‘Yes,’ I answered, drawing her close. ‘Yes, they have and I want you to know that I’ll always be grateful that you invited me here again, Dolly.’

‘I know you will,’ she nodded.

‘My future would have been very different had you not shown me another path. I’ll always be thankful for your friendship and for leading me to Beamish.’

We looked over to where he was laughing with some of the congregation and pumping the vicar’s hand.

‘He’s a wonderful man,’ she smiled.

‘He is,’ I agreed.

He spotted us and waved and we waved back.

‘You’ve got an amazing future ahead of you here in Wynbridge, Hattie,’ said Dolly, looking up at me. ‘If that’s what you want. It is, isn’t it?’

‘Oh yes,’ I smiled, enveloping her in a hug, ‘most definitely. You’ve made my future here everything I could ever wish for.’

Acknowledgements

Acknowledgements

What an absolute pleasure it has been to spend another festive season in much loved Wynbridge with old and new friends. I hope you have enjoyed the visit as much as I have? As always, there is an ever-increasing list of people to thank for making the trip possible and this time I have a few very specific folk to hug for their support, encouragement and incredibly hard work.

No author could be happier with their merry band of readers than I am! My lovely #swainettes have been cheering long and loud this year and I wholeheartedly thank you all. Whether you are a blogger or a reader, you have championed both Wynbridge and Nightingale Square and that’s hugely appreciated. Special thanks to @head_in_a_book_18 over on Insta for all the fabulous pics and to @GrumpyGirlie (Laura) who has really put in some miles to support me this year.

The entire Books and The City Team have also pulled out all the stops again. Thank you, Jo Dickinson for your insight into editing The Christmas Wish List. I know our time together was exceptionally brief but I think we achieved great things in a short space of time. Thanks also to Rebecca Farrell for your equally insightful editing support and to Harriet Collins (publicist extraordinaire) who has been one step ahead of me this year and lined up some cracking events!

Thanks to Amanda Preston, my agent, who has been on hand to get me through what hasn’t been the easiest few months and keep me on track. (Please, no one mention the words ‘wisdom’ and ‘molar’ in the same sentence as I may go into a rapid decline.) And huge and heartfelt thanks to my fellow authors, but more specifically my firm friends, Jenni Keer (you’ve been a trooper my darling), Clare Marchant and Rosie Hendry, for always being there when I need you.