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Max chuckled and turned me towards the door. “Come on. Luckily for you, I think I know who’s going to win this year.”
“Wait, what happens if you win? If the money is for charity, how does the betting work?” I asked, walking inside.
“The local restaurants donate vouchers. You get one that entitles you to a free dinner,” he replied, shrugging. “Well, up to the value of fifty pounds. It’s one of those things that’s great if you bet two quid, not so great if you’ve dropped a hundred on a duck in a speedo.”
“Have you ever done that?”
“I don’t want to talk about it.” He blew out a breath.
I dipped my head, laughing.
Yeah. I couldn’t say that would something I’d want to relive, either.
Also, a duck in a speedo was so going into a book at some point. I didn’t know where and I didn’t know when, but I knew I’d figure something out.
“All right, what are you betting?” Penny asked, grinning. “Another speedo duck venture, cousin dearest?”
“No, no, I won’t be trusting Gerald Hawkins again,” Max said grimly. “Ellie’s brother wants ten pounds on Bernadette’s pig.”
She looked at me. “Really? The pig?”
I held my hands up in response. “That’s what he said.”
“Mmkay.” She opened a betting book. “His name?”
“Kevin Aarons.”
She scribbled it down with the amount, then looked to me. “And you?”
“Uhh…”
“Betty’s donkey,” Max said, handing her what looked like a hundred pounds. “I’ve seen his costume.”
Pen took the notes and counted it. “And you think everyone thinks you’re a grumpy old git and not generous at all.”
He stared at her. “Shut up.”
She grinned, putting the money in a tin. “Well, Ellie? What about you? Do you fancy the pig? A duck? A donkey?”
“I cannot believe I’m having this conversation,” I said, pulling two twenties from my purse. “I’ll go for the chicken in a tutu.”
Pen laughed. “Nugget is rocking that tutu this year, that’s for sure. Good choice.”
I was glad someone thought so.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
ELLIE
Total Eclipse of the Heart
“I’ve always liked free food,” I mused, looking at my voucher that entitled me to up to fifty pounds of free food and non-alcoholic drinks at any restaurant in Windermere. I’d also managed to win a bottle of wine from the raffle that was currently sitting in the boot of Max’s car.
Max side-eyed me. “Don’t brag.”
“The chicken was a good call,” Fred agreed, sipping his beer. “That was one fancy chicken in one fancy rainbow tutu.”
I did have to agree. I was surprised the chicken had won when the donkey dressed as a camel had shown up—no wonder Max was so salty. I’d thought for sure Doris the donkey was going to win.
