I didn’t comment, but threw a pine cone, which had somehow made its way into one of the boxes, at him instead.

‘Ow,’ he winced, as it bounced off his head.

‘Sorry,’ I grinned, failing to stifle a giggle.

‘Yeah,’ he said, rubbing the spot where it had made contact, ‘you sound it.’

He threw the cone back and I caught it, noting the mischievous look in his eye. I imagined a game of back and forth, a playful tussle, lingering eye contact, a breathless sigh and then…

‘I’ve no idea how this got in here,’ I briskly said, setting the cone to one side. ‘Dad always insisted that anything borrowed from nature, should be returned to nature.’

Then I remembered, David and Sue wouldn’t have necessarily known that. I daresay they had hastily packed everything away and returned it all to the loft. It must have been a dreadful and depressing task. I couldn’t have faced it and felt guilty that I’d left it to them.

‘There’s some more here,’ commented Ned. ‘But don’t worry, we can take them to the plantation later. I’ve got an outdoor activity planned for this afternoon.’

‘In that case,’ I said, checking the time as well as my darkening thoughts, ‘we’d better get a move on.’

Within a couple of hours, the lodge was transformed. I had taken onboard what Ned had said about creating something new and rather than try and replicate what Dad favoured, I’d put my own stylish spin on things.

There were certainly enough decorations to create a whole new design. If fact, looking at what was left, there was enough to have at least a five-year rotation. I’d settled on a green and white aesthetic and with the warmth of the wood which the lodge was built from and the clear lights, it made for a striking combination.

‘That’s the last of them,’ said Ned, as he climbed down from the ladder.

He’d been up and down more times than I cared to count since we’d started pinning up the garlands, but the effect was worth his exertions.

‘Perfect,’ I said, standing back and taking the space in.

The strands of lights were all warm white and the elaborate white garlands featured snowflakes, stars and intricate patterns. It was the kind of pared back colouring I knew Mum would have favoured over Dad’s kitsch and gaudy combinations.

‘It’s certainly different,’ said Ned.

‘The green will come in when we’ve got the tree and the holly, ivy and…’

‘Mistletoe,’ Ned smiled, quirking an eyebrow.

‘Yes,’ I said, ‘there might be room for that too.’ Then added, ‘we’ll have to get Maya on the case.’

I had been dropping her into the conversation all morning, but Ned hadn’t confessed how much he liked her. That said, the mention of mistletoe had sparked more of a reaction.