A Family Affair by Julie Houston

Author:Julie Houston [Houston, Julie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781789546668
Publisher: Head of Zeus

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I knew Daler would be absolutely shattered after twelve hours’ duty in A and E on a Saturday, especially after a shift on only a couple of hours’ sleep. I’d kissed him goodbye in the gloom of a late November morning and, after catching up on a few more hours’ sleep, went round to cadge coffee and one of Tammy’s fabulous blueberry muffins before heading off to the supermarket. I’d decided I was going to cook Daler a fabulous curry as well as make lemon meringue ice cream in order to indulge his sweet tooth.

‘There’s a few jars of lemon curd in the pantry,’ Tammy said as I closed my eyes in over-the-top ecstasy on the final bit of muffin. ‘Just help yourself.’

‘Don’t tell Dad—’ I lowered my voice ‘—but I actually find Piccione’s Lemon Curd far too sweet. Although Daler absolutely loves it.’

‘I know what you mean,’ Tammy whispered in return. ‘I buy Sainsbury’s own, but don’t tell your dad that either. He’d go ballistic.’ We grinned conspiratorially. ‘So, special supper for Daler then? Any occasion?’ She raised an eyebrow hopefully.

‘No, not at all. We’ve been seeing each other three months now and I just thought I’d tell him… you know…’

‘You fancy the pants off him?’ Tammy grinned. ‘Frankie, he is absolutely gorgeous. Dad and I watched Lion last night. Your dad went through a whole box of man-sized Kleenex, but all I kept saying was, “Are you sure Daler wasn’t Dev Patel before he became a doctor?” Daler, I mean,’ she added seriously through a mouthful of muffin. ‘As far as I know, Dev Patel never trained as a doctor.’

‘I know exactly what you mean.’ I laughed.

‘You’re so much happier now than I’ve ever seen you,’ Tammy went on. ‘Get that curry cooked and bubbling then meet him at the door with a great big gin and tonic…’

‘He only drinks beer.’

‘OK, meet him at the door with an ice-cold beer, have your evil way with him and then feed him curry and lemon meringue ice cream. He’ll never leave your side after that little lot.’

‘I don’t have any intention of letting him.’ I grinned, dotting the remaining muffin crumbs with a wet finger and going off in search of Tammy’s reusable shopping bags.

I was so much happier, I admitted to myself as I trailed up and down the supermarket aisles looking for the spices and vegetables I needed to make dahl and the ingredients for lemon meringue ice cream and then, remembering I’d a whole load of university work to do, put my foot down, grabbed what I needed, braced the cold and wet outside, and shot home.

I was happier, I thought again in the car. I was really enjoying my nursing – pretty broke of course, but Dad and Nonno were not averse to helping me out now that they could see I was really embracing my new career. I’d often find Dad had taken my Mini and filled it with petrol and Nonno was always sending

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