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She lingered in the doorway, watching the torchlight dimming until it disappeared entirely. Lucie was gone. A heavy sigh forced itself out of Frances as she stepped back and pushed the enormous wooden door into its frame.

Realising the time, she hurried through the dark corridors to Holly Court to relieve Mara. Not having heard anything, she assumed her evening had been uneventful and the fireworks hadn’t disturbed her mum.

She placed her key in the lock a few minutes later and opened the front door. Placing her hat onto the hall table, she tiptoed through to the sitting room to find Mara watching the news.

“Hi,” she said, removing her coat and scarf.

“Oh, hi!”

“Did Mum wake?” Frances asked quickly.

“No. I’ve not heard a peep. Did you have fun?”

“Yes, I didn’t break a leg, so that’s always a bonus.”

“You know what I mean,” Mara said, getting to her feet.

Frances draped her coat and scarf over the back of her mum’s chair. “Lucie might be taking a job in London,” she said, realising it was probably time to say it aloud.

“Oh. I’m sorry to hear that,” Mara replied.

Frances gave a small shrug, even if she was feeling something much deeper, something she didn’t quite have the words to express.

“It might be for the best in the long run,” Mara added.

“Maybe. She has to go there next week to meet someone. Mum’s due for her yearly check-up with her specialist, so I’ll book an appointment to coincide, and we’ll all go together. We’ll stay at the house.”

“Oh.”

“Oh?”

“Yes. You know you have to break ties at some point, don’t you?”

Frances shrugged again. “Do I? We’re friends. Friends keep in touch.”

“Friends?” Mara’s questioning tone and the way she tipped her head suggested she wasn’t entirely convinced.

“It’s all we can be now, isn’t it? She has her life, and I have mine.” Frances looked around the room, trying not to feel too despondent. As much as she craved a change, this was it for her for the foreseeable future. The time she had left with her mum was precious; she wasn’t going to wish it away. With the pressure of Christmas behind her now, she might even be able to spend more time with her. She would have to if Lucie left.

“Thanks again for being here,” she told Mara.

“I’m happy to help... to be asked to help. Finally.”

Frances gave an awkward nod.

“If there is anything else I can do, just let me know,” Mara continued, giving her arm a squeeze as she passed.

“I will, thanks.”

“I’ll see myself out,” Mara said, disappearing from the room. Her head popped back round. “Oh, and Happy New Year.”

Frances flashed her a smile. “Happy New Year.”

When the door finally closed, the silence set in. What might the year ahead hold? More Lucie? Frances hoped, rather than believed, it to be a possibility. Tonight they had come closer than ever before. They’d felt entirely in sync — and Frances wanted more. She felt certain now that Lucie wanted it too.

Even if Lucie might leave, she hadn’t gone yet. Why shouldn’t she allow herself some brief pleasure for once, should they choose to give in to whatever was growing between them. Why should restraint and responsibility always win?

The thought alone sent a slow heat thrumming through her. She was going to have very sweet dreams.