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      ‘Darling!’ Helen dashed out of Gull’s Cry and threw her arms around her daughter-in-law Terri as she headed up the path to the cottage door. Sean, Helen’s son, was behind her, carrying their daughter, Summer, in her car seat.

      Summer’s chubby face split into the sunniest of smiles as she saw Helen. ‘Gan Gan!’ she cried joyfully and reached out her little hands for a cuddle.

      ‘I can’t believe how much you’ve grown!’ Helen exclaimed. ‘And is that a new tooth I can see?’

      ‘Yes, and it’s unbelievable the trouble that one tiny tooth has caused,’ said Sean as they headed indoors.

      He placed the car seat on the floor and started to undo the clasp that held Summer safely in place. The moment her granddaughter was free, Helen swept her up and showered her with kisses, which were returned enthusiastically.

      This done, and after more hugs and kisses all round, they made their way into Helen’s cosy sitting room, where Sean and Terri sank into the comfy armchairs with relief. The telltale signs of disturbed nights and fraught days were all too obvious to Helen as she took in the dark circles under their eyes.

      ‘Teething can be a rotten old business for everyone,’ she concurred, gently stroking Summer’s flushed cheeks. ‘Well, the good news is that Granny is here to take some of the strain. This Christmas, the only things you’ll need to worry about are eating, drinking and making merry. We’ve got Piran on chef duty – he’s a much better cook than me and he can’t bear having me in the kitchen with him, which means I’ll have more time to spend on you three.’

      ‘You have no idea how good that sounds,’ said Terri, gratefully. ‘The cottage looks amazing by the way.’

      ‘Thank you,’ Helen preened.

      Interior design was a passion of hers and she had lovingly devoted the last few days to making sure that her cottage really looked the part this year. The windows and doorway were wreathed in branches