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It seems to work; they go to wash their hands and tidy up and she follows me to the kitchen.
Chapter Twenty-One
Elodie
We find Doris and Grandad finishing off their supper.
“How are you?” Pierre hugs Doris then goes to kiss my grandfather on the cheek.
“I made chips with honey dip,” Doris tells me with her wide, wide grin. “Everything tastes better with honey.”
This is something Grandad always says. If he had his way, we’d add honey to fried eggs.
Doris helps Grandad walk to his room then says goodnight and leaves. I don’t have the heart to remind her she hasn’t brought me the ribbons I’d asked for. Or to complain that she’s used up all the potatoes.
The fridge, when I check it, is almost empty aside from a dozen pork and apple sausages.
“Bangers and mash?” Pierre suggests.
“Bangers and no mash,” I say holding out the empty potato bag.
“I think,” Pierre has come up beside me. “Bangers and honey then?” she laughs.
So, while she fills the kettle, I put the sausages under the grill. Pierre jumps up to sit on the edge of the kitchen counter but her eyes contemplate me while I work.
“What?” I finally ask.
She gives me a speculative look. “Is there something going on between you and Hal?”
My hearts gives one powerful thump inside my chest, and heat rushes up to my cheeks forcing me to turn my face away and pretend to rummage in the cupboard. “No, of course not.” I start taking down mugs and putting them on a tray.
“No?” she asks in that teasing way.
“Why do you ask? He hates me.”
“Of course, he hates you. I can tell by how he spent all day helping sand and paint your floor.”
“You and Gabriel did the same. Are you saying you both have the hots for me, too?”
“I think…” She gives me a wicked grin. “You can stop taking down mugs, now. You’ve got about nine already.”
Rats!So much for pretending to be cool and unaffected. The tray is full of cups. I return the extras to the cupboard, then find plates and what little mustard we have.
“You have honey, of course?”
I point to the boxes by the wall, and she jumps off the counter and goes to investigate. “My favourite,” she lifts out a jar. “Lavender honey.”
“See if you can find buckwheat. It’s dark and strong and will go well drizzled on grilled sausages.”
“I was only joking earlier about sausages and honey.”
“I know but it’s nice, I promise.” There’s a loaf of walnut bread in the breadbin, I take it out and find the cutting board. Unfortunately, my mind is on the original subject.
“Hal probably just felt he had to stay. I mean…he could hardly walk away when you and Gabriel were offering to help.”
She says nothing and I don’t want to turn around because my face still feels hot. “What made you think there was something?”
“Not sure. Just the way you keep looking at each other?”
