Two weeks later …
The day of the May Fair, and Holly felt so happy that she thought her heart might soar so high and burst right out of her chest into a million, trillion, tiny, fluttery pieces of joy. The church bells of St Mary’s were ringing out across the fields as they all walked in the glorious sunshine to the Blackwood Farm Estate. Aunty Jude … her actual proper aunty now – how brilliant was that? – had sorted it for her and Katie to be the first ones in the swimming pool. And she couldn’t wait. But the best bit of all was that Mum was being really nice to her now. And Dad too. Mum had said that life was much too short for recriminations and resentments, or something like that … anyway, it didn’t matter now, because Dad had just put his hand on Mum’s arm. Yes, she could see them up ahead, even through the trees; she knew she hadn’t missed it. Dad definitely had touched her, and Mum hadn’t even moved away from him or anything. And that meant one thing. They were getting back together. In time for her birthday! The wish was actually starting to come true.
‘Come on,’ Holly said to Katie, who was walking alongside her, ‘race you.’ And, after grinning at her best friend, Holly started running as best as she could, heaving the big bag of all her swimming gear up under her arm, her long red silky scarf flaring out behind her. And she didn’t feel breathless or weak or anything. She felt on top of the world. The happiest girl alive. And it was amazing.
What a surprise she’d had when she’d got back to Granny Dolly’s house that night she had run away. Everything had gone mental. She had heard Grandma Linda arguing and then, later on, Dad had explained that Tony was actually his dad, which meant he was her new granddad. And Holly thought it was brilliant. She liked Tony. So she had told Dad right away that this meant their name was Darling too. How mad was that? Holly Darling. She loved it. And had already altered all her social media stuff. Her friends thought it was just a thing, you know, change your name for a laugh … she had been Holls Horror for Halloween, with a cute pumpkin emoji. But this wasn’t just a thing … it was for real. And Lauren, her diabetic friend from the hospital had Snapchatted her to say that Holly Darling was the perfect vlogger name … so she was definitely going to think about launching her own YouTube channel, and had even put it on her wish list. Everything was going to be great now. She just knew it.
Sam put his hand out to touch Chrissie’s arm, relishing the moment he had thought would never come around again. After that night, when Holly had disappeared for those agonisingly long few hours, he and Chrissie had eventually managed to talk, just like he had hoped they would. Late into the night, once everyone had gone, they had sat in Dolly’s sitting room, and talked. Properly talked.
Chrissie had told him how she really felt: that she was scared to let go, to trust him. She wanted to change, to open herself up to sharing life’s responsibilities. And he had been honest too. He told her that he’d never felt he was good enough, that anything worth having would be taken away, ever since his father – yes, Rob would always be his father – had been snatched away from him and he’d been rejected by his mother. They didn’t have all the answers, and they would always do things differently, but it was a start. There was no such thing as perfection and they couldn’t return to how they were in the past. There was a lot of work still to do. But they had both agreed that they’d like to try to rebuild what they had. Together. Chrissie still loved him, and he loved her. It was like Rob had said in his letter, ‘love is all you have at the end of the day …’ So Sam had got in touch with a marriage guidance counsellor and booked a course of sessions for them.
And Chrissie confirmed that there was never another man … ‘Gavin from the choir is happily married to his husband, John, you idiot. We’re friends, that’s all. He’s been a great support these last few months,’ she had said when Sam asked. ‘And he kindly gives me a lift because it’s tricky to get to the village hall when there’s only one bus on the hour every hour.’ They had laughed at that, reminiscing how this quirk of country living had hindered their relationship in the early days before Sam could afford his first car. The times he spent sitting in the bus shelter in the village square, aching to see her, and a whole hour felt like an eternity. But she had lived at least three fields away from him and the narrow country lanes were pitch black without street lights, so there really was no alternative.
They had talked about Rob and the blood tests too, and the revelation that Sam had discovered about his family heritage.
‘Why didn’t you tell me you had all that going on too? I had no idea, and it must have been so difficult for you … I would have liked to have shared that, shouldered the burden with you,’ she had said softly, when they’d broached the subject of Tony, who had been absolutely brilliant since finding out he was Sam’s biological father. Of course, he had been devastated not to have known earlier, especially since his best friend, Rob, had died. Tony wasn’t sure Rob ever knowing would have been fair on him, but he would have liked to have stepped up more, openly been more of the dad Sam hadn’t had after Rob passed away. But, now was now, Tony had said, and nothing could change what had happened to date, so … and if Sam was in agreement, then he’d very much like the chance to be the best dad that he could be for him from now on.
