Page 25 of A Scottish Christmas Hideaway
‘Right, Reuben, come on, you’re holding everyone up,’ said Iris matter-of-factly. ‘Get your tickets and see what you’ve won. That’s if you’ve won anything. Then we will need to move you on. There’s a queue of folk waiting their turn. But if you don’t win this time, worry not, you can always join it again.’ She shook the bucket vigorously at him and he raised an eyebrow at Jessica.
‘Crikey,’ said Jessica with a grin. ‘You’d better do as you’re told and hurry up.’
‘Okay. Let’s have a look then.’ He reached his hand in, pulled out his tickets and started to unfold them. With the help of Jessica, he matched up some of the winning tickets to the bottles.
‘Oh, will you look at that,’ he said with a laugh. ‘I’ve actually picked some winners. Normally the ones I get are all duds.’
‘There you go. Just what you’ve always wanted,’ she said chuckling. ‘A bottle of washing-up liquid, some Nozeco . . . Oops, looks like you’ve won the Babycham too!’
Iris gave a hoot of laughter. ‘Well someone has to win it. Better luck next time.’
‘Oh, you’re not quite finished. Looks like it’s your lucky day. You’ve also won a bottle of champagne,’ said Jessica.
‘Hey, not bad going at all,’ he said, pleased with his haul. ‘I will pop it in the fridge as a welcome gift for Murray.’
‘Or you could share it with a special someone,’ suggested Iris innocently and looking across at Jessica.
‘Anyway,’ said Reuben, ignoring her comment, ‘nice seeing you both. Hope the rest of the day goes well. I’m away to see my dad now.’
There was a fresh surge of customers towards the stall and before Jessica was able to say bye, he had turned and disappeared out the hall. She couldn’t help feeling disappointed that he had gone.
‘I think we’ll be finished with this lot within the hour,’ said Iris, pointing at the diminishing number of bottles on the table. ‘We don’t have much more to shift.’
‘It’s been fun,’ said Jessica honestly. ‘I’ve really enjoyed it. Thanks, Iris.’
‘Hey,’ said Gillian, who had just appeared behind Jessica, clutching the hand of a little girl.
‘Hello,’ Jessica said with a smile having swung around. She sank to her knees. ‘And you must be Millie. I’m Jessica. It’s very nice to meet you.’ She held out her hand to shake Millie’s.
Millie smiled shyly at her and hid behind her mum’s legs. Her hair was curly like her mum’s and she had a gap-toothed smile. Then she stuck out her hand and clutched Jessica’s, giving it a shake.
‘I see the Babycham is away then,’ said Gillian drily.
‘Yes, Reuben just won it.’
‘Oh dear. I’m sure he loved that.’
‘Do you want to have a shot?’
‘Sure. Millie, do you want to get the tickets from the bucket?’
Millie reached in and chose six different coloured raffle tickets and waited to find out if they would match any of the bottles. ‘Have we won anything?’
‘Yes,’ said Jessica excitedly. ‘You have won a bottle of bubble bath. And your mum has won a bottle of wine.’
‘Oh great,’ said Gillian, perking up a bit. ‘We don’t usually win anything. Bath bubbles and wine sound like the recipe for a good night in if you ask me.’
‘Hey, let me know if you fancy that coffee sometime?’ said Jessica.
‘That would be nice,’ said Gillian. ‘Though only if you’re sure.’
‘Of course I am. When suits you? I can be totally flexible.’
‘Well, the bakery is shut on a Monday. We could go after I drop Millie at school?’
‘Sounds like a plan,’ said Jessica.
‘Mummy, come on,’ said Millie, tugging at Gillian’s hand. ‘Can we get our faces painted now?’
