And when Tess had rung from the farm, Edie had assured her that they could manage beautifully. She, Albert and Mitch would go to the pet shop as soon as it got light to clean and feed the occupants. Then they would have the quiet sort of Christmas Day they had envisaged and would do the same on Boxing Day. In the unlikely event of Snowy’s turning up they would obviously have to tell him that Tess had mistaken her heart, but Edie did not think that Snowy would be much surprised. Two years was a long time, and both parties must have known that their relationship would have changed. Snowy, being older than Tess, would take it in his stride, and Edie thought he was far too attractive to be alone for long.

So now she got out of bed, grabbed her dressing gown and hurried across to the kitchen. She riddled the ash, put fresh fuel on the fire, filled the kettle and put together the makings of a tea tray. She intended to take Albert a cup of tea, for he had accepted the use of Tess’s room since they would both be working at the pet shop first thing, but now, before the kettle had even boiled, the kitchen door opened and Albert wandered in, clad in dressing gown and slippers. He grinned at Edie and sat down at the table. ‘You’ve spoiled my surprise,’ he said reproachfully. ‘I meant to take you a cup of tea.’

‘Snap!’ Edie said with a giggle. ‘Oh well, at least I managed to get the kettle on before you arrived. It won’t be two ticks. Do we exchange presents now, or is that for later?’

‘Now,’ Albert said promptly, producing a small gaily wrapped box from his dressing gown pocket. Then he looked at Edie and grinned. ‘Hair uncombed, teeth unbrushed, still in your nightie and dressing gown, to say nothing of those terrible old slippers,’ he remarked, pushing the box back into his pocket. ‘I think we’ll put off exchanging presents after all.’ A thought seemed to occur to him. ‘Can you imagine what Janine would say if she could see us now? There’s no way on earth she would accept that we spent the night in our own beds! I don’t claim to be a Lothario but I do like to do things in their proper order. I’m old-fashioned enough to believe that marriage comes before bed, and—’

‘All right, all right,’ Edie said, giggling. ‘If I say we’re just good friends and we don’t mention you spending the night in my granddaughter’s bed then perhaps we’ll be forgiven for our forward behaviour. Ah, the kettle’s boiled. I’ll make the tea.’

On Christmas Day Tess and Jonty had a long talk regarding the future of the pet shop. Mitch was still young, but Tess was sure that he and Gran between them, with Albert hovering and Janine apparently keen to find work, could keep the shop running smoothly without Tess herself. She meant to return to Liverpool for a confab about staffing levels, but was pretty sure that she would not need to employ anyone other than family and Mitch. Gran could deal with ordering and keeping the books, and would telephone Tess if any snags occurred.