Tony reached across and picked up Jake’s drumstick. ‘Well, I definitely haven’t got any class, either,’ he said, and he stuffed it into his mouth as far as he could, nearly gagging on it as he was laughing and trying hard not to choke.

They were all laughing now. It felt good to be able to let their hair down after all of their hard work. Nothing had changed, as far as Elle was concerned. It had been the four of them for years and, apart from the distance, which made it harder for them to see each other as often, everything was exactly as it had always been.

‘Well,’ said Sharon, ‘Ashley decided on us both going on a spa weekend for his Christmas present. That will be nice, won’t it, Elle? I’m looking forward to it, but it’s not a special present for him, so I got him a designer leather wallet, as well.’

‘You never bought me a designer wallet, and you haven’t suggested a weekend away with me,’ Jake said, his mouth full of delicious food. ‘You’ll have a weekend away with another man, but not with your husband?’

‘Where could I take you that table manners like that would be acceptable?’ said Sharon.

Tony and Elle laughed and watched as Jake and Sharon bantered their way through her weekend away with Ashley.

‘You have got to be the most easy-going guy I know, Jake, letting your wife go on a dirty weekend with another man.’ Tony winked at Elle. He knew he was stirring things, but he enjoyed it.

‘It’s not another man, Tony, it’s Ashley, and she never told me about it.’ Jake pouted, and then gave a big smile. It would sound comical to anyone that overheard them, especially people that hadn’t met Ashley. Jake was letting his wife go to a spa weekend with another man. Now, that was what the gossips loved!

Tony picked up his wine glass and took a sip. ‘Ah, yes, Jake, but you have the lovely Lydia eyeing you up. I saw you give her a kiss the other morning. I bet you didn’t tell Sharon about that.’

Everyone was enjoying themselves and laughing, the food was plentiful, the wine flowed and the banter between them was electric.

Tony didn’t tell any of them that he had bought Miriam a vintage bible. The pages were like tissue paper, and it dated back to the eighteenth century. It had cost a fortune, but he knew she would appreciate it. He had bought Rosanna some earrings. She liked big, dangly ones and so he had got the biggest pair he could find and sent them to her.

Elle never wanted anything for herself. She wanted Tony and Jake to keep their money and always said she didn’t need anything. They had argued that was the whole point of Christmas – everyone got something they didn’t want or need, didn’t they? In the end they had decided to upgrade Elle’s car and then she couldn’t complain about it being a waste of money. It was something practical.