Seymour Cole sauntered past as they made their way back to their house. He cast his eyes over Nick and Bella but didn’t speak.

Nick swallowed, holding his head high.

‘Nick,’ Bella said gently. ‘There’s something—’

‘Aren’t you at Bluebell Park next weekend, Bella?’ he asked, eager to steer the conversation away from Mr Cole.

‘I always have the day off just for this,’ she replied a little sadly.

‘Then, if it’s no trouble, Mungo, it’d be rude not to.’ Nick pushed down his worries over Seymour Cole. Seeing him had been like being caught in a snowdrift. He felt frozen and suffocated, but no one needed their evening ruined with him moping. Instead, he held out his hand to Freddie, enjoying the smile he received from his boy. ‘Shall we have one more hot chocolate before we go home, mate? I could do with warming up a bit.’

Chapter 22

‘You’ve got another date?’ Cynthia asked Nina, and Bella grinned, happy the attention was away from her for a change.

Since Nick had agreed to go Christmas tree shopping with them, her mum and sister had been teasing her mercilessly. The mention of smoochy-smoochy kissy time had been pretty much non-stop and Bella worried Caro would overexcite herself so much the baby might arrive early. When Nick had placed his hand on her waist at the Christmas parade, she’d wanted to move to his side so he could hold her tighter. She’d thought about wrapping her fingers in his but worried it was too big a leap right now, but the feeling it created hadn’t left her.

Cynthia had given up all pretence at present wrapping and watched Nina. ‘Is it an official date this time?’

Nina’s face grew redder and the orange light from the fire made it even brighter. ‘I don’t know. I think so. How do you know if it’s an official date or not?’

Caro took one of the cushions from the sofa and placed it behind her back then wiggled again to get comfortable. ‘I think both of you have to use the word to make it count.’

‘So we both have to say it’s a date?’

‘Yeah. It’s a bit like summoning a ghost. Don’t you have to say its name three times or something to make it appear?’

‘Where did you hear that?’ Bella giggled.

‘I don’t know. I read it somewhere.’

‘Well, it’s not a date. Johnny definitely hasn’t said that word.’

‘What does he say then?’ asked Cynthia.

‘He just says “the pub”. I’m worried if I use it first, he’ll call it off and I’ll look like a dick.’

‘No you won’t,’ Bella said. ‘And he wouldn’t call it off either. You were meant to be together. Did he suggest it this time or was it you again?’

‘He did.’