Notting Hill in the Snow by Jules Wake

Author:Jules Wake
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2019-09-16T17:00:00+00:00

Chapter 18

‘Would you like a glass of wine?’ Nate looked up as I padded, wearing his socks, back into the kitchen, carrying my jeans and, hidden from view, my hurriedly washed knickers. There was a bottle of red on the kitchen island and one glass already poured with a second waiting.

‘That would be lovely, thank you.’

‘I’d offer you some cheese but the cupboard is bare.’

‘Wine will do, thanks.’

‘Nice outfit.’ He studied the turn-ups on the oversized sweat pants I was hanging onto with one hand before pouring me a glass and handing it to me.

I glanced down at grey fleecy sweats, which I’d been very grateful to find after my shower.

‘Sorry, my legs were so cold I needed to warm up. Would you mind if I shove these in the tumble dryer? I didn’t feel right borrowing Elaine’s things and these were in one of the drawers. I figured you weren’t using them.’

‘I’d forgotten I’d got them. They’re “designated” gardening or decorating clothes.’

I raised an eyebrow. ‘Do you garden or decorate?’ The sweatshirt I was wearing felt quite new and soft.

Nate snorted. ‘No, it’s a euphemism for Elaine didn’t like me wearing them and we always got a man in to do any decorating, even though I don’t mind doing a bit of painting. She didn’t trust me to do it right. Although I’m happy to leave the gardening to the professionals, we pay a fee to cover the garden maintenance. I think it would take me all Saturday to mow that lawn.’

‘That communal garden is a lovely thing to have, though,’ I said with a touch of envy. The stairs up to pavement level was the only bit of outdoors I had access to. ‘Do you all get together in the summer and have barbecues and summer parties out there? I bet it’s great for Grace. Completely safe.’

‘Today’s the first time I’ve been out there in months.’ Nate looked shame-faced. ‘And Grace. I don’t think Svetlana ever went out there. And we don’t really know the other people who use the garden. I’ve hardly ever seen anyone else out there; people tend to stay close to their own patio areas, I guess.’

‘That’s such a shame. To have your own private space in London, people would kill for that. Although I guess it means Mr Snow won’t get vandalised any time soon.’

‘There is always that,’ said Nate, lifting his glass in toast. ‘To snowmen.’

I took a sip of the meaty red wine. ‘This is nice.’

‘It’s a Cab Sauv I’ve been saving. As no one has to get up in the morning, it seemed the right occasion to open it.’

I felt a ping. He’d remembered.

‘I forgot to tell you, you’ve created a monster. I think my mother is on series three of Game of Thrones already.’

‘I take it you’re not staying there any more.’

‘No, Dad is back. And, thanks to you again, Mum is ploughing through her Christmas shopping. Now, if you could just solve my turkey problem.’

‘Turkey problem?’

‘Yes, apparently I’ve left it too late to order the right sort from the butcher.

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