I was stalling for time, trying to pick David out in the crowd. I was happy to rent the tree out but as it was my first time doing it independently, and so particularly important, I wanted him nearby to oversee the procedure.

‘I have,’ said the man, wrinkling his nose, ‘but it’s got my name on. I haven’t got anything with the family name on. Is it important?’

‘No,’ I told him, but I wasn’t really sure whether it was or not. ‘Don’t worry. We can manage without it. Where’s David?’ I asked Joe who was standing next to me, talking to another family.

‘Sorting something in the grotto, I think. Do you want me to fetch him?’

‘No,’ I said, seeing there was already quite a queue forming. ‘It’s fine. I can manage.’

I’d watched plenty of potted trees being rented out over the last few days and was clear on how the logging out system operated so I knew I could do it. I just needed to get on with it.

‘So,’ I said to the man who was looking more edgy by the minute as Joe rushed off to help a young couple select one of the cut trees. ‘What was the name?’

‘Stott,’ he told me. ‘The name is Stott and it’s the Stott family tree that I’m here to collect.’ He reeled the words off as if they were part of a script he’d been told to memorise. ‘It’s much-loved apparently and an important part of Christmas.’ He sounded slightly bewildered by the family’s attachment to the tree, but having walked through the potted part of the plantation, I could understand why it meant so much to them. ‘I’d better not cock this up, had I?’ he swallowed.

I led him over to the potted trees awaiting collection. As I began sorting through them, my head filled again with thoughts of what might be happening to Wren. Theo had looked positively terrified, so I couldn’t even begin to imagine how she was feeling. I’d had no idea she was pregnant or that she’d previously miscarried, but then as a newcomer, or new returner to Wynmouth, that was no surprise. It wasn’t the sort of information you shared with people you’d only just met, was it?

I could feel the lump beginning to form in my throat again and for two pins would have handed my nervous customer over to Joe. However, it was far too busy for me to bail, especially after I’d been so adamant about pitching in and helping out.

‘Here it is!’ announced the Stott family representative, making me jump, as he grasped a label and looked triumphant. ‘I’ve found it.’

With his chest puffed out, he looked quite transformed. He was in full hunter gatherer mode.