Page 24 of A Brambleberry Manor Christmas
‘So nothing to worry about?’
‘Nothing to worry about,’ she repeats, turning away to hangup her coat and scarf in the cupboard.
She’s definitely not herself, but something in her closed-offposture makes me hesitate about probing deeper. She’ll probably tell me whatwrong when she’s ready. I just hope she’s not lying about the mole beingnothing…
I tell her about my conversation with Fergus, laughing aboutthe Catalonians weird ‘yule log pooping’ custom, hoping to cheer her up. Butshe just smiles wanly and goes back to whipping the cream.
‘Hasn’t it surrendered yet?’ I enquire casually after awhile.
She frowns.
I point at her bowl with a smile. ‘You’ve beaten that creaminto submission several times over.’
‘Have I?’ She looks confused. ‘God, sorry…miles away.’
‘It’s fine.’ I pause. ‘You know I’m here, any time you wantto talk?’
She shakes her head quickly. ‘Thanks. But I’m fine.’
I frown thoughtfully. Flo always declares she’s glad to berid of Ed. But maybe she’s not really over him at all. I know as well as anyonethat you can block out the bad stuff for a while – but it will always come backto haunt you, usually when you’re least expecting it…
My attention is suddenly caught by a movement outside and Iwander over. The kitchen windows overlook the courtyard at the back of themanor, and Noah has emerged into the thick snow, muffled up in a dark coat andscarf. My eyes linger on his dark hair and his broad shoulders, recalling howhis presence at dinner last night knocked my composure completely.
Flo joins me at the window. ‘What’s happening?’
I jump. ‘Oh, nothing. I’m just – um – admiring the snow. Itmakes everything look so Christmassy, doesn’t it?’
She grins. ‘It does indeed. Although are you sure it’s thesnow you’re admiring?’
I turn with a shocked look, warmth surging into my cheeks.‘Yes, of course I’m sure!’
She gives me a disbelieving smile and walks off. And I’mabout to get back to work myself when I see Melanie running out into the snowafter Noah, her long blonde curly hair bouncing below her red and white bobblehat. She shouts for him and he turns and waits for her, looking surprised. Theychat. Well, mostly Melanie talks, although she keeps looking down at her feetas if the conversation they’re having isn’t an easy one for her. At one point,she turns away, shaking her head. But Noah puts his arm around her shouldersand she turns back, and then they’re both laughing. As they walk off, Melanieloops her arm through Noah’s.
I watch them go, crunching off through the snow, an oddlywistful feeling inside.
They’re old friends who haven’t seen each other for a while.It wouldn’t be unheard of for friendship to blossom into romance…
CHAPTER EIGHT
‘Do you want the butter out of the fridge?’ asks Flo,interrupting my reverie, knowing I want to make a start on tomorrow’s dessert.
I turn. ‘Yes, please. It’s a bugger to work with when it’srock hard, and this chocolate log has to be spectacular.’
She puts the pack of butter on the work top with a knowingsmile. ‘I’m sure it will be. If you can manage to tear your eyes away from the– um –snow!’
I shake my head with a sheepish smile. ‘Did anyone ever tellyou that you’ve got a very fertile imagination.’
‘Noah Jackson is a very handsome man.’
‘Is he? I hadn’t noticed.’
She laughs. ‘Well, assuming you haven’t mysteriously mislaidyour eyesight, I really can’t imagine how.’
I shrug. ‘I’m not in the market for romance, so why would I evenbother looking?’
She nods, her smile vanishing. She comes and stands near me,throwing the tea towel she’s holding over her shoulder and leaning back againstthe bench. ‘You know, I can totally see why you wouldn’t want to start datingagain,’ she says softly. ‘But it’s been a while since…?’
I swallow and look down, feeling my chin wobble.
