The Holiday Swap: The perfect feel good romance for fans of the Christmas movie The Holiday. Zara Stoneley

sounds brilliant.’

      ‘But you can’t…’

      ‘That’s what I thought at first.’ Daisy sat up and pulled the sheet up to her chin. ‘I’ve got things to do back home. It’s not that easy to sort, but if I can do it I’m going to.’

      ‘But you’ll be on your own. It won’t be like all of us being here.’

      ‘I know. But I’m a big girl now, Anna,’ she smiled, trying to soften the blow, ‘I can make my own decisions.’ She giggled like a naughty schoolgirl – not such a big girl then.

      ‘But you can’t afford it, and what about the animals? And work? December is a really busy time for you, everybody wants their dog looking pretty for Christmas, that’s what you said before we came here.’

      ‘God knows why, they’re only going to get muddy. But, that’s the beauty of this, isn’t it? Flo looks after the animals, and the house. Though I don’t think I’ll mention that randy Dalmatian to her.’

      ‘Exactly. She can’t do your job.’

      ‘True.’ Daisy shuffled about, wondering where Anna’s positivity had gone. When they’d fallen into bed and the room had started to spin, thinking about this had been a good distraction. ‘But Tiggy can, I’ve asked her before and she’s said no problem. She can use my grooming table and scissors, or whatever stuff she wants, and it did used to be her job before she decided to paint again.’

      ‘Oh. But it isn’t exactly fair on Flo, lumbering her with Barney and Mabel, is it? And you just get this beautiful place.’

      Daisy frowned. ‘This was your idea.’

      ‘We were drunk, and I just got carried away. Thinking about it now though, it isn’t ideal, and you don’t actually have to stay here, do you? I thought you wanted to do other stuff like ride in the Canadian Rockies.’

      ‘You know I can’t afford that. Oh Anna, you might have thought of it after a few drinks, but it’s a fantastic idea, it makes sense. And she does know about the animals.’

      ‘Yes, but you didn’t exactly describe Mabel.’

      ‘I said I had a big dog. Look, stop worrying, I’m sure Jimmy and,’ she paused, ‘Hugo will help her out if she needs it. What’s the matter? I thought this was what you wanted me to do?’ Daisy stared at Anna in frustration. She’d expected her to be excited about the whole thing. Supportive.

      ‘I just didn’t expect…’

      ‘Exactly. And I didn’t expect Jimmy to propose, did I? If I go home now I’ll just get stuck back in and forget all about my dreams. And I love it here.’ She hugged her knees to her chest. ‘I’ve got to do this, Anna, for Jimmy’s sake as well as my own. And like you said, I’m helping Flo out, she needs to put as many miles between her and that dickhead as she can this Christmas. I mean, can you imagine if that happened to you and you had to spend the whole holiday hoping you didn’t bump into him and his new shag?’

      Anna frowned. ‘You’re using emotional blackmail now.’

      ‘All’s fair. But it’s true, consider it a favour to Flo if you really won’t admit you want me to do it. Oh, come on, am I wrong?’

      Anna sighed. ‘No, you aren’t wrong. You’re right.’

      ‘I’m right!’ Daisy squealed and, jumping up, did a jig on the bed, which creaked alarmingly, so she sat down quick. ‘I don’t think I want to end up like Mum, giving up her dreams and looking after old ladies and cows, but I won’t know if I don’t try, will I?’

      ‘You won’t.’ With a grin that was only a tiny bit strained, Anna wrapped her arms round Daisy and squeezed her so hard she squeaked. ‘I knew you’d do it and prove Jimmy wrong.’

      ‘Prove Jimmy wrong?’ Daisy wriggled.

      Anna released her stranglehold and looked sheepish. ‘He said a weekend was more than enough for you, and could I bugger off out of your life and lead somebody else astray.’ She lifted her chin. ‘That’s partly what made me suggest it last night, but I honestly thought it was a mad idea. I never thought you’d actually want to do it. Don’t look at me like that! Oh, okay, I’m jealous. I admit it, it will be weird, you doing this on your own.’

      ‘I know, and I don’t want to sound selfish, but this is about me, Anna. For the first time in as long as I can remember I’m doing something I really, really want to do.’

      ***

      A shower, one glass of orange juice, two croissants and three cups of coffee (they were only tiny) later, Daisy felt slightly less as though an alien had infested her head, and more than a little bit giddy. What had seemed a slightly dubious idea last night in the bar, sounded absolutely brilliant in the sober light of day. Which seemed the wrong way round. It was like a crazy wonderful dream had come true, but she wasn’t quite sure how. And even when she said it out loud, in real words, to a person, it still sounded like a good idea.

      She glanced at Flo, who was grinning like she agreed, and it was just Anna who didn’t look quite so enthusiastic. Which could have been because she wasn’t one of the people doing it.

      ‘What do you think, Flo? I mean, I know we were all drunk last night…’

      ‘Honestly? We have to do this swap thing. It’ll be amazing. Stop looking at us like that, Anna! What have we got to lose? We can both be home for Christmas Day, but have a fab time before. I won’t have to risk bumping into Oli-the-arsehole,’ she looked at Daisy, ‘and you won’t have Jimmy waving a ring in your face.’