Page 14 of A Brambleberry Manor Christmas
I grin shakily. ‘I like your confidence.’
She laughs. ‘I’m generally right about these things.’
‘How’s the head?’
She groans. ‘Don’t remind me. I’ve got a team of tinyexcavators chipping away inside my skull, mining for gold. Although I doubtthey’ll find much treasure in my raddled old head.’
‘I keep telling you. You’re still young.’
‘But not young enough to be going out drinking every night,’she mutters, going to a drawer and rattling around in it.
‘Hey, if you’ve got the stamina for it, why not?’Farmore exciting than sitting in on a Saturday night, watching Strictly…
She doesn’t reply. I guess she didn’t hear me. She’s toofocused on getting the cherry compote made, and not for the first time, I givesilent thanks that Flo came into my life when she did.
We work in easy silence for a while, as Flo puts togetherthe hot-smoked salmon starters and I begin browning the meat. Soon, the kitchenis filled with glorious herby aromas, which would have my stomach rumbling ifit wasn’t for the fact that I’m so on edge about tonight, I couldn’t eat asingle thing.
Flo, probably sensing my nerves, remarks that if the maincourse tastes as good as it smells, Marjery is going to be delighted, and Ismile over at her, my stress levels calming just a little.
‘Would you like me to serve the first course, while you’rebusy in here?’ Flo asks, as I slide the beef fillet on a tray into the oven.
I hesitate. Normally, I like to take the first course outmyself, partly to reassure myself that things are going smoothly and also becauseI’m always curious to know who I’m cooking for. But an image of Noah Jacksonshoots into my mind and suddenly, the thought of walking into that dining roomwith his eyes on me fills me with panic. I’ve already made a plonker of myselfin front of him today, getting in the way of his zip-wire fun.
So I nod at Flo’s offer. ‘That would be great.’
A little later, just as she’s about to leave with her loadedtray, the kitchen door bursts open as someone walks in, knocking right intoher. I watch in horror as Flo only just manages to balance thecarefully-prepared dishes and stop them crashing off the tray to the floor.
CHAPTER FIVE
Melanie looks as alarmed as I feel. ‘Hi! Ooh, sorry,nearly had a calamity there! I’m so bloody accident-prone, it’s unbelievable.’
My heart still hammering at the close call, I smile at her. AndFlo says cheerily, ‘Disaster averted. Starters remain in the upright position.’
‘They look lovely!’ Melanie’s eyes widen, examining thetray. ‘I just wanted a glass of water. Marjery’s serving this really deliciousaperitif and I’m afraid I’ve been drinking it like it’s lemonade. Noah thinksit’s hilarious that I’m already tipsy.’
My heart gives a funny little jolt at the mention of herfriend. ‘Well, what’s a house party for, if not to let your hair down a bit?’ Isay, with a smile, wondering if there could be more than friendship between herand Noah.
‘That’s true.’ She pours herself a glass of water.
I dry some dishes on the draining board, sneaking a glanceat her as she glugs down the entire glass of water. Her cheeks look flushed.Her pale grey eyes are sparkling.
‘Phew, that’s better!’ She sets the glass down and gives mea rueful smile. ‘I always drink too much when I’m nervous.’
‘Nervous?’ I look at her in surprise. Bubbly Melanie doesn’tseem at all the type to get nervous in company.
She swallows. ‘Well, maybe not nervous exactly,’ shemurmurs, staring out of the window into the darkness, suddenly lost in thought.For a moment, it’s almost as if she’s forgotten I’m there. Then she draws in adeep breath and turns with a smile. ‘Excited. And hopeful. Yes, definitelyhopeful. And I’msolooking forward to tasting that delicious starter,Jenny.’
She starts backing away towards the door. ‘ItisJenny, isn’t it?’
‘It is.’ My smile changes to one of alarm as I see she’sabout to collide with a pan of vegetables that’s sitting on the table behindher. ‘Watch out!’
‘Oops.’ Narrowly missing plunging her elbow into thecarrots, she grins sheepishly. ‘Sorry. Better get out of your way before I ruinthe whole dinner.’
‘Hope you enjoy the starter!’ I call after her as shehurries for the door, blissfully unaware that a roll of kitchen paper hasdrifted off the bench onto the floor in her wake.
‘Thank you! Actually, I’m so hungry, I could eat my own arm.That’s what Noah always says,’ she calls, whisking out of the kitchen.
And there’s that odd little jolt again, on hearing his name…it’sprobably embarrassment, because I’m remembering our collision in the woods.
