‘Maybe.’ He kissed me on the cheek, his lips lingering on my skin. In the distance, I saw Rhonda nudge Mairi. Mairi looked over, her face bursting into a smile.

‘I didn’t have time to give this to you in the excitement of Lumin opening her presents,’ Dylan said gently to me. ‘Here.’ He handed me a small box. I thought back to when he’d given me the carved ptarmigan. I unwrapped it as Lumin opened her presents from her grandparents, and smiled when I saw it was a seal carved from wood. Not just any seal, but Duchess, majestic as she sat on a rock.

I looked up at him. ‘Thank you. It’s beautiful. Here’s yours.’

I handed him the present I’d spent time searching for: a stamp made specifically for wood with the words ‘Handmade by Dylan McClusky’ on it. I’d seen the stickers he used and thought he’d like something different so I’d commissioned someone to make this personalised stamp. When Dylan opened it, his face lit up. ‘For my business?’

I smiled with him. ‘For your business.’

He pressed the metal of the stamp into the ink pad I’d included then walked to the hallway, picked up one of his wood carvings and stamped the bottom. Then he walked back into the living room and he put his arms around me as we watched Lumin twirl around in the new dress Heather had got her, squeezed on over her other dress.

‘She’s having such fun,’ I said.

‘I’ll make sure she has even more fun when we’re living together,’ Dylan replied. ‘In fact, I’ve already started planning the most amazing playroom for her.’

Mairi and Oscar walked over then, Oscar limping. ‘You look splendid together,’ Oscar said.

Mairi gave me a rare smile. ‘You really do. And doesn’t Lumin look like a proper wee girl in that dress?’

We all looked over towards Lumin, who was gazing up at the Christmas tree with a smile on her face. ‘She really does,’ I said. ‘Thank you so much for your hospitality.’

‘It can become a regular thing,’ Mairi replied. ‘In fact, I think it’s time for your Christmas present.’ She handed over an envelope. ‘For both of you.’

Dylan smiled as he looked at it. ‘What is this, Mum?’

‘Wait and see!’ Oscar said.

Dylan opened it and pulled out a letter. Then he looked up. ‘You’re giving us your first house?’

My mouth dropped open.