Page 37 of And A Partridge on Pear Street

As we sit down, Cami smiles at Nel and says, “You look absolutely stunning, Nel.”

“Oh, thank you.” She sits demurely, taking the compliment without her usual blush, just as she should. She looks fantastic in a crystal blue velvet dress that hugs her rocking curves, her hair is pinned up with a few loose strands falling around her face. As usual, her makeup is impeccable, and I’d like to think that the easy smile on her face might have something to do with the multiple orgasms she’s had over the last twelve hours.

“Nel, you do look gorgeous,” Lisa says as she takes her seat and places a plate of smoked salmon down. “Doesn’t she, Jake?”

“Oh, yeah,” I say, giving Nel an appreciative once over and that attractive pink is back in her cheeks as she bites her lip to try and hide her smile. I realise I may have been looking a little too carnal, so I clear my throat and add, “Everyone looks great.”

“Yes, it’s lovely when everyone makes an effort. Where was your effort?” Lis asks with mock curiosity, eyeing my jeans.

“I’m wearing a shirt,” I say defensively, gesturing to my dark green button down that I usually only wear at work. “Plus, the itinerary didn’t state a dress code, so who’s really to blame here?”

“Idiot,” she mumbles behind the rim of her coffee cup, but her smile is still visible. “Everyone, help yourselves,” she says more loudly.

The table looks incredible, laden with smoked salmon, toasted bagels, cream cheese, coddled eggs, croissants, jams, butter, and pitchers of juice as well as two huge cafetieres of coffee and pots of tea.

“Lisa, this looks amazing,” Nel says. “And I really love your dress.”

Lis looks down at the red dress she wears with a scooped neckline and form fitting body that proudly displays her baby bump. “Oh, thank you! It’s so hard to find nice maternity clothes and when I saw this, I actually thought of you. It looked like something you would wear.”

Nel smiled again. “I would definitely wear something like that, It’s very beautiful.”

“Maybe you should give it to Nelly-Belly once you’ve had the baby, babe,” Harry says as he passes the cream cheese.

I feel Nel flinch next to me and the table goes awkwardly silent. And not for the first time this weekend, I’m angry at my best friend. “Dude,” I say in a tone that implies the ‘what the fuck?’

“What?” He looks at me wide eyed and genuinely baffled.

“Oh, Harry,” Lisa sighs more to herself than to him, her disappointment obvious.

Nel’s jaw is clenched and her eyes fixed on her empty plate, the genuine smile and easy confidence she’s walked in with now lost. She doesn’t want me to tell Harry he’s a dick and she doesn’t want to give the moment more time, so I do what I can to move on from it.

“So, Lucas, Oscar, what did Santa bring you?”

The boys are so excited to regale me with exact accounts of their morning so far that they’re talking over each other and stumbling over their words. It takes no time at all for everyone else to join in. Margot and Freddie are giggling ecstatically, basking in the attention of their parents and grandparents, and Lucas and Oscar start squabbling over who the electric car Santa brought was for. With everyone distracted, I rest my arm over the back of Nel’s chair and lightly stroke the back of her neck with my thumb. Hoping the gesture tells her I’m here, that she’s perfect, and that her brother is just an idiot. It’s a lot to ask from one thumb stroke, but I’m hopeful we got there.

Lisa and Harry seem to be having a private conversation and I hear her say, “Think before you speak, darling.” To which he only frowns and looks utterly confused.

Breakfast goes by quite quickly with never ending conversation and laughter. The boys drag Nel into their conversation which brightens her up again and she also has a serious discussion with Charles about her business and plans for the future. They’re both using terminology that I don’t totally understand and Nel seems to be giving answers to Charles’ questions that impress him. Harry watches the exchange with his eyes dancing between them like he’s at a tennis match.

“You’re an impressive young lady, Penelope,” Charles beams.

“Well, thank you,” Nel blushes. “I don’t think anyone has ever said that about me before.”

“Maybe not to your face, but I have definitely been impressed by you,” Lisa says to her, and Harry looks surprised by her words.

“Believe the compliments, little elf,” I whisper to her when the hum of background chatter rises again. She smiles up at me, those chocolate-brown eyes wide under her dark lashes.

When plates are empty, coffee cups on their last dregs, Lisa stands to start clearing, Harry offers help but she tells him to relax and he gives me a look across the table. Our conversation the other night comes back to me, so without asking, I get up and start clearing plates. Nel does, too, but Lisa tells her to sit back down. We work in comfortable quiet, me clearing the table and loading the dishwasher while Lisa checks the turkey in the oven and does a little more prep for lunch.

I’m putting the fancy Christmas crockery out in the garage where it’s being kept until needed when Lisa comes out with a few dishes to store out here too.

“You and Nel seem to be getting on well,” she says casually.

I’m not fooled by her tone. “Why wouldn’t we?” I shrug.

“No reason. I just mean you seem particularly chummy. Have you two been spending time together at the hotel or something?”

I don’t really know how to answer that, so I fold my arms and narrow my eyes at her.