Juliet perched on the arm of the chair in which her mum Rosa sat with a large box of Christmas decorations resting on her lap. Zoe stood opposite and Rosa handed decorations to each of them in turn to hang on the beautiful Norway Spruce that they, together with Bernard, had manhandled into a large red pot less than an hour earlier and dragged in front of the sitting room window. It had taken them more time to decide on the perfect position of the tree than it had to select it. But perhaps one of the reasons that the selection hadn't taken long was the fact that Harrison and Luke Bow had turned up at Merry's Christmas Tree Farm. Along with the most beautiful woman in the world. A fact that had irritated Juliet almost as much as coming face-to-face with the one man in the world she hated.

'I still can't believe you walked away and sat in the car without saying one word,' Zoe said, hanging a silver and white painted glass bauble on a branch.

Juliet scowled as she took another bauble from her mum. 'And I still don't believe their arrival was as much of a surprise to you as it was to me. But as I said in the car, I don't want to discuss it.'

'What are you saying, sweetheart?' Rosa asked. 'Are you suggesting Zoe had something to do with them arriving at the exact same time as we were there?'

'Yes. That's exactly what I'm saying. She didn't seem surprised at all. But she did seem nervous. As if she knew something was going to happen that might end in disaster.'

'Oh come on,' Zoe said. 'Two people bumping into one another after not seeing each other for twenty years is hardly a disaster, is it? Some people might say it was a good thing. A chance to put the past behind them.'

Juliet glowered at her. 'Some people would be wrong. And it may not have been a disaster from where you stood, but believe me, from my shoes, it was a total nightmare. And one I sincerely hope won't be repeated.'

'Where's your Christmas spirit? Isn't it supposed to be the season of goodwill to all men?'

'All men apart from Harrison Bow. And his grandad.'

Zoe shook her head. 'I simply don't get it. What did Harrison do that was really so bad? And why won't anyone ever talk about it? This has been going on for twenty years and every time I bring the subject up, I'm told no one wants to discuss it and Juliet gets cross and runs back to Bristol.'

Rosa got to her feet and placed the box of decorations on a nearby footstool. 'Zoe, darling, I don't think Juliet wants to discuss it now, either. You were so young at the time and you don't remember it the way Juliet does. She believes that young man broke her heart, and if that's the way she feels about it, you should try to respect that.'

'Believes?' Juliet raised her brows and her voice. 'It's not a question of belief, Mum. It's a fact. He deceived me, tricked me, lied to me and he did break my heart.'

'Yes, sweetheart. I know that's how you feel. But it wasn't all his fault, you know. As far as the house was concerned, his grandfather was the one to blame, not Harrison.'

'So you've said. Many times. But you didn't hear what he said to me. What he made me feel. What he made me believe. And even after all this time, it hurts. Okay, I may be bearing a grudge, and okay, perhaps twenty years is too long to hate someone I hardly knew. Clearly didn't know, in fact, because nothing he said was true. But it's how I feel and I can't change that. I never want to see that man again. Ever. Okay?' She glared at Zoe as she said the last part.

'Okay.' Zoe glared back. 'But you weren't the only one who was upset by what happened. I may've only been five but I can still remember living at The Grange. I miss my huge room, and the view of Mistletoe Row and the apple orchards beyond. I can still visualise the little painting of the houses and orchards in the distance, beneath the words, Mistletoe room, on my door. I can remember the Christmases there, with every bedroom occupied and guests dancing in the massive hall. The tree, ten times the size of this one, every branch weighed down with decorations. I remember the parties. Ice skating on the lake, and swimming in it in summer. I remember you and Mum crying the day we moved out, and Dad looking so miserable I thought he was going to die. I remember people feeling sorry for us and pointing and whispering. But I also remember that it wasn't all perfect living there. This cottage is far warmer and cosier than that place ever was. Mum and Dad were always busy entertaining, or arguing towards the end, and I barely saw them. Here, I got to spend much more time with them, especially as you ran off to Bristol Uni a couple of years later, and stayed in Bristol to work. You act as if you were the only one who got hurt. It broke Dad's heart to leave there, and Mum's too. Do you ever think about that?'

