“But this was my dream. I can’t even bear to think it might have been a mistake.”

“Whatever happens, it wasn’t a mistake.” Alix eased the decoration farther onto the branch. “You make such a big deal out of everything. Dreams can change. Sometimes you manage to live your dream, and it doesn’t feel the way you thought it would. So what? It doesn’t have to be a big drama. Move on. If it turns out you don’t like living in the country, then that’s what you’ve learned. You move. You shrug. You have great stories to tell friends about the time the ceiling fell down when you and Seb were having sex—”

“I shouldn’t have told you that.”

“Of course you should. Friends can have secrets from each other, but no true friend would keep a story like that to herself.” Alix rocked with laughter and then pulled herself together. “But back to the dream issue. Let’s say for a moment that it turns out the country isn’t your dream after all. Are you really going to live in the country for the rest of your life because you’re too afraid to admit that actually you prefer the city?”

“When you put it like that...”

“Exactly.”

“Dreams are never a mistake. Dreams are hope. Dreams give us a reason to get up in the morning. Dreams are optimism. They’re what keep us going when things feel impossibly tough. And you can always change the dream.”

Christy stirred. “What about you?” Did she dare ask the question? And would Alix give her an honest answer? “Has your dream changed?”

“Of course. My dream when I was ten was to have an electric train set. Remember that? But if there’s a train set in my stocking on Christmas Day, you’re fired as Top Friend.” Alix picked strands of tinsel from her sweater.

“You’re avoiding my question. You tell me I’m missing out on life because I’m afraid to say what I want and make the choices I want to make, but you’re not doing any better.”

“What do you mean?”

“You used to dream about having a great career in a job you loved that allows you to travel. An apartment in London. You’ve got all that.”

“I have.” Alix stood up, suddenly restless. “Life is exactly the way I want it.”

“Because you’re playing it safe. Because the alternative means doing something that makes you feel as nervous and uncomfortable as I feel at the idea of bumping into Scary Alison in the village shop. You are letting fear decide.”

“I assume we’re back to the subject of Zac again.”

“You like him, don’t you?”

Alix leaned in and sniffed the Christmas tree. “Don’t you love the way it smells?”

“Alix!”

“Okay! Yes, I like him. He’s...good company. He has great taste in wine, and he’s remarkably skilled at driving on ice.”

“So see him again. Go on a date. Try it. If it doesn’t work out, you can move on. Why are you scared?”