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Jenny threw open Lucy’s bedroom door and twirled.

‘Nice dress.’

‘Made by your very clever daughter. She really is a wonder with clothes.’

Lucy ignored her. The dress was lovely, but she didn’t want to get into an argument about Kelly’s talent for clothes designing and that she should pursue it as a career. It wasn’t stable enough. So few people made a living from it. Lucy wanted Kelly tobe independent and financially secure. For every Victoria Beckham, there were millions of designers earning peanuts. Lucy didn’t want Kelly to live hand-to-mouth, she wanted her to have a comfortable life where money wasn’t a constant source of worry. She could design in her spare time.

‘Hey.’ Jenny came over and zipped up her sister’s dress. ‘Why the long face?’

Lucy fiddled with her earring.‘Dad’s sixty-five and I’m not that far off forty. It’s just, well, I thought my life would be different.’

Jenny hugged her. ‘Don’t look back and say “What if”, look back and say, “Wow, good job.” Picture watching Dylan scoring goals and Kelly graduating and you meeting some gorgeous divorcee who’ll sweep you off your feet, and when the kids are gone you can go back and study or, I don’t know,take up skydiving. Look at what you have achieved instead of what you haven’t.’

Lucy’s life had been full of love, laughter, clapping and cryingwith pride because of the twins. She had loved wiping their tears, putting plasters on their knees, cuddling up with them and watching movies, adoring them … Much as she hated to admit it, her sister was right. She needed to look at the wonder that thetwins were and how they had made her life very special. ‘I’m lucky, very lucky. Thanks for reminding me, sis.’

‘Any time. You look gorgeous, total MILF. If you dressed up like that more often, you certainly wouldn’t grow old alone or have to have sex with Damien any more. You could actually meet a really hot guy and have steaming sex. Come on, let’s have lots of drinks and some fun.’

Lucy grinned.‘Yes! I feel like getting tipsy and misbehaving, but I’ll have to wait until the twins go home to really let loose. Let’s go clubbing later.’

‘Woo-hoo, now you’re talking.’

Billy knocked on the door. ‘Are you two ready yet? I’d like to eat before the restaurant closes.’

‘Keep your hair on, we’re coming.’ Jenny opened the door and went downstairs.

Lucy followed and whistled when she saw herfather standing on the landing. ‘You look nice, Dad.’

Billy grinned. ‘Thanks. I decided to dress up.’

Lucy kissed his cheek. ‘Happy birthday. Actually, hang on a sec. I have your gift here. I wanted to give this to you when it was quiet.’

She went into her bedroom and grabbed a photo album from the chair, then went out and handed it to him. Billy opened it. It started with an old black-and-whitephoto of his parents on their wedding day. Photos of Billy on the day he’d bought the shop. Photos of him and Tina on their honeymoon, of Lucy as a baby, of Lucy holding Jenny’s hand at the seaside, behind the counter in the shop, photos of Billy holding Dylan’s hand as he proudly stood in his first football kit,Billy with Kelly wearing a tutu in his arms, her little hands wrapped around hisneck …

Billy got choked up. ‘This is wonderful.’

‘It took a while to get all the photos together, but I thought it would be nice for you to have all those memories in one book.’

Billy cleared his throat. ‘It’s the best present you could have got me. As your mother always said, “Family is love, love is family.” ’

‘God, stop, you’ll have me crying now.’ Lucy wiped a tear away.

‘It’s true, though.Losing your mum so young made me realize how important family is. Thank God you were here, Lucy, and thank God the twins were here too. You got me through those dark days. I couldn’t have done it without you.’

Lucy blinked back more tears. ‘I couldn’t have managed without you, Dad. You’ve been a rock to me and an incredible father figure for the twins.’

‘It’s been wonderful for me watching themgrow up. You did an amazing job, Lucy. I worried about you doing it on your own, but you’ve raised two incredible children. You should be very proud of yourself.’

Lucy couldn’t stop the tears spilling down. ‘Thanks, Dad. I did my best, and you played a big part in it too.’

‘It’s not been easy, you sacrificed a lot. But the pair of them are a credit to you.’

‘I’m so proud of them,’ Lucy saidhoarsely. ‘I really am. I worried that not having a dad would damage them, but it didn’t.’

‘It didn’t because they had such a devoted mother,’ Billy said.

‘Let’s go,’ Jenny shouted up the stairs. ‘We’re all waiting for you two.’