‘I wouldn’t go that far,’ she sighed, settling Tiddles on to her lap. ‘However, I do have the benefit of a life well lived behind me. My little life here in Wynbridge, and occasionally beyond,’ she smiled, no doubt remembering her trips to the hotel, ‘may have been simple but it’s been full. I’ve filled my days doing the things I enjoy, working at a job I think I was good at and surrounding myself with people I love. Had I not ticked everything off my own personal Wish List,’ she smiled, ‘I might be feeling very differently.’

I could see the sense in what she was saying. As Beamish had pointed out to me before, it was all too easy to waste time, especially when you were young. It always felt like there’d be a next day, another year, a subsequent decade. Dolly’s legacy was going to be a testament to the importance of living in the moment and squeezing the most into and out of every single day.

‘I think I might write another Wish List,’ I told her, looking over at ours hanging next to the fireplace. ‘I think it will help keep me on track. Give me the focus to keep trying new things.’

‘Are you going to add getting better at ice skating to it?’ Beamish laughed.

I cuffed him lightly around the head and went to sit next to Dolly resting my head on her shoulder.

‘I might,’ I told him.

‘I did enjoy that last trip to the rink,’ she sighed wistfully. ‘It felt good to be gliding across the ice on my blades again.’

‘You were amazing, Dolly,’ I yawned.

‘I know,’ she said. ‘There’s life in the old dog yet, but now I’m off to bed. It’s Christmas Eve tomorrow and there’ll be plenty to do.’

As she walked over to the stairs, I saw her look down at Beamish and he looked up and winked. Clearly the pair of them were up to something but I didn’t have the energy to try and work out what. It was almost Christmas and I was sure all would be revealed soon enough.

*

All was indeed revealed straight after lunch the next day. Dolly, Beamish and I had spent the morning making sure we had enough of everything to see us through the twenty-four hours when the shops would be shut. Every present was finally wrapped and the larder and fridge were groaning under the weight of cheese, meat, puddings and of course the inevitable mountain of brussels sprouts.