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‘Evelyn, love.’ Julie spotted her as soon as she stepped foot into the building. ‘Are you thirsty? Come and grab some coffee with us in the bar. We’re drawing up a plan of action for the day.’

‘Sounds good. Thank you all for being here.’ She looked around the rest of the WI ladies, who she felt had adopted her in recent weeks, and was filled with gratitude for everything so many people had already done for her and her family. ‘So, how can I help?’

‘Up to you. There’s plenty to do. You’ve already seen the boys out front setting up the dance floor and marquee. Nick, and the team from Birmingham should be with us by about 10.00. They’ve got to collect the truck, pick up all the decorations from the theatre, and head over here. There should be vans arriving from the county council with decorations from our neighbouring villages. It’ll be all hands to unload and get them set up. And to get the marquee decorated.’

‘So what do we do until then?’

‘Plan, and then make breakfast.’ Julie consulted her list. ‘We’ve got more volunteers arriving around 9.30. We’ll be doing sausage and bacon sandwiches for everyone. Plus veggie and vegan options for those that want them.’

‘How many people are you expecting?’

‘We’re cooking for sixty,’ Nancy Snowdon, the school administrator, answered.

‘Wow. That many will be here helping?’

‘Probably a few more. Some people will eat before they come.’

Evelyn stared at them in amazement.

‘And the sparkies should be here by about lunchtime.’

‘Sparkies?’

‘Electricians,’ Nick’s Mum explained. ‘To run the cables, ensure the generators are set up properly, and sign everything off. Then we’ve got Environmental Health coming down tomorrow afternoon to sign off everything else.’

‘What happens if they don’t?’ Evelyn asked. ‘Sign everything off, I mean.’

‘They will,’ Julie assured her. ‘We’re used to running events like this. The only thing that has really changed is the venue because we’re using the pavilion instead of the village hall.’

‘And we’ve got the full list of requirements we have to meet as well. We’ll just tick off every point as we set up.’

‘So, what can I do until Nick and the decorations all start arriving?’

‘Help with breakfast. We’re going to have a lot of hungry people to feed soon.’

Jake rolled his shoulders back and forth and tried to stretch the crick out of his neck as he stood and looked around the marquee. He’d just finished hammering in the ground pegs the set-up team had given him, and was glad to see the job done as his back was starting to ache from being bent into a pretzel and driving the pegs into the hard, dry ground.

He must have pounded in close to a hundred of the blasted things, while the others had twisted, clicked and snapped the dance floor into place around the bandstand, which was now just brushing against the canvas of the new, temporary roof.

Green garlands and fairy lights were being strung between the supporting legs and poles, and tinsel, baubles, and flowers wove their way around the bandstand. The decorations were all silvers, whites and pale blues, making the place look like a wintery wonderland, and matching the shimmery fabric that was being tied around the tent, and draped from the ceilings.

He didn’t totally understand the vision of his mum and the rest of the organising committee, but he was happy to just do as he was told, put things where they pointed, and hang whatever they wanted, wherever they asked. And the result – even though they were far from finished – was already looking beautiful.

He pulled his T-shirt away from his chest and flapped it against his damp skin.

‘It’s pretty amazing.’

He looked up and was treated to a view of a gorgeous pair of legs, stretching from trainers all the way up to cut-off jean shorts. He was so freaking lucky. ‘Yeah, it’s pretty cool.’

‘Thought you might be thirsty.’ Evelyn leaned down, giving him a very interesting view as she handed him a tall glass, already dotted with condensation. ‘Your mum’s lemonade. She’s made a vat of it.’

‘It is good.’ Jake downed half the glass in one go. ‘How’s it all going?’

‘Really good.’ Evelyn smiled so happily that suddenly all his aches disappeared in a flood of warmth. ‘Once the tables are set up, we’ll be virtually done in here. And people have already started work in the park, and the council are putting the lights up through the village centre.’

He downed the rest of the glass. ‘So what’s the next job on the list?’

Evelyn looked down at the clipboard she’d used as a drinks tray and ran her finger down the list. ‘How about helping with decorating the village square?’