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“This is for you, Frances,” Lucie said, offering up her next present. “Don’t eat it all at once.”
Frances took the gift and pressed her fingers in as she unwrapped it. “I think I can guess what this is,” she said, as a bag of lebkuchen fell into her lap. “Aha! Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, and I have a little something for you, Rose,” Lucie added, handing her a small, square present.
“For me?” Rose’s eyes widened. “That’s very kind.” She fumbled with the paper, her fingers slipping over the smooth surface before finally revealing the small box inside. “Oh, it’s lovely. Thank you,” she said, lifting out a snow globe bauble.
She turned it over, and they all watched the snow fall over the miniature Winterbourne Hall inside.
Mandy got up, collecting the two remaining presents from under the tree. She passed a large, rectangular gift to Lucie as they both sat back down.
“I hope it proves useful in the future.”
Lucie unwrapped it, all eyes on her as the torn paper revealed an Apple MacBook. That was seriously going to prove useful in the future.
She blinked. “Wow, Mands. That’s really generous. Thank you.” She reached across her dad, Mandy met her halfway, her hand closing gently around Lucie’s.
“Call it ten years of missed presents.”
“I’ve felt a bit lost since returning my work one.”
Mandy winked. “No one can take that one from you.”
“No, they can’t,” Lucie said, holding the box to her chest. “Thanks.”
Her dad pulled a present from his trouser pocket. “Mandy, this is for you.”
“Thank you,” she said, handing him one in return.
Mandy tore at the gift and opened what looked like a jewellery box. Her expression softened as she lifted out a fine gold chain, letting it spill across her fingers. A small star rested at the end, a diamond set at its centre.
“It’s beautiful. Thanks, Pete.”
He pinked and gave a small shrug that made Mandy’s smile deepen.
Lucie leaned across him for a closer look. “What a beautiful star.”
“It’s not just any star. It’s the North Star,” he corrected as he opened his own present. Examining the box of a small Leatherman multi-tool, he added, “Just what I needed. Thanks, Mands.”
“I thought it might fit on your key ring. You’re always complaining you don’t have a knife to hand.”
“It’s perfect.”
This time it was Mandy whose cheeks coloured. Lucie caught Frances’s eye, and they both bit their lips to keep their faces straight.
“Here — put it on for me, Pete.” Mandy passed him the necklace as she gathered her hair over one shoulder.
He fumbled slightly with the clasp before fastening it at the nape of her neck, his fingers lingering a second longer than necessary.
Mandy reached up, touching the star, just as the oven buzzer sounded.
“Right,” she said, clearing her throat as she got up. “That’s lunch ready. Lucie, perhaps you’d give me a hand?”
“Of course.” Lucie rose, and as Mandy headed towards the kitchen, she saw her lift her fingers to the corner of her eye as though brushing something away.
She neared the kitchen door, and overheard Frances talking to her dad.
“Thanks for lending us the videos and puzzles, Pete. Mum’s really been enjoying them, haven’t you?”