‘I was angry,’ Sam had told her. ‘And confused. And I felt like a failure. I wanted to do something, to show that I could take responsibility. But the blood results meant I wouldn’t even be able to step up if Holly really needed me.’
‘But don’t you see?’ Chrissie had said, taking both his hands in hers and drawing him to her. ‘You’ve given Holly another chance … she has two brand-new blood relatives who can’t wait to get tested.’
Sam moved his arm around Chrissie’s shoulders. He could see the maypole up ahead – its red, gold and green rainbow of satin ribbons fluttering around in the warm breeze, the only clouds in the sky mere wisps of candy floss. The trees at the entrance to the Blackwood Farm Estate were festooned with paper lanterns, looped from one to the other like bunting. As they got nearer, the air became full with the heady scent of coconut and lime from the numerous pomanders hanging on lengths of yellow ribbon from tall metal hooks pushed into the ground. A band playing kettledrums gave the fair a carnival atmosphere. Morris dancers waved tasselled batons in the air. They spotted jugglers deftly flicking balls and clubs, a machine jetting a cascade of giant bubbles everywhere; all of it here to welcome them as they walked on into the magical wonderland. Past big pots of petunias, buckets ablaze with exotic lilies – pink, blue and red. And, from the corner of his eye, Sam spotted a crimson-breasted robin perched on a branch in the woodland nearby. He pondered on whether it was the same one he’d seen on the five-bar gate when he’d pulled over into the layby on his first day back home in Tindledale. Signifying a new beginning. Or was that just fanciful thinking? Either way, it made him feel as if anything was possible …
*
As Jude scooped Lulu up under her arm and stepped through the little Hobbit door, she gasped. It was just as she had imagined. And exactly as Myles had wanted. It was a veritable miracle that they had managed to pull it off in time. With a bit – well … a lot, to be fair – of help from Billy Randall’s Most Amazing Funfair and Theme Parks. The men had pulled out all the stops after Billy Randall’s wife, Jackie, had turned out to be Myles King’s Number 1 fan. She had even set up the fan club and everything back in the day. So Billy had had a word with Myles, and in exchange for an exclusive VIP performance by Myles of Jackie’s favourite songs, he had taken charge of the whole event. Showing Myles and Jude exactly what needed to be done, and in what order … there had been a lot of head shaking and muttering from Billy.
But it had all worked out well in the end, and now the grass all around the entrance to the swimming pool was covered in sand. Real sand. And there were lots of gorgeous little pastel-coloured beach huts too, selling all kinds of fare – candy floss, ice creams, lollies, smoothies, cakes, candles, jams, chutneys, sticks of rock, driftwood ornaments, nets of seashells and an assortment of deliciously aromatic food.
‘I need one of those,’ Tony laughed, pointing to a pink beach hut. Cooper the butcher was outside it, carving a giant side of beef into generous slices for the villagers to wedge into a roll with an equally generous portion of fried onions and a dollop of horseradish sauce.
‘But what about this, Dad?’ Jude grinned, tucking her hand through his crooked arm and leading him over to the hog roast stall. Cooper’s wife, Molly, was supervising her four enormous sons in taking turns to rotate the spit over the hot coals. Sybs, from the haberdashery shop, was standing nearby with her husband, Dr Ben, and their adorable twin girls, each wearing blue polka-dot sundresses with cotton hats and flipflops. Coming to join them were Cher and Sonny from the Duck & Puddle pub, with their little boy, closely followed by a heavily pregnant Kitty from the Spotted Pig Café & Tearoom, and her partner, Mack, with little Teddie swinging on the end of his arm.
‘Well, whatever we go for, we had better be quick,’ Tony said, as he pointed to the sea of choristers heading over from the manor house, all wearing Hawaiian straw hula skirts and multicoloured lei garlands around their necks, singing ‘Here Comes The Sun’, creating a marvellous, tropical holiday feel. ‘There will be nothing left after they’ve sung their hearts out and worked up an appetite.’ Tony tilted his head up with an amused look on his face.
‘Good point. And you need to go and get changed soon into your Willy Wonka velvet suit and top hat if you’re to surprise all the children with your magic show.’ Jude nudged and winked at her dad.
