Page 53 of A Scottish Christmas Hideaway
He slipped off the stool and walked over to the window, looking out as he contemplated his options. He could visit his dad in the care home and then come back to the flat for a dinner for one. He could visit his dad and then go and spend the rest of Christmas Day with Murray’s family in Rowan Bay. Which would mean seeing Jessica, who he wanted to avoid, given that he had now created an atmosphere between them. Or he could escape to the sun. Which seemed the obvious and easiest choice. But something in his gut told him it wasn’t necessarily the right choice.
His phone buzzed and he saw it was Belinda. ‘Hello.’
‘Hey, Reubs. It’s just me. How are you?’
‘Good,’ he said guardedly. ‘And you? What’s up?’
‘I was calling to say thanks for the employment advice.’
‘That’s okay.’
‘I’ve got myself a new job with another marketing company out here and I start after Christmas.’
‘That’s great news,’ he said, genuinely pleased for her.
‘And I’ve heard that the guy who sacked me has just been made redundant from his firm and is moving back to London.’
‘Right. How do you feel about that?’
She laughed bitterly. ‘Glad. Hopefully it’s karma.’
He nodded. ‘I hope it means you can move on with your life out there.’
‘It does. I’m just very relieved that I’ve got another job. I wanted to thank you for your help.’
‘I didn’t do anything,’ he said dismissively.
‘You did. You gave me some good advice.’
It was Jessica’s advice, not mine, he thought sadly. ‘I’m glad it helped.’
‘I just wanted to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.’
‘Same to you.’
‘And Reuben . . .’
Reuben felt his stomach sink at what she might say next.
‘You deserve to be happy. I really do hope you have a good life.’
‘Thanks,’ he said softly. ‘And the same goes for you.’
’Okay, I’d better go before the girls think I’ve gone missing in action. We’re going out for dinner. After cocktails, of course.’ She giggled.
He shook his head, thinking how apt that was. He knew as soon as she had ended the call, she would be toasting the end ofher marriage and making plans for a divorce party or some kind of celebration. Which he supposed was fair enough. It just wasn’t his style. ‘Bye, Belinda.’
‘Thanks, Reuben.’
He placed the phone on his worktop, feeling a bit restless. He was relieved they were both in a place where they could move on and get the paperwork finalised. But the last thing he wanted to do was go out and celebrate the end of his marriage. He stood for a moment, wondering what to do. Another workout at the gym didn’t appeal in the slightest and neither did going for an afternoon pint at the pub. He was still in two minds as to which holiday he should book. He thought about the case sitting in the hallway. He had pulled it out from the cupboard although hadn’t yet started to pack. If hewasgoing to be heading to the airport in the next day or two then he had better get himself organised. He still had a couple of presents to buy and would need to take his gifts out to his dad at the care home and then pop past Primrose Cottage with his presents for them. Reuben grabbed his coat and wallet, and before he could change his mind, he was walking briskly to the nearby station to catch the next train into town.
Chapter Thirty-Five
Jessica decided to make the most of her day off and go into town. It had been years since she had been into Glasgow’s city centre, and she couldn’t believe how much it had changed. It was also mobbed, which made sense given the limited number of shopping days until Christmas Day. She was glad she had decided to come in by train rather than try and get parked in one of the multi-storey car parks in the centre. Fortunately, her parents had been doing their final big supermarket shop before Christmas at the big Tesco in Milngavie and they had dropped her at the train station there.
She walked upstairs to the main concourse at the new and revamped Queen Street station and on to George Square which was home to a Christmas market. It had a huge gold-and-blue tree and an ice rink and was bustling with shoppers and people soaking up the festive atmosphere. She could smell the scent of vanilla, ginger and frankincense in the air. Jessica had always enjoyed people watching and she stood for a few minutes doing just that before the damp air made her shiver and move on to keep warm. She made her way towards Buchanan Street, which was a long pedestrianised thoroughfare, and weaved her way in and out of the crowds, feeling slightly alarmed at the number of people who, like her, had left their shopping until the last minute. Jessica wasn’t sure she liked being back in a city having now been used to a quieter village life where there was plenty of space and she could see Loch Lomond every day. She chuckled to herself. Who would have thought that she could become a country bumpkin?
She headed to the fancy chocolate shop at the entrance to Princes Square to pick up some whisky truffles for Murray and her dad and also some chocolates for her mum. She just hoped that Lexi would like the fairy costume she had bought for her.As she glanced at the rows of different types of chocolate, the millionaire shortbread chocolates made her think of Reuben and their afternoon at the coffee shop at Balmaha. Impulsively, she picked up a box. She wasn’t sure if she would see him at Christmas or even before she returned to London, but surely it would be better to be prepared and have a small festive gesture for him. Her mum hadn’t said one way or the other if he was joining them, instead saying it was an open invitation. Murray was equally non-committal and said he didn’t know what Reuben’s plans were and that he had mentioned he may take himself off to the sun. She couldn’t blame him.
