Page 16 of Just a Taste
Noelle beams and I realise, with a jolt, that this is the first time I’ve seen her smile like this.
It’s a lovely smile.
Wide and bright.
The kind that takes over her whole face and lights up her eyes.
‘You flatter me,’ she says demurely.
‘Trust us, it’s well deserved,’ Brian says.
‘Thank you. So, first up we have a rich cranberry pear tart with a buttery walnut shortbread crust.’
Everyoneoohs –literally – as Noelle sets the circular panin the middle of the table and we get our first glimpse of our first dessert for the evening. Thick pear slices are artfully laid out with glistening cranberries sprinkled around the top.
‘You made this yourself?’ Therese asks, mouth slightly agape as she stares at the dessert. ‘Today?’
Noelle nods and Therese shakes her head in disbelief.
‘You are simply magnificent.’
Noelle ducks her head, her smile turning slightly bashful. ‘You haven’t even tried it yet.’ She hands out forks to everyone and then gestures for us to dig in. As predicted, the dessert is—
‘Phenomenal,’ says Brian again, and I’m starting to worry that it’s the only descriptor he knows.
‘Delectable,’ Therese purrs.
‘Outstanding,’ Meryl mumbles through a mouthful of buttery crust.
‘Heavenly,’ Wilbur says, and I’m pretty certain that’s the highest compliment I’ve ever heard him give anything.
‘Fucking amazing,’ Luca finishes off as he practically licks his plate clean. ‘Noelle, you should open up your own restaurant.’
It’s a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it kind of movement, but Noelle hesitates suddenly. Her beaming smile falters slightly before she shrugs and says, ‘Maybe one day. It’s not really my focus right now, though. I actually really enjoy working more intimately with my clients.’
She glances over at me and, if I’m not mistaken, her lip twitches slightly. ‘It’s just so nice to get feedback directly, like you’ve all been giving me today. Nothing beats that.’
Sarcasm is dripping from her every word, but nobody else seems to catch it. They all erupt into murmurs of fervent agreement, and Noelle’s smile blooms into something wonderous.
‘Didn’t you say something about another dessert?’ I ask, my voice cutting across their delighted murmurs like a whip. A small part of me hates how brusque I know I sound, but I push aside the feeling without a second thought – I’ve got good at that over the years. Besides, this evening has gone on long enough already.
There’s no need to keep stretching things out.
Noelle’s smile stiffens into something a little more forced as she turns to look at me. Now that’s what I’m used to. Barely concealed contempt flashes across her face, and I do my best to ignore the spark of shame that alights inside me.
‘Right. Dessert number two,’ she says curtly, turning back to the cart she pushed into the room. ‘This is a true Jones family Christmas tradition.’ She brandishes a two-tier cake and places it on the table with a flourish. It’s covered in intricate icing swirls, and delicate sugar snowflakes cascading down the side.
‘Spiced rum pumpkin cake,’ Noelle announces proudly.‘It’s an old family recipe with a few tweaks from me. My grandmother makes it every year for our annual family reunion and it’s reached a point where it just doesn’t feel like Christmas if I don’t get a slice of this.’
And what would be so wrong about that? It’s just another day in the calendar, and I’ve never understood what’s so special about it. What is it about December 25th that turns people into sickeningly twee versions of themselves?
I poke at my slice of cake as Noelle sets it down in front of me. It takes me all of five seconds to discover that it’s just as delicious as the rest of her meal. I take a bite and the flavours explode in my mouth, a moist, perfect blend of spices and sweetness that warms me from the inside out. I glance around the table to see everyone else nodding in approval, their eyes closed in bliss as they savour each mouthful.
‘Noelle, this is incredible,’ Meryl exclaims between bites. ‘You should seriously consider selling this cake. People would queue down the street for a taste.’
Noelle smiles at the compliment, her eyes meeting mine for a brief moment before she turns her attention back to the group. ‘Thank you. I’m glad you’re all enjoying it.’
Even Wilbur, usually so reserved in his praise, nods in approval.