'Of course I do!' Juliet was stunned by Zoe's remarks. Each time this conversation had developed in the past, it was enough for Juliet to say she didn't want to talk about it, and the subject was quickly changed. This time, Zoe seemed determined. 'I think about it all the time.'

'Sweethearts,' Rosa intervened. 'What's done is done and there's no going back. It was all such a long time ago, but I had no idea you felt that way, Zoe darling. You've never said that before.'

'Because I never get a chance. I was always told to stop and the subject was changed. I soon realised there wasn't any point. I was always shot down. And as you say, Mum, it's old news. I've tried to forget it and put the past behind me. I just wish Juliet could do the same. But she's hit the nail on the head when she said she thinks about it all the time. That's the problem. Losing The Grange is all she ever thinks about. And I don't know exactly why she hates Harrison so much for that. He was only eighteen at the time. It was hardly his fault Dad got into such a dire financial mess. Or that Harrison's grandad bought the place from Dad for a knock-down price, was it?'

'Yes it was!' Juliet leapt up. 'But you wouldn't understand, and I really don't want to talk about it.'

'You always say that. But perhaps you should. Mum and Dad got over it. Isn't it time you did the same? Or are you going to hate Harrison Bow for the rest of your life? And please don't say yes to that because that is simply crazy. And for an intelligent, independent woman, crazy is not a good look.'

'That's enough!' Rosa said. 'I don't know what's got into you, Zoe to make you bring this whole sorry business up again, but Juliet is only here for a week or two. Let's stop this right now and enjoy the festivities together before she returns to Bristol.'

'Runs away again, you mean. And why are you still telling me off, Mum? Even you think it's a bad thing for her to bear a grudge for so long, yet you still won't tell her she's wrong. But that's her trouble. Juliet is never wrong, is she? It's always someone else's fault as far as she's concerned.'

Juliet gasped. 'That's not true. I don't blame other people. If you knew what happened between me and Harrison, you'd understand how I feel.'

'Then tell me!'

'I can't, Zoe.' Juliet dashed to the door but she stopped and turned as Rosa called after her in strangled tones.

'Juliet, please don't run away. Perhaps your sister's right. Maybe it is time we all sat down and talked about this.'

Juliet's fingers tightened around the edge of the door and tears of frustration and anger pricked at her eyes. 'Do you think I'm wrong, Mum? To not be able to forget what happened, I mean.'

Rosa sighed and nodded slowly as she dropped back down on the chair and reached out her hand to Juliet. She looked so forlorn that it tore at Juliet's heart and even though she didn't want to, Juliet trudged back over and sat on the arm of the chair, taking the hand her mum offered.

'Yes, sweetheart, I do. But simply because holding grudges only hurts the person doing the holding. I'm not suggesting you're wrong about being hurt by what happened. But Zoe is also right about that.' She stretched out her other hand to Zoe, who took it and smiled lovingly. 'It didn't merely happen to you, darling. It happened to us all. And if anyone should bear a grudge, it should be your father. To be the Bell to lose The Grange was a terrible blow to him, even though it wasn't entirely his fault. The markets collapsing, property prices falling, interest rates rising. They all played a part. Even the house itself. You have no idea how much it cost to keep that place going. And I must take some of the blame, if blame is the right word.' She shook her head and sighed again. 'Yes. Perhaps, on reflection, your father and I did entertain too much. Too many lavish parties and such. But we can't undo what we did. And we have so many wonderful memories.'

'That's true,' Juliet agreed. 'I've got hundreds of memories of living there. But in a way, for me that makes it worse. I miss it, Mum. It was as if I left my heart in that house and I'll never get it back.'

'The house, or your heart?' Zoe said, clearly attempting to lighten the mood.

Juliet pulled a face. 'Both.'

Rosa smiled wanly. 'Zoe is also right about things being better after we moved here. Prior to that, your father and I were arguing, I'll be the first to admit it. When we realised just how bad things were, we tried to cut back on everything. We went from holding lavish parties, drinking champagne and eating the finest food, to shutting up virtually every room in the house, drinking cheap wine and eating beans on toast.' She gave a tiny burst of laughter. 'I'll never forget your father's face when I put that plate in front of him after I had dismissed the cook. But my culinary skills weren't up to much in those days.'

