While in some ways I agreed with my parents that Charis House had the perfect location, our family base being in the heart of Sherwood Forest had its drawbacks, especially when I didn’t have a car. It was yet another reason to put off my visits home.

‘Couldn’t you get a taxi?’

‘I’m not sure it’s worth it.’

‘It can’t be that much?’

‘I don’t mean the cost. Although finding someone to drive me out there would make a serious dent in my budget.’ I grimaced. ‘Mum’s organised a big family meal for this evening. She’s checked a dozen times that I’m not going to cancel. If I miss it she’ll be furious, Dad will start crying, and my brother won’t let me hear the end of it. I can’t do that to them.’

Mike Long waved at us impatiently. ‘Jamal, Bree? Come on, the complimentary canapés are waiting.’

‘Yes, do stop standing around making everyone wait for you, Bree,’ Summer added, gleefully reminding us all that after four years my boss still couldn’t remember my name.

‘Just come for one drink,’ Jamal said quietly. ‘Disappointing your mum has to be better than snubbing the boss.’

‘Easy for you to say,’ I mumbled, looping my scarf around my neck as I started walking to join the rest of the team. ‘You’ve never met my mum.’

I was forty-five minutes late by the time the taxi finally pulled away from my garden flat in West Bridgford, a popular suburb in south Nottingham, and therefore the opposite side to where I needed to be. I’d followed Jamal’s advice, staying at the bar long enough to ensure that Mike registered my presence before slipping out through the increasingly raucous crowd. Having jumped on the next bus home, I’d stuffed a suitcase full of the nearest clothes and other essentials to hand and grabbed the bulging bag of presents waiting by the door on my way out.

We were still sitting in the clog of city-centre traffic when my phone rang.

‘Beatrice, where are you?’

‘I’m sorry, we had a thing at work that I needed to stay for, so I missed the train.’

A sharp intake of breath.

‘Don’t worry! I’m in a taxi, on my way. I’ll be there in about…’ I did some mental calculations, winced internally and adjusted them to prevent a Mum-meltdown ‘…half an hour.’

‘Well, I hope you’ve had time to get changed! You know this is a special evening. I did request that you look nice.’

‘Don’t I always look nice?’ I asked, tugging on my woolly dress.

‘Well, yes, but we are entertaining guests, so I want everyone to look their best.’

‘I’d hardly call Jed, Mia, and the kids guests.’

‘It’s your first Christmas at home in years.’