‘Yeah, that sounds ideal. And yes, I know that guy – he’s sound. I’m sure he’d make someone a great catch.’ He winked at her.

‘Right, I just need to get out my Christmas tablecloth and the cutlery’s all in that drawer.’ She pointed.

The tablecloth was one her mum had given her. They always used to have it on the family table every Christmas when she and James were children. It was so pretty, a cream linen with silver and gold stars hand-stitched on in a delicate glittery thread. Mum had wanted a change one year, back when Emma was a student, and had gone out and got herself a new Cath Kidston holly-patterned one and Emma asked if she could have the old one. She’d used it every year since and it had become a part of her Christmas. Funny how things meant so much, especially at this time of year. Traditions, memories … she and Luke had had their first Christmas dinner together, using this very tablecloth. Her heart clenched a little.

She had sent a card to Luke’s parents and his younger brother Nathan, with a Christmas gift of her handmade chocolates and a bottle of Prosecco. It would be a difficult day for them too because there was always the feeling that someone was missing …

Time to think about today, Em, she reminded herself, as she watched Max trying his best to gather knives and forks together with one hand. It was going to be a slow process setting the table, but she knew he wanted to do something practical to help. Whilst Max toed and froed with the cutlery, she set to the task of peeling her mountain of vegetables.

The turkey was already in the oven, and Adam’s gran had sent over her homemade stuffing and pigs-in-blankets, bless her, as she was no longer able to cook and didn’t want them to go to waste.

Max’s mother had also sent them away with a heap of food last night ‘to keep them going’: a whole cooked gammon joint, cheeses, a box of crackers, chutneys, grapes and mince pies. She had smiled knowingly at Emma, saying she knew how much he ate. So there would be plenty for a late supper – if they could fit anything else in, that was. At least there would be no need to cook tomorrow. Emma set the huge pan of potatoes to parboil and headed to the shop front to see how Max was getting on.