‘I mean, until tomorrow,’ I say quickly. I can’t let them know I’m upset or give them any reason to think they’ve said the wrong thing or go and tell Noel that I know. ‘First thing, when I come to replace them. It’s been a long day, I just want to get home to bed, and it’ll be quieter tomorrow, there’ll be plenty of time.’

‘I bet there are plenty of reasons to get home to your bed tonight, hmm?’ Fiona puts such a clear emphasis on what she thinks will be going on in bed tonight that even Fergus blushes.

‘And on that note, we’re going to go for a cuppa before Fergus gets overexcited and we end up spending the evening in the A&E department. Have a good night!’ She slips her arm through Fergus’s as they walk off towards the hot drinks counter and I watch as he tucks her arm in against his side and tugs her closer.

I should be excited to rush back and tell Noel about that adorable display of affection, but everything’s different now. This changes it all. I sink back onto my knees as I watch them disappear around the corner and the tears come without my permission. My hair has fallen down again and I pull it forwards to hide my face and concentrate on picking the dropped needles out of it.

The stall. His kindness in allowing me to share his stall. The way he even used his winner’s speech today to push Peppermint Branches. I thought he was being nice to talk about my business. Isn’t he just making sure that he’s got plenty of customers for when he inevitably takes over?

I always used to think that people are only nice to you if they want something, and Noel’s the one who’s been changing that, who’s made me have a bit of faith in people again. How can I have come to trust him so much in such a short amount of time? Why was I so hypnotised by his piercing and his hair that I didn’t stop to question his motives?