‘Shuuushh, we don’t want them hearing you, and it spoiling the magic,’ Tony tapped the side of his nose.
‘Very true. Come on then …’ and she headed to the hog roast stall first.
In the queue, and she turned to Tony and leaned into him to create a smidgen of privacy while they chatted. ‘Are you sure you’re OK with it all, Dad? Everything that came out when Linda turned up? I mean, it was a massive shock.’
‘Surprise, love! It’s a wonderful surprise,’ he confirmed resolutely, and smiled. ‘And I know that I have no right in taking any credit whatsoever, but Sam is a great bloke. He’s a kind, caring man that any dad would be proud to call his son.’
‘Oh Dad, you are so lovely. And Sam takes after you, obviously,’ she grinned, still trying to get her head around the revelation of finding out that she had a half-brother. And someone she had grown up with, to boot. Went to school with, even. And there had been a moment years ago when they were about fourteen years old and she had very nearly had a kiss with Sam. Eeeep! She had been tipsy on Lambrini and Chrissie had dared her to kiss the first boy who came through the door of the village hall where they were having a disco. Luckily, thinking about it all now with hindsight, Sam had appeared in the doorway and then scarpered, meaning his mate Matt, the farrier, had ended up being the boy Jude first kissed on the actual mouth. Thankfully. That would have just been very awkward otherwise.
‘I don’t think he does take after me, love. He’s very much like Rob. He was a great bloke too. Salt-of-the-earth type who would do anything for anyone, and I’m ashamed to this day for what I did … with my mate’s girlfriend.’ Tony shook his head as his voice faded.
‘But Dad, you mustn’t feel like that,’ Jude rubbed his arm, hating seeing him blame himself. ‘It was years ago. And you must have been very young. We all make mistakes when we’re that age. And you put a stop to it, right? … As soon as you knew that Rob was serious about Linda.’
‘I guess so. And I thought I had been careful, taken precautions. I never would have been deliberately irresponsible, we were just kids ourselves …’ He paused and looked away.
‘Of course you wouldn’t.’
‘Doesn’t stop me from feeling like the worst friend in the world now, though. Poor Rob never knew – and he would have hated me if he had.’ Tony bowed his head and let out a long sigh.
‘Then I think it’s a good thing … a blessing in disguise, Dad. You were a good friend to Rob and he died never knowing the pain that Linda’s bombshell would have caused him.’
‘I know, love. I know. And thank you for being so sensible about it all,’ Tony nodded, wistfully.
‘Well, I wasn’t going to be an idiot about it. What’s to be gained from that? You’re a decent bloke, Anthony Darling, and I’m proud to have you as my dad, and Sam had better be too,’ she laughed, ‘or he’ll have me to answer to. And I’m sure I could be a really annoying younger sister if I wanted to be.’ And they both laughed.
‘Ahh, surely not,’ Tony gave his daughter a squeeze. ‘And you know, I’m so pleased to have you home, love. Can’t tell you what a world of difference it makes to this old man.’
‘Stop that. You’re not old. And a good job too …’ Jude swapped Lulu onto her other hip, before straightening her little May Fair-themed Hawaiian shirt around her caramel-coloured curls. Lulu thanked Jude with a quick, cold, flyby lick on the cheek, which Jude instantly rubbed away with the back of a hand. She loved Lulu, but wasn’t about to have her doggy slobber all over her face. Yuk.
‘Why is that then?’ Tony asked his daughter. She leaned into him.
‘Well, Holly has got all of us now, but in a completely different way from before. I’ve got a new niece, and you’ve got a new granddaughter!’
*
Dolly, having recovered from the initial shock of that night, was determined not to let it spoil her granddaughter’s upcoming birthday. Holly might not be related by blood, but that didn’t change a thing. She still loved her and that was that. Now, if only Linda would leave and let them all get on with having a lovely time at the May Fair, but the blasted woman was determined to hang around like a bad smell. Dolly could see her hovering over by the carousel. The lovely carousel that glittered and flashed red, gold and green as the painted wooden horses went up and down and around and around. The jolly piped organ music bringing back memories of when she was a girl.
