Free An Enormously English Monsoon Wedding by Christina Jones Page A

more.’
    ‘Erin, you have to trust him. Believe him. You can’t start doubting him now. Although why on earth he’d risk upsetting you by having this woman to visit, I have no idea.’
    Erin sighed. ‘Oh, you know Jay. He’s got this deep-rooted honour-your-parents respect thing, which is good – usually – so, he doesn’t want to say anything to upset Deena. And, believe me, this was Deena’s idea.’
    ‘Well, yes, she can bevery persuasive.’ Doug grinned. ‘But even so, I still think Jay should have the balls to tell his mother to mind her own business.’
    ‘If only it was that easy. You know what Jay’s like when it comes to family. He’d never dream of saying anything like that.’
    ‘Pity.’ Doug stretched and flexed his shoulders. ‘Hell, it’s hot.’
    ‘Mmmm – far too hot. Anyway, I’ve decided that I can cope with Nalisha for a couple of days. Even if she does think she’s going to try to persuade me that Deena’s right, and I should go all-out Indian for the wedding.’
    ‘Some hope,’ Doug mumbled from the depths of the massive box. ‘I don’t envy Jay, though. He’s the one caught up in the middle. You don’t think he’ll be
swayed
by all this sudden parental pressure, do you?’
    ‘God, no.’ Erin frowned. ‘At least I hope not … No, surely not? Not after all we’ve been through to get the wedding organised the way we want it. He wouldn’t – would he?’
    ‘Don’t ask me.’ Doug shook his head. ‘I just think that if Deena keeps on and on at him about what’s right in her eyes for her only son’s wedding, he might feel that he has to give in on at least some of the points – what with the family honour code and everything.’
    Erin exhaled. The idea was too ridiculous for words. ‘No way. I know Jay too well. I know that would never happen.’
    ‘Good, that’s OK then. Now, what have we got here – ooh, nice – lots of blue and white china. You can do a window display, Erin, love. That’ll bring the punters in – the tourists all love a bit of blue-and-white.’
    Erin laughed. ‘OK – but you were lucky. Buying those big boxes at auction without having a clue what was in them. It could have been a real load of rubbish.’
    ‘Rubbish,’ Doug saidsternly, pushing his floppy sun-streaked hair away from his eyes, ‘is our stock in trade. One person’s rubbish is our bread and butter.’
    ‘Nice mixed metaphor.’ Erin grinned, blowing sawdust from a massive blue and white serving dish.
    ‘And –’ Doug grinned back across the storeroom ‘– actually, these all came as a freebie.’
    ‘Really?’ Erin cradled the serving dish carefully in case the brittle aging meant that any pressure would smash it to smithereens. She examined it more closely. It was grimy but perfect. ‘How come?’
    ‘I sold Dora Wilberforce’s Staff highwaymen at a stonking profit, then I bid for the cases unseen with some of what I made. See? Blue and white freebies.’
    ‘God help me – I’m related to Mr Micawber.’ Erin shook her head, carefully putting the serving dish out of harm’s way. ‘It’s a good job you leave the accounting to me.’
    ‘Why else would I employ you? You’re spider-phobic and feel so sorry for everyone who wants to sell their family heirlooms that you pay them way over the odds. I only keep you on because you’re a whizz with the books and the paperwork and keeping the accountant happy.’ Doug winked. ‘So, what do you reckon to changing the window display this afternoon?’
    ‘Fine by me. But the way things are going, we might as well forget the blue and white and have a window display of Indian artefacts instead. Nalisha’s on her way to stay, Jay’s invited Kam to be a partner at the surgery and he’s coming down to have a look round, Deena thinks I’m getting married in a ceremonial sari,
and
she wants Jay to wear a bloody turban!’
    Doug laughed. ‘No, sorry – butthat’s not a bad idea, actually. Oh no, not the turban,