Peter tutted and continued to frown but, after a moment’s hesitation, he found the whisky and poured Emma a generous slug.

‘Thanks.’ Emma picked up the glass and drained it.

‘Would you like to go and have a lie-down?’ Peter had poured himself a whisky and raised his eyebrows questioningly at Jo, who nodded, suddenly desperate for a drink.

‘No.’ Emma held out her glass. ‘But I’ll have a refill.’

Ben joined them in the kitchen looking sheepish. ‘Um, Bella’s not feeling too good. I’m sorry but I think we’d better go home.’

Jo’s shoulders sagged with disappointment. ‘What? But what about lunch, your presents … you were supposed to be staying the night?’

Ben’s eyes slid away from Jo’s, as he glanced towards the door nervously. ‘I’m sorry, Mum.’

Jo watched him go, feeling weak with disappointment, as well as the shock of Emma’s accident catching up with her. She looked at Peter beseechingly. ‘Peter, can’t you speak to her? See if you can persuade her to stay? She seems to like you more than me …’ Her words hung in the air between them.

Peter hesitated, looking uncomfortable. ‘I’d rather not. I’m not sure it’ll do much good anyway and if she’s genuinely not feeling well …’

‘Please, Peter. It’ll spoil everything if they leave and I can tell Ben doesn’t want to. It’s her. She can’t bear the attention wandering from her for a second. She’s such a little bloody madam! Honestly, Emma, you should have seen her earlier, refusing to even take her coat off!’

As she finished speaking, she became aware that both Peter and Emma were looking over her shoulder with horrified expressions and she sensed, rather than heard, that both Ben and Bella were standing in the doorway. She swallowed hard and closed her eyes momentarily to steady herself, before spinning around to face them. Ben was staring at her in shock but Bella looked triumphant, a tiny smirk on her lips. ‘Wow, thanks for that, Jo. It’s a good job we’re leaving – I certainly know where I’m not wanted.’

‘Bella, I …’ Jo fumbled for words as she reached out to take Bella’s arm.

Bella shook her off roughly. ‘Let go of me! Come on, Ben. We’re going.’

Ben looked like he might cry. ‘I’m really sorry but we have to go. Em, I hope you’re OK?’

Emma nodded and raised her glass. ‘Thanks, I’ll be fine,’ she slurred. ‘Happy Christmas.’

Ben hesitated and for a moment, Jo thought he might hug her but another yell from Bella sent him scurrying after her.

Jo slumped down beside Emma at the island and burst into tears. She had had such a lovely day planned and now it was all ruined. But as she drained her glass of whisky, she somehow knew that it was more than just Christmas Day that was ruined.

Chapter Seven

Charlotte scanned the busy, dimly lit bar, her eyes hunting out Matt and Freya. Finally, she spotted them at a table in the corner, deep in conversation. ‘Hey, guys!’ she said, dumping her huge grey leather tote bag down on the floor and slumping into the seat they were zealously guarding for her. ‘Matt, be a love and get me an enormous glass of white wine, will you?’