‘I’d better go,’ Sue said. ‘I’m spending the day with my children, getting ready for tomorrow before tonight’s pageant. It’s about time I put them first and realise what really matters to me.’

‘Happy Christmas.’ Blake bowed very briefly. ‘Goodbye, Sue.’

As Sue watched him go, she wondered, just for one moment, what would have happened if she’d invited him in last night, and hadn’t bothered answering her phone.

Christmas Day

12

Sue watched as Meadow and Forest chased Tamsyn’s and Cordelia’s twin nephews around and around the table, screeching with delight, getting ever closer to taking the beautifully laid tablecloth with them, with each circuit.

Tamsyn was a very laid-back Christmas host, probably because her mother was doing most of the cooking.

When Sue had told her that she would understand if Tamsyn didn’t want them to come round any more, Tamsyn had told her not to be so ridiculous.

‘You’re respecting your marriage, and your family, and trying to do what’s right. Only a really horrible person wouldn’t support you in that,’ she said. And Sue had cried, and Tamsyn had cracked open two more mini bottles of Baileys and made some more coffee. ‘I’ve found that at this time of year they really are a vicar’s wife’s best friend.’

Rory had been charming, sweet and delightful with the children, who were so thrilled to see him. After the pageant and the play the previous evening, they’d skipped midnight mass and gone home to eat a picnic tea of cold sausages and mince pies in the grotto, Petal telling her father in great detail about every single child who came to visit Santa, and what they wanted for Christmas.

‘And the great thing is,’ Meadow had told Rory, very seriously, ‘is that we get the real Santa come to visit us, because Mummy is friends with him.’

When the children were finally in bed, Sue and Rory had washed up and got ready for the morning in silence. When at last it came time to go to bed, Sue stopped him just outside their bedroom.

‘I made up the Blue Room for you,’ she said. ‘It feels a bit too soon to share a bed with you.’

Rory nodded. It wasn’t the first time he’d slept in the Blue Room. ‘Sue … I just …’

‘Don’t try to talk about it now,’ Sue had told him. ‘Let’s just have a lovely Christmas with our beautiful children. Let’s just do that. Set your alarm for six, and come in – I don’t want them knowing you aren’t here.’