‘Things are going well at the market. Visitors are up, and the whole of Elffield is busier than it has been in years because of the news coverage, the tourists are loving it all, and the main Christmas shopping season hasn’t even started yet. No one’s going to knock down something this profitable. They’ve already taken Elffield off the list of contenders for the bus interchange. It’s not the answer to all our problems, but we’ve saved ourselves for now, and the council have agreed to a meeting with the stallholders in the new year to make a plan going forward.’

‘That’s good.’ That’s not just good, that’s brilliant. We did it – the one thing we set out to achieve, even if it’s only for a year and next Christmas we’ll have to do something bigger and better. I want to jump on him and cheer and celebrate, but what I actually do is burrow the toe of my welly-boot down into the snow until I can press it against a stone.

‘The Cinderella tree went viral on Twitter, and the council sent workmen out to decorate the big tree near the motorway. My phone’s been ringing off the hook with enquiries for next year. I’ve already signed contracts with two more shops to stock my pumpkins next October.’

‘Good. You work hard. You deserve it.’ It sounds disingenuous even though I mean it. He does work hard and he deserves success.

He looks frozen as he hovers there, and I know he’s trying to figure out what to say. There have never been awkward silences between us before. I’m being off with him, but I can’t bring myself to come out and tell him I know. He knows I’m being cold and clipped, and any other day, I’d have thrown my arms around his neck and squealed in excitement at the good news, but I don’t know what to say to him, and I was hoping to avoid him for a bit longer while I figured it out.

He looks around like he’s desperately searching for words to fill the silence, his eyes eventually settling on the bridge I was about to walk across. He takes a few steps towards it. ‘The river’s frozen solid. It’s been a long time since I saw that happen.’ He brushes snow off the bridge railings with glove-covered hands and gestures for me to come closer. ‘It’s a picture-perfect winter postcard.’