Good question. How could she make it work? Obviously, she could work with the school, but some of the older residents had lost loved ones recently, like poor old Winston whose wife had just died, and faced Christmas alone. They’d never had children and though he was close to Elsie, the librarian, would anyone else buy him gifts this year? There were other older people too who had lost their partners and might be feeling lonely at this time of year. It would be nice to make this Christmas extra special for them too.

‘If those who wanted to take part filled out a form, each form could have a number that went on a tag to hang on the giving tree. As long as the tag had the form number and a suggested gift, it would be easy to keep track of.’

‘And you could include an option for food gifts as well,’ Cynthia said. ‘We all know the food bank’s already running low. You can’t give fresh food, but you could definitely give other things to make the season special like Christmas puddings and selection boxes.’

‘That’s a great idea, Mum.’ Bella grinned. They seemed genuinely excited for the idea, just as she was.

In her mind’s eye she saw a tree with a mountain of presents underneath and pictured giving a gift to every house in the village. No one would be sad this Christmas if she had anything to do with it. Every family would wake on Christmas morning laughing and smiling, eager for the day to come.

Her heart had felt like a black, heavy weight in her chest since yesterday, but this would surely get her through the festive season. The less time she spent at home, the better, and between work, volunteering at Bluebell Park and running the giving tree, she’d barely have time to think about the life she’d had.

‘And, at Bluebell Park, the grotto’s going in front of a belt of fir trees to give a Christmassy feel and there’s a really large tree to the right that will be perfect for the giving tree. All we need to do is decorate it with some lights and laminate the tags so they don’t get wet.’

It must have been fate.

‘It sounds wonderful, darling,’ Cynthia said, beaming with pride. ‘Count me in for anything I can do.’

‘And me,’ Caro added, adjusting her position in the chair. ‘At least until I get so big I can’t actually walk and just waddle around like a duck.’

‘You’re doing that now,’ Bella teased and Caro feigned annoyance.

‘Watch it or I really will take my shoes off and kick you with my huge meat boat feet.’

Excitement bubbled up in her stomach and the few niggling doubts she’d had faded. This year, Meadowbank village would have a giving tree and everyone’s Christmas would be special and filled with joy, even if hers wasn’t.