‘I’m full.’ Nan beamed. ‘I’ve got room for Mo’s pudding though. I think she began making it in July.’ She took Hannah’s hand. ‘I missed you while you were away.’

Warmth crept through Hannah. ‘I missed you, too. I could stay with you till you get your cast off instead of here, if you want,’ she offered.

Nan regarded her gravely through her thick glasses. ‘Then what?’

Hannah felt as if everyone at the table had ceased their conversation to listen to her answer. She pulled an exaggeratedly thoughtful face as she tried to summon up some of her old dreams. ‘Start a new business, probably. I’ve learned a lot between Creative Lanes, Hannah Anna Butik and Carlysle Courtyard and the new business will be all my own.’

Josie frowned. ‘But not back in Sweden? Because then we’d only see you twice a year, when we visited.’

A ball of tears lodged itself in Hannah’s throat. ‘Maybe not in Sweden,’ she managed.

Then in came her parents, Mo bearing the shiny mahogany dome of Christmas pudding and Jeremy two jugs of brandy sauce. Mo explained the pudding rules for those who were unfamiliar with them. ‘There’s a lucky silver sixpence somewhere in the pudding. Whoever finds it makes a wish … but then gives me the sixpence back because it’s the old money we used to have when I was tiny so I reuse it each year.’ Mo turned to Nico. ‘Check the kids’ portions before they eat so they don’t choke on it.’

Nico grinned as he agreed. His grey shirt made his eyes look particularly blue but he’d been quieter than usual. Hannah was so achingly aware of him that she’d noticed.

Mo set the pudding down and cut it into steaming portions as speculation began about who would get the lucky sixpence.

Hannah joined in mechanically. Maybe if she got the coin she could wish for Christmas to be over and, shazam, it would be gone.

But, presently, it was Nico’s voice that dragged Hannah back to reality. ‘I have the sixpence.’

‘Awwww,’ Josie sighed, apparently disappointed even though Nico had checked her portion for sixpences already. ‘Make a wish, Dad.’

Nico’s glance flickered Hannah’s way. ‘My wish is to go for a walk with Hannah.’

Sudden silence. Hannah’s face flamed. What?

Josie frowned reprovingly. ‘Dad, that’s not how it works. You wish quietly and don’t tell anyone or it won’t come true.’

‘I misunderstood,’ Nico apologised gravely.

Mo glanced from Nico to Hannah then whispered conspiratorially to Josie. ‘If Dad didn’t understand properly then I think we should let him off, don’t you? Would you and Maria stay here and help me? Dad and Hannah can stretch their legs while there’s still daylight. Then …’ she paused thrillingly ‘… as soon as they come back we can have presents.’