Page 47 of Christmas at Black Cherry Retreat
‘Maybe.’ She glanced down at her new jewellery. ‘It’s pretty isn’t it? I don’t do pretty.’
Her wistful explanation tugged at something deep in Tom. ‘I don’t know why.’
Fee’s eyes darkened. ‘It’s nothing earth-shattering.’
Getting you to open up is worse thanhacking an oyster shell with a blunt knife.His mother clapped her hands and everyone paid attention.
‘Kids, off you go to play. The ladies are going to sit down in the other room while the men do the dishes. I’ll serve dessert afterwards. Any questions?’
We wouldn’t dare.Tom noticed Fee frown. ‘Don’t worry. They won’t bite. I’ll get through as quick as I can and come join you.’She gave him the same determined stare he’d received yesterday when he implied brandishing a knife at a murderer’s neck might not be smart.
‘I’ll be perfectly fine. Go and do your cleaning duties.’
‘Yes, ma’am.’ Underestimating Fee wasn’t a wise move. He should have realised that by now. Tom headed for the kitchen before he could drop himself in any more trouble.
‘Feistyone, isn’t she?’ His father chuckled and gave him a hard slap on the back. ‘Good move to go for someone completely different.’
‘What are you gettin’ at?’ Tom glanced around to make sure Fee was nowhere in sight.
‘Hey, don’t take me the wrong way, son. She’s a good one and your mother’s plainly taken to her.’
Tom struggled to keep his temper. ‘I’m nearly forty-one and don’tneed anyone’s approval for whatever private life I choose to have, or not as the case may be. Fee’s only here for a few weeks. You don’t seriously think she’s going to give up a top-notch career to bury herself in the backwoods of Tennessee? Or that I’d ever consider marrying again?’
Hank rested a hand on Tom’s shoulder. ‘Hey, calm down, son. We’re happy to see you smile again and if awoman did the trick then good on you. I don’t know her well but Fee strikes me as quite a gal.’
She is. Tom wondered if bringing Fee here tonight might have been a big mistake on several levels. Apart from anything else it implied a level of attachment he’d no right to assume, or even want. ‘Sorry, Pop.’ He turned away to start loading the dishwasher. Tom was certain Mikey and Sandy, whowere ferrying dirty plates in from the dining room, hadn’t missed a single word. After he left, Tom would be the sole topic of conversation and he’d get interfering, brotherly phone calls tomorrow.
‘Don’t even think of skipping out on dessert or your mother will make you regret it.’ His father used his best sheriff’s voice, the one he used to keep both criminals and his own sons in line.‘Crack on and get finished up, boys, or the Dragon Queen will be on our case.’
‘She certainly will.’ Sarah swept into the room, her gaze quickly checking around her domain. ‘I can’t believe four grown men take so long clearing up a few dishes. If I find you’ve been drinking beer and watching football on my TV you’re in trouble.’ They’d clubbed together the Christmas before to buy her asmall television for the kitchen so she could keep up with her favourite soaps while she cooked. ‘I’m putting the coffee on and then I’ll find out what everyone wants. When I come back in to fix the desserts you’d better be finished.’
Tom kept his head down and finished wiping down the countertops before turning on the dishwasher. Making his escape he joined Fee but she threw him an icystare before turning away and carrying on her conversation with Sandy’s wife. Something was bugging her but asking about it now wouldn’t be smart with too many big ears listening.
After he’d put away a large slice of his mother’s world-famous coconut cake plus a piece of chocolate pie Tom asked Fee if she was ready to leave.
‘Yes.’
The single brief word was her only responseso he gave up and made his way around the room to say goodbye to everyone. They headed back outside loaded down with Tupperware boxes full of leftovers amid promises to return for Sunday supper. In the truck Fee stared resolutely out of the window, the rigid set of her body warning him off talking to her. Tom had a sulking woman on his hands and no idea what he’d done wrong.
