'You're leaving?' Harrison hoped that hadn't sounded as desperate to her as it had to him.

Juliet smiled as she and Rosa met him at the foot of the stairs. 'Yes. Thank you so, so much for everything, but I'm feeling absolutely fine this morning, after a good night's sleep, and we really don't want to be in the way.'

'You're not. Not in the slightest. Please don't feel you have to go, because you don't.'

'That's kind of you. But the truth is, we want to go home.'

Juliet's smile looked as if it took some effort. Did she still hate him so much? He thought they had broken the ice yesterday. In more ways than one. Clearly, he was wrong.

'Mrs Bell, are you sure? Honestly, you're both very welcome here. And as I said yesterday, so is the rest of your family. You can even bring your dog. Cinnamon, isn't it? Please don't rush off on our account.'

Rosa smiled, more genuinely than Juliet, he felt. 'Harrison, you've been so kind and thoughtful. But we really do want to be at home. I'm sure you understand. It's Christmas. We've still got so much to do, and what with Juliet moving home permanently. Well, maybe not permanently but certainly until she gets another job, we—'

'Harrison doesn't want to hear all that, Mum. Come along. Zoe will be outside, I'm sure.'

'You ... you're moving back?'

She ignored him and headed towards the front door.

'You've called Zoe to come and get you?' He wasn't sure what was happening, or how it was happening so fast.

'Yes. Thank Luke and Daphne, will you, please? I'll thank them again when I see them. Oh. And say goodbye to Kiki, for me. I know she'll still be in bed.'

'Yes. She will. She's definitely not a morning person.'

Something flashed across Juliet's face, but it was gone before he could see exactly what it was. She didn't look happy though.

'Well. It was lovely to meet her, but I doubt we'll meet again. Goodbye Harrison. And thanks again for everything. I hope you have a very happy Christmas.'

'I'll see you again before Christmas, won't I?'

Juliet didn't reply. She simply smiled and marched to the door.

'Goodbye, Harrison,' Rosa said. 'Do pop in and say hello if you're passing.'

'Mum!'

Juliet definitely wasn't happy. Was it something he had done?

Or hadn't done?

And when had she met Kiki? Kiki hadn't mentioned it. She had told him that she had knocked on the door before dinner and that Juliet was sound asleep and snoring. She'd turned her nose up, as if a woman snoring was a big no-no, and he'd laughed and said he couldn't imagine that, but so what if she did? Lots of people snored.

'I don't,' Kiki had replied.

Juliet must have been extremely tired because on both occasions he had knocked on the door and poked his head round, she had been fast asleep. He could hear her rhythmic breathing and when he'd softly called her name, she hadn't responded.

She hadn't been snoring, either.

Something was nagging at him, but he wasn't sure what.

He followed Juliet and Rosa outside and Zoe pulled up as he reached them.

'Please pop back whenever you like. Or if you want to walk around the grounds or anything, please feel free to do so. I'd avoid skating on the lake for a while though.' He gave a little laugh, but Juliet threw him an odd look as if she didn't find it funny. 'But come up and walk around it, or sit on the bench whenever you like. I'll tell Luke and Daphne you've got my permission.'

'I'm not sure your grandad would be pleased,' Juliet said, without looking at him.

'He won't mind. But it makes no difference if he does.'

'Well, we won't, so there's no need to worry about it. Thank you though. Goodbye.'

'Hi Harrison,' Zoe said, getting out of the car and helping Juliet to get in to the back.

'Hello, Zoe.' He smiled at her and she smiled back.

Rosa sat on the front passenger seat and waved as Zoe got in and they pulled away. Juliet didn't smile. She didn't wave. She didn't even look at him.

Had yesterday all been a dream? He was sure they had been getting on. He even thought they could, perhaps, be friends. He hoped they could be more, in time. Why had it all gone so wrong?

Again.

He stood and watched the car until the tail lights disappeared behind their cottage on Mistletoe Row.

Shivering, he turned and went upstairs, opening the door to her room. The Rose room. The bed was made and his pyjamas were neatly folded on the pillow. He walked over, sat on the bed and picked them up. Rather foolishly he hugged them to him.

Would it be too ridiculous to never wash them again?

He gave a self-deprecating laugh. God. He was beyond all hope.

He shook his head. He'd throw them in the wash himself. He had really got to get over her.

Seriously. Twenty years was quite long enough to harbour any hope for something that was clearly never going to be.

'Get a grip, Harrison,' he told himself, as he got up and left the room, closing the door behind him.