Emma’s plans for a Christmas treat seem to have fallen through.

Radio Times: Pat gives Susan a warning, and Helen treads a delicate path.

Characters: Ed, Emma, Helen, Jack, Jess, Pat, Susan

• At Grange Farm, Emma dashes off to work, having left Ed with strict instructions to buy the pantomime tickets online. At Bridge Farm, Helen’s making final arrangements to drive down to see Jess. Pat’s still not sure that she should travel down on her own but her offer to accompany Helen is refused yet again. It’s something that Helen feels that she needs to do on her own. She and Jack drive away leaving Pat’s goodbyes hanging plaintively in the air.
• In The Tearoom, Susan and Emma discuss how well the photo shoot went. They’re joined by Pat, who’s still distracted by Helen’s visit. Susan’s comments about the developing friendship between Helen and Jess don’t help matters. Emma tries to distract her but to no avail. Pat snaps. The one thing that Helen wants is to be left alone to sort her life out and not to be the object of continuing gossip and speculation.
• A frosty reception awaits Helen, with Jess on the point of leaving to collect Ethan. Helen has taken flowers for her and a toy for Ethan. She presents Jess with a card made jointly with Henry. It expresses the depth of Helen’s gratitude. Jess insists that she did nothing to help Helen; she simply wanted to ensure that Rob didn’t win any more. Just as it seems that things couldn’t get worse, Jess offers to spend some time at a soft play centre with Ethan and her visitors. Helen gladly accepts.
• Susan is having a rant about Pat’s behaviour. Ed turns up to see Emma and Susan strops off, muttering darkly. Ed has bad news. He’s had to call the vet in to repair some damage to his prize ram and guess what? The bill will probably exceed £100. So tickets to the Felpersham pantomime have fallen by the wayside. The news doesn’t sit well with Emma. Yet again her children’s Christmas treats have been side-lined, and it’s just not fair.
• Relationships have thawed at the soft play centre with compliments being paid to both children. Jess mentions that she saw Rob’s parents in town quite by accident and had to endure a torrent of verbal abuse from his father before he was led away by Ursula. Both women agree that they don’t wish to provoke Rob. Jess is still scared of him and doesn’t trust him. Helen insists that neither of them should be scared of him, for if they are it means that he’s still winning. Well said, Helen.