“Obviously we didn’t expect her to walk into the room at that precise moment. How on earth do you and Seb—” Alix waved a hand. “On second thought, never mind.” She uncrossed her legs and stretched out her toes toward the tree. “You’re probably questioning the quality of our babysitting, but it was just a kiss, I promise.

“I knew the two of you would be good together. I’m surprised it took you five years.”

Alix wigged her toes. “It didn’t.”

“Wait—what?” Christy sat upright. “You’ve kissed him before? When—” And suddenly she knew. It all made sense. “It was the day before the wedding, wasn’t it? I knew there was something, but I assumed you’d had a fight because you weren’t speaking and—”

“It wasn’t a fight. I was upset. He listened. He’s a good listener.” Alix finished her chocolate, unsympathetic to the fact that Christy was impatient to hear all the details.

“But he did more than listen. He did more than kiss you.”

Alix put her mug on the floor. “Yes.”

“How much more?”

“Quite a lot more.”

“Alix!” Christy abandoned her chocolate, too excited to finish it. “So why did you spend the next five years avoiding him? Oh...” Why hadn’t she thought of it before? “Because you seriously liked him. I knew it! It never made sense to me that the two of you didn’t get on together. So what happened this time?”

“Try asking Holly.” Alix’s tone was dry. “She seems to know everything that’s going on around here.”

“You’ve spent more time with him than with any man in your relationship history, so that tells me something.”

“It tells you we’re stuck here in Lapland. It’s not as if I can leave, even if I want to.”

“You seem...happy.”

“I’m in Lapland. How can I not be happy?”

“You’re happy because of Zac.”

“Oh please. Rein in your romantic self. Not everything in life has to be heart-shaped. This is me we’re talking about.”

Which made it all the more exciting. “So what happens next?”

“Nothing happens next.”

Christy felt the beginnings of exasperation. “Alix, you cannot let this go without at least exploring the possibilities. It might turn into something.”

“Yes. It might turn into something stressful. For everyone. You know me. I’m not exactly a cottage-in-the-country type.”

“I’m not sure I am, either.”

Alix looked at her. “You don’t like the cottage?”

“I don’t know. Don’t change the subject. We were talking about you.”

“Nothing more to say about that. I’m a lost cause. But the whole cottage-in-the-country thing was your dream.” Alix moved closer. “Tell me.”

That was what they’d always said as children when one of them had a problem.

Tell me.

And because she could see Alix didn’t want to talk about Zac, she did just that. She told Alix about the leaks, and the nonstop problems, and how she felt like an outsider even though she’d bought a property there.

“I didn’t turn up to book group. Worse, I canceled by text.” She could imagine Alison’s reaction. “I’ll probably arrive home to find a barrier outside the cottage. Why are you smiling?”