Christmas in Port Berry (Port Berry #6)

Chapter 1

Alice

The scent of seafood wafted over to Alice Dipple as she stood outside Seaview B&B, gazing up at her business.

The large chalky white building needed some Christmas spirit.

It was late November, and she still hadn’t decorated for the season.

She didn’t have any guests booked in for the big day, but she had a few now, and there were some due for New Year’s Eve, so even if she wasn’t in the mood to celebrate, it would be nice for them to see a tree covered in tinsel, at the very least.

Peering over the road at the dark sea, she wondered if it was just the heavy salty air that made her think of cockles and mussels. That or someone nearby was having some for a late breakfast. Not something she’d ever considered before lunch, even living by the harbour all her life.

She sighed, then glanced at the stained-glass window of a boat at the top of the wide arched front door.

That could do with a wipe. She really needed to get some motivation.

It was her first Christmas in her new business, only having bought it from Mabel in the summer.

Perhaps if the elderly woman hadn’t died soon after, life at the B&B would feel happier.

For years, Alice had dreamed of owning her own B&B along the harbour in Port Berry.

She had grown up just around the corner and helped Mabel out at the B&B since she was in her teens.

Never in a million years did she expect Mabel to retire and offer her first refusal of the place.

It was more than a dream come true — it was everything.

And Mabel had been so pleased her family home was being passed down to someone who cared so much about it and wanted to keep the premises as a B&B.

Looking at the building now, Alice wondered how something so old still stood so strong. At the age of only thirty-one, Alice often felt more like a hundred, especially when her fibromyalgia flared up.

Bell of Blood . She laughed to herself, trying to visualize when her new home was a tavern with that name. She could just see the pirates of Penzance popping in to sup some ale and cause havoc. ‘If only you could talk, eh?’

She wondered what Mabel’s ancestors would now think about her at the helm. So far, no ghost had tapped her on the shoulder or kept her awake throughout the night, so she figured if one was floating around, they seemed to be okay about the exchange.

‘Morning, Alice,’ came a voice, breaking her from the trance she appeared to be in with the sea-facing balconies.

She turned to see a local fisherman walking by. ‘Morning, Jed. I thought you’d still be out there.’ She pointed over Harbour End Road at the calm sea.

‘I caught what was needed for the shop first thing. Now I’m off on a walk for a bit of exercise for the old knees.

’ He scuffed back his salt-and-pepper hair as he grinned at his legs.

‘Your grandmother was supposed to join me, but reckons she was needed by your mum in the newsagents.’ His slate-blue eyes twinkled.

‘I think we both know that was an excuse.’

Alice laughed. ‘Yes, well, Nan isn’t known for wanting to exercise. Anyway, with you both being seventy-one now, isn’t it time to relax?’

‘Pfft. While there’s life in you, use it. I’m fitter than your Benny, and he’s, what? How old is that nephew of yours now? I can’t keep up.’

‘He turned fifteen this year.’

Jed rubbed his wiry grey beard. ‘Soon goes, doesn’t it? Only feels like yesterday he was knee-high to a grasshopper.’

Alice smiled. ‘He’s not that tall now. I’m thinking he’ll have a growth spurt soon or stay on the shorter side like his mum.’

‘Aw, bless your Lisa.’ Jed gestured at the cold-blue sky. ‘It’s tough this time of year when they’re not with us, eh, my girl?’

Following his gaze, she agreed. ‘My sister has been gone eight years now. Sometimes it seems like yesterday.’

‘I know the feeling. Not a day goes by I don’t think of my wife and son.’

Alice reached for his hand. ‘I feel sadder this year, Jed.’

‘Because of this place? And Mabel?’

She nodded. ‘Yep. Doesn’t feel right. I know we have to get on with life, but sometimes it feels tainted.’

‘Yeah, I know what you mean.’

‘Mabel still had so much life in her. She was all set for the next phase and just like that, she dies.’

‘And that is exactly why we live our best life in the time we have, because we just don’t know how long that will be.’

Alice leaned into his shoulder. ‘Blimming heck, Jed. What do we sound like? Not the cheeriest of conversations.’

‘All part of life, Alice. The ups, downs, we can’t avoid it or pretend these things don’t exist. It’s okay to talk about such matters. Best not to dwell though.’

