Page 37 of A Not So Quiet Christmas
“Uncomfortable?”
“You could have just ignored me,” I said. “Pretended I wasn’t here. You didn’t have to keep frowning as if my mere presence offended you.”
“Frowning?”
I bristled at his response. “Please stop repeating my words.”
Oliver laughed, an action that did nothing to soothe my frustration. “Antonia, I wasn’t looking at you.”
“Yeah, right.” I folded my arms tight across my chest.
He laughed some more. “Honestly. I was looking at Granddad.”
I froze again. “Granddad?”
“Yes. Granddad.”
I whimpered, unable to believe I’d just told Oliver to show his own relative more respect.
“I know how grumpy he can be. I was checking he was being nice.”
“Nice?”
“Now who’s repeating things. Anyway, I was obviously worrying about nothing. The two of you seemed to be getting on pretty well.”
I tried to get my head around what I was hearing. “So youweren’tgiving me dirty looks?”
“No. Why would I?”
Again, I looked at him like he had to ask.
Oliver appeared genuinely shocked. “If you’re still hung up about Clarabelle, I told you she has a history of getting out and scaring people. Ask anyone here.” He threw his arms out as if emphasising his point. “She’s well known for it. And even if she wasn’t, I wouldn’t judge you for a genuine mistake. As for Fotherghyll Fell… Loads of people get stuck.”
Despite Oliver’s protests of innocence, I still wasn’t sure whether to believe him. “And Ted’s really your grandfather?”
“Yes, he is.”
I stared at Oliver and comparing the two men’s features I began to see a resemblance. They had similar shaped eyes and thick heads of hair. Although personality wise, grandfather and grandson couldn’t have been more different. In fact, thanks to my outburst, I realisedIhad more in common with Ted than Oliver did. I cringed at the thought. As if I wasn’t embarrassed enough, now I really wanted the ground to swallow me whole.
“And for your information I wasn’t scowling at Granddad either,” Oliver said. “I was willing him not to show me up. You’ve seen for yourself how abrupt he can be when he’s feeling that way.”
I swallowed hard, knowing I’d made a fool of myself and for the third time. My stomach churned as I realised I had yet another story to cheer Jules up with.
Sitting there, I knew I should apologise, but my pride wouldn’t let me. “Well that’s all right then,” I said, picking up my glass and drinking a mouthful of wine.
