But she didn’t know why her friend was delaying her trip to Lapland.

“We’re going to Lapland to see the lights! Together.” Holly slid her arms round Alix’s neck and planted noisy kisses on her cheek. She was spontaneous, adventurous and accident-prone. The opposite of her mother and a nightmare to babysit.

The thought of it made her stomach lurch. It was like being given fine china to hold and told not to break it.

“Together!” Alix tried to echo the excitement and only now acknowledged how much she’d been hoping that her friend had changed her mind.

“Mummy and Daddy are coming later, so we get to have a special surprise time.”

As long as the surprise wasn’t how bad she was at childcare.

“I can’t wait.” She put Holly down and hugged her friend. “Missed you.”

“Missed you, too.”

It was what they said every time, but for some reason this time it felt different.

Christy’s hug felt different. Brief. Perfunctory.

She grabbed Alix’s luggage and carried it into the cottage. “How was your trip?”

“Fun, thanks.”

She glanced at her friend, searching for clues. On the surface Christy was as groomed and perfect as ever. Hair swept up in a neat twist. Black roll-neck sweater over skinny jeans. Makeup immaculate.

But under the makeup?

“The cottage looks wonderful. Like something out of a Christmas movie.” The place was decorated with fairy lights and holly. Delicate candles flickered on the table by the front door, and the air was scented with cinnamon and warm fig. It reminded Alix of staying with Christy as a child. “Next year we’re going to film our Christmas ad in your cottage. It’s idyllic. You ought to register the place on one of those film websites. You’d have Hollywood knocking.”

“Maybe.” Christy’s smile flashed. “I’ve made up a bed for you in Holly’s room.”

“Sounds great. I brought you presents.” Alix rescued the champagne and flowers, handed them over and then swept up Holly again. “That’s a pretty dress you’re wearing under that lab coat.”

“It’s scratchy. Mummy made me wear it.”

“It’s a party dress, and we’re having a party.” Christy tried to rearrange the clip holding her daughter’s curls in place, but Holly was already on the move. Some things refused to be organized.

“Did you bring me presents, Aunty Alix?”

Christy tutted. “It’s not polite to ask that—”

“Did I bring you presents?” Alix spun the little girl round, grateful to have someone else to focus on. “Of course I brought you presents. Let’s take my bags upstairs, and we’ll see what I can find. If we’re sharing a room, does that mean we get to have a midnight feast?”

Christy shook her head. “You’re a terrible influence.”

“That’s what I’ve been telling you.” But still her friend wanted her to take charge of Holly. “Something smells good.”

“I made coq au vin. We’ll eat at seven.”

Of course. Dinner was always at seven.

“Mm, coq au vin. My favorite. Are you bribing me? Because I already said yes.”