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“That I think I can manage,” Lucy said with a smile.

She grabbed a chopping board and a knife and they chatted as they cooked. Lucy couldn’t honestly imagine the last time she’d felt so relaxed while she was cooking. The radio was going in the background and they chatted about the coffee shop and some tweaks to the website that Dylan had been thinking about.

“I think this is ready to serve up,” said Dylan.

They ate at the kitchen table. Lucy appreciated how mild Dylan had made the curry; she knew he preferred his spicier but was thinking of her stomach.

“Shall we put on that Muppets movie after this?” Dylan asked, passing Lucy some naan bread.

“Yes, I know you’ll love this one. Everyone loves it.”

“We’ll see,” said Dylan. “We need hot chocolates,” he proclaimed. “How can this be a Christmas movie night without hot chocolates?”

“Because we’ve barely stopped eating all day.”

“Are you trying to spoil my fun?” Dylan accused.

“No,” laughed Lucy. “Let’s get hot chocolates. I’ve got marshmallows downstairs.”

They got up again and got milk heating up while Dylan went downstairs into the coffee shop to get marshmallows.

“Can we have peanut butter in those?” Dylan asked as Lucy was adding the hot chocolate powder.

“Peanut butter? Really?”

“Yeah, it’s good,” Dylan assured her.

“Sure,” Lucy shrugged. “Oh! Give me a minute.”

She went into her room and took a small cardboard box from the bottom of her wardrobe. She returned to the kitchen and handed it to Dylan.

“This was one of your Christmas presents, but I think you should have it now.”

“You got me Christmas presents?” Dylan asked, opening the box.

“Of course I did,” Lucy said. Truth be told, she hadn’t been able to stop herself whenever she saw something she thought he’d like.

Dylan pulled a Christmas mug out of the box. It was adorned with Christmas trees and Father Christmas and presents.

“I think this is the most Christmassy mug I’ve ever seen,” Dylan declared. “Thank you.”

“It gets better,” said Lucy, with a grin. “Lift it up like you’re going to drink from it.”

Dylan did as he was told and Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer began to play.

“That is fantastic!” said Dylan. “I love it. Hang on a minute, I’ve got something for you too.”

He disappeared into his own bedroom and returned with a gift bag which he handed to Lucy. She opened it and pulled out a mug covered with nutcracker dolls painted all over it.

“That is brilliant!” Lucy exclaimed, turning it around in her hands. “Look how weird they are! They’re so creepy!”

Dylan laughed, “I’d hoped you’d like it. I saw it and couldn’t not buy it for you. It’s funny that you got me a Christmas mug as well.”

“I think it’s excellent that we’ve exchanged them now and we can have our hot chocolates in them,” Lucy declared.

“I concur,” Dylan said. “Are you going to have peanut butter in yours?”

“Go on then, I guess I should try it,” Lucy said. She washed their mugs before use then poured the hot chocolate into them. Dylan stirred a spoonful of peanut butter to each and Lucy sprinkled in marshmallows. They picked up their mugs and clinked them together. “Cheers,” they said and took a sip.