It was mortification rather than the frost that froze Laurel to the spot. Then Daisy turned back. ‘Grady’s here and Mum and Terri will be asleep in front of soppy TV by now so you might as well come in.’ Daisy’s expression said that perhaps she hadn’t been as unaware of the situation between Laurel and Grady as Laurel had thought.

Then there was Grady, easing Niall’s granddad out of the way. ‘Coming in?’ he asked softly. ‘You’d be very welcome.’ His eyes grew wary as he added, ‘It’s up to you.’

She knew why he’d added the rider. He was telling her that everyone else in the situation had done everything they could. Only she could do more. She took one step closer. ‘Thank you for the beautiful necklace. Your present’s in the bag I left at your house.’

‘You’re welcome. The stones are the bright blue of your eyes.’ He didn’t suggest they go to Mistletoe Cottage. She knew, and he knew, it would be just another way of not facing up to the big problem between them.

She sighed and her breath hung between them on the freezing air. The next part of Rea’s motivational notice returned to her. Start small. ‘Maybe just a Christmas drink?’

He blinked, then smiled and stepped aside. ‘If Tonya’s dad’s left any.’

In the hall, he took her coat and hung it near the front door where she could get it if she needed to run. She managed a wavering smile. ‘You’re treating me like I treat Rea, not pushing her, letting her make her own decisions.’

Grady leaned one shoulder on the wall, hands in pockets. He didn’t try to touch her or kiss her – he obviously hadn’t brought any of the abundance of mistletoe that had festooned Mistletoe Cottage – but his eyes caught on the forget-me-not necklace before returning to her face. ‘Is that wrong?’

She thought about it. ‘I suppose not.’

Noise poured from a nearby room, audience laughter from a TV show, women’s and men’s voices and Niall snorting, ‘Daisy, you can get lost if you’re just going to pig all my chocolates!’ Grady offered his hand. She took it. Together, they walked into the big living area full of Mac’s family that was, of course, Grady’s family, too.

Tonya said, ‘Oh! Hello, Laurel.’ Then she added, curiously, ‘This is an unexpected pleasure.’ But she smiled, as if prepared to be friendly or was even pleased Laurel was there. Her turquoise hair had been swept to one side, suiting her elfin face. She shared a seat with an older woman who looked so much like her – though with naturally silver hair – that she had to be her mum. Tonya’s dad had fallen to ribbing Niall and Daisy about sharing the chocolates.

And Mac Cassidy sat in a leather armchair, wearing a frozen expression.