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Will throws his face back into the folds of my coat.

‘And maybe this little fella, too?’ I say softly.

Will looks up at Elf.

‘Oh yes. That would be lovely.’ He gives a little cough. ‘I’ll see what Tegan has to say.’ He takes the puppy from under my arm.

Lara has held back to let us have our moment, but now she steps closer.

‘This has certainly been a good day at the office,’ she smiles. ‘I’m now officially off duty for Christmas. And it looks like you can finally close your doors for Christmas, too?’

We all walk back towards the empty yard. I see her gaze roaming across it and wonder if she’s looking for Luke.

‘It’s been wonderful, and we couldn’t have done it without your help,’ I say to her.

‘I loved it. But it’s Christmas Eve, and I should leave you to your Christmas. I’m sure you’d like some time together. And Luke is probably . . .’ She clears her throat.

‘Exactly. It’s Christmas Eve,’ I say. ‘Where are you going to spend it?’

‘Oh, I’ll go back to the house. I’ve got a box set and a tin of Quality Street for company. I’d love to come and say goodbye to the puppies, though, before they find their new homes in the new year.’

‘You can spend Christmas with us,’ says Will. ‘Can’t she, Gwen? Here, at home with us, on the farm!’ And right there and then, I think of Paddy welcoming everyone in.

‘I couldn’t, really. I wouldn’t want to intrude.’ Lara’s looking around.

‘Not at all. You’re part of the family. Take your work hat off now. You’re here as Lara, our friend. Now all we have to do is find Luke and tell him what’s going on.’

‘It’s a lot,’ says Horse, laughing.

‘I’m sure he’ll be with Dinky,’ Will says. ‘Explaining her first mum has gone away, but she’ll be safe with him.’

‘Let’s find him. I have a feeling he’ll be needing somewhere to stay for a while.’ I look at the snow falling gently, like glitter, all around. ‘. . . Besides, Lara, if I’m not mistaken, no one will be going anywhere soon if it keeps snowing like this. Best you stay put. The winter weather always did have a way of slowing us down when we needed it most.’ And the little chubby robin hops around.

‘I have another decoration for Paddy’s tree,’ Will says, as if he’s suddenly remembered. He runs into the house and comes out again holding up a homemade bauble.

‘That’s lovely,’ I say. ‘And who’s that for?’

‘It’s for my mum,’ he says, and I catch my breath. ‘I know she’s not well. I know she’s not the mum she wanted to be, or could be. She’s not there. Like Ayesha, she’s gone.’

I swallow.

‘Shall we go and put it on the tree?’ I say.

While Lara goes inside to put the kettle on, we silently take a torch each from the porch where Horse has left them, and a lantern each. Then we head out into the darkening evening with Dinky and Tegan to place the final decoration on the tree.

We stand for a moment, looking up at it. Will lets a few tears fall. Eventually he turns to me and says, ‘Looks like it’s just you and me now, Gwen,’ and slides his hand into mine. I squeeze it.

‘It’ll all be okay, Will. Whatever happens, I’ll always be here for you. I may not always know exactly what the plan is, but we’ll be okay, you and me, together.’

And we both look up once again at Paddy’s tree, remembering the people we’ve lost and who have brought us here today.

Chapter 40

Christmas Day

The following morning there’s no snow falling, but it has fallen heavily overnight. It covers everything like an eiderdown of pure white, undulating across the valley and embracing the trunk of each tree as if tucking them into bed.

‘Merry Christmas!’ says Luke, coming into the kitchen brightly and bringing with him a sharp, crisp waft of cold air. The sunshine is streaming in through the glass panes of the door. ‘Thanks for letting me stay on in the cottage again last night, Gwen. Not sure I had a plan B when I told Scarlett we were finished.’