Determined to enjoy the snow, knowing it never lasted long, Bella kept her spirits up by singing along to Christmas songs. Freddie joined in too and as the heating in the car revived her, they continued to enjoy their day.

For the next hour, their deliveries were greeted in the same way each time with hugs and kisses and treats aplenty. When they were delivering gifts to some of the older residents who were facing a lonely Christmas, Freddie joined her. He seemed to relish the unadulterated happiness their deliveries made, his smile being as wide and free as theirs were, and Bella wished she could record each response to show to the person who’d taken the tag. In the car, they talked about school and of course Freddie talked about his mum, but he seemed a little more guarded today and she hoped he wasn’t uncomfortable around her. Even though it was hard and painful for her, Bella ensured she met every remark with her usual patience and interest.

‘It’s like a blizzard out there now,’ Bella said after a couple of hours. ‘I’ve never seen anything like it.’

‘I think it’s awesome,’ Freddie replied, his eyes wide with wonder.

So would she if she were inside in the warm looking at it through her front window, but driving around in it was giving her a headache. Her car had never liked the cold and before long, it began to slip and slide on the roads. Even though it was only mid-afternoon, the world seemed dark and small and Bella hoped they’d make it back before too long but the pile of presents on the back seat made that unlikely. She might have to cut the rest of the deliveries short and try again tomorrow. She’d try and get a few more done – the ones on the outer road – and that way she could walk the rest of the presents to their destinations tomorrow if need be.

The next deliveries took her to the outer road of Meadowbank. Where the fields rolled away into the distance, a blanket of white snow covered everything. She stopped to make the next delivery on their list and Freddie came with her. After another jubilant thank you, they ran back to the warmth of the car, and she slid the key into the ignition. She turned it, only to be met with a weary, sluggish groan. Bella tried again, the old engine moaning as it attempted to turn over.

‘Oh no. No, no, no.’

‘Is it dead?’ asked Freddie through a mouthful of Quality Street Mrs Dalloway, the last person, had given him.