Page 31 of A Brambleberry Manor Christmas
‘Like the Yeti?’ asks Melanie.
Katja smiles. ‘Yes. Or the Abominable Snowman, as he’ssometimes called.’
‘Isn’t he sometimes known as Bigfoot?’ asks Noah.
She nods. ‘That as well. A huge creature who’s said to roamthe Ural Mountains. Some are convinced he’s real.’
‘There’ve been sightings of the Yeti, haven’t there?’Melanie’s eyes are wide.
Katja nods. ‘Apparently. Some say the hulking monster wasresponsible for the deaths of a party of students in the sixties, who wenthiking in the mountains. Several were found with their eyes and tonguesmissing.’
‘Oh, dear. How did we get on to the subject of hideousmonsters?’ laughs Marjery. ‘I’m feeling quite creeped out now.’
Melanie grins. ‘Sorry. My fault. I really love beingscared.’
There’s a ripple of laughter round the table, and shequickly adds, ‘I mean, as long as it’s in a controlled environment, like aroller coaster at the fair or abseiling down a sky-scraper building. That sortof scared.’
Rhoda nods. ‘Bob and I have a bit of the thrill-seeker in usas well. We tried bungee jumping and white-water rafting. Excellent fun, if alittleon the hairy side for Bob.’ She smiles at him affectionately.
‘You’re so brave. I’d be terrified,’ says Fen.
‘When did you do the bungee jumping? When you were younger?’asks Melanie.
‘No, earlier this year,’ says Bob. ‘We’ve lined up off-pisteski-ing and paragliding for next year.’
‘Gosh.’ Melanie gazes at them in awe. ‘I want to be like youwhen I’m your…er, a little bit older.’
Rhoda smiles. ‘So, you enjoy being scared, do you?’ I’mserving her turkey as she says it, and I notice her eyes swivel to Bob for justa second. He responds with a secretive little eyebrow-lift and I look away,feeling somehow as if I’ve been caught eavesdropping.
Melanie nods. ‘Love it. The more terrifying the better.’ Sheshrugs and glances across at Fergus, who pulls a wary face at her. ‘I know,’she says, blushing. ‘I’m weird.’
Rhoda shakes her head. ‘No, you’re not. Human beingslovebeing scared. As long as they know they have a safety net. There’s a rush ofadrenaline when you do something that’s completely out of your comfort zone,and your body produces all these lovely endorphins that fill you with amarvellous sense of euphoria.’ She sighs. ‘We never feel more alive than whenwe’re wing-walking over the Dorset and Wiltshire border. Eh, Bob?’
Melanie’s eyes nearly pop out at this. ‘Wing-walking. Wow,’she breathes. ‘You both are totally my heroes.’
I’m finished serving at this point, which is sort of a shamebecause I was enjoying the chat. As I leave, Bob’s insisting he’d be able toterrify Melanie with one of his sculptures. And Melanie is laughing and sayingshe can’t imagine that, but if he wants to have a bet on it…
‘Looks like Constance won’t make it at all,’ says Flo when Ireturn to the kitchen.
‘She must have been held up. It’s coming down quite heavilyout there now,’ I murmur, going over to the window and peering out. ‘Oh, hangon. I can see headlights coming up the drive.’
Flo joins me at the window. ‘So the mysterious Constance hasarrived. In her massive Range Rover. Very posh.’ She grins. ‘I wonder whatshe’ll be like after all this big build-up? Do you think she’s done itdeliberately to make an entrance, like you were saying?’
I laugh. ‘Maybe.’
‘At least she’s in time for the main event. The spectaculardessert.’
I groan. ‘Oh, don’t. I just hope Marjery thinks my yule logtastesas good as it looks.’
‘Of course she will. She’ll be wanting seconds, so stopworrying!’ Flo’s relaxed grin has a calming effect, and my tense shoulders dropa little.
‘I don’t know what I’d do without you, Flo,’ I say, soundingflippant but meaning every word.
She colours slightly and I can tell she’s chuffed. But sheshrugs off the compliment with a joke. ‘What can I say? I know. I’m brilliant.’
The doorbell rings and a minute later, we hear voices andlaughter in the hall – presumably Constance being reunited with all her old unipals. Then Marjery pops her head round the kitchen door and says, ‘Constance ishere and she’ll be joining us for dessert.’
‘Shall we serve it now?’ I ask.
