BY THE TIME they got back to the coach house everyone was outside and it seemed they’d already eaten, thanks to Graeme and Tom manning the barbecue. The music was far too loud, but the instant Archie and Maria appeared in the doorway a cheer went up to drown all else.

“You came!” Jasmine cried, flinging her arms around them both. “I knew you would. Have you eaten? Don’t worry if not, there’s loads.”

“I need your help with the sound system,” Richie declared, coming to shake Archie’s hand. “And are you still partnering me tonight?” he asked Maria.

Maria’s eyes sparkled. “Coun’ me in,” she cried, taking a glass of glühwein from Andee.

“Who else is strutting their stuff?” Graeme wanted to know as he pushed a beer into Archie’s hand.

“We all are,” Claudia informed him, amazed by the way this was happening so seamlessly. It was as if there had been no interruption to the evening at all and she was losing a proper sense of herself. She saw her mother and Archie exchange a glance and they seemed, for a fleeting moment, to be communicating apart from the fray. They did share something, Claudia was aware of that, and though she didn’t understand it she realized there was no point continuing to fight it.

“When do you want to do it?” she heard Dan asking Archie.

Archie looked at Claudia.

Understanding what they were talking about, Claudia was about to suggest they wait awhile when Archie said, “I guess now’s as good a time as any.”

Surprised and impressed, she accepted the wine Andee was passing her and went to retrieve the letter from her mother. Then, signaling to Jasmine, she explained what was about to happen.

Jasmine’s eyes rounded with awe. “That is totally amazing,” she murmured, glancing at Archie and giving him a smile. “Do you want me to do anything?”

“Just call everyone to attention and let him take it from there.”

Minutes later Claudia was seated next to her mother at the table, with Dan on the other side of her while the others filled the rest of the places and Maria perched on the edge of the deck, proud gaze fixed on her only child. The chilly night was warmed by the overhead heaters and lit by the garlands of festive lights that Claudia and Marcy had strung all over the garden.

“OK,” Archie began, speaking into the mic, and grimacing as his voice was carried off by feedback. Adjusting, he continued, “Jas has just told you what I’m going to do, so . . . Here goes, my last letter to Marcy . . . And I promise this time there’s been no help from Dan . . .”

After a murmur of laughter, he began.

Dear Marcy,