I followed him back over to the barn at the side of the yard which was where the office, stores and Santa’s grotto were located.

‘It’s really starting to struggle,’ Ned said, as he came to a stop in front of a tree which was in a huge pot outside the barn door. ‘It’s had far longer in a container than it should. I wanted Dad to ask you about planting it out last year, but he said to wait. He was certain you’d want to do it yourself. With some help of course. It is pretty big, after all.’

I swallowed hard as I looked at the tree I no longer recognised.

‘You can see it’s beginning to flag,’ Ned carried on, unaware of the impact his words were having, ‘in spite of the extra tender loving care I’ve been giving it and if it doesn’t get moved on soon, I think we’ll lose it.’

I couldn’t say anything.

‘Hey, are you all right?’ Ned asked, frowning down at me when he finally realised, I hadn’t responded to anything he’d said.

I pulled in a ragged breath, and slowly let it out again.

‘Is this,’ I swallowed, ‘is this…’

‘Your family tree,’ Ned finished for me, his tone softer. ‘Yes,’ he said, ‘this is yours, Liza.’

I couldn’t believe it was the same tree that Dad had chosen to have in the lodge soon after we moved. It had been the focal point of our festive celebrations for years.

‘I think I’ve found the perfect spot for it.’ Ned said kindly.

I quickly reminded myself that I didn’t care about the tree or anything else still here for that matter. I didn’t care about a single thing that was connected to Wynter’s Trees, and yet, the sight of that damn tree ailing in its too tight pot, had somehow succeeded in tearing my heart in two, just like my first glimpse of the lodge had.

‘I’ll have a think about it,’ was all I could huskily say.

‘All right,’ Ned nodded.

The expression on his face told me that the look on mine gave away exactly how I was feeling. I turned away and, with an effort, recalibrated and shifted focus back to the real business in hand. I had to get a grip, and not get caught up in the sentiment I was floored to find I had attached to a few random things. I took a deep breath and lifted my chin as Bandit nudged his damp nose into my clenched fist and it was then that I spotted Dad’s truck.