Page 66 of Meet Me Under the Mistletoe
Thomas visibly shrank as four angry women glared at him. Nory sat back and let him drown in the scorn.
“Thom, babe, that is a shitty thing to do, and you know it,” said Shelley.
Thomas tried to avoid his wife’s eye. “I’m just trying to stop people getting hurt,” he said through gritted teeth.
“That’s not for you to decide, is it?” said Shelley. “You can’t control everything.”
“I’m not controlling anyone.”
“Not much,” spluttered Nory.
“Enough!” Sasha’s voice whipped the air.
Nory and Ameerah became suddenly interested in their place mats while Thomas and Shelley looked around the kitchen, anywhere but at Sasha.
“Can we have one family meal without you two at each other’s throats? Thomas, stay out of Nory’s business. Grow up, the pair of you! This subject is now closed. There will be no more cross words for the duration of lunch. Thomas, if you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all. And, Nory, you should know better than to bite every time your brother tries to get a rise out of you; you’re not five.”
With all those assembled chastened, Shelley and Thomas took their places at the table, and Sasha passed over the butter dishand six bowls. Arguments in the Noel household blew up and blew out just as quickly. It was their way; they were a feisty bunch and cross words were usually quickly forgotten. The old animosities simmering below the surface were harder to reconcile.
Nory’s dad came in and took his turn to say his hellos, completely oblivious to the ruckus of moments ago.
“Lovely to have you back where you belong, Ameerah,” he said.
“Right, that’s everybody in,” Nory’s mum called over the chatter. “Grub’s up!”
Shelley and Thomas leaned left and right respectively to allow Sasha to maneuver the giant saucepan onto the waiting trivet, before taking her own seat. There proceeded to be a merry hubbub as bowls were passed around the table to be filled by Nory’s dad, and a scramble for the butter dish as knives were hungrily dug into crispy rolls.
“Who’s picking the boys up today?” Sasha asked.
“I’ll get ’em,” said Jake. “Is it swimming club tonight?”
“Nope, karate,” Thomas replied. “Their kits are in the office.”
“I’m going up to the castle after lunch,” said Shelley. “I’ve got a last-minute meeting with Pippa and Jenna about the wedding garlands, and Pippa’s got a job she wants to run by me for January.”
“There isn’t time for extracurricular work,” said Thomas, ripping a chunk of bread with his teeth.
“It isn’t extracurricular,” Shelley replied, completely unperturbed by her husband’s attitude. “Pippa will buy the stock and pay me through the business, just like any other job we take on.”
“Only for twice the money,” added Jake. “Don’t be a hardhead over this, Thomas. It makes good financial sense. This is the kind of contact that could really grow the business.”
“I don’t think Thom would have such a problem with it, if it wasn’t one of my friends,” Nory remarked, staring at Thomas.
Thomas scowled back. “Shut up, Nory,” he snapped.
Sasha slapped her hands down on the table before any more bickering could take hold.
“Thomas, you’re being silly and stubborn. Whatever your problems are with Nory’s friends—obviously not you, love.” She rested her hand on Ameerah’s. “You should be proud you’ve got such a talented wife. And it’s talent that’s got her noticed.”
“I love Pippa, but she’s a hard-nosed cow when it comes to business,” Ameerah added. “And she’s got a hell of a good name in the city. She was consulting for Fortnum and Mason last year on their food hall displays.”
“Really?” Sasha exclaimed. “Oh, Shelley, this is such a great opportunity for you.”
“For us,” Shelley corrected. “I’m doing it all under Noel and Son. And if it takes off, I’ll be needing your expertise, Sasha.”
Sasha nodded, looking pleased.
Thomas huffed and tucked the hair that had loosed itself from Shelley’s ponytail behind her ear.
