Page 63 of A Brambleberry Manor Christmas
‘Great idea!’ I cry. ‘Come on, Tavie, love. Let’s get you inthe car, where it’s warm. In the back. That’s right…’
Ten minutes later, I’m sitting with my arms around a stillshivering Tavie, in the back seat of Constance’s Range Rover. The feeling ofrelief now that she’s safe is immense.
I will never be able to thank Noah and Fen enough forcoming to find us!
Exhausted, I watch the night speed by as Noah zips along theroads to A & E.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Menu – Day 7
The Cinderella Ball
Canapes
***
Late serving of chilli con carne and rice
and sticky toffee pudding
***
I wake next morning after the soundest sleep I’ve hadin a long time. The horrors of Tavie falling through the ice have recededovernight, and all that matters is that she’s now tucked up safe and warm inbed.
She was examined thoroughly at the hospital – I was reallyworried she might be suffering from hypothermia – but the conclusion was thatthere was no harm done. She was obviously in shock and very cold and exhausted,but we could take her home and put her to bed with hot water bottles, and she’dbe absolutely fine.
She promised last night that she’d take it easy while I wasout at the manor today, and I believe her. When I crept into her room firstthing, she was awake but white-faced and exhausted, and she looked only tooglad to do what I suggested, and just lounge around the house all day, catchingup on sleep and watching TV.
All the same, I wish I didn’t have to work today.
But it’s the grand Cinderella Ball tonight, and Flo and Ineed to prepare the buffet feast.
I get a sleepy, ‘Bye. See you later,’ when I knock softly onTavie’s door to tell her that I’m leaving but that I’ll phone her at lunchtime.I’m dreading the drive to Flo’s, after the heavy snowfall of the day before.But parking on the road instead of on the driveway has paid off, because onceI’ve defrosted the car and warmed it up a little, it moves away from the kerbwith just a momentary hesitation and crunch of ice.
Flo is in good spirits when she hops in the passenger seat.
‘No alcohol last night again.’ She beams at me. ‘Although Idid eat an entire family-size pack of fruit gums while I was finishing myChristmas jumper. Mind you, Iwasup till two in the morning.’ She pullsopen her coat. ‘What do you think?’
I look at the ‘Christmas jumper’ in question and burst outlaughing.
It’s red with a round green splodge in the middle. The onlyway you can tell it’s a festive garment is because of the red tinsel Flo hassewn round the hem.
‘What’s that green thing supposed to be?’
She looks at me as if I’m deranged. ‘It’s a sprout.Obviously.’
‘And that’s your nod to the festive season?’
‘Well, can you think of anythingmoreChristmassythan an overcooked sprout?’
‘Ha, that’s true. I’m sure my gran used to put hers on toboil three days in advance of the big day!’
She nods. ‘Lovely cabbage-y smell drifting through the houseand even lovelier after-effects.’ She grins. ‘I wanted to do Santa but that wasfar too complicated.’
I nod, appraisingly, putting the car in gear. ‘I like it.It’s different.’
‘Marjery won’t mind, will she? It is our last day, afterall.’
