‘No … I mean, no, I don’t need to think. I’ll help.’

‘Great!’

Carrie went on her way, as did Mrs Addington, whowas thrilled with the chocolate-brown woolly gloves she’d selected.

‘That was kind of you,’ said Loretta, although now she was worried Carrie would feel like she had to help just because Daisy asked her.

Daisy shrugged. ‘Carrie’s nice, I like her. And Grandad said with school finished for the summer she’s been at a bit of a loose end. She’s interested in learning more about sewing, quilting,basically creating, so we’ll be helping her as much as she’s helping us. And Grandad will be chuffed to bits that she helped. If we ever get it done,’ she added doubtfully.

‘You will,’ Loretta smiled. And with a hand on her heart she went out to the back to make them both a cup of tea. Daisy had bobbed along on her own for so long in the village that it was nice to see her opening up to the possibilityof new people in her life.

Her three daughters were here in Butterbury and about to embark on a project together, and maybe it would help each of them to learn a bit more about themselves in the process.