Page 30 of A Brambleberry Manor Christmas
Cranberry & orange sauce
***
Chocolate yule log
I drive over to Brambleberry Manor at twelve the nextday, picking up Flo on the way. The butterflies flapping inside me seem extraexcited today, and I can’t understand why. The dinner last night went downreally well, so I should be feeling less nervous about producing today’sthree-course meal.
An image sneaks into my head…standing in hold with Noah, heldclose in his strong arms, his smile making my head swim with desire. Will Iever get another chance to dance with him? I’d love to know what Melanie saidto him. And more importantly, how he responded.
Something sinks inside me.
Last night, dancing with Bob, was a moment in time, never tobe repeated. However much I wish it could be…
Flo seems in a better mood today, though, and we singChristmas songs as we set to in the kitchen. But her mood seems to change whenI ask her what she did after leaving here last night.
‘Oh, I popped over to see Mum and she stuffed me so full of mincepies, I fell asleep on the sofa and she had to wake me up to drive home becauseshe was going to bed.’
‘It obviously did you good.’
‘I was in bed by eleven-thirty and I slept for ten hoursstraight,’ she admits, shaking her head wearily. ‘I’ve really got to slow downa bit.’
I grin at her. ‘I’m jealous. The last time I had an eveningout, the thrilling venue was the all-night supermarket.’ I shrug. ‘I’d run downmy chocolate supply.’
She groans and turns away, and I shoot her a puzzled look.Normally, she’d laugh at that, but my light-hearted remark didn’t even seem toregister. Something’s on her mind, although I’ve no idea what. Perhaps she’smissing Ed.
‘You should come over to mine one night and I’ll cook us ameal,’ I suggest. ‘After this week is over, obviously.’
She looks round. ‘That sounds nice.’
‘Okay. It’s a date. You can bring the wine,’ I saycheerfully.
She nods but her smile doesn’t quite reach her eyes.
*****
The chocolate yule log I’ve made for dessert tonight islooking good. And even Marjery seems impressed when she pops in to checkeverything is on schedule.
She gives the dessert a firm nod of approval.
‘Nice.’ She frowns. ‘It might even warrant being presentedon one of my antique crystal dishes.’ She smiles, holds up a finger and nipsout, returning a second later with a magnificent crystal platter for thedessert.
When I go in to serve the main, the topic of conversation seemsto be the possibility of a snowman competition, with the snow now piling upoutside daily.
‘Can we work in teams?’ asks Bob, smiling at his wife.
Rhoda gives him a mischievous grin. ‘Not sure that’s a goodidea, my love. What if I want to sculpt a life-size image of Pierce Brosnan?’
Bob sighs, looking deflated, playing along. ‘As long as heisn’t naked, I guess I could cope.’
I catch Noah’s eye and we exchange a grin that sends adelicious little shiver through me.
Rhoda flashes her dramatically made-up eyes at Bob and restsher head lovingly on his shoulder. ‘You know what? I’ll take Bob Anderson overPierce Brosnan any day of the week,’ she says, and there’s a murmur of ‘Ahhh!’from around the table. ‘We’re the dream team, Bob.’ She slaps the table.‘Together, we can win this.’
‘I wouldn’t bet on it, Rhoda.’ Richard grins. ‘I’ve got asecret weapon on my team. Katja has Russian genes, so building snowmen isobviouslypart of her DNA.’ He slips his arm around his girlfriend and squeezes her, andthey exchange an adoring smile that makes me feel all squidgy inside. You cantell they’re madly in love.
‘Does it snow all year round in Russia?’ asks Melanie.
Katja laughs. ‘Not quite. But you can pretty much guaranteeplenty of the white stuff from October to April most years. My Granny Olgaremembers the villagers making huge snow monsters when she lived near Moscow.’
