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“Hear, hear,” pipes up her dad.

“I could have done more,” her mum insists. “I could have been more ambitious.” Instead, her mum had always been there for Mel—driven her to various clubs, been there at school pickup, asked about Mel’s day—and never complained. Mel hadn’t realized how lucky she was on that front until she’d gotten older. They’d wanted another child, Mel had found out in her teen years. But Mel never felt her mum’s sadness that a second child wasn’t to be—only her desire to help Mel succeed. And only when her business was up and running did Mel feel like she’d made her mum proud. She’s now a businesswoman, running her own company, a master of her own fate—or so her mum says when she’s boasting about Mel to friends.

“In fact,” her mum continues, raising her voice as excitement creeps in, “I was going to wait to tell you this, but we’re not going to see each other until after Christmas and that’s too long…” She gives an expectant pause, then beams into the camera. “I’ve signed up for a business course!”

“What? Really?” She glances at her dad for affirmation, who nods in a bemused sort of way.

“Yes! It’s just at the local college, but it’s got great reviews, and I can do it part time. It’ll give me something to focus on—and, you never know, maybe I’ll be where you are in a couple of years!”

“That’s…” Mel doesn’t know why she’s so surprised—only that her mum has never expressed any interest in business before now, and does, in fact, tend to glaze over whenever Mel talks about anything other than the general. But, still, that doesn’t explain the sinking feeling. Maybe I’ll be where you are in a couple of years. It’s a compliment—she’s being ridiculous. She works up a smile. “That’s great, Mum.”

“Well, you inspired me. Of course, I have no idea what the business might be, but this is the first step, isn’t it? And you can help me, can’t you?”

“Of course I can.”

Her dad swings an arm around her mum. “My two girls, taking the world by storm.”

The bedroom door opens a crack, and Mel sees Finn peeking inside. She frowns, gesturing that he should absolutely not come in, and he backs away.

“Someone there, love?” her mum asks.

“Ah, just the B and B owner,” she says, inventing wildly. “Coming to clean the room, no doubt. They can come back. Anyway,” she says, perhaps more loudly than is strictly necessary, “how is it there?”

“Oh, it’s marvelous. You know, I’m not sure why we never traveled before.”

“Might be something to do with that pesky mortgage,” her dad says, though he looks more relaxed than she’s seen him in a while.

“Oh, shhh. You know what I mean. Mel, we met the most delightful couple on the beach yesterday, a few years younger than us, only just married. We’re meeting them for dinner tonight in this place that’s supposed to do the most delightful seafood…” Mel lets her mum talk, content to listen and nod along, happy to hear that her mum is happy—and happy that she isn’t having to answer any difficult questions about what, exactly, she and Priya are doing for the holidays. Which reminds her—she needs to schedule in a call with Priya, if she can. Although she sounds like she’s having a good time, it can’t be easy, spending Christmas so far away from everyone she knows best.

Her mum is still talking—now on to the pros and cons of eating on the beach, cons including sand, wind, and direct sunlight—and Mel is nodding automatically, though downstairs she can hear Susan calling up, rallying the troops. They are heading to the supermarket as a group to buy ingredients for the three-course meal that Susan is getting them to prepare. They’re going to be split into teams, Come Dine with Me style. All the courses have to be Christmas-themed, and of course Susan has divided them into couples. Not only that, but she and Finn are saddled with the main course—which will take actual preparation and time and can’t be cinnamon ice cream with a sparkler.

She thinks she hears Kristen’s voice, rising from below. “I’m just saying, Mark, if you’re staying anyway then you could tidy up a little while we’re out.”

“Mel?” her mum says, frowning into the screen. “Are you listening? Gavin, has the Wi-Fi gone again?”

“Sorry, Mum, I’m here. But I’ve got to go. I’m sorry—Priya and I are heading out.”

“That’s nice. No problem, love. We should probably have a little nap before dinner. We’ll call you soon, okay?”

“Absolutely. Bye!” She waves at them both, making her voice loud enough to cover the noise of Hattie playing with Freya downstairs.

She sits where she is for a moment, pulling her laptop toward her to bring up her email automatically. Finn had insisted she stay here and work while he headed with the rest of the family to the supermarket—and although he’s told them all that, it’s hard not to feel like she’s hiding away in here.

There’s a knock at the door and Mel looks over.

“Is it safe to come in?” Finn asks. She hesitates, then nods and he pushes the door open the rest of the way. “How are your parents?”

“Good. Loving Zanzibar.”

“Have to admit, I’m struggling to picture Gavin in Zanzibar.”

She smiles, thinking of how happy her parents look. “Do you know what, it kind of suits them. I think they might have the traveling bug after this.”

There’s a moment of quiet between them, and Mel realizes they’ve actually come close to having a civil conversation. She glances at her screen, rather than risk continuing it.

“I just came to tell you we’re off,” Finn says, raking a hand through his hair. The jumper he’s wearing rises, showing off a sliver of skin at the top of his jeans. She looks back at her laptop—though for once there are no urgent emails to distract her. Time of year, she supposes.

“Okay. Thanks.” He’s almost backed out of the bedroom when she changes her mind. “Finn?” He looks back at her. “Can I go instead? To the supermarket?”