But enough was enough. Dolly knew that she needed to put this particular ghost to bed, for the sake of them all. Especially her dear Sam, who had been beside himself the day after Linda’s nasty announcement, even though she had assured him it didn’t change a thing between them. And when Colin had got home from the coach trip to Amsterdam, Dolly had let herself have a cry in her husband’s arms up in the privacy of their bedroom. And now she was getting on with it. For Dolly had endured far worse upsets in her lifetime than the likes of Linda.
After taking a deep breath and adjusting her new lilac blouse, Dolly turned to Colin.
‘Shan’t be a moment, dear.’ And she made her way over to where Linda was standing eying up the man tending the carousel. ‘If I could tear you away for a moment?’ Dolly said, raising one eyebrow.
‘Hmm, I wondered when you were going to stick your oar in,’ Linda huffed, unravelling herself from the post she’d been wrapped around in what Dolly could only assume she had thought was a provocative pose.
‘Why do you insist on being so obnoxious? If cheating on my son wasn’t bad enough, you have to turn up here all these years later and cause yet more heartache for everyone.’
‘I don’t know what you mean,’ Linda said tartly, pushing her chin up in the air. ‘And it wasn’t like I was even married to your precious son, Rob, when I … err, um, had a bit of fun. Accidents happen, you know. I’m sure you’ve made a few in your lifetime …’
‘Well, Linda, I guess you’re never going to change. But thank God you did cheat on my dear son, Robert.’ Dolly gave her daughter-in-law a look of death before pushing her handbag further into the crook of her elbow.
‘What do you mean?’ Linda looked taken aback.
‘Don’t you see?’ Dolly smiled graciously. ‘Jude or Tony may turn out to be a blood match for my Holly. And yes, she’ll always be my great-granddaughter. And Sam my grandson. Because, do you know what, Linda …’ she paused for maximum impact, before saying, ‘Scraggen.’ Linda’s surname before she married her son. ‘Yes, that’s right, you aren’t worthy of using my son’s surname, Morgan, any more.’
‘Flaming cheek!’ Linda sniffed to interrupt.
‘Anyway, as I was saying,’ Dolly carried on regardless, ‘my grandson and great-granddaughter mean the world to me, and they always will.’
‘Good for you! But they’re still my family,’ Linda said nastily. ‘You’ve always thought you were better than me. Looking down your nose when I was married to Rob—’
‘No dear!’ A short silence followed. ‘That wasn’t superiority. That was pity. Pity that you couldn’t see what was right in front of you … and you still don’t!’ Dolly held her gaze.
‘What’s that then?’ Linda looked away.
‘Just how important family is.’
‘But, Sam and Holly … they aren’t really your family though, are they?’ Linda retorted, her top lip curling into a spiteful grimace.
‘Well, that’s where you’re wrong. Because blood isn’t thicker than water. Not at all. It’s just a different colour!’
And with that Dolly walked away to rejoin Colin. They were meeting Sam, Chrissie, Holly, Tony and Jude over by the swimming pool in precisely ten minutes to watch Holly and her little friend splash around in the fountains together before going in for a swim. And then, later, they were all going back to her cottage to enjoy a wonderful, big, family dinner of roast lamb with all the trimmings followed by strawberry pavlova and cream.
*
Jude had just dispatched her dad to the back entrance of the main marquee, and put Lulu in her little playroom, when an actual wooden canoe on wheels came hurtling across the sand towards her, complete with two giant paddles and a sail hoisted up to the top of the mast. She jumped out of the way as the canoe swerved in a big U-turn before slowing to a halt right beside her.
‘Hop in!’ It was Myles, grinning from ear to ear, wearing a long, curly black wig. His bare chest adorned in tribal tattoos. A bunch of shells on a length of string at his neck. He even had a grass skirt on over black swimming shorts too.
‘What are you doing?’ Jude spluttered, dusting sand from her mouth and hair as she gawped at him. He was toned and tanned all over. And made a very impressive Polynesian demi-god – a fitter, hotter version of Maui from that film, Moana.
‘What does it look like?’ he said, patting the plastic bench seat he was sitting on. ‘I’ve come to rescue you!’
‘Rescue me? But I don’t need rescuing,’ she laughed, shaking her head and bobbing her shoulders up and down.
‘Well, not literally rescue you, as in … you know, properly rescue you,’ he said, rolling his eyes and pulling a pretend exasperated look. ‘I know you don’t need rescuing. Come on, get in … I’ve got a surprise to show you.’ And he patted the seat again. Jude, always up for a surprise, immediately put her foot inside the canoe and sat down beside him. Myles pressed two buttons – one to make the wheels spark into action, the other to spray a fine mist of salty-scented water all over them.
