Chapter Fourteen #2
Jessica frowned. There was certainly something going on with Reuben’s marriage. But he hadn’t shared it with her, so he obviously didn’t want her to know.
Iris looked at her inquisitively. ‘How about you — is there a special someone?’
Jessica shook her head. ‘No. I am happily single.’
‘Well,’ she said, glancing back towards Reuben, ‘keep your options open. You just never know what’s round the corner.’
She couldn’t quite believe this was her old teacher talking this way and didn’t quite know how to respond. ‘Oh,’ was all she could manage to stutter. ‘I will do. Thanks for the advice.’
‘He reminds me of my Frank,’ she said dreamily. ‘He was a looker back in the day, with his brown curly hair and his dark eyes.’
Jessica smiled kindly at her. She knew that Iris was a widow, but she had never heard her talk about her late husband before. ‘He sounds like he was quite the catch.’
‘Oh, he was.’ She sighed. ‘But I’m lucky I’ve got Scrumpy and Sidney to keep me company now.’
Before Jessica had a chance to ask who they were, Iris clutched her hand. ‘Don’t look now, dearie,’ she said in a sing-song voice. ‘Reuben is making his way over here. Remember, stay calm and collected.’ She winked at her. ‘Play hard to get.’
Jessica was speechless as she looked at Iris in bemusement.
She also felt as though her feet were stuck in buckets of syrup.
She wanted to move to the side and serve anyone else but Reuben, given the way he seemed to reduce her to a wobbly mess when he was in close proximity to her, but she was rooted to the spot.
Why was Iris encouraging her to flirt with him? Had she missed something?
‘Hi, ladies,’ he said with a grin.
Jessica became completely tongue-tied knowing that Iris was watching her.
Iris cleared her throat loudly and then nudged her. ‘Do your sales spiel, dear, come on.’
‘Oh, okay.’ She rolled her eyes upwards and then steadied her voice. ‘Hi, Reuben. Would you like to buy one ticket for a pound or six tickets for a fiver?’ She tried to sound breezy.
‘A complete bargain,’ added Iris knowingly and folded her arms while she waited for his reply.
‘Go on, give me six for a fiver,’ he said, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a note which he handed to her.
His hand brushed Jessica’s and their eyes connected for a second more than was necessary. She really hoped he didn’t think she had done that on purpose.
‘Thanks for the chat yesterday,’ she said, her voice slightly shaky. ‘Sorry I had to go. Was everything okay with your dad?’
He nodded. ‘Yes, the care home was just calling about some paperwork . . . You should come back over and see the cottage and the tree properly, in its full glory.’
‘Yes,’ said Jessica, ‘that would be nice.’ That would be nice? She sounded like his ageing auntie.
‘I managed to get some of your mum’s date and walnut loaf and famous tablet before it all sold out.’ He put down a large bag of the confectionery on the table. ‘My dad always loved it and I thought I’d take some in when I visit him.’
Jessica nodded. ‘That’s good.’ That’s good? Seriously, was that all she could say. ‘Hopefully he’ll enjoy it.’
He nodded. ‘And if not then I will. Your mum makes the best tablet I’ve ever tasted.’
‘I know. It’s hideous to think how much sugar she puts in there.
There are about three bags of the stuff in it.
I swear everyone needs fillings after eating her tablet.
’ There was an awkward pause as she desperately tried to think of something witty to say.
She couldn’t. Then she noticed the queue that had formed behind him.
He was quite the crowd puller, but then he always had been.
‘Right, Reuben, come on, you’re holding everyone up,’ said Iris matter-of-factly.
‘Get your tickets and see what you’ve won.
That’s if you’ve won anything. Then we will need to move you on.
There’s a queue of folk waiting their turn.
But if you don’t win this time, worry not, you can always join it again.
’ She shook the bucket vigorously at him and he raised an eyebrow at Jessica.
‘Crikey,’ said Jessica with a grin. ‘You’d better do as you’re told and hurry up.’
