Page 128 of Christmas off Script
‘Okay, gentlemen, shake hands.’
Leo reached forward as if he was about to take Finn’s hand, then whipped his away at the last minute, putting his thumb on the end of his nose, wiggling his fingers, and sticking out his tongue.
Everyone laughed.
Finn’s eyes narrowed. ‘You’re going down, Foxbrooke.’
Leo blew him a kiss.
Shaking his head slowly, as if lamenting having to lower himself to competing against Leo, Finn turned to look out across the packed pub, his arms folded across his massive chest.
‘Janet, you ready, love?’ Derek asked his wife, who was sitting at the table by his side.
‘Yep. Good to go.’
Taking a coin from his pocket, he turned to Finn. ‘Heads or tails.’
‘Heads.’
Derek flicked the coin in the air, then followed it with his eyes to the floor. ‘Heads it is. Finn will be asked the first question.’
Leo huffed, and Finn gave him a predatory smile.
Taking a sheet of paper from his back pocket and a stopwatch, Derek took a step backwards. ‘Eyes forward, gentlemen,’ he said. ‘And silence everyone for this momentous event.’
Leo gazed at Ella. She nodded and gave him two thumbs up.
‘In three, two, one… Finn, the song “Jingle Bells” was originally intended for what other holiday?’
‘Thanksgiving,’ Finn replied without hesitation.
‘Leo. Which British monarch delivered the first Christmas message?’
‘George the fifth in nineteen thirty-two.’
‘Finn. Who invented the Christmas wreath?’
‘Johann Hinrich Wichern.’
‘Leo. What plant is known as the “Christmas flower”?’
‘Poinsettia.’
The questions and answers kept coming, neither man missing a beat. Leo knew that focus was everything, so he kept his eyes on Ella, not allowing anything to distract him.
‘Finn. Which Christmas song finally got to number one, twenty-six years after its release?’
Finn hesitated and Leo heard a female voice say, ‘Excuse me, coming through.’
Looking past Ella, he saw his youngest sister, Summer, pushing through the crowds to stand at the front.
When did she get back from Mexico?
Tanned and beautiful, she was wearing a shiny red minidress and red platform heels, with a pair of pink, sparkly reindeer’s antlers nestled in her white-blonde curls. She waved at Finn and Leo.
‘Leo,’ Derek continued. ‘Which Christmas song—’
‘I didn’t get a chance to answer,’ Finn interrupted. ‘It’s “All I want for Christmas is You”.’
