Page 54 of A Brambleberry Manor Christmas
He holds up his hand and starts to rise from his seat. Butthen he changes his mind, probably because he’s realised that Tavie is with me.He couldn’t have failed to notice her frosty attitude last night.
‘There’s that man,’ says Tavie conversationally.
I nod, my heart beat quickening for more reasons than one.‘Noah.’
‘How do you know him?’
‘He’s a guest at the manor, where I’m cooking this week.’
She thinks about this. ‘Are you seeing him?’
‘No!’ I rush to reassure her. ‘There’s nothing like thatgoing on. Noah just gave me a lift home, as I told you last night. He’s nice.You’d like him.’
She looks at me doubtfully and I tell myself to slow down. Ican’t force her to like the man before she’s even met him!
Not that it’s important she likes him. Noah’s a friend,that’s all. Well, barely even that. I hardly know him at all, really.
Melanie knows him a whole lot better…
He suddenly looks over and gives me a big, warm smile. Thesort that crinkles his eyes at the corners and turns my knees to jelly. I feela blush spreading up from my chest, and of course Tavie notices.
‘Are you all right? You look funny.’
‘I’m fine. It’s a bit hot in here, isn’t it?’ I whip off myscarf.
‘Er, no. It’s actually freezing.’ She folds her arms andhugs herself to emphasise the point.
‘Right, well, maybe I’m heading into early menopause, then.Hot flushes, you know,’ I say with a laugh. Tavie looks mortified at the meremention of the ‘M’ word.
‘Nipping to the loo,’ I say, needing to escape. ‘Back in aminute.’
I hurry away, wishing my life could be just a tiny bitsimpler. I’m constantly tip-toeing around Tavie like she’s an unexploded bomb.It gets pretty exhausting at times.
When I emerge, she’s no longer at the table and I panic. ThenI see where she is – talking to Noah and Melanie – and I panic even more.
‘What was that all about?’ I ask, as she comes back over.
‘Oh, nothing.’ She shrugs. ‘I just went to say hello.’
‘Right.’ I frown at her, but she just smiles and looks overmy shoulder. ‘Ooh, look. Here’s my bacon bap.’
On the way out, I stop by Noah’s table and have a brief chatabout tonight. Apparently, he and Melanie are out for the day, visiting otherfriends, and won’t be back at the manor until much later. I keep the smilepasted to my face, only letting it fall once we leave the café…
*****
We spend some time looking at headphones and eventuallydecide on a pair Tavie really likes. She seems in a good mood – poking gentlefun at me afterwards for asking the sales assistant, who was helping us, somany questions – and I find I’m enjoying her company. It’s almost like the olddays.
‘Would you mind if I did some shopping on my own?’ she asks.‘There’s something I need to buy and you’re not allowed to see it.’
‘Ooh, sounds intriguing. Could it have something to do withmy Christmas present.’
She makes a face. ‘Wouldn’tyoulike to know!’
‘I would. But you’re obviously not going to tell me. Notthat I’d want to know. I much prefer…’
‘Surprises,’ she finishes with a smile. ‘I know.’
We arrange to meet in half an hour and she goes off. And I headinto a few shops, looking for stocking fillers for Tavie.
