Chapter 2
Jamie
Jamie found he couldn’t stop staring at Alice. She was in his arms, her face so close to his. It was all so surreal.
‘I thought you weren’t being released till next year,’ she said quietly, not attempting to move from his hold.
‘I lied. I didn’t want to tell you in case something went wrong.’ He dipped his head. ‘After eight years inside, I guess I was finding it hard to believe I’d ever be free.’
‘But you’re free now?’ It was as though she needed the confirmation.
‘Yes. I’ve served my time.’
‘I would have come got you.’
He met the kindness in her light-brown eyes and smiled. ‘You’ve done enough for me.’
They stayed staring at each other as another beat passed.
‘Jamie, I—’
Demi came walking out from the dining room. ‘Alice, I’ve . . . Oh, erm . . .’
Jamie gently lowered Alice to her feet, then turned to the woman in her late-thirties gawping his way.
‘Demi, this is Jamie. Mabel’s grandson.’ Alice cleared her throat, and Jamie watched her paste on a smile. ‘Demi is the chef here. Makes brekkie, and we are now open to the public for lunch.’ She brushed her hands down her jeans.
Demi stepped closer. ‘Pleased to meet you. I’m sorry about your gran. I hadn’t known her long. She was always so lovely.’
‘Thank you.’
Demi thumbed towards the door. ‘I’m just heading to the pub to grab some carrots, only we’ve run out. I live a couple of doors down at the Jolly Pirate with Robson. Not sure if you know him.’
Jamie nodded. ‘I remember Robson.’
Demi smiled softly. ‘Pop over whenever you like. I don’t drink myself, but I’m happy to buy you one. Welcome you home.’
He wasn’t expecting that, but then again, Demi didn’t know the old version of him. ‘Thank you, but I’m sure Robson wouldn’t want me in his pub.’
‘Look,’ said Demi, ‘I won’t beat around the bush. I’ve heard about you, and I know you standing here means you’ve just got out of prison, right?’
He nodded, wondering what was coming next.
She tapped her chest. ‘I was in prison once, so I know what it feels like to step back outside and feel a little lost. We need people to believe in us. To give us a second chance.’
Jamie stole a glance at Alice before returning his attention to Demi’s brown eyes revealing nothing but friendliness.
She smiled softly. ‘There’s a place I go to that helps ex-offenders. It’s called The Butterfly Company. They got me my first job when I was released. I could take you over there one day, if you like.’
‘Thanks. I know the place. I’m already booked in to go there tomorrow.’
‘That’s brilliant,’ said Demi. ‘They’re so good. Would you like me to come with you?’
‘You’re very kind, but I’ll be fine by myself, thanks.’
‘Just know I’m around if you ever need another friend.’ Demi headed towards the door. ‘Are you staying close by?’
‘He’s living here,’ said Alice.
‘Till I get sorted,’ he added, not wanting to put her out. Seaview B&B wasn’t his home anymore. Hadn’t been for years, and now it belonged to Alice.
‘Okay,’ said Demi. ‘Well, I’ll see you in a bit.’
Jamie turned to Alice as soon as Demi left. ‘Thanks for letting me stay here.’
‘It’s your home.’
‘We both know that’s not true anymore.’
‘You don’t have anywhere else to go.’
He looked up through his dark lashes. ‘I’ll sort something soon.’
‘There’s no rush. Erm, back when you lived here, I know your family used the top level as your home, but a few years back, Mabel moved down here, and the top rooms are rented out.
’ She glanced at the door behind the desk and moved her head in that direction.
‘Benny and I are back there now. It’s just two bedrooms, but you can have a room on the first floor. One with an en suite and a sea view.’
‘You’ll lose money if you give me one of the best rooms.’ He lowered his gaze.
‘It’s winter. You know we won’t have many guests this time of year.’
He knew. He had grown up watching his grandmother run the place single-handed.
‘I’ll get a job soon enough and start paying my way.’
‘How about we get you settled and worry about that another time.’ Alice went to fetch a key. ‘Are you hungry?’
‘A little.’
‘Let’s put your things away, then we can see what’s in the kitchen.’ Alice glanced at his feet. ‘Oh, you don’t have much.’
‘I never went in with a suitcase.’ He grabbed his one carrier bag and followed her to the first floor and into the bedroom.
The air smelled of furniture polish, and the fresh sheets on the bed looked inviting, but it was the sea view that captivated him for a moment.
‘I used to love looking out at the sea.’
‘We can ask Jed to take you out on his boat.’
He stared over at the red-and-white lighthouse in the near distance. ‘I think we both know that you, and now Demi, will be my only friends around here.’
Alice stepped to his side. ‘You’re not that person anymore. In time, they’ll see.’
