Freddie started them off, reading his line as narrator and his eyes remained on his mum and dad while he did so. All Bella could do was watch from the sidelines as her heart broke.

The first part of the play went surprising well. As the children performed their parts, the parents laughed at the appropriate moments and the ‘Poker Face’ song went almost perfectly, but as they entered the second act, things began to go a little awry. As well as the usual trips on costumes and trampling of props, baby Jesus was dropped about five times so that by the end the doll’s head was becoming decidedly loose until Mary picked him up by the leg, dangling him in the air and it fell off completely.

A couple of the children went off script with additions such as Joseph’s, ‘We ain’t got no money to pay for a room so you’ll have to shove us in the stables,’ which left little Richard the innkeeper totally confused, and Mrs Brody’s smile tacked on with superglue. Mary then made a request to Bella to open all the presents presented to baby Jesus, which Bella had to politely decline. She settled for shaking them vigorously to see if there was anything inside.

Yet still, Bella smiled through it all. The kids’ Christmas play was a highlight of her year and all in all it had been a success even though a fight broke out between two of the chorus line, and the donkey decided it was time for a loo break halfway through, shuffling off stage clutching his privates. In hindsight, it might have been an error having the three wise men arrive by scooter as one of them launched across the stage with such force, Mr Osbourne had to catch him at the other end, but overall Mrs Brody had done them all proud.

The children finished with a rendition of ‘We Wish You a Merry Christmas’ and received a standing ovation. Mrs Brody clutched a bouquet of flowers presented by Mrs White and dabbed at her eyes with a tissue. It was done and the children left the hall with beaming smiles, each teacher leading their class out. Bella couldn’t stop herself glancing at Nick one last time as she left the hall and was surprised to see him watching her. She wished now she’d been brave enough to glance at him through the play but had resolutely kept her eyes forwards, knowing if she saw him snuggling up to Paige, there was every chance she’d cry.

As she left the reception area and the children shuffled back down to the classroom, talking loudly and excitedly, she heard a door slam shut and his deep voice carried over the din.

‘Bella?’

‘I’ll take the kids down,’ said Nina, hurrying them along before Bella could thank her or follow them.