Page 53 of A Brambleberry Manor Christmas
What if she assumed I’d been seeing Noah in secret for awhile, but keeping it from her?
I tried to put her mind at rest about that last night,calling through her bedroom door after Noah left, saying that I was justthanking him for mending the light. But I knew, even as I said it, howridiculous it sounded. In desperation, I opened her door and stood on thethreshold. But in response she just glared at me, got into bed and switched offthe light.
The message was clear. She wanted to be alone. And shedefinitely didn’t want to discuss the stranger in the hall.
After my shower, I get dressed and try again, knockingsoftly on Tavie’s door.
‘Tavie? I’m collecting the car from the garage, then I’mgoing shopping for Christmas presents. You can come if you like and you canchoose the new headphones I said I’d buy you? And maybe get something new towear for the Christmas holidays?’
I knew I was resorting to bribery, and couldn’t reallyafford it, but what else could I do? I needed to get her to open up to me and Iwas growing desperate. If she kept refusing to talk about last night, how werewe ever going to move past it?
A lump rose in my throat at the thought of the miserableChristmas ahead, Tavie no doubt spending the whole time in her room avoidingme. How were we going to get through it? Was it even worth cooking a Christmaslunch when it was likely to be so joyless?
Wearily, I start getting ready myself, memories of lastChristmas flooding in, when Tavie and I took the train into Guildford for aspecial day of Christmas shopping. She had her nails done and then we went forlunch at her favourite pizza restaurant. She was so excited about Christmas andher mood lifted me. Harvey had been distant towards me after my drunken displayat the company Christmas party several weeks earlier, and I’d been feelingreally down. I’d apologised a hundred times, saying it would never happenagain, but I sensed that our relationship – which hadn’t been great for a longtime – was slowly heading for the rocks.
I remember feeling glad when Harvey said he had to work andcouldn’t come shopping with us, because it meant it would just be Tavie and me.(Looking back, Harvey was probably with Constance.)
It was such a happy day.
Little did I know what was just around the corner. And thatHarvey’s death would result in the end of the precious closeness between Tavieand me…
Before I leave at just after nine I knock on Tavie’s dooragain. ‘I’m going now. Are you sure you don’t want to come with me? I might getthe wrong headphones.’
There’s still no reply. So with a heavy heart, I collect mycoat and bag and go out, walking along to the garage to get the car. I’m justdriving out when the phone rings.
‘Hi. Have you got the car?’ It’s Tavie.
‘Yes. Just collected it. Why?’
‘Can I come?’
‘Shopping?’ My heart lifts. ‘Of course.’
‘I’m ready. I’ll be waiting outside for you.’
‘Okay. See you soon.’
In the car on the way into Guildford we talk about practicalthings like how many Christmas cards she’ll need to give to her friends. Idon’t want to bring up the subject of last night in case this delicate trucebetween us is shattered all over again.
Then she asks me the question I’ve been dreading. ‘Can I goto Amy’s party tonight?’
In despair, I glance outside, at the snow that’s currentlytumbling from the sky. ‘Tavie, the weather is terrible. The roads to Amy’s farmwill already be pretty bad. They might even be cut off completely if this snowcontinues all day, so how would you get there and back?’
‘Couldn’t you give me a lift there and pick me up later?’
‘Yes, of course I could. But only if the roads are passable.I’m not driving to collect you if it’s going to be dangerous.’
Her mouth sets stubbornly, and I sigh inside. But I try tolighten the moment by suggesting we go for breakfast, as she hasn’t eaten yet.
This idea goes down well, so we pop into the nearest caféadvertising bacon and egg baps in the window. We sit at a table tucked away ina corner and I order breakfast for Tavie and a large, super-strength coffee formyself. Something tells me I’m going to really need a boost of caffeine today!
And then, without warning, the door opens and who shouldwalk in but Noah.
With Melanie.
Melanie’s chatting away, looking really happy, and I hearher mention the Cinderella Ball the following night. It’s clear the two of themare becoming quite close. They’re so absorbed in each other, they haven’t evennoticed me, sitting over here with Tavie.
I try not to watch as Noah guides Melanie towards a tableand pulls out a chair for her. My heart squeezes painfully as she smiles at himthen reaches up to plant a quick kiss on his cheek. They sit down and Noahreaches for the menu. And that’s when he looks over and catches my eye.
