Page 103 of The Good Neighbour

Hugh stood aside and let her enter the room. She immediately spotted Josh and nodded.

“I’m Josh. I’ll leave you to it.”

“No, Josh,” Hugh’s mother said. “I won’t keep you. Donald has told me everything. Hugh, I’m so very sorry that he did this.”

Josh read the indecision on Hugh’s face.

“You weren’t to know,” he said.

“Hugh, you’re my son and the man I love hurt you. That doesn’t make me feel good. Believe me when I say it will never happen again.”

Hugh nodded. “I can’t pretend to like him.”

“I don’t expect you to. I did have a question. Could we have time together again? You were so wonderful tonight.”

Let your guard down. Please.

Hugh glanced at Josh, who gave him a wink.

“I’d love it,” Hugh said.

He flung his arms around his mother, who sobbed as he drew her close.

“Darling, I took my eye off the ball. I am so very sorry.”

Hugh glanced up at Josh and mouthed “I love you.”

Suddenly Michael burst out of the bathroom wrapped in only a towel.

“Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Oh hello, Mrs Hogg.”

“Michael,” she said.

“What’s the matter?” Hugh asked.

Michael came over to him and took hold of his hands. “You’re never going to believe this. How do you fancy spending Christmas in New York, baby?”

“New York?”

“We’ve been offered a six-week residency.”

Josh’s heart plummeted. He’d got Hugh back and now he was going to be across the Atlantic. He forced a cheery expression onto his face.

“That’s amazing news,” he said.

His heart didn’t really believe it.

Mrs Wimpole had done them proud. Her Christmas decorations were already up and twinkling. The kitchen was full of food and drink whilst Christmas songs blared out in the drawing room.

Most of Queens Crescent were there. Josh thanked fate that he had them all in his life. He hadn’t changed his mind about selling up. It was time.

He was in Mrs Wimpole’s sunroom, staring out into the garden. Of course it could rival anything at Chelsea Flower Show.

“Penny for them?”

He turned to find Madeline standing before him.

“I was just thinking. What a bloody year this has been.”