Spike turned the corner on to the High Street, a big box tucked under one arm and a plant pot in the other. The box was wrapped in birthday paper, for a birthday he wasn't sure he was ready for Dora to have. When did she get so grown up, all of a sudden?

In a break of the crowd, he saw her. And maybe he was a little relieved to see that she didn't look too much older than at Christmas. "Hey Dora," he greeted with his usual grin. "Aunt Addy sends her apologies." Did fifteen year olds still hug their cousins? He couldn't remember.