It was much easier to beam at Zinnia and George. ‘Have a fantastic Christmas and look after that baby. Next Christmas will be so different, won’t it?’

Finally, the emotional stuff was over and she hurried out to her car. Then suddenly Zinnia was beside her, hugging herself against the December wind because she’d come out without her coat. ‘Are you OK, Lily?’

‘Of course!’ Lily made wide eyes of surprise and an even wider smile of absolute-fineness.

Zinnia hopped from foot to foot to keep warm. ‘What about your brothers?’

Lily fished her keys from her bag. ‘I’ve spoken to them both. We’re being civilised.’

Doubtfully, Zinnia replied, ‘Oh. And I kept meaning to ask you – did anything ever happen with your hot boss?’

Wanting suddenly to cry, Lily unlocked her car. ‘Should it have?’ Then she winked and hopped in, starting the car and driving away while Zinnia stared after her. She was too fragile for that conversation. After Christmas, after New Year, when Lily had decided what to do next, she might confide in Zinnia about what happened in Switzerland.

Sunday evening was pretty busy in the pub. Lots of villagers had booked in for dinner and the Christmas lights twinkled above full tables and a busy bar. Isaac asked her into the kitchen with him and Chef to run over the final plans for Christmas Day lunch.

Lily confirmed her dessert plans. ‘Christmas pud, chocolate mousse and gingerbread people.’

‘Everything’s on the order to arrive tomorrow morning,’ Chef said, fixing Lily with a mock ferocious glare. ‘And you clean up my kitchen when you’ve finished, right?’

Lily rolled her eyes. ‘I notice you didn’t say that to Isaac. He’s going to be cooking the mains.’

‘I hoped you’d be helping,’ interrupted Isaac in an apprehensive voice. ‘My cooking’s OK but I’ve never catered for this many in one go.’

‘If you’re lucky,’ she joked. It relaxed her for them to have a normal conversation, even if it was work-related. The Christmas Day schedule in hand, she went back to serve at the bar with Flora. It might be a different kind of Christmas Day but it wouldn’t be too bad. She could spend the morning in the kitchen with Isaac. Good? Or bad? There would be several people she knew at the lunch, including Gabe, Don from Acting Instrumental and his wife, Melanie from the shop and a few other locals, and Isaac’s family were coming too. And Hayley, of course, as her Christmas plans had been with the same friends who were away on a family emergency. Later, Lily could veg in front of Christmas TV eating marzipan fruits and drinking fizz.