‘When did you decide to do this? I had absolutely no clue.’
‘It’s been planned for a while,’ her mum said. ‘We told Steph a couple of days ago but asked her to keep it a secret until now.’
‘How long are you staying? Where are you staying?’
‘We rented a holiday cottage just down the street and we’re staying for a couple of months,’ her dad said, with Myra wriggling on his knee.
‘What about work? Have you both taken unpaid leave?’
Her parents exchanged a glance. ‘No … in fact, we have another surprise for you all. We’re moving back home to the UK. We’ve had a wonderful ten years but we miss you – all of you – and so we’re both taking early retirement and coming back to the Lake District. After all that’s happened lately, we’ve realised that nothing matters like family.’
‘So, we’ll be house hunting while we’re here,’ her dad said.
Much to the twins’ alarm, all the adults around them began to cry again.
‘The Internet is great,’ her father said, with a wobble in his voice. ‘But nothing compares with a hug, and being able to see your family face to face and we’ve decided that is far too precious to miss. We’re determined we’re never going to be apart again.’
After Steph had made tea, and everyone had stopped crying, the twins went to watch Frozen on TV.
‘So, we’ll all be together for Christmas Day, and I think we can just about squeeze around the dining table,’ said Steph. ‘I might need you to bring an extra chair from the Bothy, Lottie.’
‘No problem,’ Lottie said, still amazed that her parents were here. She was also working out how she could possibly be in two places at once. She couldn’t leave her family tomorrow but the prospect of letting down Jay was unthinkable too. There would have to be a compromise.
‘I have a favour to ask,’ she said. ‘Could you spare me after lunch for Christmas tea?’
Steph scrutinised her. ‘Would that have anything to do with the gorgeous Jay?’
Her mother also stared at her. ‘Who’s the gorgeous Jay?’
Her dad raised his eyebrows. ‘Is this a new bloke?’
‘Um. Well. Yes, I guess he is.’
Steph held her arms aloft. ‘Well. Hoo-bloody-ray! About bloody time.’
Her parents exchanged looks. ‘Has this been going on a while?’
‘Far too long,’ Steph said. ‘I’ve had so many sleepless nights worrying about the pair of them. It’s official, then, is it, if you’ve been invited to his for Christmas tea?’
‘Well, I haven’t been invited, technically. Jay wants to surprise his family by taking me with him.’
‘In that case, you must go,’ her mum said. ‘We can spare you for a few hours.’
Lottie hugged her mother.
‘As long as we hear all about this Jay and get to meet him.’
Steph was in, like a flash. ‘He must come to lunch!’
‘He’ll want to be with his own family,’ her dad said.
‘I have a better idea,’ Steph said. ‘What about if we have our lunch at dinner time. That way, Lottie and Jay can go to his family early and then come here later.’
‘Are you sure?’ Lottie said, wondering how much family Christmas cheer Jay could actually handle.
‘Totally. It makes no difference to us. Gives me longer to cook that massive turkey to be honest.’
She laughed. ‘That’s very kind of you but I’ll have to ask him first. It’s – um – complicated,’ she said. ‘And then there’s Trevor …’
‘Trevor’s welcome too. The girls would love to have him.’
Her dad was utterly confused. ‘Who’s Trevor?’
‘A dog,’ Lottie said.
‘Ah. OK,’ her mum said, clearly itching to know what kind of ‘complicated’ but trying not to pry. ‘Can we at least know how you met Jay? Where does he live? Can we see a picture of him?’
‘And Trevor,’ her father said wryly.
Smiling to herself, Lottie got out her phone, shared every photo she had, happy to be interrogated on the subject of Jay and Trevor until the cows came home.
Later, Steph and Lottie were in the kitchen, while the twins were entertained by their grandparents.
‘This year had ended a lot better than it started,’ she said. ‘I’m on the mend, Mum and Dad are staying, and you’re with Jay.’ She had a sly smile on her face. ‘And I’ve got a date with Kerr.’
‘Woo! That’s great. When did it happen?’
‘I called him and asked him. You were right. He was waiting for some encouragement and didn’t want to put any pressure on me. We’re going to go out for a meal over the Christmas holiday so I’m going to need a babysitter … not that I have to look far with Mum and Dad here. I’m guessing you’ll be otherwise engaged.’
Lottie laughed. ‘I might be. That’s very exciting news. I really like Kerr and I promise to grill you as hard about him as you have me about Jay.’
Steph rolled her eyes. ‘I’d expect nothing less.’
Lottie left, feeling more hopeful about Steph than she had for so many months, but wondering how the next day would go with Jay and his family. He’d taken a massive leap of faith by arranging to meet Ben and Nadia on Christmas Day but as Lottie was painfully aware, just when you thought everything was going well in your world, it could all come crashing down.
Chapter Forty-Three
Christmas Day
Standing outside his parents’ place, Jay took Lottie’s hand in his. Even though he’d made his peace with Ben and they’d sworn a pact to make the day a happy one, this would be the first time they would all be together for a very long time.
Steph had insisted on inviting him to Christmas evening dinner, despite his not very serious protests that she wouldn’t have enough food and that Lottie’s family would want to be together. He’d been nervous but, for Lottie’s sake, had
