Read Online The Chocolate Lovers' Diet by Carole Matthews - Free Book Online

said. ‘You hold everything together. I’d be lost without you.’
    Before she could reply, Lewis came into the kitchen behind them. He was sucking his thumb and tugged at Nadia’s skirt. His eyes were heavy with tiredness.
    ‘Looks like it’s past your bedtime, young man.’ Lewis, for once, didn’t protest. She turned to Toby. ‘We should go.’
    ‘Can I stay in my own bed tonight?’ her son piped up.
    ‘No, darling.’
    ‘Please, Mummy!’
    ‘You don’t have to leave,’ Toby said. ‘You could both stay.’
    Nadia smiled. ‘Think you can cook me one decent roast dinner and then have your wicked way with me?’
    ‘It’s worth a try,’ Toby said, grinning back at her. ‘I could open another bottle of wine.’
    Nadia shrugged. ‘Okay.’
    ‘Really?’ Toby’s grin widened.
    It was late, she was pleasantly tired and she’d probably had too much to drink already. Nadia had planned to have no more than one glass and drive home, but getting through the day without a few bolstering drinks had proved moredifficult than she’d imagined. Now, she’d have to call a cab and it would be hell trying to get one on Christmas Day. Horribly expensive, too. To be honest, she had no desire to go back to Chantal’s apartment knowing that her friend wouldn’t be there and that it would just be her and Lewis rattling around by themselves for the next few days. There wasn’t any great desire to tear herself away from Toby either and the sleepy, cosy warmth of her own home. ‘Yes. We’ll stay.’
    ‘Lewis, go into your bedroom and find some pyjamas. Mummy’ll be up in a minute.’
    As their son ran excitedly out of the room, Toby wrapped his arms round her. ‘Come back for good, Nadia. I want you both home.’
    Could she trust her husband enough to make a go of their marriage? Would he ever be able to give up gambling, despite his promises? She looked into his eyes and they seemed so sincere, but how could she be sure that he’d changed? Had Toby had enough time alone to reflect on his actions? There was no doubt that she still loved her husband. That had never really been in question. It was only his behaviour, his addiction, she abhorred. After a few glasses of cheap bubbly it would be easy to make a rash decision, based on the emotions she was feeling now, but she’d disrupted Lewis’s life enough. It wouldn’t do him any good to settle in at home again, only for her to find that things were just the same. She couldn’t do that to her son – she had to think of his future stability. But it would be so good to be in Toby’s arms again. Despite his faults, he was a handsome, loving man and she’d missed him so much.
    Leaning into him, Nadia rested her head on his shoulder, gently kissing his neck. ‘We’ll stay tonight,’ she said, trying to keep a grip on the reality of their situation. ‘Let’s take it one step at a time.’

Chapter Thirteen
    A utumn found herself holding her breath, and already a stress headache was forming behind her eyes from the effort of trying to maintain a veneer of normality. Her brother had downed glass after glass of champagne before Christmas lunch was even served. Now he was waving his arms about animatedly as he talked, his speech babbling and slurred, his movements frantic and uncoordinated.
    Richard lurched into the dining room ahead of Addison and her.
    ‘Addison, do sit here beside me,’ Mrs Fielding said, as if nothing untoward was happening.
    And, if her boyfriend was overawed by the palatial dining room, he too was handling it all very coolly. He turned to Autumn and gave her a reassuring wink.
    The glossy mahogany table seated sixteen people and had been laid with the very best of the family china and silver for the occasion. Cut-glass wine goblets glittered in the light from the candelabras. Lavish bowls of seasonal fruits were decorated with sprigs of holly. Mistletoe garlands hung in swathes from the picture rails and the ornate marble fireplace. A fire