'I liked beans on toast,' Zoe said. 'I still do.'

Rosa nodded. 'So do I, sweetheart.'

'I don't miss the caviar, or the parties. Although I do miss the free-flowing champagne sometimes.' Juliet tried to find some humour in the way she felt. 'It's just the house, not the lifestyle, I miss. And the lake and the grounds. I honestly felt as if I belonged there.'

'Imagine how your father felt.' Rosa gave Juliet a thought-provoking look.

'I do,' Juliet lowered her head. 'I think about that all the time.'

'What's going on in here?' Bernard ambled into the room, a jovial look on his face. 'Oh. I thought the tree would be decorated.' He glanced at each of them in turn and the colour, and laughter, drained from him. 'What's happened now?'

Rosa gave him a loving smile. 'We're having a long overdue talk, darling.'

'A talk?' He tensed visibly. 'Not about The Grange, I hope.'

Rosa nodded. 'Yes. About that and other things from the past. Why don't you join us?'

'Mum!' Juliet protested.

'No, Juliet. Zoe is right. Perhaps it is time we all sat down and talked about it as a family. For the past twenty years we've tried to push it under the carpet. To pretend it didn't happen. To keep a stiff upper lip about the whole business. But all that seems to have done is to keep the pain and hurt with us for all these years. And that, my darlings, is ridiculous. I think we should all say exactly how we feel. Let it all out and maybe then, we can finally heal. I believe your father and I have done that, but you definitely haven't, Juliet, and perhaps, nor has Zoe entirely. We've already started, we may as well continue. Pour us all some sherry, darling.' Rosa nodded to Bernard. 'I think we may need it.'

'Is this wise, darling?' He seemed hesitant. 'Especially after earlier this morning.'

'It's because of this morning that we need to do so.'

'You know best,' he said, walking towards the cocktail cabinet and pouring out four sherries as Juliet and Zoe eyed one another in silence and Rosa squeezed their hands as if for morale support.

'Shall I begin?' Rosa asked, as Bernard handed the drinks around. 'I'll summarise for your father's benefit. It seems our Zoe felt a little sidelined before we moved here, so she's actually glad in many ways that we're living in this cottage. Why she's never mentioned it before is rather concerning. I do wish you had, sweetheart.'

'It's not a huge deal, Mum,' Zoe said. 'I'm not scarred for life or anything. Unlike someone else I could mention.'

'Now, now.' Rosa gave Zoe a reprimanding look, but she leant forward and kissed her on the cheek.

'Sorry,' Zoe said, glancing at Juliet. 'Honestly, Dad. Please don't worry about it. All I meant was that life for me improved when we came here because we were more like a normal family. In the old house, we could go for hours without seeing one another. The place was so big, not to mention the grounds. Here, we can't go five minutes without crossing paths, and I like that. Plus, you and Mum never really had much free time at The Grange. You were always busy running the place, or so it seemed to me.'

'I'm so sorry, sweetheart,' Bernard said. 'I certainly don't miss the upkeep of The Grange. And you're right. Family life definitely improved in many ways when we moved here. I loved the old house. I wish it were still in the family. But I came to terms with losing it a long time ago, and to be completely honest, I don't miss it much at all these days.'

'Neither do I,' said Rosa. 'And I don't miss the company of our so-called friends, either. Our true friends still spend time with us and I firmly believe we have had a better life since we've lived here. Your father and I discussed it during the early years, and we thought you both felt the same. We knew you still felt very strongly about what happened between you and Harrison, Juliet, but what none of us had appreciated, darling, is that you blame Harrison entirely, for us moving out of The Grange.'

'Harrison? For us moving out? Why?' Bernard looked from his wife to Juliet, his brows furrowed and a perplexed look on his face. 'I thought this was all because you felt the boy rejected you, sweetheart, and that you resented him for moving into our former home the minute we moved out. Which I fully understand. As I said, it took me a good few years to not look up at the place and feel a certain resentment towards the family. And I suppose that was why I couldn't talk about it with anyone other than your mother, for many years. Then one day, it no longer seemed important. We're genuinely happier here. I thought you realised that, and felt the same way.'

