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“No, thank you.”

“I’ll catch you all up then,” Lucie said, relieved to be able to separate herself from the potential for embarrassment, even if only for a short time.

Mandy held her arm out. “Rose, would you like to walk with us to a snow globe to watch the illuminations so Frances can help Lucie fetch their drinks?”

“Oh, yes, please,” Rose said, slipping her arm from Frances’s and into Mandy’s. She clung to her as Mandy led her away, leaving a twitch in Frances’s face.

Lucie could have murdered Mandy for such a blatant attempt to leave the two of them alone. Not that she wasn’t grateful. She noticed the concern on Frances’s face and placed a hand on her arm.

“Don’t worry. Mandy helped a lot with Gran. She knows what she’s doing. Take the break.”

Frances visibly exhaled, unclenched, then nodded as they walked to the van. “This is my treat. A token of my appreciation. You’ve come to my rescue many times, and I don’t feel I’ve properly thanked you enough.”

“Thank you,” Lucie beamed.

“Cream and marshmallows?”

“Just cream, please. Marshmallows get in the way of the cream.”

“They don’t just get in the way; they also take up unnecessary space that could be perfectly utilised by more cream,” Frances said as she stepped forward to order.

Lucie smiled at Frances’s no-nonsense tone, glad someone else took cream portions seriously.

“It’s nice to see you and your mum out and about,” she said, as they moved to one side to wait for their drinks. “Even if it is under the cover of darkness.”

“Ha.” Frances shot her a sidelong look. “Maybe I listened to someone.”

“Seems that way.”

“Mum has been wanting to come and see the lights, so I thought tonight might be best, with fewer people around.”

“Yes, it should be less overwhelming for her.” Lucie paused, then added, “Or did you mean there would be fewer people around to see her?”

Frances bit her lip. “A bit of both, perhaps.”

“Two hot chocolates, extra cream, no marshmallows,” the woman in the van called.

Two paper cups, practically overflowing with cream, appeared on the counter. Lucie spotted some spoons and passed one to Frances with a couple of serviettes. She had a feeling they would need both.

“Thank you,” Frances said, taking them and then picking up a cup. “A correctly made hot chocolate should always require a spoon, don’t you think?”

“I do,” Lucie agreed. She ran the spoon around the rim of her cup, scooping up the melting cream and chocolatey mix before plunging it into her mouth. It was, as Frances said, divine. She looked up to find Frances doing the same.

“Enough cream for you?” Lucie asked.

“Almost,” Frances said, a curl lifting the edge of her lips.

It sent a sharp tingle through Lucie’s legs, enough to make her wobble.

“We should find the others,” Frances added, leaving Lucie to wonder how her legs were going to carry her that far.

They walked slowly through endless giant red-and-white candy canes, both spooning cream into their mouths until it was all gone. It felt surreal to be doing this with Frances. For a moment, she allowed herself to believe it was a date, the two of them strolling alone in the romantic light, soft music drifting from speakers hidden in the bushes, sharing something simple together without even needing to talk. She’d reach for Frances’s hand, and they would kiss good night.

The thought sent a ripple of heat through her. A girl could dream.

“Have you pondered upon my proposition?” Frances asked, draining her cup and pulling Lucie back down to earth at the end of the candy canes.

“Oh — erm. No. Well, yes, I have... but I haven’t reached a decision.”