“That looks incredible,” said Lucy. Her family didn’t ever have ham at Christmas. It was usually roast goose, maybe a turkey, one year a duck. Goose was Lucy’s favourite.

“Wait ’til you taste Jackie’s mustard sauce with it.” Steph waggled her eyebrows and Lucy’s stomach growled loudly, as though it was replying. She hadn’t realised how hungry she was until that moment. She’d had Nate’s pancakes at breakfast, but that was all she’d eaten the entire day. This was going to be a momentous meal.

She sipped her wine and watched as the sisters bustled about the kitchen, putting the finishing touches on Christmas dinner, working in a harmony that she admired and, she realised, longed for. One day, she’d have a home that she could share with a loved one, not just a flatmate, and they’d cook together like this.

I wonder if Will cooks. She smiled to herself and took another sip. Loved one. Will …

Her thoughts were about to take hold when Steph interrupted. “So, Lucy, hon, do you know who Will had to call?”

Wistful thoughts of Will and a possible future together vanished, and Lucy caught the slight edge of concern in Steph’s voice. She couldn’t lie. She was a terrible liar and Steph would know.

“Uh, he was calling Jules, actually.” Steph nodded as though she’d suspected as much. “I told him it wasn’t necessary, but—”

Steph cut her off, resting both hands on the counter. “I think it is, though, hon. Like I said, Will is a grown man and Jules needs to understand that. Sure, they’re close, but she can’t keep him all to herself. She needs to let him be with whoever he wants to be with, especially if that person is you.”

Lucy blinked back unexpected tears.

Steph came around her side of the counter, took one of her hands, and looked at her lovingly. “Especially if that person is you,” she said quietly. Lucy glanced at Jackie who winked at her and smiled.

Lucy smiled through her tears and bit her lip. “Thank you,” she replied. Steph squeezed her hand.

“Now, there’s one more thing. You’re gonna need to be firm with my daughter too.”

“What? Oh, no.” Lucy shook her head vigorously.

“Lucy, listen to me. Jules can be headstrong and sometimes that’s to the detriment of those around her. She shouldn’t have attacked you like that and, even if you’re not thinking it now, at some point, resentment will come into play.”

Lucy looked inward and realised that resentment might already be in play. Why else would she deliberately ignore Jules’s message on the group chat? Yet … “But what if it damages our friendship?”

“Saying nothing will do worse damage.” Steph let go of Lucy’s hand and returned to dishing up.

A small sigh escaped. Steph was right, and not just about Jules. A niggling thought that wouldn’t be shaken popped to the forefront of her mind. Lucy also need to sort things out with her manager, Angela. “Um, Steph?”