It’s a tough time for Brenda (Picture: ITV)

Brenda Walker (Lesley Dunlop) has been devastated by the death of her step-son Heath Hope (Sebastian Dowling) in Emmerdale. Heath died in a car crash at New Year, and currently his dad Bob Hope (Tony Audenshaw) holds his daughter Cathy (Gabrielle Dowling) responsible, believing that Cathy was driving the stolen car when it crashed and Heath was killed.

Brenda has been trying to hold the family together, looking after Cathy and trying to get Bob to talk to his daughter and to believe (as Brenda does) that Cathy is telling the truth about Angelica King (Rebecca Bakes) being the driver when the car crashed.

With her partner Eric Pollard (Chris Chittell)’s recent diagnosis of Parkinson’s to worry about as well, it’s an extremely tough time for Brenda.

In Wednesday (January 10)’s episode she decided to go back to work at the cafe. This wouldn’t be easy as it meant working alongside Nicola (Nicola Wheeler) – Angelica’s mum.

One of Brenda’s first customers was Arthur Thomas (Alfie Clarke), who of course had been a school friend of Heath’s.

He popped in for a muffin to take to college. Brenda’s sad face lit up when she saw him and she asked how it was to be back at college. He started to say he had music with Heath that day. He stopped himself but Brenda knew what he’d been going to say.

‘It’s just hit me that he’s not coming back,’ she said, desolate. She tried to get on with serving up his muffin but it all got too much and she needed a moment to have a cry. Arthur felt terrible, although he hadn’t done anything wrong.

Heath died at the start of this year (Picture: ITV)

Later, Arthur was coming back from college and saw Brenda outside the B&B looking at the flowers and messages that people had left for Heath.

Brenda smiled when she saw him and said it was amazing how much Heath had meant to so many people.

The villagers will soon say goodbye to Heath (Picture: ITV)

Arthur said he had something for her. The school had paid tribute to Heath in an assembly, and the students had signed a shirt with messages to him ‘Like we do on the last day of school. It’s a tradition,’ Arthur said, showing her the shirt covered in signatures and messages.

‘We did it so you’d know he’s never going to be forgotten,’ he added.

Brenda sobbed and told him it was beautiful and that she’d put the shirt in Heath’s room.

‘Heath should have been going back to college this week too,’ she said, drying her eyes. She told Arthur that if he needed to get back she would be fine on her own.

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Arthur – who is an absolutely lovely person – asked her if he could stay, and offered to read some of the messages for her.

‘Yes please,’ she smiled.

And honestly, we’re not crying at all. Well, maybe just a little bit.

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Pass the tissues.