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Horse checks on the spiced yoghurt-covered turkey and then gives the carrots and parsnips a showering with chilli flakes and honey. Luke and Lara peel the potatoes and parboil them and then, when they’re drained, sprinkle them with some coriander, cumin, chilli and turmeric before adding them to a pan of hot fat ready to go into the oven. The smell as they hit the pan is amazing.

And I prep the sprouts, ready for roasting.

‘We’ll give them a little showering of curry powder,’ says Horse. ‘It’s Nadiya’s mix.’ He pulls out a tin from his bag. ‘. . . And another drizzle of honey.’

‘At this rate you’ll have your own cookery show!’ I laugh.

‘No, not for me. I’ll leave that to someone who knows what they’re doing. I’m just a happy student.’

‘This may not be a traditional roast dinner, but it’s what makes Will happy, and that makes me happy,’ I say. ‘It’s a right mash-up!’

‘A bit like us,’ says Luke as he opens a bottle of fizz from the fridge, pours it into glasses and hands them round. There’s lemonade for Will.

‘Here’s to a great Christmas dinner, and whatever the new year brings for us,’ says Luke. And we all agree and sip our drinks. The bubbles dance on my tongue and tickle my nose. It tastes delicious. I put down the glass.

‘I don’t have presents for you all, not in the wrapped-up-under-the-tree way, but I do have these.’

I pull out the wish cards from my skirt pocket that I kept from the day before yesterday, when we made a dash to the solicitor’s.

‘Luke, you wished that you’d be living a life with meaning. Something like this place?’ I ask.

‘Well, yes, but I know that’s all changed now. It’s for the best that Scarlett and I split up.’ I see him glance at Lara, and she looks shyly back at him. ‘I’ve realized what’s important.’ He clears his throat and adds, ‘Who’s important.’

And Lara smiles, picks up one of the puppies and hugs it.

‘And I think what I’m wishing for is that the other person feels the same.’

The rest of us hold our breath as they look at each other. And slowly they lean into each other, shoulder to shoulder, nudging at each other, both so unsure the other is thinking the same. Just as they are getting really close, Dinky barks to be let out, and Luke jumps up like a jack-in-the-box.

After seeing to Dinky’s requirements and checking on the progress of lunch, we all settle back at the table. Horse tops up everyone’s glasses.

‘What I was saying is that although I’m not selling any more, I’m thinking you’re going to be looking for somewhere new to live?’ I say to Luke.

He sighs and nods. ‘Scarlett’s having my stuff packed up and sent on when I’m ready. Can’t think there’ll be much. She bought most of my clothes, all labels she liked. Not sure if I actually own any of it myself. It’s a fake world, influencing. None of it is real. Not even the feelings. It’s all for the camera. Like this place was going to be.’

‘Well, I was thinking – maybe it still could be. Not the way Scarlett had in mind, but showing people what it’s like here before Christmas: the memory tree, and the wishing tree, and how people choose their tree with an ornament? It’s all about the memories here and celebrating the people in our lives who are special to us. It’s about having a Christmas tree that represents your memories. It has a meaning; I think people would like that idea. And I still need to make a living, now I’m not selling!’

He nods.

‘It could be brilliant! You could expand, too, into other experiences. Sunflowers in the summer, pumpkin picking in autumn on the other fields. Build on Will’s spice hut, and then your idea for the cookery classes with Nadiya.’

‘Exactly.’ I’m smiling, thinking about how it could be. ‘And how would you feel about running that? Being the farm manager, in charge of the events and social media and all that stuff I’m rubbish at? I can’t even look after my phone, let alone put it to any use!’

‘Me? I – I don’t know what to say.’

‘And of course the job would come with accommodation, in Ty Coed.’

‘Really?’ says Luke.

‘I have some money from the Christmas tree sales, but we’ll really need to get this place earning its keep as soon as we can.’

‘Say yes!’ urges Will.

‘Yes!’ says Luke.

‘Brilliant!’ I say, clapping my hands together. ‘And Lara, we didn’t get to read your wish out. But I read it. I hope you don’t mind.’

‘No, not at all,’ she says.