Juliet shook her head. 'No, Dad. I didn't. I don't.'

'Then why on earth didn't you say something? And you, Zoe?'

Zoe shrugged. 'As I've said. I tried. And now it's no big deal for me. And it was years ago. I only brought it up now because Juliet was in such a tizzy about seeing Harrison this morning. I wanted her to know that the move affected us all in one way or another. That's all. I'm over it.'

'And you, Juliet?' Bernard looked both surprised and concerned. 'Why can't you let go of the past? Why do you blame Harrison for us moving out?'

Juliet took a deep breath and met his eyes. Could she say this after all these years? Could she finally admit this to her family? She closed her eyes as she spoke. She couldn't bear to see the effect her words would have on him. But in the moment of silence that followed, she re-opened them.

'Because it was my fault the Bows got the house from us.'

Rosa and Bernard exchanged astonished looks.

'What?' Rosa was obviously shocked.

'Of course it wasn't,' Bernard said. 'Why would you even think such a thing, sweetheart?'

Neither of them was angry, but they were staring at her in disbelief.

'What on earth makes you think that?' Rosa asked.

She had said it now. She may as well continue. 'Because I met Harrison Bow and I stupidly told him how bad things were for us. And he told his grandad, and his grandad conned you into selling cheaply because he knew how desperately we needed the money. He wouldn't have known that if I hadn't told Harrison and if Harrison hadn't told him. I thought he was kind and handsome and caring. I was miserable and upset because you and Mum had a massive row the night before, which I'd overheard, and in the morning, you shut yourself in your study, and that's how I met him. I went to the lake, as I always did when I was upset or had something on my mind. It was frozen so I was skating, and suddenly, there he was. Just sitting on the bench beside the lake, watching me. I know it sounds crazy, but I fell head over heels in love the minute I saw him, and by the end of that morning, I thought he felt the same. I poured my heart and soul out to him and he stomped on it. He told me he simply had to tell his grandad where he was, and then we would go out on a date. But what he really went to tell him was that the old man could grab a bargain. It was only when I got back that evening after our so-called date, that I realised what I'd done. What he'd done. And that's why I had it out with him in the middle of Mistletoe Row that night.'

No one spoke for a second and then Zoe gave a burst of laughter. 'Good God, sis! You really are crazy. Is that honestly what you think happened?'

'I'm not crazy. It did happen. You were five. You had no idea what was going on.'

'Girls!' Bernard interrupted. He emptied his sherry glass and poured himself another. 'It seems Zoe wasn't the only one who had no idea what was going on.' He sat down on the sofa beside Zoe and looked directly at Juliet. His smile was loving, his voice soft and caring.  'Sweetheart. Why do you think Harrison was at the lake that day? It was because Rufus was in my study and we were discussing a deal. I had already agreed to sell the house to him, in principle. We were meeting to finalise the agreement. Luke was at boarding school at the time, and Rufus, who for some reason had brought Harrison with him, told the lad to go and keep himself busy while we chatted. I don't think Harrison had the slightest idea that his grandfather was about to buy the house. In fact, I know he didn't because even now, I can recall Rufus saying that his grandson would be surprised.'

'What?' Juliet blinked in disbelief. 'But ... I don't understand. How? You never mentioned the Bows before that day. I thought Rufus Bow turned up later and made you an offer.'

Bernard nodded. 'He did. In a manner of speaking. I had rejected his first offer. He went away for half an hour or so and when he came back, he actually increased it. So if Harrison did say anything to him, which I very much doubt, the lad actually improved things for us. Is this genuinely what you've believed for all these years? Why on earth didn't you ask about it before?'

Juliet shook her head in horror. 'I couldn't. Don't you see? I thought it was my fault. I couldn't bring myself to tell you and Mum that I'd blabbed our private business to a total stranger and because of that, someone had jumped in and grabbed the house from us.'

Rosa and Bernard looked at one another, shook their heads, and suddenly burst out laughing, as did Zoe.

'What's so funny?' Juliet shot to her feet. 'I've been carrying this guilt and hurt around with me for twenty years and all you three do is laugh?'

