‘Wow!’ beamed Noah, who happened to arrive just as I was leaving the lodge. ‘Look at you!’

‘Don’t,’ I said, sounding sulkier than I intended. ‘It’s all I had with me. I wasn’t expecting a party when I packed to come.’

Noah dropped the hand of the guy next to him, placed his hands on his hips and tutted.

‘I’m being serious,’ he said. ‘You look gorgeous. I had no idea you had legs and a waist under all those layers. You’ve been hiding out in baggy jumpers and long coats.’

‘I haven’t been hiding out,’ I told him, a smile tugging at my lips. ‘I’ve been trying to keep warm.’

‘And your hair’s so long,’ he carried on. ‘You should wear it down like that more often.’

‘Thanks,’ I said, feeling better as I smoothed it over one shoulder.

Suitably satisfied with appraising my look, Noah turned back to his companion.

‘Now,’ he beamed, ‘let me introduce you to Michael.’

‘Michael,’ I said, ‘it’s lovely to finally meet you.’

He was unbelievably good looking and perfectly groomed. Tall, tanned, fit and with not so much as a hair out of place.

‘Hello,’ he smiled, revealing teeth which were as impeccable as the rest of him. ‘I’ve heard so much about you, Liza.’

‘Have you now?’ I said, narrowing my eyes at Noah, who was looking adoringly at his partner.

‘All good,’ he flustered, when he noticed I was frowning at him.

He quickly linked one arm with Michael and the other with me.

‘Now, come on,’ he insisted, ‘we need to make an entrance.’

That was the last thing I wanted to do, but Noah refused to let me go. However, as we crossed the barn threshold, I became too distracted by the transformation to notice whether anyone was looking at me.

I had assumed the barn was party-ready before, but in the ninety minutes since Wynter’s Trees had closed, the space had morphed again and into something even more beautiful. There were yet more lights, another tree, tables laden with platters of covered food, a small bar and much more mistletoe. It was cosy and warm too, thanks to some strategically positioned space heaters.

‘Wow,’ I gasped.

‘Right?’ Noah sighed, sounding every bit as taken aback as me. ‘How stunning is this?’

‘Do you like it?’ asked Maya, rushing over when she spotted us. ‘Is it okay?’

‘It’s stunning,’ I told her, ‘and, so are you.’

She gave us all her trademark smile and an elaborate twirl.

‘Isn’t it cute?’ she laughed, looking down at her dress.