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‘He just needs a bit of stability right now.’

‘Yes. Just time to . . .’

‘Make a few more happy memories,’ Horse says.

‘Yes,’ I say, feeling braver by the moment. I raise my glass and speak up so that everyone can hear. ‘To the Christmas tree farm reopening!’

‘And more curry,’ says Will, and we all laugh.

‘The barn’s starting to look clearer,’ says Luke. ‘So, barn doors open. Pre-cut trees here for the people who don’t have time to go and choose their own.’ He points to the front of the barn doors. ‘And make that the paying point in there, too, by the puppies.’

‘That’s right.’ I nod.

‘And I’ve been working on some ideas for a Nativity scene in there,’ says Lara.

‘We could have a grotto in the barn. Father Christmas! Or one of his helpers,’ Luke adds quickly, looking at Will.

Will drops his head a little. ‘It’s okay. I know about Father Christmas. My mum told me. Like I said, we didn’t do Christmas.’

Lara and I look at each other, and my heart once again twists for this little boy who has had to grow up way too soon.

‘Well, we do here,’ I say, ‘and you will this year.’ A smile comes back onto his face, and he scoops in more daal and takes a bite of a samosa.

‘I’m looking forward to tasting some more of Nadiya’s recipes,’ I say to Horse as we wash up. Luke and Lara have gone to check on the pups and take Dinky for a stroll in the forest; Will and Tegan are with them. Horse leans forward and opens the steamed-up kitchen window, and their voices drift in.

‘We could put lights across the fence here,’ I hear Luke saying.

‘Lights everywhere!’ says Will, and they laugh. ‘So that people can see to choose their favourite tree.’

‘Well, I’m sure we could get a lot up. I might have to find us some more generators to use, but that’s okay. I’m good at things like that. Scarlett is always asking me to find things for her content, props and things. Setting up the kitchen to look like a cosy cottage, hide all the takeaway cartons. It’s all about the looks for Scarlett. Selling people some fantasy lifestyle.’

‘And it’s not really like that?’ I hear Lara asking.

‘No.’ He shakes his head. ‘Living with an influencer is all about making things look good, not about how they actually are.’

‘I like this tree,’ Will pipes up. ‘It’s one of my favourites. I think it’s like a monkey, with sticking-out ears.’

‘I like this one,’ says Lara.

‘That one’s called Lady,’ says Will. ‘Because she looks like a lady in a big dress going to a ball. She’s waiting for her date to pick her up in a horse and carriage.’

They laugh.

‘I like the big one in the middle, too,’ Will goes on. ‘That was the first one Paddy planted when they started the farm.’ Hearing him say it makes my heart skip a little beat. ‘. . . We’ll just call that one Paddy’s tree.’

In the kitchen, Horse smiles, and that makes me feel warm inside.

Chapter 25

It’s Sunday morning and we’re all stood in the barn. Outside in the yard there is a frost just touching the tips of the trees, making them look as if they’ve been sprinkled with icing sugar. The gentle sunshine makes everything glisten, but winter is keeping a firm grip on the temperature despite the sun’s attempt to warm things up.

‘Are you sure you need me here for this? I think I’d be more use in the forest, getting on with clearing,’ says Horse uncomfortably.

‘Absolutely. We all need to agree on our magical, memorable Christmas performers!’ I clutch my tea for warmth with my chunky-knit fingerless gloves: one red, one striped purple and pink. Maybe when I pack – and I must do more later – I’ll find the matching pairs. I’ve got to get everything bagged up and ready to go before Christmas Eve.

I’m surprised I haven’t heard more from Scarlett about the sale of the farm. She doesn’t seem to have put up much of a fuss, but Luke must have convinced her that it can happen on Christmas Eve, and I’m happy with that. I just need to get on top of the packing, starting with Paddy’s wardrobe; there are still a few things left in there. I’ve already put his books into boxes, ready for the charity shop who are going to collect them. There’s really very little I want to keep, and the charity will get so much more for things than I will. Then there’s the dining table and chairs; the best china; the worst china. They’re going to come with a truck and take it all away, just before Christmas. We’ll be left with only what we really want to keep. A complete declutter. Oh, and there’s my crafting room – I really have to clear all the bits out from there.

Cars are arriving in the yard, and Luke is directing them to park and writing down their names and their acts. I feel a little frisson of excitement as the late November sunshine pushes into the barn. Little particles dance in the shafts of sunlight, like fairies arriving to join in the fun.