As they gathered speed, Jude felt as if she was riding along on the crest of a wave. It was incredible. The hot air in her hair, the close proximity of Myles’s body pressed alongside hers as they surfed through the sand and into the forest surrounding the estate’s perimeter … it was sensational.
‘Whoa,’ Myles brought the canoe to a halt on the far side of the Blackwood Farm Estate. A section of ground that Jude hadn’t been to before. Ahead of them was a little densely shaded wooded area illuminated with fairy lights. ‘Follow me,’ Myles jumped out of the canoe, ran around it and held out his hand to Jude.
‘Where are we going?’ she asked, intrigued.
‘You’ll see.’ Moments later, and she was standing outside the door to a log cabin. Myles handed her a gold key with a scarlet ribbon looped through it.
‘Unlock the door,’ he prompted her, rubbing his hands together in glee. He really was like a big kid … Jude slipped the key into the lock and tentatively pushed open the door. Directly in front of her was a luxurious gold velvet curtain which Myles quickly swept aside.
And she gasped.
‘A studio?’ She turned to look at him, unable to believe her own eyes – it was an exact replica of her workspace in LA. The base from where she had built her successful interior design business from scratch … and it was now right here in Tindledale.
‘It’s yours. You like it?’ he asked, eagerly.
‘Like it? I love it,’ she told him, taking in the luxurious décor, the sumptuous mink carpet, the creamy leather sofa, the walnut veneer-topped table on which she used to roll out her plan sheets to show clients. There was even a row of clocks on one wall for each of the different countries where her clients were based. ‘But why?’ she clasped her hands up under her chin.
‘Why not?’ Myles shrugged.
‘Because … because you can’t just copy my LA office like this. And then give it to me. It’s insane. And it must have cost you a fortune, for starters. And how did you even know about this?’ She slipped off her sandals and dashed into the middle of the space. After twirling on the carpet that was at least four inches thick, she sunk down onto the sofa and practically caressed it as she drew in the exquisite fragrance of antique leather.
‘I Googled it!’
‘What?’ she screamed, leaping up and laughing. ‘But of course you did … silly me.’
‘Seriously though, I did Google you and I found out where your office was in LA and I called them, and well … I figured that, seeing as that shop in the High Street of yours has kind of fizzled out …’ He paused and gave her a look, as if testing to see if he was overstepping the mark. She tilted her head and nodded to let him know that he had a point. She had already decided that closing the shop was going to be a necessity – her dream hadn’t really worked out in the way she had hoped. The warm-hearted villagers of Tindledale just weren’t that into antiques and high-end interiors and stuff. ‘And you’re working here on the estate most of the time … so I reckoned you’d like a proper space of your own. And you can resurrect your LA-based business from here too, if you like!’ He stared at her, as if hesitant he’d done the right thing. ‘No worries, if it’s too much. I can get it dismantled when you’ve finished, you know … helping me do up the estate.’ He ran a hand over his chin.
Jude smiled as she stared back at him, thinking what a wonderful man he was. That night when she had arrived here to bring Holly home, Myles had been amazing. He had guessed right away what Holly’s intention had been, to run away, but he hadn’t panicked or taken over and called in the cavalry. He had figured it more important that Holly felt safe, that she had someone there for her in that moment. To understand and not judge. Instead he had listened and helped her come to the realisation that things might turn out all right in the end, if she could be brave enough to stick around and give it all a go.
‘But it’s too much, Myles. Honestly, you don’t need to do this.’
‘Yes I do. Call it an apology, and a thank you, all rolled into one.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘An apology for being so obnoxious when I first got in touch with you, for starters … Darling Antiques, what kind of a name is that, are you having a laugh? Remember?’ he grinned sheepishly. ‘I guess I was a bit nervous. And the thank you … is for all this,’ and he waved a hand towards the window to indicate the grounds and the manor house.
‘But it’s my job,’ Jude smiled.
‘And you let me be part of it, and that’s not something I’ve been able to do much of in the past. Anyway, you can’t refuse it, as it’s a present and nobody ever turns down one of those. That would just be rude.’ And he laughed as he pulled the wig from his head and ruffled his hair. His eyes sparkling as he tugged the ridiculous straw skirt from his waist, he walked over to join her on the plush carpet.
