I can’t help thinking about Noel and wondering where he is, though I’m annoyed at myself for still caring. All his pumpkins are gone from the fields now, only the ones he’s stored in the barn for winter remain, and the view from my backdoor is white and bare. Even his farmhouse in the distance is concealed by the fog. I kick a chunk of snow off the top step and think about him feeling needed. Chelsea’s kind of got a point there. He’s said as much in one of his unguarded moments. But if it was that simple, why didn’t he tell me that he wanted Peppermint Branches too?

‘I cried in front of him on the first night, Chels. I told him about Mum and Dad. He knew I was vulnerable. He—’

‘I know Steve took advantage, and I know catching him like that hurt you much more than you’ll admit, but not all men are like that. Noel could be a genuine good person who wanted to help someone who needed it.’

I pick up the doormat and jiggle it around to shake off the snow that’s blown in, then I close the door and wander back towards the kitchen with the phone to my ear. ‘No one is that kind. He’s invested in Peppermint Branches being a success this year because he wants a strong customer base ready for next year after the trees have all been cut badly and the saplings have all died because I planted them wrongly and I’ve run out of money to fix the problems, and he can swoop in to buy me out. He knows exactly how tight my budget is – I told him on the first night.’

‘Just because Steve was a git …’

‘At least Steve was honest about what he wanted. Noel wanted Peppermint Branches – he just conveniently didn’t mention it.’ I lean my elbows on the kitchen unit and look out at the blanket of white outside, the huge white flakes fizzing around in the air. ‘He let me share his market stall at no cost.’

‘I thought you said he didn’t need the space once pumpkin season was over.’