The Own Goal ✔️

part 118

Jack takes us to a carvery we've been to several times, we're seated in a secluded spot and Jack sits with his back to the rest of the restaurant which provides us with moderate privacy.
A couple of little boys linger by as a waiter brings our drinks over. Jack smiles at them, knowing they've recognised him.
"Ya alright lads?"

"Can we have a picture Jack?"

"O'course ya can, jus' do me a favour an' don' stick it on any socials until I've left though yeah?"

They grin and run over, the oldest boy struggles reaching out enough to get a selfie.

"D'ya wan' me to do it?" Jack goes to take the phone.

"Here let me take it for you" I offer, standing and taking the phone I make sure I get a couple of decent photos for them. "There you go" I smile.

Jack asks the boys what team they support and they say Liverpool, making him chuckle, "nah ya neva said that up front did ya!"

"Man city are alright though, we sometimes sit at the home end of the Etihad when Liverpool play there away" the younger boy confesses.

Jack throws his head back "ya can't tell me that!" He laughs.

"My daddy doesn't like man city, he likes villa" Mia gleefully announces. Jack makes a shhhh motion to her, but he's smiling.
"My ginny and Ty play for villa" she continues.

"Bet you know lots of footballers" the oldest boy says to her"

"Girls are betta though!" She announces.

Once we all have our food I ask Mia if she had fun with daddy earlier.

"We saw father Christmas!" She beams at me.

"Really? Did you talk to him?" I glance at Jack, I didn't realise there'd be a father Christmas there, but he's busy helping Esme find her mouth with a giant Yorkshire pudding.

"Yeah o'course I spoke to him! He said I'm on the good list!"

"Hmmmmm did he now? I think he obviously hasn't kept an eye on you aaaaalllll year then missy!"

"I am good!"

"Mostly" me and Jack say in unison, he catches my eye and grins.

"Who had that job?" I ask quietly.

He laughs "Scott!" He grins, "he did alright y'know an' none o'the kids realised!"

I laugh, Scott Carson playing Santa!

"So what did you ask for Mia?" I silently pray that she actually asked for the crying doll that she's been asking for for months.

"A baby" she says through a mouthful of food.

"Good" I whisper to Jack "got that wrapped earlier" but he shakes his head

"nah bab, wait...." he finishes his mouthful then speaks again.

"Moo, tell mommy wot kinda baby ya asked for"

I look across at her.

"A real baby, a baby brother because I already gotta baby sister, so I don't wanna anotha one, I want baby brother now"

I raise my eyebrows to Jack before answering her "that's not really something that father Christmas normally gets involved with"

"Noooo, mama he said yes, didn't he daddy?"

"He did not, tell me he didn't?" I look at jack.

"Er he didn't actually say yes did he moo?"

"Yeah! He did, he said 'i don' see why not' an' that means yes 'cos that's wot grandad always says!"