Page 38 of New Beginnings at the Little Christmas Inn
‘Just in time,’ Lucie said brightly. ‘Another round of drinks here, please. We’re discussing a Christmas Quiz. In aid of–’ she began to flounder.
‘The RNLI,’ Livvy supplied with a flourish. ‘What else.’
‘Yeah. What else.’ Eli snorted. ‘That’s all I ever hear from Luce and Jamie. RNLI.’
‘You’d better hope you never get into difficulties at sea, then, little bro,’ Lucie said, crisply.
‘Whatevs.’ Eli shrugged. ‘Same again?’
‘Best make mine an orange juice,’ Lucie added. ‘I’ve got the car.’
‘Good. I’ll bag a lift.’
Lucie raised an eyebrow. ‘Only if your manners improve.’
Eli sighed, rolled his eyes heavenwards. ‘Please can I have a lift home?’ he parroted.
‘You can.’ After he’d gone, Lucie turned to Livvy. ‘And you say you never have any problems with him?’
Livvy giggled. ‘Always says please and thank you to me but then I’m his boss.’ She grinned, leaning back into her chair. ‘Well, it looks as if The George is holding a quiz night.’
Lucie looked at her sheepishly. ‘I’ll get my Jamie on board to help. That’s my husband. He’ll have a vested interest; he crews for the lifeboat here. And I’ll get Jago and Honor along. Jago’s crew too. Honor’s the deputy at the primary school so she’ll be up to her armpits in end of term stuff but tell her it’s Christmas and she’ll be here. She’s obsessed with anything Christmas. She’s married to Jago.’
‘Lucky Honor. I met Jago at the craft fayre. I bought a light catcher off him.’
‘God yeah, he’s gorg, isn’t he? All that dark curly hair. Very easy on the eye. Uncle Dave and Daisy and Rick will come too.’
‘Actually, it’s not getting people along to the quiz I’m worried about. It’s writing the damn thing.’
‘I’ll do that. Happy to be quiz master too. It’s the least I can do seeing as I landed you in it.’ Lucie grinned. ‘I love a chance to boss people about. Don’t stand for any nonsense, me.’
‘So I saw.’
‘You mean, with Eli? Older sister’s prerogative. Got to be some perks to being the firstborn.’
‘I wouldn’t know. Only child here.’ Livvy smiled, liking Lucie more and more. She looked around but there was no sign of Eli with their drinks. Seeing Mark come in she waved. ‘We may as well go up to the bar to get our drinks as your brother has disappeared. I was hoping he could tell me more about Tom’s animal sanctuary. I’m hoping to get a pub dog.’ She stood up.
At the word dog, both Pete and Skip woke up. Pete wiped his mouth and grunted and Skip let out a low growl.
‘You getting a dog, Livvy?’ Pete said.
Nothing wrong with your hearing when you choose to listen to things you shouldn’t, Pete.‘Maybe.’
‘Better make sure my Skip likes it.’
‘Absolutely.’ Livvy cast a humorous look towards Lucie. ‘I wouldn’t dream of introducing any animal Skip doesn’t approve of. Another pint, Pete?’
‘Ar. Don’t mind if I do.’
The women went to the bar. Livvy slipped behind it, pulled Pete’s cider and poured Lucie an orange juice. ‘Ah, Eli, there you are. Could you take this to Pete please?’
‘Only if I get paid danger money.’
‘Skip’s not that grumpy.’
Eli picked up the pint glass. ‘Wasn’t talking about the dog.’
Livvy suppressed a grin. ‘Hi, Mark. Usual?’
