Freddie raced off and Nick and Bella followed. Before long, both trees were in the back of his truck and they’d met back up with Bella’s family for an apple-pie mulled cider: a new recipe from Annie’s that sounded delicious. They huddled together listening to the excited chatter of children queuing at the grotto and the Christmas pop songs playing out of the speaker. Bella glanced at the giving tree, happy to see that nearly all the tags had gone.

She wandered over, eager to see which ones were left and as she reached the tree Freddie joined her.

‘Has someone taken my dad’s tag yet, Bella?’

She turned the tags, reading each in turn. Every time she’d topped them up, she’d checked to see if it had been taken, but it had still hung from its branch. She supposed it was because it was for a man rather than a child. People were obviously prioritising kids over adults or the elderly, which was fair enough, but her stomach tightened into a knot. Poor Freddie’s heart would break if he thought his dad wasn’t getting a present. Then an idea struck her. She’d been thinking of getting Nick and Freddie something to say thank you for all their help. Couldn’t she take the tag? Before she could change her mind, she said, ‘Yep, it’s gone. Looks like your dad will be getting a nice gift after all.’

‘Yay. Does anyone want my pencils? I’ve still got them.’

She ruffled his hair. ‘Why don’t you gather them up and we’ll give them as an extra present to someone. What do you say?’

Freddie agreed and headed back to the swings. When he’d turned, Bella quickly took the tag down from the branch and popped it into her pocket. She knew just what to get Nick and she’d decide on something for Freddie too.

Nick and Freddie drove the trees back and Bella walked home with her family. Caro waddled along discussing Braxton Hicks and how sore her boobs were while her parents just about managed to get the tree to the village with most of its branches intact. Divorce might have been on the cards had either of them had breath left to speak but thankfully they were too exhausted to argue.

Everyone peeled off to their respective homes and Bella found Nick waiting for her at her gate. His smile sent a thrill into her body, warming her up from the inside. The sky had grown dark grey and threatened rain or possibly hail. The temperature was so low that if she hadn’t already read the weather forecast, she’d think it might snow.

‘Shall we get this inside then?’