Page 15 of A Scottish Christmas Hideaway
‘Here we are,’ he said, trying to sound cheery although he now felt anything but. He felt bad for cutting her off when she’d asked him about his marriage and wished he could turn the clock back just a few minutes to when they were chatting like old friends.
‘Thanks for the lift,’ she said, unbuckling her seat belt and jumping out the car.
‘No problem. Looks like your folks are back now too.’ He reached up and started untying the tree from the car.
‘Let me help you,’ she said, her voice now subdued.
Reuben knew her mind was elsewhere, and he wondered if he had upset her, given how quickly the mood had shifted. He had enjoyed her company today but he certainly didn’t want herto feel obliged to stay. This was why he was better off on his own, he reminded himself. It was far less complicated. ‘Thanks, but honestly, it’s fine. I’ll manage from here. I’m sure you have loads of other things to be getting on with.’
She looked at him for a moment, but he couldn’t quite read her expression. ‘Well, if you’re sure.’ She rubbed her hands together and shivered, looking towards Thistle Cottage.
‘Thanks for your help,’ he said trying to sound grateful. ‘But on you go, get inside. It’s Baltic out here.’
‘Right. I will. Thanks then,’ she said, now avoiding his gaze. ‘Okay, well see you around then.’ She turned to walk away. ‘Thanks for the lift.’
‘Thanks for your help, Jessie,’ he said, knowing it would annoy her yet saying it anyway. It was as though his teenage self had inhabited his body again. What was wrong with him?
She threw him a look and then spun on her heels and strode towards Thistle Cottage.
He was left standing there, knowing she was annoyed, but he couldn’t help himself from grinning. Having Jessica home could make this Christmas a lot more interesting indeed.
Chapter Nine
Jessica opened the door and stamped her icy boots on the mat. ‘Hello,’ she called rather crossly.Jessie! Nobodycalled her that. Not even her parents.
‘Hi, dear. Just in here.’
‘What happened to you two? You abandoned me and left me behind at the Christmas tree farm.’
Her mum shook her head and laughed. ‘Away you go. You were having a grand old time with Reuben. We saw you laughing together and you wouldn’t have appreciated it if we broke up the party. We knew he would give you a lift home. Did you get a tree for your brother?’
‘Yes,’ Jessica said and shrugged.
‘Are you not going to help him decorate it?’
She shook her head vehemently and huffed. ‘I think he can manage it himself.’ She clocked her mum raising an eyebrow at her dad.
‘You can help us if you’d like, Jess.’
Her phone buzzed again and she pulled it from her pocket in irritation. ‘Um, yes, okay in a minute. I just need to go upstairs and deal with this.’ She pointed at her phone. ‘It’s a work thing,’ she muttered.
‘Oh, okay, dear.Alexaplay Christmas songs,’ ordered her mum loudly. Within seconds the sound of Wham’s “Last Christmas” filled the room and Jessica wanted to scream. As she walked up the stairs, she felt the well of tears rising. She was annoyed at herself for breaking her vow and momentarily letting the magic of Christmas find its way back into her life. Her mum was right — this morning with Reubenhadbeen fun and she was reminded of her old self when she used to always be positive and see the sparkles in life. She had obviously hit a raw nerve when she asked how married life was. She shouldn’t have beenso nosy. But as she closed her bedroom door, the tears started to slide down her cheeks. For it wasn’t Reuben who had upset her. It was the text message she’d received. Her phone buzzed again.
Please call me. I just want to talk.
Why wouldn’t they just leave her alone? It didn’t matter how many times she ignored them, the texts and pleading messages still kept coming. But there was nothing else Jessica could add to what she had already said. She switched off her phone and threw it on the bed then curled up on the seat by the window, watching the fading light dance across the garden which was still covered in frost. She dabbed at her eyes with a tissue. She was home for a rest and the fewer people she saw the better, and that included Reuben, no matter how muchfunhe was. Especially when she had asked him specifically not to call her Jessie and he still had. He’s an arse, she thought crossly. Andhe’s marriedshe reminded herself. Amarried arse. Which made him exactly the same player he had been at school because there had been moments when she had felt like he was definitely flirting with her. Was she the only one who saw Reuben for what he was?
Jessica soon became mesmerised watching the birds hop around the lawn, leaning forward to get a better view. She had no idea how long she was sitting there but a gentle knock at the door interrupted her thoughts.
‘Hi, darling,’ said her mum. ‘I thought you might like a cup of tea and one of the first batch of mince pies. I’ve made it with Granny’s recipe.’ The light in the room was gloomy now and her mum reached across to turn on the lamp. ‘It gets dark so quickly,’ she said. Setting the tray down on the desk, she walked over and squeezed Jessica on the shoulder.
‘Thanks, Mum,’ she said brightly. ‘Sorry if I was grumpy earlier.’
‘You don’t need to apologise, my love. It’s fine. This is a strange time for you being back home. I get it.’ She sat down on the edge of the bed. ‘How did you get on with Reuben?’
‘Fine.’ She gave a small smile. ‘Until he started calling me Jessie again,’ she said tightly.
Her mum chuckled. ‘I’m sure he does it just to wind you up.’
