“Good. I’m so glad your mum said you could work with me here. We’ll have a lot of fun together.”

“Yeah, I can’t wait. Mum said as long as I keep up with my studies with my tutor, I can work here in my spare time.”

Things had changed for Isla too in these last few weeks. Not only had she started to see Dr. Carrson, but her mum had reached an agreement with her school for Isla to receive private tutoring at home. That way she could concentrate on her studies and not worry about being so afraid at school.

Mack walked out to see where they were. “Is everything okay?”

She looked worried, but Flora winked at her and said, “We’re just having a slush time out.”

“Oh? Well, okay. We’re finally ready for the big light turn on. Come on.” Mack grabbed Flora’s slush and said, “I’ll take that.”

“Cheeky.”

Flora and Isla followed Mack out to the front of the shop.

“Quick, Isy,” Annie said.

Annie put her arm around Isla, and Mack put her arm around Flora’s middle. Jay was inside waiting to switch on.

Mack held the slush and straw up to her lips and winked. “Would you like a suck of my straw, wee mouse?”

“You’re terrible.”

“What? I only asked an innocent question.”

“Of course you did, but since you asked, maybe later.” Flora grinned.

Mack looked surprised at first, but then delighted.

This was a new thing for Flora, flirting and enjoying the new and exciting sexual side of her nature. It had taken a very special person to help her do that, and Mack was a good teacher and expert at scrambling her brain.

“Are you all ready?” Jay shouted from the inside.

The early evening winter gloom was just perfect for a Christmas light switch on.

“Isy,” Mack said, “let’s do a countdown from ten.”

They all joined in, and then suddenly the shop lit up. Everyone clapped and gave a cheer.

“It looks so good,” Flora said. “It never looked as lit up as this. Sandra and I couldn’t put all these things up. Thank you, Annie, Jay, and Isy.” She then turned around to Mack. “And thank you, baby.”

Flora gave Mack a kiss.

* * *

It had taken a lot of effort on Mack’s behalf to get Flora here, outside the two Sharkey residences. They were dropping Isla at her grandparents’ house for a sleepover after helping at the shop, which made it the perfect time to introduce Flora to the rest of her family.

She would have liked to have done it before now, but Flora hadn’t been ready. But now that she finally had her here, Mack hoped beyond hope that her mum and Aunt Chrissy heeded her word about not being too overwhelming or excitable, as they tended to be, chatting about everything and anything.