The road to the farm shop which is usually traffic free, unless they go there around lunchtime when it tends to be busy, today sees them following a car being driven at a speed by someone who knows as they do, that there no need to rush. That the morning is something to be enjoyed and the people who shop here on a regular basis always go home having bought more than they intended to buy. What is doubtful though in Harry's mind, is that if any one of the shoppers that pass through the doors today will feel as happy as he does and for good reason. Because not only has Sally called to thank them for offering to pay for the refurb which Graham is going to do, but is thrilled that they have gifted her one of the three double beds they inherited with the house. The unspoken but obvious suggestion being that she can now dispense with the bed she had shared with Robbie. Added to which they, as in her and Graham, had been more than happy to accept the offer of other pieces of furniture which he and Ruth have slowly come to realise they had accepted in the first instance to speed up the purchase of the house, having made the decision to buy rather than to rent. But now want to replace with items that they will choose together.

'There's a space,' says Ruth bringing him back from visions of a much more comfortable sofa and a more characterful bookcase as he turns in through the gates. Before asking Hattie, who lives in their village and just happens to be passing the entrance when they walk in, 'if it's not too much trouble they would prefer to pick up their order when things have quietened down a bit?'

Not though before they have coffee and peruse the gift shop, where hopefully as far as Harry is concerned, Ruth will see something that she likes which he can give her as a token present. Because as much as they have all agreed that present giving should be confined to Jacob, neither Graham or Sally will know, if a scarf for example is new or otherwise.

Coffee as it invariably does turns into lunch, which means that by the time they arrive home Graham has finished for the day. Bringing with it the realisation that after weeks of thinking about other people, with Ruth's list diminished to just wrapping Jacob's present and to ring Malcolm and Caroline, the house which has felt as though it has been bursting at the seams, will by the turn of the year, other than on the days when Jacob is with them seem very quiet.

More so by Harry who says, 'I'll finish doing that, you put the kettle on,' when Ruth is rearranging the items in the fridge to accommodate the turkey, having already put the rest of the shopping away. Because the thought of the New Year has triggered the need to do something, rather than to just stand there wondering what her answer will be when he asks her to marry him, and just how much more it matters this time that she says yes. On a day and at a time that can only be determined when he speaks to Malcolm.

Occupying the time before he does this, sees him drinking several cups of coffee and clock watching. Which despite them sitting on the sofa in front of the fire, with Ruth stretched out with her feet on his lap the tension is still there. Because having spent an hour gazing at the Christmas Tree whose lights are now merging into one, almost certainly due to the amount of caffeine in his system, he gives in an dials Malcolm's number an hour earlier than Malcolm is expecting.

Not wanting to plough in, he opts for what he knows is safer ground by asking Malcolm who answers on the second ring, how the move went?

'Smoothly if it wasn't for the fact that it's been raining all day but Caroline's in and that's the main thing isn't it.'

'And her cottage?'

'The one she first looked at and fifteen minutes from me on foot. Far enough away that we can maintain our independence and close enough that if either of us needs anything – well you know how it is. How about you, I assume the reclamation's still ongoing?'

'Mine or the gardens?'

'Both.'

'Well Ruth and I are going to the midnight service tomorrow evening if that counts and Graham has assured me that the heavy work will be finished by the end of the month. Which just leaves the question as to whether Caroline still wants us to take her to the church where Ros is buried?'

'Which falls into the category of if either of us needs anything Harry because I wasn't there on that dreadful day whereas you and Ruth were, so earlier rather than later if you can manage it?'

'January the fifth,' he suggests for no reason other than it seems a decent enough interval between what will be the festivities of the coming week and because any later and he will have convinced himself that Ruth will say no.

'Enjoy your sing and give Ruth my love. I for my sins am due down the road with my toolbox and a takeaway. See you soon Harry.'

'Happy Christmas Malcolm and love to Caroline.'

.

True to his word Graham arrives as he had done the previous morning before nine. The only difference being is that Jacob is with him. Unexpected until Graham explains that Sally has been offered an extra day's work with one of her regulars.

That Graham is more perceptive that Harry has so far given him credit for during what will be a conversation that will move their relationship and understanding of each other to a whole new level, for reasons that Harry will eventually come to understand, is put on hold until Ruth has gone into the kitchen with the promise of breakfast and Jacob hot on her heels. In the same way that having heard Malcolm say, give my love to Ruth, Harry is be back to being tempted to pop the question before they go to London.

A thought that is brief when Graham wanders over to the window and says, 'there are things in there that Jacob doesn't want you or Ruth to see until tomorrow,' pointing to Jacob's, when I stay the night with Harry and Ruth bag.

'He won't be the first person to want that, especially if he's taken to making bombs,' says Harry, wondering if the effect of the coffee he had the previous evening is still lingering before dismissing the idea as ridiculous.

Only to hear Graham say, 'I still don't know how you did what you did Dad.'

'I was only joking,' he says and means it.

'So, the scars are from what - cutting yourself when you were shaving? This trip to London after what happened the last time, I need you to tell me why you need to go Dad.'

'Breakfast's ready,' Ruth calls from the kitchen. Saving him if only for a short while from having to explain to Graham, quite what? Until Graham has donned his boots and headed outside and when Jacob is happily watching TV, Harry asks Ruth how much he can tell Graham?

'The truth Harry. If for no other reason than he met Malcolm and Caroline before we came back and he will again. Maybe just avoid mentioning that Lucas was there.'

The truth Ruth had said, which even sanitised to describe the innocent that had been Colin, to Adam's death, when Ruth had she been there would have gone with him to tell Wes. Spent the evening with him as he had with her after Danny's death and now Ros, whose death had seen the beginning of the end when it came to him doubting his ability to carry on, even to his own ears sounds less than likely that Graham will accept as a good enough reason to be going back.

Until Graham looks him straight in the eye and says, 'you and Mum were never suited I always knew that. But it was admitting it to anyone other than my mentor when I was in rehab that I found difficult. Now here, the way that you and Ruth are with each other. The way you listen to each other's opinions before you make decisions. The way you support each other and obviously always have, has shown me what I need to do to make Sally truly happy. But the thing is, I'm sure I can do that without your joint support, which is why I need you to promise me that you won't put yourselves in danger again.'

.

That the church is full to bursting, something that according to the vicar who has welcomed everyone on what he has called this beautiful evening, does nothing to prevent it from feeling anything less than intimate to the couple who are acutely aware that this is the first time they have sat side by side without there being a coffin in front of the altar. Instead, the giant Christmas Tree, the candles on the altar, the bunches of holly and the singing which Ruth is so looking forward to are capturing their imagination.

Combined with the memory of Graham's tears of relief when Harry had told him why they were going to London, popping into Jacob's bedroom to make sure he was asleep before they had left, their arms linked together when they had been walking up the lane and the thought of seeing Malcolm and Caroline again, were they agreed, orchestrated by the woman who had written a simple and to the point letter and who had she been able to see them in this moment, would without doubt have had the last word.