Phoebe, Glen and the girls were the first to arrive at Seagull Cottage. Freya ran down the stairs screeching with excitement.
‘Mummy says its three more sleeps until Father Christmas comes, is that right, Auntie Phoebe?’
‘Yes it is, darling. Now I hope you’ve been a good girl or he might not come.’
‘He will come,’ replied Freya adamantly. ‘I wrote him a letter and asked him to.’
Jess smiled at her beautiful daughter’s exuberance.
‘How you doing, big sis?’ Phoebe enquired lovingly.
‘Really good actually. Freya is enjoying her new school, which is a relief and I’ve already made a couple of friends through a writing club I’ve joined.’
When everyone was settled in bed, Jess went downstairs to check she had locked the door. She looked out of the front window and noticed the full moon had created its twinkly pathway right across the sea. She thought of Dan and the night he had surprised her here at the cottage. Tears began to fall silently down her cheeks. She loved him. Loved him like she had never loved any other man in her life. She knew however that she had made the right decision this time. At least now, with him gone from their lives, she and Freya could move on, with no deceit hanging over them. Just pure honesty, trust and love.
Christmas Day arrived. ‘Do they know it’s Christmas Time’ blared out of Jess’s speakers.
Jess looked around the room at her friends and family and felt a surge of love for them all. Freya, Georgina, Annabel, and Emma’s three, excitedly opened their presents. Even though there were four teenagers present, they still had the same look of excitement on their faces as the youngsters. Karl tenderly looked at Shelley as she waddled out to the kitchen. Their baby was due any day now and they were both really excited. Hope and Jack-the-Lad sat holding hands on the sofa giving each other butterfly kisses as usual. Even Emma and Mark had managed not to bicker for the past hour. Phoebe and Glen discussed when the turkey should be ready. Jess’s Dad and Maria both sipped on their sherries.
‘Right has everybody got a drink?’ Karl enquired.
‘Yes,’ they all shouted in unison.
‘I’d like to make a toast to our wonderful host, my beautiful sister Jessica.’
‘To Jessica!’
‘Mummy?’ Freya suddenly piped up.
‘Yes, darling.’
‘I love you more than Father Christmas.’
Everybody laughed out loud.
‘And I love you more than mince pies.’