Page 45 of A Wish for Jinnie
‘Well, hen, I’ve no’ had much luck here. Senga McArthur in the next village had a £200,000 winner last year and jings, did she go to town with it. Posters in the windae and her photo in the local paper.’
Janette drew a finger down the display case of cards promising prizes to change your life, or at least gild it a little. ‘The Diamond Mine’s a popular one. Only two quid, and you can win up to £50,000. Peggy at the salon bought one and bagged a hundred quid. Wisnae worth a poster, mind. Got a wee Polaroid taken. Think it’s pinned up next to the basins at her place.’
Before Angela could speak, Jinnie slapped down a tenner. ‘Two Diamond Mine cards, please.’ Much as she itched for Angela to do the deed straight away, Jinnie decided it was better to give her time. ‘Here, this one’s for you.’ Batting away Angela’s protests, she thrust a card into her hand. ‘Save it for later. And if you win a hundred, you can treat me to lunch at Jo’s.’
They parted ways, both munching on their chocolate. Angela tucked the scratch card in her pocket, thanked Jinnie again and ambled off.
Now what? Jinnie could hardly loiter outside Angela’s place waiting to hear her screams of delight. Anyway, she had a feeling the card would languish unscratched for a few hours. When you hit rock bottom, it was difficult to imagine anything good ever happening. Tempted as she was to visit the pub and maybe have a chat with Ed, Jinnie turned the other way and headed home.
‘Your friend, was she excited to win the money?’ Dhassim bounded up to her like a puppy who’d just heard the word ‘walkies’.
‘I don’t know. She didn’t scratch it right away,’ Jinnie replied. ‘I got one too.’ Pulling out the card and a ten pence coin, she scratched off the foil covering. ‘Woo hoo. Won a tenner, so I’m all square.’
Ignoring Dhassim’s protests that she should have wished for some money herself, Jinnie wandered into the kitchen. A notepad lay on the worktop next to the coffee and tea jars. On it was her current ‘To Do’ list. It included visiting her family, setting up a get-together with Hannah and co, and —
Uncapping a biro, Jinnie added:Find a new job. Leave Cranley. Start afresh.A tear splashed on to the paper, smudging the ink. She tore off the page, stared at the next, blank one, and began to write a letter of resignation…
Chapter 41
‘Why the long face?’Ed put down the glass he was drying as Jinnie arrived for her shift. ‘I’d much rather have happy smiley Jinnie working alongside me than this imposter with a coupon that’d turn milk sour.’
In spite of her black mood, Jinnie giggled at Ed’s description of her downcast expression. ‘It’s nothing. At least, nothing you can help with.’ She went to the far end of the bar to serve a couple of regulars their usual.
Liz appeared, looking harassed and trumpeting into a hankie. ‘Keep your distance, love,’ she said. ‘I’m coming down with the lurgy, so Ray’s flying solo in the kitchen tonight. It’s Lemsip and early bed for me.’
Jamie emerged from the back, having already finished his shift. Judging by his equally miserable face, Jinnie doubted Angela had so much as glanced at the card. Or — horrible thought — the wish hadn’t worked and she’d won diddly squat.
‘How’s your mum?’ she asked brightly.
‘Same as usual,’ Jamie replied. ‘Except she’s looking at some crap bedsits in the city with barely room to swing a cat.’
‘That’s not good,’ interjected Ed. ‘I’d hate to see her — well, both of you — have to leave here.’
With a noncommittal grunt, Jamie took off. Jinnie was no authority on reading people’s feelings, but she sensed Ed’s sadness ran deeper than concern for the wellbeing of a staff member and his mum.
‘Are your folks not around tonight?’ Jinnie pulled a couple of pints, aware she was watching the door in case Sam dropped in. She’d slid the note into the shop letterbox on her way to the pub. Cowardly, but Jinnie couldn’t stomach telling him face to face. She’d offered to work a week’s notice, but made it clear she preferred a clean break.
…Much as I’ve appreciated your kindness and enjoyed the experience, I feel it’s time for me to move on. I will drop off the clothes you kindly lent my cousin.
Yours, Jinnie
The moment the letter left her grasp, Jinnie was consumed with guilt. Sam hadn’t done anything wrong. His only crime was not to return her feelings. Would he be confused by her actions? Disappointed, perhaps, or even angry?
‘Jinnie, you’re a million miles away.’ Ed slung a friendly arm around her shoulder, bringing to mind the cocktail episode when she’d embarrassingly sniffed his armpit. Back then, Jinnie had felt a spark of attraction, but now…
‘Mum and Dad have taken off for a few days.’ Ed removed his arm and uncorked an open bottle of red. ‘Large or small?’ he asked the loved-up duo at the bar, who had prised themselves apart long enough to order.
‘Where have they gone?’ Jinnie could murder a large glass of red herself, but drinking on duty was a no-no. Unless sanctioned by the boss, which would be Ed this evening.
‘Pitlochry. They stayed there yonks ago, when they were first married. Dad reckoned it might spark some good memories. He’s been a bit strange these past few days, come to think of it.’
Jinnie felt a rush of gratitude that her own parents were both happy and healthy. Wilma too, despite her ‘it’s my body, and I’ll do what I want to’ attitude. Even Archie had come good, meeting up with Über Jean in London. Early days, but perhaps her little brother would surprise them all.
An hour passed, and Jinnie was glad of the Saturday-night surge of people keen to escape the confines of their homes and park their problems on the doorstep of The Jekyll and Hyde. The thought that moving on also meant leaving Ed, Ken, Mags and the regulars she’d come to know during her short time in Cranley gave her stomach cramps. And as for Dhassim…
‘Rose is here.’ Ed smiled at the young barmaid, who said a shy hello. She wasn’t the chattiest girl on the planet, but her manner was pleasant and she worked hard. Jinnie knew Ken often gave her extra shifts, as she was saving up for a beautician’s course. ‘How about we give Ray a shout for a sharing platter, and you can tell me what’s causing those nasty frown lines?’ Ed dodged as Jinnie aimed a playful punch at him.
Minutes later they settled down with a mountain of chicken wings, cheese-topped nachos and stuffed mushrooms. Ed had a half pint, Jinnie a small glass of house red.