She motioned to the door. ‘Best for me to make a start on adding some holly and mistletoe.’

‘And we’ve got a lot of events to look forward to this December.’

Alice squealed quietly. ‘Ooh, yes, Sophie and Matt’s wedding on the twentieth. How are her nerves holding up?’

Jed chuckled. ‘Not sure my granddaughter has nerves. But Matt might need his hand holding if you see him. He can’t wait for their big day, but I think his excitement overwhelms him some days. He keeps going out for early morning swims in the sea.’

Alice shivered at the thought. ‘It’s freezing out there.’

‘Ah, you get used to it when you do it every day.’

‘I prefer snuggling in front of my wood burner this time of year.’

Jed pointed at the B&B. ‘Do you want my help with the decorations?’

‘Thanks, but I’m okay. You get back to your walk. Demi’s in the kitchen, prepping for the lunch guests, so I can always grab her to lend a hand if need be.’

‘Well, you just give me a shout if you need anything.’

Alice waved as he headed off. Just that brief chat with Jed had lifted her a touch. Life was short, Christmas was around the corner, and Mabel would want her to put the tree up and show the guests some festive joy.

‘Right, that’s it. Holly jolly time.’

It was nice and warm inside the small foyer, helping Alice’s stiff bones to relax. She approached the light-wood reception desk and rummaged around in a box beneath for the key to the storage room, where the Christmas decorations were kept.

Each year, she’d help Mabel with the task of giving the B&B a slight touch of Santa’s Grotto, so she knew where everything went. Perhaps this year she might add something of her own.

It was heart-warming looking through Mabel’s ancient garlands and tree ornaments, and Alice was pleased Mabel had left so much behind for her to keep.

‘Some of these bits and pieces have been with this place before my time, Alice,’ Mabel would say each year.

Alice felt blessed to have had such a wonderful woman as her friend.

Pulling out the stepladder, Alice held back tears and composed herself. Mabel would tell her off for all the doom and gloom. Not one to grumble about the bad things that happened, Mabel kept her chin up and her head in the game. Alice needed to take a leaf out of her book.

It was hard not to think about Mabel while climbing the ladder to pin one end of a foil garland in place.

The only joy the woman really had was the B&B, until she met her girlfriend who she’d been about to join in Jersey.

Her son had been a rotten drunk, hardly ever home, and her grandchildren never seemed to appreciate the fact their grandmother raised them after their mum had died when they were six.

Alice was so grateful to her mother and nan.

They had always been there for her, even more so when she adopted Benny.

It was nice having such a close, loving family.

She was lucky, she knew that and could never take them for granted.

Mabel’s grandchildren were the same age as Alice, but age made little difference.

The granddaughter lived in Australia and didn’t come back for the funeral or send flowers.

She never wrote or contacted Mabel. And as for the other twin, he was still in prison.

Jamie Stark was never far from her mind, but he needed to be, as there was work to be done.

Alice smiled as a young couple came down the stairs. ‘Enjoy your day.’ She waved, remembering how they had told her at breakfast that they were off to Penzance for the day to visit friends.

‘Thanks, bye.’

Alice wondered if she should put the radio on low behind the desk.

There was an older gentleman still in his room, and a middle-aged woman typing away on her laptop in the small lounge area.

She didn’t want to disturb her guests, so opted for silence.

Perhaps later, when the writer had left, she could add some festive tunes to the foyer, ready for the lunch customers.

She climbed down the ladder and dragged it across the room so she could pin the other end of the garland. At least she had made a start, and she was feeling a bit better in herself.

Moving a potted leafy plant out the way, Alice settled the ladder along a wall, checked it for sturdiness, then climbed once more, stretching for the ceiling, grateful for her long limbs.

She started to hum a Christmas song while blowing strands of her long dark hair out of her eyes, then giggled to herself as the garland slipped and landed on her head.

‘Hello, Angel.’ The male voice startled her.

Only one person in the world called her by that name, but he wasn’t being released from prison until early next year.

In a tizz, Alice swirled on the ladder, lost her footing, and tumbled straight down into athletic arms that caught her. She stared up into soft blue eyes. ‘Jamie?’

A moment of silence passed as they stared at each other.

‘You’re here,’ she managed.

His mouth parted slightly, and she watched his gaze fall to her lips. ‘Yeah,’ he said, sounding just as surprised.