On the ground, leading up to the front door, was a short red runner with long green garlands studded with lights and red bows on either side. A giant wooden sign, artistically crooked and covered in fake snow, stated ‘Lapland’ and another by the door declared ‘Santa’s Workshop’. Two small Christmas trees stood either side of the door with presents in shiny red wrapping paper underneath and beside them, a small snowman and reindeer peeped out. A large red ribbon that Mr Tomlin, who always stepped in to play Santa, was going to cut ran around the whole thing, and the lights were all in darkness.

Freddie dropped his hand from Nick’s, now other children were around. ‘Can I go and play, Dad, please?’

‘Of course.’ Nick glanced around spying Bella at the impressive Santa’s grotto and next to it, the beautiful fir tree she was using as the giving tree. ‘I’m going to go and chat to Bella while we wait for the big reveal. I’ll be just over there.’

Nick didn’t know why he kept feeling the need to check in on Bella. At first, he’d thought it was just empathy for what she was going through, having been through it himself, but lately he wasn’t sure. His mind kept finding questions to ask her, things he wanted to talk about. It was odd given that until very recently, he’d been sure he’d never want to talk to a single woman ever again. Nick edged over. Feeling an apprehension he’d never experienced with her before. ‘Hi, Bella. How’s it going?’

Bella turned around, smiling broadly. A slight twinkle came to her eyes, but it wasn’t as bright as it had been before Evan left and Nick felt an unusual surge of anger at the idiot who’d stolen her shine.

‘Nick, hey. Where’s Freddie?’ He nodded towards the playground where Freddie was now hanging upside down from the monkey bars with a friend pushing him in the back like a swing. Bella giggled. ‘I see. Boys, hey? Though honestly, girls can be just as much work.’

‘I always wanted a girl as well,’ he said without thinking and a slight pinch at the corner of Bella’s eyes showed her repressed surprise. He scratched the back of his head unsure why he’d just said that. For the last six months he hadn’t thought about the future at all but working to get his life together was bringing something back. Not that he was ready for dating yet. Talking to a woman was a far cry from romancing one and he wasn’t making very good conversation anyway. ‘I don’t really know why I said that. I just always fancied one of each I suppose. A little princess as well as my maniac of a boy.’