‘Doesn’t matter,’ he replied, leaning down to plant another soft kiss on my cheek. ‘It’s not like I could ever forget you.’

He turned and walked out of the café, crossed the street and climbed back into the black Range Rover. I held my hands against my cheeks, half wanting him to turn around and run back inside to me, half willing him to drive away before I chased him down, pinned him to the floor and did something no one should do to another human being outside the post office at midday on a Wednesday.

‘Fran?’

Jess was in his seat before the door could close behind him.

‘That was Evan,’ I said, still half in a daze as he shut the car door, started the engine and drove away without looking back. ‘I met him at the ball.’

‘That’s it, I’m cancelling my meetings,’ she said, placing a chocolate brownie in front of me with an impatient, expectant look. ‘We have a lot to talk about.’

I picked up a knife and sliced the brownie in half, sliding the plate into the middle of the table with a grateful smile. I’d been crazy to think losing Stew meant I’d be on my own. I might not have a million friends or a big family to turn to, but I had someone who saw me for who I was and loved me because of it, not in spite of it.

That was more than enough for me.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

‘Fran, wake up!’

‘I’m awake, I’m awake,’ I exclaimed, sitting bolt upright and looking all around for the fire. ‘What’s wrong?’

‘Nothing’s wrong.’ Jess poked her head around my bedroom door and grinned. ‘It’s Christmas!’

The clock on my bedside table said it was seven o’clock, altogether too early to be awake on Christmas Day when there were no kids involved. Except there was a child involved, her name was Jess and she was thirty-five and a quarter years old.

‘Get your arse downstairs, I’m making tea,’ she called as she galloped down the stairs. ‘It’s time for presents!’