A Surprise Christmas Wedding - Phillipa Ashley Page 0,47
and waited for Steph and Lottie to catch up with them.
‘There’s Jay,’ said Lottie.
Steph let out a whistle. ‘Wow. That’s a sight to cheer up a cold morning. He reminds me of Kit Harington.’
‘Really?’ Lottie daren’t admit the thought had crossed her mind a few times.
‘Yes, and with all the snow and trees, it’s all very Game of Thrones up here this morning.’
Jay joined them, and Lottie was pleased to see he looked as relaxed as he usually did when he was outdoors and in his element.
She made the introductions before he led them over to the reindeer handler.
‘Are they Santa’s real reindeer? Myra asked.
‘I’m not sure,’ he said. ‘Shall we ask the lady who looks after them?’
A woman with hair the colour of a peppermint candy cane greeted them by the gate to the reindeer paddock. She had enough ear and nose piercings to set off every airport metal detector this side of Heathrow and the girls stared at her in naked curiosity.
‘Hiya,’ Jay said. ‘This is Cush. She runs the reindeer sanctuary in the valley. Cush, this is Myra and Jodie.’
Unfazed by the twins’ stares, Cush grinned. ‘Hi there,’ she said cheerfully. ‘I’m going to let you meet Gary, Jason, Howard and Mark.’
‘What the …?’ Steph whispered to Lottie.
‘Take That, I think,’ Lottie said, exchanging an amused glance with Jay.
‘Not exactly my taste in music,’ he said. ‘What happened to Robbie?’ he added while the girls switched their attention back to the grazing reindeer and the baby.
‘He decided to quit the herd,’ Cush said. ‘Actually, he’s a she – Robbie is short for Roberta – and she’s back at the reindeer farm.’
‘Now, this is little Elvis,’ Cush said, pointing to the baby. ‘And his mum, Adele.’
‘It gets better,’ Steph said in delight.
Cush explained where the reindeer normally lived and what they ate, then answered a pile of questions, before asking if the girls would like to stroke one of the larger animals and the baby. The look in the girls’ eyes was pure wonder and Lottie had a lump in her throat.
Jay hung around, taking photos with Lottie and Steph’s phones.
The twins might happily have stayed all morning but Cush explained that it was almost time for the general public to be allowed in to see them.
While they said a final goodbye, Lottie stood aside with Jay.
‘Thanks for sorting out a private visit. The girls have absolutely loved it,’ she said. ‘Steph’s enjoyed it too.’
‘You’re welcome. I’m glad it lived up to expectations. Would you like to choose a tree before the chaos starts?’ he asked. ‘I’ve squared it with Shayla. Every member of staff can have one if they want.’
‘OK. As long as you’re not too busy.’
‘Of course I’m too busy.’ He shared a glance. ‘But I’m going to make time.’
The five of them wandered through the trees. Myra wanted an eight-foot tree that wouldn’t have even fitted through the door of their semi, while Jodie’s choice was rejected by Myra as ‘too fat’ to squeeze into the corner of the lounge. After dozens were rejected as being too bushy, too thin or too big, they eventually agreed on a spruce.
Jay lifted up the chosen tree. ‘Do you have a stand for it? It’s a lot easier if you can fit them into a proper base.’
‘I don’t think so,’ Steph said.
‘We sell them but between us, I have a couple of rejects going spare. They only need a spot of glue on one of the legs,’ he said.
‘I can do that,’ Lottie said.
‘If you want to take the stand today, I could come round with the tree after work?’ He paused. ‘If it’s OK with you and Lottie?’
Steph shared a glance with her. ‘It’s absolutely fine with me and I doubt Lottie has any plans for tonight, do you?’
Lottie winced but she couldn’t deny she was more than happy to deliver the tree with Jay. ‘It’s fine with me,’ she said.
Myra looked worried. ‘What if someone buys our tree while we’re not here?’
‘They won’t,’ Jay said, clearly amused. ‘Because we’re going to put a big tag on it marked “Sold”.’
‘Good. No one should touch our tree!’ Jodie said, folding her arms.
‘No one will, Jodie,’ Steph said with an apologetic glance at Jay. ‘Thanks so much.’
‘Can you keep them out of the tent for a while?’ Steph whispered to Lottie. ‘I’ve seen a couple of reindeer decorations for sale. I’d like to get them for them to hang on the tree on Christmas morning.’