‘I don’t mean it, not really,’ he said quickly. ‘I just mean it feels like an anchor to me, keeping me tied to this land, to my family. I don’t feel I can have my own life. Maybe, without this place, I can have my own life.’

I regarded his face. I’d yearned for a family like his when I was staying in that hotel with my aunt. I’d yearned for it over the years too. I’d see other people and think how lucky they were to have their families around them.

But maybe I was the lucky one not to have been tied down by one?

‘Whatever you want to do, Dylan,’ I said. ‘I just want you to be happy. And I want us to be together.’

‘We’ll be together,’ he said, stroking my cheek. ‘From now on, we’ll always be together: you, me and Lumin.’

Chapter Twenty-Four

When I walked downstairs on Christmas Day with Lumin, it was like I was stepping back in time. The smell of mulled wine drifted towards me. There was the sound of chatter and laughter from the living room and the flames of the candles flickered in the windows, welcoming guests, just as they had when I’d arrived there that first time seven years ago.

We walked into the living room, which was strewn with wrapping paper, Alfie having already started opening his presents.

‘Look, Lumin, Santa’s been!’ Alfie declared, dragging his cousin to the Christmas tree, which was laden with presents. In Lumin’s hand was the china doll Dylan had got her. She’d been desperate for an old-fashioned one and Dylan had found the perfect one with golden hair and a pink frilly dress. I knew it would become her new favourite when I saw the way she looked at it as she opened it that morning with us, like the gingerbread man Oscar had got her to hang around her neck, which she wore every day and was gradually nibbling through.

It had been so special that morning, just the three of us. Lumin had come thundering into my room at five. I’d gone back in there after spending the night with Dylan, knowing Lumin would wake early. As we’d opened our presents together, there’d been a knock on the door and Dylan had appeared in his pyjamas, bringing with him a pile of presents. We’d wanted a couple of hours just for us, our little family.

‘Looks like my parents have gone a bit overboard.’ I turned to see Dylan behind me now, a mischievous smile on his face.

‘Those presents are all from them?’

‘No, from Santa,’ he whispered.

‘Oooops, sorry,’ I said. ‘Well, Santa has been very generous and kind.’

His face clouded over. ‘Seriously though, they shouldn’t have. They don’t have the money.’

‘Maybe that’s why, their last chance to be extravagant?’