Page 46 of A Scottish Christmas Hideaway
‘Come on then,’ he said, holding out his hand and leading her to the cloakroom off the hallway.
There was an awkward silence as Jessica and Reuben were left alone.
‘How are you?’ she said evenly.
‘Fine thanks. You?’
She sighed in exasperation. Why was he being so weird? ‘Yup. Fine thanks. By the way, I spoke to my lawyer contact about Belinda’s situation.’
He nodded. ‘Thanks.’
‘She said he’s got a reputation for it. But if Belinda can hang on and wait, then it looks like there might be something in the offing.’
‘Right. I’ll let her know when I speak to her. Not that she was keen to do anything about it. It was just me trying to be helpful.’
At that moment, Jessica wished she hadn’t bothered trying to help. He clearly didn’t appreciate it and, for whatever reason, was now behaving like a dick and barely looking at her.
‘Here you go,’ said Catriona, arriving with a tray of tea and a plate of Stollen bites.
Jessica caught the puzzled look on her mum’s face, almost as though she detected some kind of tension between them.
‘Tell me,’ said Catriona to Reuben. ‘Does this feel weird now, us all being in your house?’
He shook his head. ‘It makes a nice change from me always sitting in your house, Catriona. Although shouldn’t I be making the tea rather than you?’
‘Not at all,’ she said gaily.
Murray and Lexi appeared and he walked over to the Christmas tree, looking up at the twinkling lights in wonder. ‘Did you do this, Reuben, or was it Mum?’
Catriona chuckled. ‘Both Reuben and your sister went to choose it at the tree farm.’
Murray raised his eyebrows at them. ‘How did you manage that, Reuben?’ he joked. ‘You two couldn’t even be left in the same room when we were kids.’
‘That’s because he annoyed me,’ said Jessica. ‘And still does,’ she muttered under her breath. She was aware that her brother was now looking at her quizzically. She knew he would interrogate her later.
‘Look, Daddy,’ said Lexi, pulling at his trouser leg. ‘See angel.’ She pointed to the top of the tree.
Murray bent down to pick her up so she could get a better view of it and Jessica couldn’t help but smile at them. She really hoped Lexi would have a magical Christmas here. She could feel Reuben’s eyes on her but she stubbornly refused to look at him.
‘Isn’t this great?’ said Catriona. ‘It’s wonderful to have you all back together. Which reminds me, Reuben . . . please remember you are very welcome to join us for Christmas dinner. I don’t want you to feel you have to stay out the way because Murray is here in your house. You are always welcome to stay with us any time. There’s a sofa bed in the love room.’
Murray caught Jessica’s glance and she had to stifle a giggle.
‘Mum, I wish you wouldn’t call it that. It sounds so dodgy,’ said Murray.
‘Oh, don’t be ridiculous. You know what I mean,’ said Catriona, matter-of-factly. ‘Anyway, Reuben, the offer is there. You are very welcome. Any time.’
‘Thanks. That’s very kind,’ he said. ‘I’m still unsure of my plans but I will, of course, let you know.’
Despite everything, Jessica felt a flicker of disappointment that he was being vague. In her mind it sounded like he had better things to do. Murray must have sensed the disappointed expression on her face as he looked at her and gave her a kind, understanding smile.
Chapter Thirty
Later that night, Reuben drove back to Glasgow, keen to get a bit of space and some perspective on his thoughts. Especially as his head was in a spin over Jessica and the effect she had on him. He was annoyed at himself for being offhand and cold with her. Especially when he saw the confusion and hurt in her eyes. It hadn’t been intentional, it was just his clumsy attempt to protect himself from the feelings he had towards her. Now Murray was back and, after hearing her on the phone at the inn the other day, he wasn’t quite sure how to behave. He knew it was stupid to jump to conclusions but the doubt had crept in anyway and Reuben had started to wonder if she felt the same way. Maybe that kiss had meant more to him than it had to her. Maybe he had imagined the almost kiss at the bakery the other night. Now everything just felt a mess and he had no idea how to fix it.
As he reached the outskirts of the city, he thought back to this time last year when he’d settled his dad into the home just before Christmas and how guilty he felt. He had tried really hard to make the room as homely and comfortable as possible and made sure there were some reminders from home including his father’s favourite chair, some photographs of his mum and the print of Elvis Presley that he had always cherished. He had tried to visit his dad as much as possible, but he was also in the midst of his marriage breakdown and juggling a challenging work project. On Christmas Day, he had visited his dad, who had become quiet and withdrawn. In fact, he would barely talk to him, which then just compounded all the feelings of guilt Reuben had. Eventually, after sitting with him for a couple of hours, and trying his best to make some jolly conversation, he had driven back to Glasgow where he heated up a frozen pizza and ate it in front of the television. Then the next day, when it was all over, he was left feeling sad and exhausted. It was fairto say that the thought of doing the same again was leaving him completely subdued.
He let himself into his flat and wandered from room to room restlessly. Picking up his phone, he scrolled through the pictures of Primrose Cottage, pleased that he had finished it on time for Murray. He felt a flicker of envy at how welcoming and kind the Stewart family were. He wished he was part of it — he always had been, growing up with Murray. But something had changed — his feelings towards Jessica had changed, but she was obviously dealing with something or someone else. Much as he tried to push her out of his mind, she had a way of dominating all his thoughts. He told himself that was also why he was trying to distance himself.