'Oh sweetheart,' Rosa said. 'We're so sorry. We're not laughing at you. We're laughing at the complete absurdity of the situation. But you're right. It really isn't a laughing matter. Oh darling.' She got up and hugged Juliet tight, kissing her head and stroking her hair. 'All this time you've felt guilty when there was nothing to feel guilty about. And we've never had a proper discussion about what happened because we were all so keen to keep a stiff upper lip and carry on, as all true-blue Brits do. What awful parents we must be to not have realised.'

'No,' Juliet said, still not really sure what had just happened. 'You're not awful parents. I'm an awful daughter. I simply couldn't own up to being the one who helped to lose us The Grange.'

'But you didn't, sweetheart,' Bernard said, joining his wife in the hug and kiss. 'I was the one who did that. That was down to me, the markets, bad luck and circumstance. Things could have been different, but they weren't. That's just life, darling and we have to accept it. The Bows weren't responsible for our financial difficulties. And Rufus Bow actually offered us a lifeline in many respects. A few more days and the bailiffs would've been pounding on the door. Yes, he got the house for a bargain price, but the plain fact is, no one else wanted it and we couldn't afford to wait for the market to improve. Rufus Bow had wanted The Grange for years and the minute he got wind, no doubt from a mutual friend, that we were having financial difficulties, he contacted me. That was almost a year before the day we did the deal. Neither you nor Harrison had anything to do with it.'

'And let's face it,' Zoe said. 'The man hasn't exactly been happy living there, has he? His favourite grandson walked out. He doesn't have any friends to speak of, and he's as miserable as sin if you ever see him out and about. Which you hardly ever do. Especially not over the last few years.' She got to her feet and sighed. 'Can I join in this hug?'

'Of course you can, sweetheart,' Rosa said, extending her arm to embrace Zoe.

They all hugged in silence for several seconds. Even Cinnamon came and nuzzled her way in, having clearly woken up from her snooze in front of the Aga and wondered where everyone was.

'I'm sorry, sis.' Zoe nudged Juliet in the ribs when they finally eased out of the hug. 'You're right. I did know the Bows would be there this morning. No. Don't get cross again. I was doing it for all the right reasons. Luke and I are friends and we want our families to at least get on, even if they can't be all cosy and warm to one another. Just a hello and a smile will do. Is that too much to ask? It is Christmas, after all. And now that you know Harrison wasn't the evil villain you have thought he was for twenty years, surely we can all be civil to one another?'

'Friends?' Juliet gave her a questioning look. 'What does that mean?'

'What I said. Friends. Oh, and Luke did say he was sorry that he hit your car last night and he'll pay for any damage he may have caused.'

'He did what? That was him?'

'Yes. But he didn't realise it was your car he hit, until today. I may have lied a little at the Christmas tree farm, and told him and Harrison that you were in a bad mood this morning because some idiot hit your wing mirror and drove off. I thought Harrison was going to kill him. But Luke apologised right away and offered to pay. He didn't stop last night because of the weather and because he wanted to get home before Harrison and Kiki arrived.'

'Kiki? The beautiful woman we saw today? Is she ... is she Harrison's girlfriend?' Juliet asked as Bernard topped up the sherry glasses.

Zoe shrugged. 'I don't know. I didn't ask. Do you want me to?'

'No I don't! I couldn't care less if he has a girlfriend.'

'Then why did you ask?'

'Girls,' Bernard said, raising his glass in the air. 'Let's have a toast, shall we? Here's to the Bell family, and to us working on our communication skills with one another.' He shook his head and grinned.

'And to our happiest Christmas yet,' Rosa added.

'And to putting the past behind us and making friends,' Zoe said.

'What about you, sweetheart?' Rosa asked, smiling at Juliet. 'What would you like to toast to? Perhaps to a brighter and happier New Year?'

'Ah. About that. I've got something I need to ... communicate to you about my future,' Juliet said, with a self-deprecating laugh. 'But let's say cheers and happy Christmas for now, and we'll get to that bit later.'

'Cheers,' they all said, as Cinnamon gave a resounding bark, before curling up on the rug in front of the fire, and letting out the most obnoxious smelling fart.