‘Which is worse, do you think?’ Brody mused. ‘Christmas or New Year?’

There was a heartbeat while they both pondered the answer. ‘New Year,’ they both said at exactly the same time, which made them both laugh. Anna hugged her knees and glanced up at the stars. It was starting to get a little bit chilly now, but she didn’t want to go inside. As she watched one star, trying to work out if it was winking a pale green colour or whether it was just her imagination, a thought came to her. ‘Then why don’t we not do New Year’s Eve this year,’ she said.

‘Hah! That sounds like a marvellous idea.’

Anna unravelled the concept a little further. ‘And why don’t we not do New Year’s Eve together?’

‘Spend all evening on the phone?’

That was what she’d been going to suggest, but she suddenly realized there was a better option, an option she instantly knew she wanted more than anything. ‘No. Let’s do it in person.’

There was a stunned silence for a few seconds. ‘What?’

Anna held her breath for a moment, then said, ‘Brody, I think it’s time we should meet.’

Chapter Thirty-Two

‘YOU WANT TO meet up on New Year’s Eve? Face to face?’ Brody said, sounding more than a little stunned.

Okay, Anna thought. Even though New Year’s Eve was still more than three months away, and the idea had just popped into her head and she’d run with it, she hadn’t expected this reaction. She’d thought Brody would be excited about the idea, even though up until that moment their relationship had been exclusively, well… audio.

‘What… what about Jeremy?’

‘What about him?’

‘Won’t you want to spend New Year’s Eve with him?’

Oh. She supposed that was an option. One that hadn’t even been on her radar, apparently. ‘I don’t know,’ she answered. ‘I don’t even know if there will be a Jeremy in a few months’ time.’

More silence.

‘Really?’ he said, obviously sceptical.

‘Yes, really. We’ve been on one date, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned in recent years, it’s not to trust what the future might bring.’

‘But you’re making plans with me,’ he said in a low voice.

‘Yes,’ she said. ‘That’s different.’

‘Why?’

Anna stared up at the twinkling stars. ‘Because I know you.’ He went quiet again, but this time it was one of those full silences. She could tell he was thinking carefully about what she’d suggested. And the more she thought about it, even though her suggestion had been a bit out-of-the-blue and random, it seemed like the perfect plan. It would save both of them from being miserable and lonely, and give them something to look forward to over Christmas, which was never easy after you’d lost someone special.

‘So, what do you think? Shall we do it?’

He cleared his throat. ‘Why on earth would you want to spend New Year’s Eve with me?’

She wasn’t sure if she should be insulted that he hadn’t jumped at the idea, or sad that he didn’t dare believe she meant it. ‘Because I would like to look you in the eyes and say thank you, for all you’ve done for me.’