Mistletoe Mother. Josie Metcalfe

stupid hormones get the better of you.’

      ‘Ready to go?’ he said as he stuck the ticket to his windscreen and shut the door. The car bleeped obligingly when he pressed the button to lock it. ‘I’m in the mood to spend some money on glitter and glitz, so lead the way!’

      Two and a half hours later they were both laden down with parcels, none of which had anything to do with decorating the department.

      ‘Well, all I can say is thank goodness that shop was willing to deliver!’ Ella exclaimed breathlessly as she struggled to untangle her fingers from various loops and strings. ‘We’d never have been able to carry all those decorations as well as this lot.’

      ‘You didn’t mind me hijacking you like that?’ he asked with a frown. ‘I did ask you if you’d help me choose some gifts for my brother’s family.’

      ‘I didn’t mind at all,’ she said with a laugh. ‘How else was I going to be able to get free transport to get this lot home? I’ve actually been able to find something for absolutely everyone on my list, and there’s still two weeks to go till Christmas. That’s an all-time record for me. I’m usually one of those demented souls racing around as the shops are locking up on Christmas Eve.’

      ‘What? You?’ Seth said with every evidence of amazement. ‘Calmness and order personified actually gets into a flap about buying Christmas presents? I don’t believe it. You’ve ordered me about like a seasoned field marshal barking at his troops. You knew exactly where we needed to go and what we needed to buy.’

      ‘That was just the decorations and I was only so well organised because I’d made a list of everything we needed. It’s different with presents for family and friends. There are either too many choices or I haven’t got a clue what to get.’

      ‘Well, I shall certainly be taking all the credit for your inspired suggestions this year. My lot aren’t going to know what’s hit them when they don’t get the usual box of chocolates and bottle of booze.’

      He slammed the boot down on the dozens of bags and packages as she let herself into the passenger side and sank into the blissfully comfortable upholstery.