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‘I know,’ said Katie.

‘Shall I make another cup of tea and we’ll all sit round the breakfast table while the pies cool?’ Jess offered.

‘That sounds lovely,’ Wanda said. ‘You two are such kind girls. Thank you for inviting an old fogey like me along.’

‘It wouldn’t have been the same without you!’ Katie declared.

‘No, it wouldn’t,’ said Jess. ‘Sit down and I’ll put the kettle on. Can’t have you doing all the cooking.’

‘I do enjoy it. I miss having the three of us at home to cook for. I wonder where Tyrone is and if he’s getting Christmas lunch?’

‘Definitely,’ Jess said. ‘My brother-in-law is in the Army. They’re fed incredibly well. I bet they have a great time.’

Wanda nodded.

Katie thanked Jess with a smile and Jess winked. She and Jess had shared a bond from the moment Jess had saved Katie from being cornered by the most boring man on the planet at the Freshers’ Ball. Katie had always considered Jess the creative cool one, while she’d been immersed in her literary world, never dreaming back then that she might one day write a book herself.

Jess made a plate of toast and they all sat down and tucked in.

‘Is Athene having a lie-in?’ Wanda asked. ‘I wondered if she was sickening for something last night, she was so quiet.’

‘I think she’s just tired,’ Katie said, dolloping Christmas marmalade from the market on to her toast. ‘She’s been working herself into the ground lately.’

‘Well, she’s never off that phone.’ Wanda scrutinised them. ‘The fresh air is doing you two girls good, though. Your mum said you looked well when I sent her a photo of you.’

‘Oh, what photo?’ Katie asked.

‘I took it at the market yesterday. I caught you unawares by the wild-swimming stall …’

‘Was Ned in it?’ Katie asked.

‘Um. Oh, I don’t know, I never thought to check,’ Wanda said, buttering a crust.

Jess watched Katie over the rim of her mug.

‘Have you told them he’s here?’ Katie asked before casually biting into a slice of toast.

‘Not yet …’ Wanda said. ‘Do you not want them to know?’

Katie traced the cracks in the wood on the table, avoiding Jess’s eye. ‘Well, I don’t see that it’s relevant, but Mum might wonder why he turned up unexpectedly. And as you say, it’s such a busy and exciting time, I don’t want them worrying about me. Especially over Christmas,’ she added.

‘Oh, I understand,’ Wanda said. ‘I’ll check the photos and see if he’s in the background. I can delete them if he is.’

‘No need to go that far,’ Katie said breezily, thinking her mum would have already noticed if Ned had been in the photos.

‘I will look, though. This marmalade is lovely.’

‘It is,’ said Jess and crunched down significantly on a piece of toast.

‘Hello. Happy Christmas Eve.’

Everyone’s attention was drawn to the kitchen door where Arlo stood with a basket of logs. His hair was plastered to his head and Katie spotted raindrops glimmering in his lashes. She steeled herself. She needed to ask him to give Ned a lift.

‘These should last you for a few days,’ he said, walking in.

Katie stood up and smiled. ‘Thanks. I don’t expect any of us will feel like chopping wood when we’re full of Christmas pudding.’

‘It’s no trouble. I’ll put them in the sitting room. There’s a smaller basket in the boot room for the dining room.’