Page 64 of A Scottish Christmas Hideaway
‘But Christmas dinner . . .’
Jessica did feel sorry for her mum. She was always so capable and healthy and hated even catching a cold. She always loved being the host and it wasn’t often she had her family around her. And now she was stuck in this cubicle in pain, just two days before Christmas. ‘Look, Mum, please don’t worry. It will all be fine. Murray and I will make sure it’s all sorted and you can tell us what to do. Think of us as your task force and you’re the team leader who is delegating from the sofa. And we will all be there to keep Dad calm.’ She paused and reached for her mum’s hand. ‘You know he only gets in a flap because he’s worried about you.’
She nodded, clearly upset at the whole situation. ‘I know, dear. He means well. But when he flaps it makes me more anxious and then I get stroppy.’ Her eyes pricked with tears.
Jessica tilted her head at her mum. ‘Dad knows you don’t mean it though.’
She shook her head. ‘We’re not as young as we once were. We keep needing to remind ourselves of that. What on earth was I thinking wearing socks to go downstairs.’
‘You’re hardly decrepit, Mum. You just slipped. It could have been me or Dad or anyone.That’s what slippers are for,’ she said, mimicking what her mum always used to say to her when she was spotted in just stockinged feet. ‘Look, hopefully they will get a cast on you soon and then we can get you home. Then you can sit with your feet up and relax.’
‘I’m not sure I know how to do that any more,’ admitted her mum.
‘Well maybe this is a gift and a reminder to slow down,’ suggested Jessica. ‘Just sit on the sofa with Lexi and make the most of the time you have with her.’ She reached over and carefully gave her mum a hug. ‘You’re always running around helping everyone else. Now let us help you.’
‘Thanks, dear,’ she said with a sniff.
Jessica passed her a tissue. ‘Would it make you feel better to know that we also have an extra guest for Christmas dinner?’
She was immediately intrigued. ‘Oh, who is that then?’
‘Reuben’s going to join us after all.’
She tried to clap her hands together in delight but couldn’t. ‘Ouch. That’s great news, dear. That has cheered me up no end. Oh, I am glad he’s decided to come and won’t be on his own in some random holiday resort.’ She lowered her voice. ‘And I’m so glad he’s decided to divorce that woman.’
‘You knew?’ said Jessica in surprise.
She nodded. ‘Yes, he told me the other night when he came over. Before Murray arrived.’ She tapped her nose. ‘But I don’t like to gossip. I knew he would tell you when he was ready. Anyway, for what it’s worth, I think he’s made the right decision. I never really liked her. Can you pass the water please, dear?’ She took a sip from the small cup of water that Jessica gave her. ‘Andlet him know he’s very welcome to stay with us. It’s the least we can do given that the Stewart family has taken over his house.’
Jessica nodded. ‘I will do.’ She watched her mum’s mind go into full organisational mode.
‘You need to make sure the sofa bed in the love room is ready for him. And that he has clean towels . . .’ Her mum stopped talking suddenly and stared at her expectantly. ‘Unless there’s anything else you need to add? Is there anything that I should know?’
‘Nothing at all, Mum. Nope, not at the moment. And I promise, I will make sure the love room is ready to go. Though let’s call it the reading room or the spare room. That sounds a bit moreappropriate.’
Her Mum gave her a knowing look. ‘I think love room is much more apt, don’t you think?’
Jessica shook her head in exasperation and managed to stifle a grin.
Chapter Forty-Four
It was Christmas Eve and even though she had spent most of the previous day with her mum at the hospital, Jessica didn’t want to miss this morning at the bakery. Especially as it was Christmas Eve. After her mum’s cast had been applied, the doctor had decided she was good to go as long as she promised to take things easy.
‘Of course I will,’ she’d said sweetly. ‘I will do as I’m told and my daughter is here to look after me.’
The doctor nodded and smiled, glancing over at Jessica. When he left the room, her mum looked at her.
‘What?’ said Jessica.
‘He seemed a nice young man, didn’t he? Bit of a looker?’
Jessica shook her head in despair. ‘I’m not sure you can say stuff like that any more, Mum. But, yes, I’m sure he’s very good at his job.’
Catriona had raised an eyebrow and looked at her in that infuriatingly knowing way that she did. ‘At least it’s something to tell your dad.’
Jessica was grateful that Murray and Reuben had come to collect them. She was exhausted and wasn’t quite sure she would have been able to keep her eyes open on the drive home. Murray had driven their parents’ car back and Reuben had taken Jessica and her mum.
‘Now, Reuben,’ Catriona had said from the back seat of the car, clearly back in the swing of things now that the painkillers had started to work. ‘Please do come and stay with us so you’re not waking up on your own in Glasgow. I’ve told Jessica to get the love room ready for you.’ Jessica’s cheeks flamed and she knew she couldn’t risk making eye contact with Reuben.
