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‘I know. No Brockle cakes for tea.’ Summer rolled her eyes as she hopped off the trolley and obediently grabbed hold of the handle.

Tiredness made Evelyn short, and she wedged the cases onto the trolley. She pushed the trolley, and it refused to move, so she shoved all her weight against it and cursed as it shot off in the wrong direction.

She had just barrelled, bullied and cajoled the thing through customs and into the busy arrivals lounge when her phone started bleeping. She juggled it out of her pocket and then swore.

‘Ummm, that’s a bad word.’

Evelyn gritted her teeth. ‘Yes darling, I know. I’m sorry. Nanny has just texted to say she can’t drive us home. We’ll have to get the train.’ Which was the last thing she wanted to do; with three big cases, Tilly and Summer the thought of the multiple-change journey made her want to cry.

When she turned around, Summer was trying to smother her giggles behind her hands.

‘What’s going on? Summer, can you please just try to behave. We need to find the train station, and work out how to get all these cases on board.’

‘No we don’t.’ The little girl was wriggling and still trying to avoid making eye contact.

‘What is wrong with you?’ Evelyn’s last nerve was dangerously close to breaking. ‘Can you and Tilly please just behave while I try and figure out how to get us all home?’

‘You could just get a lift with me.’ The voice behind her froze her to the spot and sent goosepimples racing over her skin, and she instantly forgot how tired she was and how much her body ached.

‘Jake …’ The name slipped out with the type of reverence she usually reserved for prayer.

‘I’m right here. Just turn around.’

Sure enough, when she did, he was stood there smiling. He grinned and held his arms out to her. Within seconds, she was in them, pressed tightly against his chest and burying her face against his shoulder.

‘I’ve missed you so, so much,’ she murmured the words against his neck.

‘I’ve missed you too.’ He squeezed her so tightly that she struggled to breathe.

‘I’ve missed you three!’ Summer complained. ‘Muuumm?’

‘Sorry. Of course you can move. I just didn’t want you getting lost. Sorry.’ Before she’d even finished, Summer had launched herself at Jake, who caught her in an awkward one-armed hug.

Reluctantly, Evelyn stepped aside and let Jake pick Summer up and spin her around. She placed a kiss on his nose before he put her down.

‘You know, I think you’re getting heavier,’ he jokingly complained. ‘And are you taller?’

‘Yup.’ Summer grinned proudly. ‘Nearly a whole inch.’

‘And so much hair!’ Jake tousled her curls, making her laugh. ‘You’re going to have to get it cut soon, or we’ll lose you under it.’

‘Nah uh. I’m going to grow it so long I can sit on it. But not as long as Rapunzel’s. That would need lots of brushing, and I’ve got better things to do than brush my hair all day.’

‘Really?’ Jake asked. ‘Like what?’

‘Like eating Brockle cakes with Nanny, and going on badger hunts with you.’

‘That sounds great.’ Jake grinned at her again. ‘But right now, I want to say hello to your mum properly.’

‘Ugh, do you mean kissy faces?’ Summer rolled her eyes in disgust.

‘Yes I do.’ His reply sent shivers of anticipation down Evelyn’s spine.

‘I …’ She couldn’t get the words out as he stepped towards her and cupped her face in his hands.

‘Yes?’ The intensity in his eyes filled her stomach with butterflies and sent heat racing through her.

‘This should probably wait. I’m grubby and need to clean my teeth, and my hair’s a mess …’