I couldn’t believe they were buying it, but somehow the threat of a fake celebrity leaving did its job. The guy stepped to one side and pushed the door open. “Have a great evening, sir. Ma’am.”

I did a loud extra posh “brilliant, thank you” and tried to look not at all excited, as I think that’s how famous people handle everything. Beyoncé on a trapeze? Fine. Finding out Father Christmas is alive and living in Birmingham? Happens every day.

But what was inside was not fine. It was EPIC. Nick had struck gold. And green. And red.

“What. Isssss. This. Place?” In the middle of the ginormous room was a life-size gingerbread house, wooden lodges scattered around, fake snow covering real-life trees. There was an adult ball pit with fake snowballs and a sign that said “Happy Holidays” made out of marshmallows that you could skewer off. There was even a hot chocolate machine where you could choose all the options and toppings—and it got delivered to you in mugs on tiny skis on a conveyor belt thing. “I think I’ve died and gone to Lapland.”

And, oh my Christmas turkey—they were even printing pictures on the hot chocolate foam.

My actual heaven. Nick’s idea of hell.

But when I turned around, he was smiling at the back wall. “I haven’t seen that movie in forever.”

I looked over. They were projecting up a subtitled Gremlins. So we jumped in and out of the ball pit, drank some hot chocolate, pulled on some bobble hats they were giving out, grabbed blankets, and sat down on the snowball cushions. Who cared that I had a cleaning brand on my hat—or that we’d crashed a party designed to show “the only mark Christmas should make is the memories.” Free knitwear was free knitwear. I grabbed one each for Ruby and Fred too.

As Nick and I watched the film, it was the perfect time to check in on Fred.

Home yet?

Also hypothetically, would you want a bobble hat that’s promoting disinfectant?

How did you know what’s NUMBER ONE on my wish list?

Prepare to be very excited then. Good day???

Yup. And yup.

I was hoping what Ruby had said earlier hadn’t really happened. That Elle hadn’t ditched Fred and made him travel back alone, just so she could get a picture for the challenge.

Is Elle with you?

Nope? Thought I’d said? She had to stay.

Hmm. She didn’t have to do anything. I hadn’t said anything to Nick, but his sister had chosen to ditch my friend, and I wasn’t best pleased about it.

IMO, that’s nooooooot cool.

But IYO, a disinfectant yellow hat is, soooo

He always wanted to keep everyone happy.

Don’t stress about it Hol, it’s all good. I had the best time.