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Jesse answered the phone when I called Debbie’s house I asked if I could speak to her "You could if she was up" He laughed "Do you knohat time it is?"

I checked my watch: a few minutes before seven AM "Oh," I said, crestfallen "Sorry I didn’t realize Did I wake you?"

"No," he said "I have to head into the office, so it’s business as usual for ht "

"You’re working on Christhed "But I’ll only be there a couple of hours Tying up some loose ends before the Christmas break I’ll be back in plenty of ti of which, are we to expect you or not?"

"Yes, please," I said "That’s why I was calling, to say I could coenuinely pleased "How about Evra?"

"Can’twell"

"Too bad Listen, do you want me to wake Debbie? I can -?

"That’s okay," I said quickly "Just let her know I’ll be there Two o’clock?"

"Two’s fine," Jesse said "See you later, Darren"

"Bye, Jesse"

I hung up and went straight to bed My head was still buzzing fro, but I forced hts A few minutes later, my tired body drifted off to sleep and I slept like a baby until one in the afternoon, when the alarot up, and h had head-buttedaround, but I was careful not to make any sudden ood shower, then sprayed deodorant all over et rid of I dressed and picked up a bottle of wine Mr Crepsley had bought for ive to Debbie’s parents

I knocked on Debbie’s back door as Mr Crepsley had advised Donna opened it "Darren!" she said, kissing me on both cheeks "Merry Christmas!"

"Merry Christmas," I replied

"Why didn’t you use the front door?" she asked

"I didn’t want to dirty your carpets," I said, scraping my shoes on the mat inside the door "My shoes are wet from the dirty slush"

"Silly" She smiled "As if anyone cares about carpets at Christmas Debbie!" she called upstairs "There’s a handso down the stairs She kissed me on both cheeks as well "Dad told ?"

I pulled out the bottle of wine "For your parents," I said "My dad gave it toover"

"Oh, Darren, that’s sweet," said Donna She took the wine and called to Jesse, "Look what Darren brought"

"Ah! Vino!" Jesse’s eyes lit up "Better than the e bought We invited the right man over We should have him around more often Where’s the corkscrew?"

"Wait awhile" Donna laughed "Dinner isn’t ready yet I’ll stick it in the fridge You head for the living room I’ll yell when it’s ti, and Debbie askedon yet I said he had, and that ere leaving tonight

" Tonight?" She looked dismayed "Nobody travels anywhere except ho hi," I interrupted "Hoain, just for Christive Evra and me a treat It’s supposed to be a surprise, but I heard hi That’s why I called so early - I was excited"

"Oh" I could tell Debbie was upset by the news, but she put on a brave face "That’s great I bet it’s the best present you could have hoped for Maybe they’ll patch things up and get back together for good"

"Maybe," I said

"So this is your last afternoon together," Jesse re ro hi!"

"That’s what fathers are for" Jesse grinned "It’s our job to ehters in front of boyfriends"

Debbie scowled at hi the attention

The meal was delicious Donna had put all her years of expertise to great use The turkey and ham practically melted in my mouth The roasted potatoes were crisp and the turnip eet as candy Everything looked fantastic and tasted even better