Layla released a low laugh. ‘God, no! My flight gets in around two, I’ll be with you by three, or half-three at the very latest. I’ll text you when I land.’

‘And when you leave,’ Sutton told her. ‘I know you are bad at texting and communicating, Lay, but this is important to me. When you leave and when you arrive, ’kay?’

‘You’re such an old nag,’ Layla replied. Was she teasing her or was there a hint of steel in her tone? Or was she just being, as Layla frequently accused her, overly sensitive? ‘Look, I’ve got to go. See you soon, sweets! Love you!’

Layla had reached her limit of phone talking and Sutton knew there was no point in trying to keep her on the line. And maybe that was a good thing because if she didn’t start to move soon, she might go into hypothermic shock.

‘Love you more,’ Sutton replied, but Layla had dropped the call before she completed her sentence.

Sutton slapped her phone in her hand as she walked back to Gus, still throwing balls for Pig. The twins chased each other, and Pepper shivered, looking thoroughly miserable. Sutton scooped him up and tucked him under her jacket. He buried his snout under her arm and pretended he was dead.

He was her own little hot water bottle.

‘I take it that was the elusive Layla?’

Sutton avoided Gus’s eyes and nodded, shifting from foot to foot. ‘Yeah.’ She wanted to tell Gus she’d been repaid but thought he might ask her to leave. She swallowed, her throat tightening. He didn’t have to know, did he? It was just another week…

No, of course he did. She had to tell him. ‘She paid me my money…’ she said, biting her bottom lip.

‘And?’

‘And I can move out if you like. I have money to go back to London, to support myself until I have to return to Cape Town.’

He adjusted the beanie on her head, pulling it down. ‘Stay until you need to go, Sutton. Spend Christmas with us if you want.’

Oh man, she’d love to. She’d love to wake up to shouted yells in the morning, childish excitement, watching the twins rip open their presents. She wanted to eat Christmas lunch with them, and doze on the sofa in the afternoon, preferably in Gus’s arms, while the kids played with their new toys. Then, later that night, she wanted to work off all the extra Christmas calories rolling around in Gus’s big bed.

This was all becoming too tempting, and that was why she had to leave. She needed to put a lot of distance between her and Gus, because if she stayed, if she indulged, she risked falling in love with him. Oh, maybe she was a little there already – or even a lot – but she couldstillwalk away. But if she stayed past Christmas…

Having him, and the twins, in her life would complicate her plans and her career. She’d come to the UK to work in trauma therapy, to help those who experienced the worst strokes, survived almost fatal car crashes, and experienced the severest traumatic brain injuries. She could work as a bog-standard OT back in Cape Town, but she wouldn’t gain the knowledge, experience or on-the-job training she would working at a hospital like Fort John’s. And working at Fort John’s, if she got the job, meant working in London. Even if he was wildly in love with her, Gus wouldn’t give up his career for her…

Should she give hers up for him?

Oh, it was all so complicated! He owned two businesses, and was raising the twins. This washisvillage, the place he loved and was a part of. It wasn’t like he had a nine-to-five job he could walk away from. No, if they wanted to be together, she would have to make the sacrifices, and Sutton wasn’t ready to do that. This washertime, she’d worked hard for it. She deserved it. She had to look after herself and her interests, because nobody else would.

Oh, and a crucial point, Gus hadn’t asked her to stay… Because, let’s not forget this either, they’d only known each other for less than a month!

‘Canyou stay for Christmas?’ Gus nodded towards the twins. ‘They’ve been asking.’

She shook her head. ‘I would, but I’m meeting Layla on the twenty-fourth, we’re spending Christmas together in London.’ Pig dropped the ball at her feet and Sutton kicked it over to Gus, who bent down to pick it up. He stood up and in one loose movement sent the ball hurtling towards the small wood in the distance. Pig, besotted, hurtled after it, ears flying. Pepper released a gentle fart.

Gus pushed his bomber jacket back to place his hands on his hips. ‘You’re still doing that?’ he demanded, frowning.

‘Yes. Why wouldn’t I?’

He glared at her. ‘Oh, let me think…she borrowed money from you, didn’t repay it and you nearly ended up homeless! She hasn’t returned any of your calls—’

‘She—’

‘—and until now, she hasn’t emailed you or reached out on social media. She went on holiday before she paid you back!’ Gus continued, relentless.

Okay, he had a point. But he didn’t understand how bad Layla was at keeping in touch. She’d called, repaid her the money and apologised. It was time to move on. ‘She’s a terrible communicator and she knew I was mad at her, so she didn’t—’

‘Bullshit, Sutton! Stop making excuses for her. She borrowed cash from you, put you in a frankly dangerous position and now everything is forgiven because she repaid you?’

When he put it like that, doubts crept in. But she couldn’t just toss her out of her life, there was too much between them. ‘Gus, you don’t understand. Layla has been my rock, the sister of my soul since I was a child. She’s been there every step of the way. She got me through some pretty tough times, kept me laughing, kept me going.’

He scratched his forehead. ‘So she was there for you in a crisis?’ Pig dropped the ball at Gus’s feet but Gus’s full attention was on her. ‘Okay, granted. She was there. So tell me, how does that give her a pass for putting you in a vulnerable position, for causing another crisis for you?’