To say Evie was nervous would be an understatement. She had a funny feeling that the Berrys’ ten quid Secret Santa tradition, which usually meant everyone ended up with scratch cards valued at exactly ten pounds, would be a little different from the Hearsts’ Christmas customs. She’d actually been quite shocked when Elizabeth had accepted the invitation in the first place. But, she reasoned, Christmas was Christmas. And magical things always happened on this day of days, right? Well, she hoped so, anyway.

Evie, her parents, Meg, Hugo, Elizabeth, Edward and William sat squashed in close around the Berrys’ snug kitchen table. They had borrowed fold-out chairs from the neighbours for the occasion, and Edward and William were perched uncomfortably on the edge of theirs. Evie had never felt self-conscious about where she grew up, but all of a sudden she felt keenly aware of every stained bench, dated chair and knockoff designer brand. Hugo put his hand on Evie’s knee, and she breathed in deeply.

‘So, we always kick off our Christmas Eve with Secret Santa,’ Anna announced, placing a small, wrapped gift on the table in front of her. Evie’s mum was acting all proper, like Evie imagined she would in front of her class at school. Only here, Evie could tell her mum was nervous about having such a sophisticated audience.

‘Isn’t that funny, to give presents before dinner,’ Elizabeth tittered. ‘Must be an Australian custom.’ Her hair was pulled back into a tight chignon and she wore a silk blouse and a pair of beige tailored trousers. Evie’s family were dressed in matching Christmas sweaters, half of which either lit up or hummed a carol with the flick of a switch.

Hugo shot his mum a look.

‘So, who had me?’ Anna placed her hands in her lap eagerly, glancing around the room. Evie grabbed a chocolate chip cookie from the middle of the table (Sweets before mains, how absurd! she imagined Elizabeth thinking) and took a large bite.

‘That’s not how it works. Hahahahaha,’ William snickered.

‘That’s how they do it here,’ Hugo said calmly.

Evie smiled to herself, grateful that at least Hugo didn’t think they were all a bunch of nutters.

‘I had you,’ Peter said, taking a crumpled envelope from his pocket and passing it across the table to Anna. Anna looked up at Peter curiously before opening it, and then held it against her heart.

‘Oh, Peter. It’s perfect!’

‘What is it?’ Evie and Meg asked in unison.

‘A ten quid Nando’s voucher!’ Anna announced, looking a little teary. Evie and Meg cooed appreciatively.

William let out a snort of laughter, then looked around the table incredulously as he realised Anna was seriously touched by her husband’s gift.