Page 47 of A Brambleberry Manor Christmas
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Key lime pie, topped with whipped cream and lime zest
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Back with the girls, I tell everyone that Flo suddenlyfelt unwell and had to go home, and Fen offers to give me a lift over to BrambleberryManor.
‘Poor Flo. Is it a stomach bug or something?’ asks Fen inthe car.
‘Er, yes. She just felt a bit sick.’ I bite my lip and stareout of the passenger window, hating the lie. My heart feels heavy in my chest.The confrontation has left me shaky and upset, and feeling so unbearably sad. Iliked Flo. We made a really good team…
‘You’ll have double the work today.’ Fen shoots me ananxious look. ‘Will you manage all right? I could ask Mum to schedule thedinner a little later…’
‘No. Honestly, it’ll be fine.’ I force a smile. ‘I work wellwhen I’m up against it. I quite like the challenge.’
And throwing myself into my work will blot out the twinmemories of finding out Flo lied to me, and the distraught look on her facewhen I sacked her…
With the number of tasks I have to carry out to get thedinner ready in time, the afternoon thankfully flies by. It’s weird being on myown in the kitchen, though, with no-one to chat to and sing along to Christmassongs on the radio.
In fact, I don’t even bother with the radio today. I’mreally not in the mood for the DJ’s chirpy festive chatter.
The only bright spot during the afternoon occurs when thedoor opens and in scampers Wilbur the cockapoo. He sniffs the floor tilesexcitedly for enticing scents, before lolloping over to me and jumping up onhis little hind legs, panting and bright-eyed, and looking for all the world asif he’s smiling at me.
Rhoda comes racing in a second later, out of breath.‘Wilbur, you naughty boy. You shouldn’t be in here. I’m so sorry, Jenny. He’sas slippery as a con man on the verge of being caught.’
I laugh, bending to make a fuss of the puppy, rubbing myhands briskly over his soft crinkly coat, the colour of golden syrup. ‘Oh,Wilbur, you’ve got flour on your nose.’
Before I can brush it off, he’s running off in Rhoda’sdirection, jumping up excitedly, then scampering off to check out thedelectable scents around the base of the fridge.
Eventually, Rhoda manages to scoop him up, and as hewriggles in her arms and gives her face a thorough lick, she laughs and looksaround. ‘No Flo today?’
‘No. She…she’s not well.’
‘Oh. Nothing serious, I hope?’
I shake my head. ‘Just a cold.’
‘Right, well, I’d better get this one his food. Then maybehe’ll calm down a bit.’ She heads for the door, calling back, ‘I don’t hold outmuch hope, though.’
I’m still smiling as I roll out the pastry for the dessert.Rhoda’s so lovely. She and Bob are the perfect couple, always trying new andexciting things together. And Wilbur will keep them fit, no doubt about that.
Marjery pops her head round the door at five to see how I’mcoping on my own.
I smile. ‘Everything’s under control.’
She nods approvingly. ‘Also, just to let you know thatthere’ll be two less at dinner tonight. Noah and Melanie are out somewhere andthey’ve just phoned to say they’ll grab some food before they come back.’
‘Oh. Okay. No problem. More for everyone else!’ I paste on asmile to hide the funny little stab of jealousy I felt at the thought of themout together…just the two of them, perhaps having a laugh over a bottle of wine,all cosy…
After she’s gone, I take a breather, making myself some teaand standing by the window, staring out at the snowy winter wonderland. Itlooks so romantic, bathed in the glow of the manor’s exterior fairy-lights. Butall the light inside me seems to have suddenly gone out.
My whole life seems to have been hurtling towards a cliffedge over the past few days…what with the shock of Constance turning up out ofthe blue, and Tavie having her holiday hopes dashed…and then the horriblesituation with Flo. And now, I don’t even have the hope of Noah popping intothe kitchen at some point and cheering me up with a glimpse of his smile andanother Cluedo reference!
Not that this last thing really matters. I mean, Noah islovely. And it’s been great having some banter and getting to know him alittle. Melanie and Fergus as well, of course. And Rhoda and Bob. But afterthis week is over I probably won’t see any of these people again.
I’d be wise not to get too fond of anyone in particular…
I step away from the window, feeling a strange hollownessinside.
