Page 23 of A Wish for Jinnie
‘At this rate we’ll be sozzled before we hit the pub,’ said Shona, just as Jo arrived with their food.
‘Get this lot down you and you’ll be fine,’ she said, passing them plates of Scotch pie and baked beans.
‘I can feel my waistband straining just looking at that,’ groaned Hannah. ‘Do you make these yourself?’
‘I do indeed,’ said Jo. ‘Only the finest ingredients, not like some of the dodgy ones you get elsewhere.’
‘And there’s cake for afters,’ grinned Jinnie, pointing at the glistening array of cupcakes, éclairs and other sugar-filled goodies.
‘The diet starts on January 1st,’ declared Shona, cutting into the pie. ‘I’m just not saying which year!’
It felt good being with her friends, catching up on gossip and exchanging beauty tips. Both Hannah and Shona had oohed and aahed over Jinnie’s hair, demanding to know which products she used. She’d smiled in her best Mona Lisa fashion, and moved the conversation on to the girls’ favourite topic.
‘I thought he might be a keeper, but when he made this funny noise’ — Hannah did a fine impression of a stuck pig — ‘during sex, I knew it was over.’
‘Anyone on the scene for you?’ Jinnie asked Shona.
‘Nah, I’m in the same boat as you. Who needs a man when you’ve got great mates and pie!’
The conversation turned to Shalini and Jacqui. Both were still loved-up, with Jacqui hinting that boyfriend Kev might be about to pop the question.
‘What question’s that, then?’ said Hannah, scooping the last of the beans into her mouth with the knife. For such a picky woman, she had a few dodgy habits herself. ‘Will you move in with me, do my washing, and keep the fridge stocked with beer from here to eternity? Oh, and I’ll put a ring on it, but don’t expect to glide down the aisle any time soon.’
Jinnie play-slapped her cynical friend, relieved that the girls hadn’t pressed her on her own love life. Clearly, her sickly sweet answer on their night out about needing to heal herself had hit the mark.
Jo returned to clear the plates and take their cake orders. The café was quiet, bar a few customers picking up orders of home-made mince pies and Yuletide chocolate logs for the big day.
‘What are your plans for tomorrow, Jo?’ asked Jinnie. ‘Are you spending it with family?’
Jo shook her head, a fleeting look of sadness crossing her face.
‘No, my folks died a long time ago and I don’t have any siblings, so it’ll be a quiet one at home, with a shop-bought roast dinner and Christmas pudding for one.’ She smiled. ‘You needn’t pull those faces. I’m perfectly happy slobbing in my onesie and catching up on the shows I’ve been meaning to watch all year. I’ll probably pop into the pub tonight for a bit of human company.’
Left with their cakes, the girls exchanged gifts. Jinnie put hers aside to open tomorrow, but neither Hannah nor Shona were willing to wait. ‘Bugger that for a game of soldiers!’ exclaimed Hannah, tearing the shiny gold paper off her present with all the fervour of an overexcited toddler. ‘Aw, thanks, hon. It’s lovely.’
Jinnie had bought them both scarf rings she’d found in a tiny boutique near her parents’ home. Inexpensive but pretty, they could either secure a scarf or be worn on a chain as a necklace.
‘Right, what’s the plan of action?’ declared Shona, looking at her watch. ‘It’s just after two, so should we head back to yours for a while?’
Eek!Jinnie hadn’t considered that her friends might want to visit. Short of dashing ahead and stuffing Dhassim in the broom cupboard, it was an absolute no-no. ‘Sorry, the place is a tip,’ she said. ‘Knickers drying everywhere, and I don’t think there’s a clean cup or glass to be had.’ Jinnie’s cheeks glowed red at the outright lie. Her friends all knew she was something of a neat freak, if not a fan of dusting and vacuuming.
‘Standards slipping out in the sticks, eh?’ Hannah tutted, digging out her purse to pay her share of the bill. ‘OK, so it’s a whistle-stop tour of Cranley then off to the pub. Will we get to meet the enigmatic Sam and the energetic Ed?’
When chatting and texting to Hannah, Jinnie had mentioned the two men a couple of times, Well, maybe more than a couple. But she’d been adamant there was more chance of her persuading Prince Harry to dump Meghan than for them to be anything other than friends.
‘They’ll be there, along with most of the village. Bye, Jo.’ Jinnie waved, and the trio exited in a flurry of giggles and pre-Christmas excitement.
* * *
By four o’clock thepub was jumping. Ed had been excused from bar duty for half an hour, and was currently charming the pants off Hannah and Shona. Peggy from the salon came over to admire Jinnie’s hair, and insisted she’d be happy to give it ‘a wee trim’ when required. There was no sign yet of Sam. Jinnie was officially on holiday from the shop from now until January 4th, since Out of the Attics Antiques closed during the festive period. He’d given her a generous bonus despite her protestations, and she had to admit the money was very welcome.
‘Another?’ Ed picked up Jinnie’s empty glass of mulled wine. It was totally scrumptious, infused with spices and no doubt laced with something lethal.
‘Better not for now, or you’ll have to carry me home,’ she joked, feeling distinctly hot and bothered when Ed gave her an exaggerated lingering look.
‘Party pooper,’ screeched Hannah, shoving both her and Shona’s empty glasses towards Ed. At the rate they were going, Ed might have to pour them onto their train later.
Testing her legs — still steady, thankfully — Jinnie headed over to the buffet table, laden with nuts, crisps and more substantial nibbles all provided by Ken. An empty shoebox with a slot cut in the lid acted as a makeshift charity box, all proceeds going to Alzheimer’s research. Jinnie stuffed in a tenner and filled a paper plate with a selection of savouries.
