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‘The animals are going crazy,’ Jago muttered, his voice tight with worry. ‘I’ve locked them all in. Meg’s going a bit deaf, so she’s fine. Stan took Buttons home with him, bless him. Just for tonight. You don’t mind, do you?’

Rita shook her head and her bottom lip wobbled. ‘A mischievous young dog is the last thing on my mind to be honest. Thomas clearly didn’t think of the coordination of it all when he gifted him for my birthday.’ She groaned. ‘I haven’t told number one son that his old room is now a nursery, either.’

‘I can manage Buttons and I’m sure Thomas won’t mind that his siblings have taken residence,’ Jago reassured her, reaching down and easing Noa onto his other shoulder. The little princess squeaked softly, a sound of pure contentment.

Rita lay back on the rocking chair and without warning started to cry.

Jago continued rocking the babies gently. ‘Oh Rita, it’s OK, darling. I’m here for all of us.’

Rita took a breath and sighed deeply. ‘OK, OK, I’m listening to you. Does it make me a failure if we don’t run the Christmas Cosy-Up Escape this year?’ She wailed, ‘I kind of subconsciously didn’t market it. And even knowing it’s going on, it would be too much. I will still pay Teo and Zenya to help with the animals and the individual yurt booking business, which is really picking up now.’

‘The words “failure” and “Rita Jory” will never belong in the same sentence.’ Jago leant in and kissed the top of her head. ‘You’ve just had two babies. You’re meant to be on maternity leave.’

‘And I need to concentrate on this job, don’t I?’ She then made a noise between despair and resignation.

Jago rocked the babies. ‘This very important job.’ He nodded. ‘And next year, we can make it the biggest, best Christmas Cosy-Up Escape that the Seahaven Bay Retreat has ever seen.’

Feeling a huge surge of relief, Rita glanced at Jago and the twins, bundled and furious, secure and loved, and after a big sniff, a small, exhausted smile tugged at her lips.

‘We’ve got this. I mean, I’m the novice, here,’ Jago soothed.

‘And a brilliant one at that.’ Rita reached for a baby wipe and blew her nose loudly. ‘I’m sure it must have been just as hard when the other two arrived. It’s funny, the things you remember… and the things you forget in life, isn’t it…’

She thought suddenly of her late husband, Archie, and his funeral. The only thing she clearly remembered was ‘Life is a Rollercoaster’ being played, earning raised eyebrows from the congregation.

Rita sighed deeply. It felt strange, almost wrong, to think he would never meet these babies… the children of the half-brother he had been so close to. But if he were here then this scenario wouldn’t even be playing out. Life sure was a rollercoaster.

Her thoughts were broken by another firework exploding over High Meadow.

Noa’s tiny fist shot up like a miniature protest; Nathan arched his back, emitting a squeal that seemed designed to shatter glass.

Rita groaned and checked her watch. ‘Looks like it’s feeding time at the Seahaven Bay Zoo, again.’

‘Right,’ Jago declared, sealing up a nappy bag. ‘Operation Survive Fireworks Night is officially a-go.’

By the time the final firework had fizzled into silence, night settled around the farmhouse. The twins were asleep, their tiny chests rising and falling gently beneath the soft white covers, as peaceful as if the world had paused just for them.

‘Toasted sandwich?’ Jago offered, making his way downstairs.

‘Ooh yes, perfect and a big mug of sweet tea, please.’ Rita laid her head back on the pillows and before Jago had even flicked the kettle on downstairs, she was snoring.

FOUR

A YEAR LATER

‘I thought you were going back home this weekend, Sennen.’ Rita glanced at her daughter who was busily making tea for three.

Hilda took a drag on her brightly coloured vape and exhaled a thick cloud of sweet-smelling vapour.

‘Hilda!’ Rita shook her head. ‘Do you have to do that inside?’

‘It’s fine; it’s cherry blossom and vanilla. And you should be pleased; I finally listened to you about giving up the fags.’ She pointed down to her feet and did a little shimmy. ‘My vape even matches my trainers.’

‘Granny.’ Sennen smirked. ‘I reckon you must be the only octogenarian in the world who does that.’ The young woman took a closer look. ‘And that is a legal one, isn’t it?’

‘You are turning into your mother.’ Hilda gave a dismissive wave. ‘And, yes, yes, this one was on the top of the counter.’

‘So, are you going home or what are you doing?’ Rita directed to her daughter as she placed steaming mugs on the memory-scarred wooden table. Sennen’s smile faded. ‘Sorry, darling, that wasn’t meant to sound so sharp.’ Rita sighed. ‘You can stay as long as you like; you know that.’