‘I terrorized the neighbourhood. Brought nothing but trouble to my nan’s door.’ The memory was raw, made worse by the fact he couldn’t make it up to his grandmother now. ‘I couldn’t even face her funeral, and I was allowed to go.’
‘It’s in the past, Jamie. Things are different now.’
He could tell she was being hopeful, rather than certain, and he needed her to know that he had changed, and that she’d get no bother from him. ‘I just want peace.’
‘And you’ll have that here.’ Her sweet voice went straight to his heart, as always.
He turned to face her. ‘I’ll skip the food and stay in here, if that’s okay.’ Not only did he feel like a burden, he felt like a failure. And a pity party for one was heading his way.
Alice frowned. ‘No, it’s not okay. You’ve just spent years confined to a room.
I want you to walk around freely. Head to the kitchen to eat whenever you want.
No timings, no routine, no restrictions.
’ She took his hand, looking down at the connection.
‘I know it’s going to take time for you to adjust, and I don’t want to force you to do anything, but I honestly believe it will do you the world of good to show yourself you’re free by acting that way. ’
Jamie heard her words, but his concentration was on their joined hands. ‘Angel, I—’
‘Please, Jamie, come to the kitchen and eat. Let’s try to be normal again.’
He met her eyes. ‘Were things ever normal between us?’
She gave a small smile. ‘Not sure what to call it.’
‘I don’t deserve someone like you in my life.’
‘Yes, you do. None of it was your fault.’
‘Don’t make excuses for me.’
Alice let go of his hand and headed for the door. ‘There were excuses. Big fat ones. But right now, all that’s important is you eating. So, come on.’
Jamie followed her to the kitchen. Every step feeling surreal. He used to dream of the day he’d go home to Port Berry, rebuild his life, but being there didn’t feel real. Being so close to Alice was unbelievable on every level. ‘I see not much has changed about the old place.’
Alice opened the fridge. ‘Mabel was stuck in her ways, but I plan to do a bit of an upgrade here and there.’ She waggled a packet of ham. ‘Sandwich, or would you rather wait till Demi comes back to make some hot lunches?’
‘Sandwich is fine, thanks.’ He was happy to eat anything she offered, just happy to be around her.
‘Coming right up.’
‘I can help you with this place. I’m okay with a paintbrush.’ He smiled when she glanced his way.
‘That’ll be nice.’
‘After this, do you want me to put the Christmas decorations up? You know, what with me not being allowed to hang out in my room.’
Alice’s giggle was one of his favourite sounds. ‘I’m not going to be the boss of you.’
‘Oh, you’ve always been the boss of me.’
She placed a plated sandwich on the table where he sat. ‘Not true. If I had been, I would have kept you out of prison.’
Jamie reached for her hand. ‘You kept me alive in prison.’
A beat passed.
‘You had no one writing or visiting you,’ she said quietly, water pooling in her eyes until she blinked it away.
Jamie pulled back. ‘Erm, shall I make us a drink or something?’
‘There’s juice in the fridge, or you can put the kettle on.’ She glanced over her shoulder as she headed to the breadbin to put the bread away. ‘Or did you mean something stronger?’
‘Juice is fine.’ He went to the fridge, putting the ham away at the same time. He needed something to do other than keep staring at her.
Alice sat down with her own sandwich. ‘Do you have any plans?’
He joined her side, passing her a glass of orange juice. ‘I have that appointment tomorrow at The Butterfly Company to talk about finding a job. So I’ll go from there.’
‘Anything else?’
‘Not just yet. What about you? I know you didn’t tell me everything about your life.’ He bit into his sandwich, wondering if she might mention a boyfriend.
‘Just this place occupying my mind. And now you.’ She gave him a friendly nudge of the arm.
Jamie swallowed hard. ‘So, erm, you don’t have a partner?’
‘No.’
‘Right.’ He took another bite of his sandwich.
‘I did have one a couple of years back. Thought I’d give it a try, but it didn’t work out, so I went back to focusing on myself and family.’ She looked his way. ‘Not something I wanted to write to you about.’
‘I understand.’
‘I made a mistake,’ she said quietly, cupping her glass of orange juice.
‘No, you didn’t, Angel. You just tried to have a normal life.’
‘I just regret it, that’s all.’
It was the way she said it that had him meet her eyes, searching for clues as to how bad the relationship was.
‘You okay now?’ he asked gently.
Alice smiled widely. ‘I’m so happy.’
That was good enough for him, because the thought of some bloke making her unhappy was enough to land him back in prison if he caught up with the man.
Jamie went back to his food, wiping away the image of Alice in bed with someone.
He had always believed she might one day move on with her life.
Fretted she might stop writing to him. Pretend he didn’t exist. It wasn’t in her nature, but insecurities hit hard when locked up in prison.
He would stare at her photo stuck to his wall, the selfie she’d sent of her smiling with the sea and lighthouse behind, and he would wish so hard he could rewind time and start over.