The English Wife by Adrienne Chinn

The English Wife by Adrienne Chinn

Author:Adrienne Chinn
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2020-02-12T17:00:00+00:00


Chapter 41

Tippy’s Tickle – 16 September 2001

‘Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday, dear Ellieeeee! Happy birthday to you!’

Florie parades through the kitchen, the four dachshunds scampering through her legs, carrying Sophie’s and Becca’s towering chocolate cake aflame with tiny candles. She sets the cake on the table.

‘There you goes, Ellie. Created by the fair hands of your niece and your granddaughter. I couldn’t get seventy-nine candles on the cake. You’ll just have to pretend.’ She frowns down at the barking dachshunds. ‘Oh, me nerves, girls. You’ll be the death of me yet. Face down in a chocolate cake on the kitchen floor.’

Jumping up from her chair, Becca signs excitedly at Ellie.

‘Of course, Becca,’ Ellie says, signing back. ‘Help me blow out the candles. Hurry! They’re melting into the cake, and it’s such a lovely cake. You and Sophie did a wonderful job.’

The girl and her grandmother lean over the cake and blow into the flames, extinguishing all but two. Becca signs at her father.

Sam looks over at Sophie. ‘She wants you to blow those out, Princess Grace.’

‘Oh. Okay.’ Sucking in an exaggerated breath, she blows out the two sputtering candles.

Ellie picks up a knife and holds it, poised, over the creamy chocolate icing. ‘Help me cut the cake, Becca. None for Rupert or the doxxies. Chocolate’s not good for dogs.’

‘None for me, Florie,’ Sophie says, patting her stomach. ‘I could barely zip up my skirt this morning.’

At the sound of his name, Rupert raises his great black head up from where he’s been snoozing by the door. Turning his head towards the door, he emits a husky woof. The door swings open and Emmett enters, carrying a cloth bag and a guitar.

‘There you are, b’y!’ Florie says as she licks icing off her bottom lip. ‘We thought you’d fallen off the wharf. Come in and have some birthday cake. Good, you’ve brought your guitar. We’re all set for a right good kitchen party now.’

Emmett shuts the door and pulls up a chair next to Sam. He thrusts the cloth bag across the table at Ellie. ‘Happy Birthday, Mam.’

‘Oh, thank you, Emmy!’ Ellie holds up the bag and shakes it beside her ear. ‘What is it?’

Emmett frowns. ‘You has to open it.’

‘Of course I do. Silly me.’ Opening the bag, she pulls out something wrapped in a red bandana. Untying the bandana, she holds up a spherical vase the size of a basketball, constructed of an intricate design of dark and light wood polished to a soft gleam. ‘Oh, Emmy, it’s lovely!’

‘I used bits of wood from Silas Feltham’s old boat and some lobster traps.’ Emmett shrugs. Was just rotting down by the tickle. Figured no one would miss it. Didn’t cost me anything to do.’

Ellie hands the vase to Sophie who runs her hand over the smooth surface. ‘It must have taken you hours to do this, Emmett. It’s stunning.’

‘I gots time.’

‘Have you ever thought of making things like this to sell?’ Sophie asks. ‘You could make beautiful objects like this for Sam’s business.



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