Lately she’d been preoccupied with the Langdon Mansion Hotel, so he plumped for that and the video of spider-soup. ‘You said you were worried about those gits up at the Langdon Mansion Hotel and—’
‘Thomas Barton, you weren’t listening at all.’ Nell cocked her head to study him, her eyes laden with worry. It made him feel guilty again and he’d had enough of that for today. ‘I didn’t say anything about the Langdon Mansion Hotel. I’m moving on from that horrifically embarrassing incident and thank you very much for reminding me of spider-soup. What I actually said was that St Herbert’s Primary School are holding their Welcome to Christmas carol service on the twenty-ninth of November at the hotel and I’m really excited about it. Even though it might turn out like Nativity which I class as a romcom by the way.’
‘Surely it’s a kids’ movie?’ asked Kieran.
‘Not to Nell,’ Cat added, but her voice was fond rather than teasing.
‘I love the romance in it though. And when the helicopter lands at the end, and all those children are amazing after no one believed in them and then the lovebirds get together.’ Nell pressed a hand to her heart dramatically, but Tom knew that she really did love that film. They watched it every year without fail and it always made her cry. ‘I love it.’
Tom tried to brighten and share in Nell’s excitement. As he did, he found a little of his worry fall away. Her face glowed when she was happy like this. Her fringe and long blonde hair framed her face so beautifully, emphasising perfectly sized features. She’d rimmed her eyes with kohl liner tonight and he loved how it made them stand out. She fluffed her hair, pulling it forward. She thought her ears were too big, but Tom never had. ‘The idea of the kids’ concert is amazing.’
As little blurry dots danced in front his vision once more, Tom looked out into the dining room, hoping glancing away from the bright lights of the Christmas tree would help them clear. Through the large windows that ran the length of the external wall he could see out into the large gardens surrounding the house. The last few leaves rustled on the mature trees as the wind grew stronger. Most had fallen onto the grass. All the rain had made it a bright vibrant green and he could just make out the gorgeous shades of chocolate-brown, golden-yellow and crimson from the light spilling out through the dining-room windows. Soon, he and Kieran would be stringing up the fairy lights Nell always brought out and hung around the edge of the garden. She loved to look out and see them twinkling like stars. See, his eyes weren’t that bad. If he could make out the different colours of the leaves, there couldn’t be anything wrong. Perhaps earlier had just been a one-off freak accident. These things happened. Deep down Tom knew he was kidding himself. His head was beginning to pound again and as much as he loved being with everyone, all he wanted was to go and lie in a dark room. He clung to the fragile thread that maybe he’d had a migraine coming on and that had affected his vision. It certainly felt like a migraine now.
Nell shifted her chair closer to Tom’s and her leg rested against his. She gently touched his arm. ‘What’s wrong, Tom? Are you sure you’re okay? You don’t seem yourself this evening. Is everything all right with Nigel? And you’re quite pale. Have you got a temperature?’ She placed her hand on his forehead and he enjoyed the coolness of her fingers and the affection with which she’d put them there.
The sudden urge to grab Nell’s hand and wrap his fingers in hers pulsed through every fibre of his body. He fought hard, moving his hands and clasping them together in his lap. He wanted to tell her everything that had happened today and how worried he’d been about the kids in that car. How worried he was about his eyesight and the symptoms that were mounting up. He wanted to tell Nell how worried he was about Grandad Nigel and what would happen if he wasn’t there to visit. But if he said the words out loud, he’d have to admit to himself and to the world the possibility that the dreadful thoughts had substance, and no matter how hard he tried, he just wasn’t ready to do that yet.
‘Nothing,’ he replied tightening his hands. ‘I’ve just got a headache. It’s been a busy day.’
She eyed him suspiciously but decided not to press. ‘Okay. Did I tell you that I’ve emailed HotelRater and asked them to remove that video as well?’
‘Have you?’ said Cat, sipping her gin. Tom suddenly realised just how tired she looked. Her job was hard both emotionally and physically, but he’d never seen it have this effect on her. Tom had hoped that tonight all Kieran’s worries would be put to bed, but now, his own were mounting. Cat really didn’t seem herself. She was quieter and more subdued. She also wasn’t teasing him the say way she normally did. Kieran kissed the top of her head and she looked up at him in adoration. Maybe she really was just tired; she certainly seemed to still love him as much as ever. ‘I’d leave it up there if I were you, Nell,’ Cat continued. ‘The Langdon Mansion come out of it looking worse.’
‘I can’t do that. I think it makes me look as bad as them. I’m sure it would be best for everyone if it just came down.’
‘Okay,’ Cat replied distractedly. ‘It’s your choice.’
Tom tried to lighten the mood. ‘I think the school thing is a great idea. How did you get involved in that?’
From the look on her face, she’d already told him once, but Nell went through
