moored on the Thames outside Athene’s flat. It wasn’t as gleaming and pristine as those boats, probably because it was actually in regular use and not a ‘gin palace’ that never left the mooring.

Arlo hopped off to tie up. ‘Sorry, the launch engine’s playing up so Greg’s giving us a lift today.’ He seemed unable to meet Katie’s eye, as if embarrassed to have failed.

Wanda eyed Greg’s smaller boat with alarm. ‘Oh dear, will there be room for us all?’

‘It’s a bit cosy but if we all budge up, we’ll be fine,’ Greg said. ‘Hop aboard.’ He held out his hand and helped Athene on board. ‘Sorry, my hands are a bit rough.’

‘Please don’t worry about it,’ she said with a smile reserved for editors whom she did regular business with and offered good advances.

Katie and Jess went aboard unaided and finally Arlo helped Wanda.

‘Will your boat be fixed soon?’ Wanda asked Arlo.

‘Yeah. It’s only the starter motor,’ Arlo mumbled. ‘Shall we go?’

The boat motored across the lake and Katie forced herself to relax. The views – a 360-degree view of Derwentwater and all the mountains around it – were sensational. Everyone was in raptures and Katie unwound and allowed herself to be fully present.

Even though it was midmorning, strings of coloured lights bedecked the boat landing on the lakeside at Keswick and Christmas music was playing from the lakeside café.

Katie expected Arlo and Greg to leave them to return to the farm, but he and Greg walked with them into town. ‘I have errands in town and Greg’s left his shopping until the last minute.’