It Takes A Village

If Jen was to continue her dad's Christmas traditions, she'd need some help...

JEN read the e-mail on the screen of her iPad. The Christmas tree! She swallowed hard and suppressed a sob.

"Problem, Mum?" Her daughter was always quick to pick up on the moments when she wasn't quite coping.

"There must be all sorts in Grandad's e-mail account now you've cracked the password." Jen flinched.

Deciding whether or not to try to crack the password had been an emotional experience.

However, it had allowed the family to access several business exchanges that would otherwise have taken years to sort out.

"It's a reminder from Merton's Garden Centre.

Not surprising, since Mum and Dad always bought their Christmas trees from them." Jen struggled to hold on to her cool.

It had been five months since her dad died and still these "first time since" things tripped her up.

It was even worse in a way than it had been when Mum died. At least then she'd still had Dad.

One Christmas tree in particular was a biggie in terms of "first time since".

"I'm not going to bother this year, darling," Jen said with a determination she was far from feeling.

"Since I'm heading over to yours on the twentieth and not coming back until the third, who would be in the house to see it?" "That's true," Angie said.

Jen knew they were both holding back on mentioning the other tree.

The other tree that so many would see and appreciate, no matter whether Jen was at home or out on the farm with Angie, Gavin and baby Sophie.

Jen stood up and crossed the room to gaze out on to the village square in front of what had been her parents' property.

A sizeable van was manoeuvring into a space only just big enough.

Jen recognised the logo that proclaimed Burton & Burton, Painters and Decorators of Distinction.