‘You’re insufferable! Do you know that?’ she said, and then quickly added, ‘but in a lovely, nice way … I know that now,’ when his face momentarily dropped.
Silence followed as they stood together, watching the sun glimmer in between the trees outside. Then Myles turned towards Jude and pulled an envelope from the pocket of his shorts and handed it to her.
‘What is it?’
‘Open it and see,’ he said, grinning from ear to ear.
‘I don’t believe it.’ Jude scanned the letter inside. It was from Maggie!
Dear Jude,
I’m so looking forward to seeing you soon. Please thank that kind young man of yours for calling me and arranging such a lovely surprise.
Until then, lots of love,
Maggie x
‘What? But how?’ She read the letter again, dumbfounded, and then looked at Myles. ‘This is amazing. You called Maggie and organised it all?’ Nobody had ever done anything like this for her before. Certainly not a man.
‘Yup,’ Myles nodded, and then added, ‘with a bit of help from your dad.’ He shrugged.
‘My dad?’ Jude was almost speechless. ‘When did you see him? And, more to the point, how did you know about Maggie?’
‘I asked your dad when he was here painting the walls around the swimming pool,’ Myles started, all matter of fact. ‘“What would be the best surprise for Jude?” And he said, “Probably to see Maggie.” So I sorted it.’
‘Just like that.’ Jude felt overwhelmed as she shook her head in disbelief, her heart lifting at the prospect of giving Maggie a hug.
‘Yes, just like that,’ Myles laughed. ‘So does this mean I can have a kiss?’ Jude looked at him, his blond hair flopping forward, his sapphire blue eyes eager for her answer. And how could she refuse? The cocky, belligerent rock star was actually a very nice, kind, generous and thoughtful guy once you really got to know him. So she stood up on her tiptoes, inhaled his intoxicating scent and planted a kiss on his lips, wrapping her arms around his taut bare chest as his mouth lingered on hers, making a mountain of fireworks whoosh and explode inside her. Then, moments later, the opening line to that old country classic, ‘Islands in the Stream’, was blaring out through the many speakers erected around the estate. And Jude untangled herself from his embrace.
‘Perfect timing. I love this song, Such an uplifting yet romantic tune,’ she told him with a flourish.
‘I thought you might.’ And Myles grinned before pulling her in for another sumptuously long, lingering kiss.
*
Meanwhile, in another part of the estate, Holly fumbled inside her swimming bag, remembering the plastic karaoke microphones that Myles had given her when they had chatted on that evening. She grinned at the memory of the deal they had struck … him telling her a secret, after they had eaten fish and chips and she was feeling much better. Myles told her that he had a big crush on her Aunty Jude. And it made her giggle, especially when he had asked her for advice … he was a rock star after all. So she had told him that he really should already know about girls and how to make them want to kiss him and all that. Holly had then confided in him about the wish. Her Get Mum and Dad Back Together in Time for Her Birthday plan too … and how it hadn’t really worked out.
But there was still time!
So, with this in mind, Holly wiggled her way in between her parents so they were standing either side of her while they waited for the traditional May Fair tug-of-war battle to start. And then, after counting to three, she turned around in front of them, whipped the microphones from her pocket and thrust them into her parents’ hands. Just as she and Myles had planned. Right on time. As Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers reached the chorus bit. Holly had told him all about the song and her happy memories of Mum and Dad dancing and swooning along to it together. As far as she was concerned it was also the most perfect moment for him and Jude to kiss. And now she was going to make her mum and dad do it too. After they had joined in the song and had a laugh like they always had in the past.
‘Sing. Sing. Sing,’ she laughed, nudging her best friend, Katie, to join in, which she did, of course.
With the two young girls chorusing them on, Sam gave Chrissie’s hand a squeeze as he searched her eyes to see if she was up for it. She hesitated, only momentarily, before lifting the microphone to her lips to sing. Sam, knowing how much this moment meant to Holly, put his heart and soul into the performance before scooping Chrissie up into his arms for the final chorus. When, to his overwhelming delight, she placed her arms around his neck and pressed her warm lips on to the side of his neck as he twirled her around and around all the while singing along to Dolly and Kenny.
And Holly thought her own heart really was going to burst right out of her chest this time, into a million, trillion, tiny, fluttery pieces of pure joy. Because seeing her mum and dad so happy together again meant the wish really did have a chance of coming true now …