‘Okay. Let’s have a look then.’ He reached his hand in, pulled out his tickets and started to unfold them. With the help of Jessica, he matched up some of the winning tickets to the bottles.
‘Oh, will you look at that,’ he said with a laugh. ‘I’ve actually picked some winners. Normally the ones I get are all duds.’
‘There you go. Just what you’ve always wanted,’ she said chuckling. ‘A bottle of washing-up liquid, some Nozeco . . . Oops, looks like you’ve won the Babycham too!’
Iris gave a hoot of laughter. ‘Well someone has to win it. Better luck next time.’
‘Oh, you’re not quite finished. Looks like it’s your lucky day. You’ve also won a bottle of champagne,’ said Jessica.
‘Hey, not bad going at all,’ he said, pleased with his haul. ‘I will pop it in the fridge as a welcome gift for Murray.’
‘Or you could share it with a special someone,’ suggested Iris innocently and looking across at Jessica.
‘Anyway,’ said Reuben, ignoring her comment, ‘nice seeing you both. Hope the rest of the day goes well. I’m away to see my dad now.’
There was a fresh surge of customers towards the stall and before Jessica was able to say bye, he had turned and disappeared out the hall. She couldn’t help feeling disappointed that he had gone.
‘I think we’ll be finished with this lot within the hour,’ said Iris, pointing at the diminishing number of bottles on the table. ‘We don’t have much more to shift.’
‘It’s been fun,’ said Jessica honestly. ‘I’ve really enjoyed it. Thanks, Iris.’
‘Hey,’ said Gillian, who had just appeared behind Jessica, clutching the hand of a little girl.
‘Hello,’ Jessica said with a smile having swung around. She sank to her knees. ‘And you must be Millie. I’m Jessica. It’s very nice to meet you.’ She held out her hand to shake Millie’s.
Millie smiled shyly at her and hid behind her mum’s legs. Her hair was curly like her mum’s and she had a gap-toothed smile. Then she stuck out her hand and clutched Jessica’s, giving it a shake.
‘I see the Babycham is away then,’ said Gillian drily.
‘Yes, Reuben just won it.’
‘Oh dear. I’m sure he loved that.’
‘Do you want to have a shot?’
‘Sure. Millie, do you want to get the tickets from the bucket?’
Millie reached in and chose six different coloured raffle tickets and waited to find out if they would match any of the bottles. ‘Have we won anything?’
‘Yes,’ said Jessica excitedly. ‘You have won a bottle of bubble bath. And your mum has won a bottle of wine.’
‘Oh great,’ said Gillian, perking up a bit. ‘We don’t usually win anything. Bath bubbles and wine sound like the recipe for a good night in if you ask me.’
‘Hey, let me know if you fancy that coffee sometime?’ said Jessica.
‘That would be nice,’ said Gillian. ‘Though only if you’re sure.’
‘Of course I am. When suits you? I can be totally flexible.’
‘Well, the bakery is shut on a Monday. We could go after I drop Millie at school?’
‘Sounds like a plan,’ said Jessica.
‘Mummy, come on,’ said Millie, tugging at Gillian’s hand. ‘Can we get our faces painted now?’
‘Okay, love.’ She pulled a face. ‘I promised she could be a reindeer.’
‘Have fun. And I’ll see you Monday,’ said Jessica.
Gillian smiled. ‘Great. I’ll meet you in the Coffee Pot just after nine. Does that sound okay?’
Jessica nodded. ‘See you then. Bye, Millie.’ She couldn’t help but feel pleased when Millie turned round, grinned at her and waved.
Then she glanced down at the table and saw Reuben’s bag of tablet.
‘Oh no,’ she said. ‘Iris. I’m just going to see if I can catch Reuben.
He bought this for his dad and he’s left it behind. ’
Iris winked at her. ‘Take your time. You know he’s single again, dear? He split from his wife last year.’
Jessica wasn’t sure what to say. Is that what he meant when he said it was complicated? And what on earth had happened to her sweet, old teacher?