‘But what about Wynter’s?’ Wren asked. ‘I know you said Ned was angry about what happened, but now it’s all sorted, surely he’ll be expecting you to help shift the trees.’

‘No, he won’t,’ I said, shaking my head. ‘The delivery service ends tomorrow and then there’ll be him, David and Maya in the yard, which is the usual team. They won’t need me at all. And of course, Liam’s on the payroll now too.’

If Wren and Theo agreed, this idea would not only save their festive sales, but also keep me out of Maya’s way. I’d been trying to come up with a way to avoid her that wouldn’t look too obvious and this was the perfect solution.

‘Well,’ said Wren, once she’d mulled it over, ‘as long as you’re sure. That really would be amazing and a huge weight off my mind.’

‘One hundred per cent sure,’ I told her. ‘Maya helped me out of a tight spot with those trees yesterday,’ I added, feeling my face colour, ‘and now I can help you. It’s the perfect pay it forward gesture.’

I tried not to dwell on thoughts of how I’d then stomped all over Maya’s very generous act of kindness by kissing Ned, but then I remembered, he’d kissed me too. I hadn’t leapt across the sofa and thrown myself at him, we’d very definitely met in the middle, drawn together by some unseen but irresistible force. Not that that excused what had happened, but it was a two-way street.

‘All right,’ beamed Wren. ‘Theo should be at the studio in a few minutes. I’ll give him a ring and see what he says. He might be able to remember how much stock is still in the hut and if he thinks we need more, he can bring it away with him this morning.’

‘That’s a great idea,’ I agreed.

Theo was as keen on the plan as we both were and came back with a couple of boxes which I promised to set out in readiness to open up the next day.

‘If you could do tomorrow, Thursday and Friday,’ he said as we loaded the cartons into my car, ‘then I should be back on Saturday.’

‘Let’s play it by ear,’ I told him. ‘There’s no rush, is there? I can do easily do the weekend if you need me to.’

‘But what about the party?’ he said. ‘Surely Ned will want you to help with setting up for that?’

‘What party?’ I frowned.