‘Yes. How did you know?’ Mum sewed identification tags, a bit like washing instruction labels, into her bears. She always put them in their bottoms so they didn’t spoil the look of the bear when he was seated.

‘His face,’ Sam said. ‘He looks a lot like the one I bought for Nikki. I’ve spent hours staring at that bear since she died.’

I was about to ask him what she was like, but he turned away from Diamond. ‘You said you make bears?’

‘Mum makes Ju-Sea Bears, which tend to be medium to large. I make Ju-Sea Jem Bears, which are small to miniature.’ I pointed to a shelf. ‘I made those.’

‘Can I pick one up?’

‘Be my guest.’

He reached forward and picked up a miniature grey bear wearing a crocheted green scarf. ‘Christ! What have you got in here? Weights?’

I laughed. ‘It’s steel shot. It weighs down their bums so they sit better.’

Sam sat the bear in the palm of his hand. ‘You and your mum are extremely talented.’

‘Mum’s the talented one. I do my best.’

He put the grey bear down and picked up a miniature panda. ‘Don’t sell yourself short. These are exceptional.’

‘Thank you.’

‘Are these for sale or are they part of your collection?’

‘For sale. I was going to put them on Etsy but they’ll probably go in the shop instead now that I’m going home.’

‘In that case, can I buy the panda and this purple one for my nieces? I’ve been a rubbish uncle since Nikki died and I feel I should go home with gifts. I’d rather get them something they can keep and appreciate when they’re older than duplicate something they’ve already got.’

‘How old are they?’

‘Isla’s three and Saffron’s… crap. I don’t actually know. She was born after Nikki died but it’s a blur as to how long after.’ He shook his head. ‘I don’t think I even got them a congratulations card, never mind a gift.’

‘You had a lot to deal with.’

‘Even so, it’s not fair on Jack and Millie. Isla’s definitely three because she had a birthday recently – which I also forgot – but Saffron could be anywhere up to ten months old. If Jack had his own way, they’d have another on the way, but Millie’s put her foot down.’

‘Three kids under school age? Wow! He’s brave.’

I was relieved to see the serious expression slip from Sam’s face as he smiled. ‘Either that or bloody stupid. I haven’t quite worked out which. How much do I owe you for these?’

‘Nothing.’

He looked at me for a moment. ‘Then they will have to go back on the shelf with their friends because I won’t take them.’