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“Thanks, Dad,” she replied, appreciating that, despite his abrupt way of questioning her choices, he always seemed to understand in the end.

As she left the kitchen, Mandy followed.

“Are you really okay with me staying over?” she asked quietly.

“Of course, we’re all adults.”

“We are.” Mandy hesitated. “I just... I don’t want you to think I’m trying to replace your mum.”

Lucie’s expression softened. “Mands, you’ve been a mum to me longer than I can remember, and I can’t tell you how much that means to me — and to Dad, I expect. I’m more than okay; I’m over the moon.”

Mandy pulled her in for a hug and squeezed. “Good. Because I’m really happy.”

Lucie stepped back and regained her breath. “It makes me happy to hear that. Really happy.”

Mandy rubbed her shoulders. “Now off you go and fold laundry.”

“And I’ll leave you to fold yours,” Lucie said with a wink.

Mandy laughed. “Say hi to Frances and Rose for us.”

“I will.”

Frances cleared away their breakfast bowls and watched as her mum turned her attention back to her puzzle. It was nice to see her enjoying them again. Rather than getting frustrated, she was excelling at them. Being set up for success was always better than being doomed from the start.

There was a knock at the door.

Her mum perked up. “Is that...?”

A smile crept across Frances’s mouth. “Lucie? Yes, it probably is,” she replied, ditching the bowls in the sink and heading to the front door.

It had been too long since they’d parted. She just wanted to be near to her, where everything felt right. Despite her uncontainable delight, a twinge of nausea rose from her stomach. She’d been trying to keep it at bay all morning, but now Lucie was here, there was no putting off talking to her mum about their plans.

“Morning,” Lucie said cheerfully, stepping inside and straight into Frances arms.

“Morning,” Frances replied, feeling her body relax for the first time that day.

Lucie must have felt the tension in her shoulders. As she pulled back, she surveyed Frances’s face. “Are you okay?”

“I’m a little nervous, if I’m honest. I wonder if I should have mentioned to Mum about moving to London before rearranging my job.”

“That wasn’t really possible, was it? If she wanted to leave here, and then you couldn’t arrange it, it would have only upset her.”

Frances nodded as she closed the front door. That had been her reasoning, too; it just didn’t make it any easier.

“I’m a bit anxious myself,” Lucie admitted, hanging up her coat. “Not just about London. About whether she’ll approve of us.”

“How did your dad and Mandy take it all?”

“They were pleased for us.”

Frances gave a faint smile. “Good. That’s something.”

“Dad was a little concerned about us living together, though. Which is rich, considering Mandy’s practically moved into the flat already. It’s not like we’ll be alone anyway. It’s more of a house share than anything.”

“Well, as long as this sharing involves the same bed, I’m happy for us to call it anything you like.”

Lucie laughed and, to Frances’s delight, leaned in and kissed her.