Nick had never been more grateful for his support network, and he realised how right Bella was about the giving tree. Everyone deserved the same support he was getting from his friends and neighbours, but as grateful as he was, their words had no effect on Mr Cole.

‘You’re a thug, Nick Cowley.’ He scrambled up to standing and brushed the back of his coat before heading home. Noises carried on the wind as he continued to chunter to himself.

Just as he said these words, Nick’s eyes fell on Bella, pausing at the edge of the crowd, her face aghast. She stared between Mr Cole and Nick, knowing full well what the altercation had been about.

Nick’s rage subsided as he suddenly realised the thoughts he’d been having about her had edged towards romantic. Disappointment at himself bit deep as his eyes roved to hers and he closed the front door. God only knew what she thought of him now.

Chapter 16

A few days later, Bella took a moment to enjoy the twinkling fairy lights surrounding Santa’s grotto. If she put aside her worries over Freddie she was, on the whole, feeling more hopeful about Christmas than she had ever expected. Against a rather stark grey sky the lights glittered and shimmered, brightening even the darkest of moods and her mood had been dark since Tuesday.

Amias hadn’t been allowed in school on Wednesday but when he’d come back on Thursday, she’d felt the tension in the air between him and Freddie and seen the fear in Freddie’s eyes at playtime. The Coles hadn’t liked Amias’s punishment or that he was only allowed to play outside for a shorter time than the rest of the children, but the things he’d said and done were too severe to ignore and Mrs White had stood her ground. It was clear that his actions had had a profound effect on Freddie who now played as near to the teachers as was humanly possible while still joining in with his friends. He was frightened, and she was determined that before the school broke up for Christmas, she would have him feeling safe and secure and playing as he normally would, running around, tagging his friends or climbing on the apparatus.

Seeing Mr Cole shouting at Nick with poor little Freddie in the background had confirmed that he was one of the most horrid men in the village, but of course she hadn’t let that affect her dealings with Amias. The school was there to teach and hopefully Amias had learned that he couldn’t treat people like that. She was planning on catching up with him in a few days to ensure it and to allow him to play as normal with the other children if he’d shown some remorse.