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“No need,” Lucie said, grabbing her phone from her pocket. She created a new contact and held the device out to Frances. It was a safer option than a piece of paper; she wasn’t risking losing her number.

Frances tapped in her number and handed the phone back. As Lucie took it, she found herself pulled into a hug.

“Thank you. You’ve made me feel less alone.”

Lucie squeezed back. Her legs weakened as their bodies pressed together and the vanilla scent of Frances flowed through her nostrils. She let herself stay there just a second longer.

“Night, Frances, and thanks for the tea,” Lucie said, reluctantly pulling back.

“Good night,” Frances replied softly as she opened the door and Lucie stepped outside.

She crossed the quiet courtyard, relieved to find the door to the hall from Holly Court still open — although needing Frances to come to her rescue might have been fun. A few staff remained, hoovering up glitter and pine needles from the decorations.

Once she’d collected her things from the staff room, she headed back outside, pulling her phone from her pocket. She wanted to text Frances so she’d have her number, but her hand stilled, nerves tightening her grip on the phone.

Pushing past it, she typed.

Hey, it’s Lucie. I escaped.

Her mind rewound to Frances’s earlier question. What was she going to do after ‘elf-ing’, as Frances called it? Maybe she should consider looking after Rose, at least until she decided what she was going to do next. She knew what she wanted to be doing — her old job — but she couldn’t see a way back. Opportunities in the UK were scarce, and she didn’t want to be doing admin; she wanted to be doing the workshops. For that, she’d need to return to university.

Her phone vibrated in her hand. She lifted it quickly, her heart racing.

Happy to hear that... I think.

What did that mean? That Frances didn’t want her to leave?

As she walked into the darkness, she told herself she was definitely, absolutely, without a doubt overthinking it.

CHAPTER 11

“It’s this way,” Lucie said, leading her dad and Mandy through the light trail to the grotto.

Her plan was to get them both onto the sleigh with Father Christmas for a photograph.

“It’s very quiet,” Mandy said, tugging her bobble hat down so it covered her ears. “I was expecting it to be busier and louder.”

“Tonight is our quiet access night. We do it once a week so that those with sensory issues can enjoy the trail away from the crowds. The music is quieter, and any flashing lights along the trail are on their slowest setting. Sorry, I should have said, but it was the only evening this week with availability.”

“It’s a great idea,” her dad put in. “I, for one, am glad it isn’t too noisy.”

“And that’s just because of your age,” Mandy teased, linking her arm through his and nudging him.

He grinned.

As they reached the grotto, she saw there was only a short queue and the two female elves working the line were two of the more sensible ones in her elf group.

“Come on, Pete,” Mandy goaded. “Let’s get a photo with Father Christmas.”

“Aren’t we a bit old for all that?” he protested.

“You’re never too old for Father Christmas!” Mandy pulled him to the end of the queue. “Come on, Lucie!”

“No, no. Have one of the two of you.”

Lucie stood back, ready to take a photograph when they climbed onto the sleigh five minutes later. Her dad, being the perfect gentleman, helped Mandy up beside Father Christmas before shuffling on himself and sliding an arm around her. There was no need to tell them to smile for the camera as she took a couple of shots on her phone.

As they climbed down, she flicked through the photos; they were all perfect. One in particular, which she’d caught before they were ready, showed them staring at each other, clearly caught up in the moment. She swallowed her squeal of delight as they approached and quickly added a handful of them to their shared WhatsApp group. They’d make such a cute couple, if only they would stop dancing around it.