‘At least it wasn’t in vain,’ said Mabel reassuringly, ‘because if it wasn’t for you, Suzie might never have made up with her mam.’

‘That’s the only thing that makes this whole thing bearable,’ said Roz wretchedly. ‘I just wish Felix would see things the way you do.’

‘He will,’ said Heulwyn. ‘He’s a grand lad is your Felix, and he worships the ground you walk on. His pride’s taken a bit of a knock but it’ll heal.’

This conversation had taken place just after she’d arrived on the farm, and Roz had hoped that Felix would appear at the door to the cottage full of forgiveness and everything would go back to how it was before the incident at Lime Street Station. But as the days had rolled by, her hope faded.

Now, as she watched the snow whirl around in little eddies, she held the small bar of Lifebuoy soap, which she had bought Felix as a Christmas present, up to her nose and gave it a tentative sniff. Given the circumstances, it may have seemed silly for her to wish that Felix would turn up for Christmas, but she couldn’t help hoping, even now, that he would appear. She turned to see Mabel shuffling over, her eiderdown wrapped around her shoulders as she joined Roz by the window.

‘Merry Christmas, Roz,’ she said, holding out a small paper bag.

Taking the bag, Roz looked inside and smiled. ‘Everton mints! Where on earth did you get these?’

Mabel winked. ‘I have my ways.’

‘You mean you’ve got Gethin,’ smiled Roz.

‘He has his uses. Do you realise this is going to be our first Christmas together?’

Keen to steer the subject away from boyfriends, Roz handed her friend a bar of Fry’s Chocolate Cream.

‘Ooh,’ said Mabel, ‘I shall have one piece a day, to make it last.’ She followed Roz’s gaze to the yard. ‘You still hoping?’

Roz nodded. ‘Hope is all I have.’

Mabel stretched out her arm and snuggled Roz into the eiderdown with her. ‘Maybe they’ve stopped the trains due to the snow,’ she suggested. ‘It can get really bad here in the mountains.’

‘Either way, he’s not here,’ said Roz. ‘I don’t wish to be a wet blanket, but I’d rather get on with the chores – it’s better than dwelling on the ifs and maybes.’

Nodding, Mabel made her way back over to her bed, put her slippers on, and swapped her eiderdown for her dressing gown. ‘I’ll go and fetch some hot water, so we can have a wash.’

Roz nodded, but continued to look out of the window. ‘Where are you, Felix Ackerman?’ she said quietly. ‘I need you.’

It was much later that morning by the time Roz, Mabel and Gethin had finished seeing to the animals.