‘And is Noelle showing you all the sights?’
‘Absolutely, Noelle’s been a wonderful tour guide.’
‘Oh Lord, that accent.’ Her mother lifted her eyebrows a threw a look at Noelle just like the ones I’d seen Noelle give Beth – conspiring and amused. ‘So are you—’
‘No,’ Noelle interrupted. ‘I have a favour to ask of Dad for him though.’
‘Right. Best let your father finish cooking and get some food in him. You know how antsy he gets when he’s hungry.’ She smiled at me again. There was something so unhurried in her manner, calm and patient, which was not what I would’ve expected of a woman with seven children, but then maybe one got to a point where trying to control the surrounding chaos was impossible. ‘Help yourself to whatever you like, honey. You’re very welcome here.’
‘Thank you—?’
‘Belinda.’ She held out her hand, soft and warm from washing up, and I took it and pressed it between mine gently.
‘Belinda. You’re very kind.’
She smiled at me with mischief in her eyes and as Noelle tugged me towards the doors where the yard was, I heard her murmur. ‘What a charmer.’
There was that word again.
‘Are you okay?’ Noelle pressed her shoulder to my arm as we descended the steps off the decking and headed for the grill. The smell of charcoal and sweetly marinated meat filled my nose and my stomach growled.
‘Of course. Just hungry.’
‘Well, like my mom said, it’ll be best to tackle Dad after the food, so tuck in when it’s served up and just do your charming British thing.’
I stifled a sigh.
The group of men all stopped talking and turned as we reached them. They looked like someone had stamped them out using the same cookie cutter. All just under six foot with the same short red hair and grey eyes, age was the only discerning factor at a first glance.
As Noelle did brief introductions, I looked out for memorable characteristics I could link to their names, the same way I had to do when I was met new clients. Teddy and Alfie, the twins, were going to be a challenge, but Alfie had a concentrated group of freckles over his forehead and Teddy had darker eyebrows. Sam wore his hair longer and there was a flick of dark ink at the edge of his collar that was most likely a tattoo, which would help me separate him from the eldest, Tim, when he was back around. Her dad’s name was Ken.
While I was examining them to memorise their names, I realised they were eyeing me back with as much concentration, like a pack of overprotective wolves. One of them – Alfie – was spinning an American football in his hand.
‘You want to join us in a game of touch football while we wait for Dad and Noelle to finish on the grill?’
When had she suddenly been volunteered to help cook? And she had a salad to make with her mother. It was beginning to look like I was hardly going to see her. Not that I was here as a date. I was her friend.
‘No. No, no,’ Noelle immediately interjected. ‘I want no weird, macho, BS happening please. Stephen is a guest in our house, he hails from a civilised country, and I expect you guys to show him that Americans can be as well mannered as Brits okay?’
‘We’ll be good, sis, I promise. He looks fit and able. Very Type A.’ He sniggered and nudged his twin. Noelle rolled her eyes but I felt a little like we were in it together. Whatever the hell Type A was, I was going to be ribbed about it too. ‘You ever played American football, Stephen?’
‘No. I’ve played rugby. It’s similar, I think. We don’t worry about helmets and shoulder pads for it though.’
‘Oh-ho, is that so?’ Alfie laughed. ‘Think you’re tougher than us Yanks do you—’
‘No. No. No.’ Any moment now she was going to start stamping her feet.
‘Relax, Noelle.’ Teddy put his arm around her shoulders. ‘We’re just teasing. We need to have a game of something though. Work up our appetite.’
‘How about baseball?’ A little voice piped up and a young girl, barely a teenager, came careening across the grass at us, throwing herself into Noelle’s arms.
‘Daisy, for goodness’ sake, don’t throw yourself around when there’s a grill right here,’ her father scolded, shaking his head. ‘You want me to have a heart attack?’
‘C’mon.’ Noelle gave her a squeeze and led her further onto the grass, away from the grill. ‘You gonna sort these boys out and keep ’em in line for me, while I help get the food ready?’
‘You can’t play?’
‘Look, I know it’s hilarious to watch me attempt sports, but the oldies need my help.’
