‘Here, let me get the door for you.’ Meredith darted out from behind the counter and opened the door, wishing her a good night as she left.

Bella made it home just as Caro and her mum arrived. They immediately began taking things off her.

‘More donations?’ asked Cynthia. ‘That’s quite a few already.’

‘I know. I never expected so much so soon.’ Bella rifled in her pocket for the keys and let Caro through first.

Cynthia lugged the huge bag of gifts over the threshold and Bella switched on the lights. After shrugging off her coat she lit a fire and before long the house was warm and cosy.

‘I brought wine, and cheese and crackers for nibbles.’

‘Yummy,’ said Caro. ‘I’ve been craving really strong cheddar lately. Have you got any of the local stuff from the deli?’

‘I do.’ Bella went to the fridge and began collecting everything together, placing it on a board and taking it into the living room. She went back to open the wine as the doorbell chimed. ‘That’ll be Nina. Can you let her in, Mum, please?’

Cynthia did and the four of them settled in the living room. After catching up on the day’s gossip, they got down to work. Cynthia and Caro wrapped more presents for Santa’s grotto, while Nina fired up the laminator and cut out Christmas tree shapes from sheets of red card for the giving tree tags. Bella went through the forms she’d been given so far, completing the spreadsheet she was using to keep track of everything and then filing them in an A4 folder once the tag was completed. As she read another one, she gasped.

‘What is it, love?’ asked Cynthia, pausing a story about Mungo’s new obsession with leaf blowers.

‘It’s just this form is for nappies and baby milk, and it sounds quite desperate. They’re not Christmas presents, are they? They’re necessities.’ Bella shook her head. ‘I know I can’t cry over every one, but goodness me. That’s a tough one to read.’

‘I bet I can guess who that’s for and she is rather desperate,’ Cynthia said, patting her knee. ‘But just think of all the difference you’ll make.’

Bella sniffed as she began writing the tag. Once done, she handed it to Nina who laminated it and made a hole in the top for the ribbon to go through.

‘I followed your advice, Cynthia,’ Nina said. A hint of a blush formed on her cheeks.

‘Mum’s advice can be a very dangerous thing,’ Caro teased. ‘I’m not sure you want to go down that road.’

‘My advice is always excellent, thank you very much.’ Cynthia turned to Nina. ‘So which bit of my outstanding guidance did you follow?’