I listened intently as he ran through everything, especially the bit about who was coming to collect their potted trees as well as where he and Maya were going to be heading. I couldn’t help noticing that he looked tired. There were dark circles under his eyes and the frown lines looked established enough to be a permanent forehead feature, even though I knew they weren’t.

Given the miles he’d clocked up since the potted delivery service began, combined with those he’d added to the tally while delivering to places like Wynbridge, I supposed it was hardly surprising that he looked all in. At least I hoped that was the reason behind the bags. I’d hate to think that my request that he should buy me out had contributed to them.

‘Because I wouldn’t usually need her,’ I heard him saying. ‘You are listening, aren’t you, Liza?’

‘Yes,’ I nodded, realising my focus had been side-tracked for a few seconds.

‘Right well, as I was saying,’ he continued. ‘I wouldn’t usually take Maya, but a few of the trees are quite big now and it’s a struggle to manoeuvre them on my own.’

‘Your dad and I will be fine,’ I told him.

‘And Joe,’ he said, narrowing his eyes.

Clearly, I’d missed something in the few seconds I’d drifted off.

‘And Joe,’ I repeated, remembering who he was talking about just in time. ‘Your friend who sells his bird seed and is Hope’s other half.’

‘Yes,’ Ned said, his brow clearing and his shoulders relaxing. ‘He can do the really heavy lifting and stuff.’

Ordinarily, I would have felt aggrieved about a comment like that, however, being a little on the short side did put me at a disadvantage when it came to manhandling Christmas trees. It was nothing to do with brute force. I could lug them about well enough, but I did sometimes have a job seeing over the top and getting my arms around them, to feed them through the netting machine. Anything over six foot was definitely a challenge, so Joe’s longer reach would be much appreciated.

‘It’s going to be especially busy early on,’ Ned told me, ‘because everyone will want to get their tree home and ready to decorate before they have their Sunday dinner, so make sure you have a big breakfast. You’ll soon burn off the calories.’

‘Duly noted,’ I said, reaching for what Mum had always called the porridge pan. ‘Shall I make enough for two?’

‘Better make it three,’ said Ned, with a nod to the window. ‘Here’s Maya. She’ll have already had one breakfast at home, but she won’t turn down another.’