Standing by the stall, chatting with her family, Bella didn’t know anyone else was there until a small hand touched her arm. Spinning around she saw it was Freddie. ‘Hello, Freddie, are you having a nice time?’

‘Yeah. The lights look really pretty and the grotto’s awesome. I asked if I could come over and see you.’

‘Right, is everything okay?’ She led him a little further away so they could talk in peace. Guilt bit at her as she thought about her earlier conversation with Nick.

The little boy glanced over his shoulder, his dark hair the same as his dad’s falling into his eyes. ‘Can I give you this, Miss Moore?’ He pulled a folded piece of paper from his pocket and held it out to her.

‘Of course. What is it?’

‘It’s one of those forms for the tree thing.’ He pointed over his shoulder at the giving tree.

‘Oh, right, thank you.’ Bella opened it out and began reading, forcing back the familiar sting that signalled tears.

The form had been filled out in Freddie’s scrawling hand. His writing was actually very good for a Year 5 boy. Bella often found that boys were the ones who struggled, but he’d done well and seeing some of the words spelt phonetically made her heart throb.

‘My dad doesn’t get any Christmas presents except sometimes one from Trish or something from Nanny and Grandpa that he doesn’t like, but I don’t think that’s fair. I can’t buy them for him. I don’t get enough pocket money, but I want him to have a present this Christmas. He’s always looking after me and I want him to be looked after too. Dad said the tree is for people who really need stuff and I know Dad doesn’t, but I want him to be happy. It’s …’ The boy faltered, then carried on with a maturity that surprised her. ‘It’s going to be hard for him without Mum.’

‘Oh, Freddie, that’s so lovely of you. I’m sure someone will be happy to get something nice for your dad. What do you think he’d like?’

‘I know I can’t ask for a PlayStation game – that’d be too cheeky. And Dad always says we should be grateful for all the games we have, even though some of them are old. I think he’d like a new jumper. The one he always wears has holes in the elbows.’ Bella resisted the urge to hug the little boy knowing that if no one else took the tag, she would. ‘You won’t tell Dad, will you? I want it to be a surprise.’

‘I promise I won’t. I’ll make his tag tonight and make sure someone takes it.’