Had Nick actually just kissed her? He hadn’t planned to, but he’d been swept up in the moment. The Christmas music, the real tree filling the room with the scent of pine, the crackling warmth of the fire. Her fingers had been cold, and he’d been taken by the unexpected urge to warm them in his hands and then before he knew it, he was kissing her. He wouldn’t have done it if Freddie had been there of course, but Freddie’s short absence had given a rare chance and one he’d felt the need to take. He’d never been so nervous in all his life. For a brief and terrifying second, he’d been worried she might pull away, leap backwards in abject horror. What the hell did he think he was doing? They were just friends. But no. Nothing like that had happened and after that first gentle sweep of her full, soft lips, she’d kissed him too. The world had changed in that second. It had become a happier, brighter place. And then Freddie had returned, running down the stairs like a herd of wildebeest stampeding across the plains.

Realising he hadn’t spoken to Freddie for a few moments, Nick said, ‘It was nice of you to ask Bella if she wanted help with her tree, mate. That was really kind. I’m proud of you.’

‘Thanks, Dad.’ Freddie hung a decoration he’d made at school the year before and then stood back to admire it. Deciding it should go somewhere else he took it off the branch and placed it further down. ‘I like Bella. She’s nice.’

I like her too. Nick’s heart gave a double beat. He did like her, a lot. He wouldn’t have kissed her if he hadn’t. But was Freddie ready to have someone new in his life? Though it had only been six months since Paige had left, the marriage had been over for a long time and while Nick was beginning to feel ready for a new relationship, he had no idea if Freddie was. How did he even talk about that sort of thing with a ten-year-old?

‘She is nice, isn’t she?’ was the best he could come up with to test the waters. ‘It was nice of you to hug her. I think that meant a lot to her.’

‘Thanks. I like Miss Moore – I mean, Bella – because she stopped Amias bullying me. He hasn’t teased me at all since he …’ Freddie didn’t finish, but Nick knew what he meant, and he wrapped his arm around him as they placed more decorations on the tree.