Page 69 of A Brambleberry Manor Christmas
‘This afternoon? I’m meeting Flo for a quick coffee in thevillage. You can come if you like.’
She screws up her face. ‘And listen to lots of boring talkabout food? I don’t think so, thanks. I’ve got my Christmas cards to write.’
‘Okay. But when I get back, I’ll make some lunch and thenwe’ll get the tree out, okay?’
She nods. ‘Good.’
‘Right, I’d better get going or Flo will think I’ve stoodher up.’
‘Is she still coming here for Christmas Day?’
‘I think so.’
‘Hasn’t she got a boyfriend?’
I smile. ‘No, but I’m hoping a little bit of Christmas magicmight just change that…’
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
It’s Christmas Eve and Sunnybrook High Street isthronged with shoppers out grabbing that last-minute Christmas gift for theirpartner’s Auntie Nellie, who somehow was forgotten in the mad panic.
When I step into the Little Duck Pond Café to meet Flo, I’m surroundedby all things Christmassy – gorgeous golden fairy-lights sparkle on everysurface, nestled within greenery and sprigs of holly, and Slade are singingtheir hearts out, wishing it could be Christmas every day. The scent of spicedgingerbread and hot chocolate is enough to make me feel ravenous, even though Iate breakfast just an hour ago.
It’s busy in there, but Flo has grabbed a window table andordered the coffees. I flop into the seat opposite and hand over her Christmaspresent.
‘Just a little something to open on the big day.’ I grimace.‘You’ve got your Christmas jumper on again.’
‘No need to look like that! I think it’s lovely. Full ofcharacter.’ She delves into her bag, pulls out a brightly-wrapped parcel andhands it to me. ‘Something for you, too.’
‘Have you decided whether you’re coming to Tavie and metomorrow, for the big Christmas Day feast?’
‘I’d really like that. But are you sure?’ She looks a littleanxious.
‘Yes, I’m positive. It’ll be good fun.’
She smiles sheepishly. ‘It’s so good of you to give meanother chance, Jenny. I promise there’ll be no hangovers or yawning on the jobin future. I’ll be bright-eyed and bushy-tailed at all times.’
‘Promises, promises.’ I grin. ‘No, really, it was ano-brainer, taking you back on. I couldn’t have got through the week atBrambleberry Manor without you.’
‘It was a veryinterestingweek,’ she says, lookingat me with a meaningful grin. ‘All things considered.’
I feel myself blushing. I realise she’s hinting about me andNoah, but she doesn’t know about the conversation I had with him in thekitchen, when he said I needed time to grieve.
I know it was Tavie who put the idea in his head, that I wasstill distraught over Harvey, but I’ve run our chat through my head many timessince, and I’ve started to think that maybe he was wary of getting involvedwith a widow like me, with so much emotional baggage.
But it’s no use dwelling on it. The timing wasn’t right forus, so I just need to forget about Noah and move on.
I try to ignore the hollow feeling inside, and the little voicein my head whispering that it will take a long time to forget someone asincredible as Noah…
The door jangles and someone familiar walks in. He spots us,takes off his hard hat and walks over.
‘Well, hello. Fancy seeing you here.’ I grin up at him. ‘Whydon’t you join us?’
Flo’s face is a picture. She blushes furiously and looksfrom me to Paul and back again, clearly struggling to understand why he’s hereand also why I’m looking so smug about it.
‘Can I get either of you another coffee? Or a mince pie? Orwhatever else takes your fancy?’ He smiles at Flo and she blushes an even deepershade of scarlet.
‘No, thank you,’ she says, rather stiffly, and as soon ashe’s walked off to the counter to order, she leans over and hisses, ‘What thehell is going on? Did you plan this?’
