Chapter 5
Alice
Benny came home just as Alice was dishing up dinner in the kitchen. As it wasn’t a meal she had to prepare for guests, she could take her time and potter around at her own leisure. Only this time, she felt like a bag of nerves.
‘What’s the matter with you?’ he asked, approaching the sink to wash his hands.
She smiled falsely. ‘Nothing.’
There was laughter in his blue eyes. ‘You’ve got a weird look on your face.’
Alice frowned. ‘I’m just cooking dinner, that’s all.’
Benny peered over her shoulder at the fish pie she’d taken out of the oven. ‘Never play poker. You’d lose every time.’
She nudged him with her hip. ‘Erm, excuse me, but I can lie, thank you.’
‘Ah-ha! So, you are hiding something. Come on, Mum, tell me.’
It always warmed Alice’s heart when he called her that, as mostly he called her by her name.
She hoped her sister would approve. No one ever struck lightning on her, so maybe Lisa was all right with it.
Alice wished she knew for sure, but for some reason Lisa never sent messages to their psychic grandmother.
‘I haven’t got any secrets or lies to tell, Benny.’
‘There’s definitely something going on.’
She moved his hand away from the green beans she’d drained of boiling water. ‘Something did happen today that I want to talk to you about.’
‘Knew it.’ He snaffled some food.
‘Will you stop eating the beans? Go sit down, and I’ll bring your dinner over.’
His dark hair flopped onto his brow as it crinkled. ‘Why are there three plates?’
‘That’s what I want to tell you.’
Benny scrunched his nose. ‘Oh, please don’t tell me you’ve brought a date home and this is the meet and greet.’
Alice frowned. ‘You once told me you’d be fine if I dated again.’
‘I am fine about it, but I’m not too sure meeting your love interest over fish pie is the way to go.’
Alice chuckled as she dished him up a portion. ‘I don’t have a love interest. Anyway, there’s nothing wrong with fish pie.’
Benny folded his arms, giving the impression he wouldn’t eat a morsel until she got to her point.
She knew that he would last all of one minute and proved the point by handing him a fork.
Benny started to tuck in. ‘Spit it out, Alice. Who is plate three?’
‘Jamie Stark.’
Benny stopped eating mid-chew.
‘He was released today.’ She pointed at the ceiling. ‘He’s staying in room one.’
‘Does Nan and Granny know?’
Alice nodded. ‘Yeah. Your nan is still processing, but your granny seems okay.’
Benny glanced around the kitchen. ‘I wonder what Mabel would think.’
‘She would have put a roof over his head.’
‘How are you feeling?’
‘I’m all right. It was a bit of a shock at first, because I wasn’t expecting him till next year, but he’s here now, and he’s going to find work and settle down. Show everyone he’s changed.’ She glanced at the door as Jamie walked in, looking sheepish.
‘Sorry, I was outside and heard you talking about me, and I wasn’t sure whether to come in or not.’ Jamie smiled over at Benny. ‘You’ve grown. Do you remember me?’
Benny shrugged. ‘Not really.’
Alice manoeuvred Jamie to the table to sit, then set about bringing over their dinner. ‘Ah, you were just seven when Jamie last saw you.’
‘I wasn’t around much, though,’ said Jamie. ‘Flittered about back then.’
Benny went back to eating. ‘I’ve heard all about you.’
Jamie bobbed his head. ‘Well, whatever you’ve heard, it’s probably all true.’
‘But that’s in the past,’ said Alice. ‘This is Jamie’s fresh start.’
Benny raised his fork. ‘Hope life treats you better this time around, mate.’
Alice bit her lip, suppressing a grin.
‘Thanks,’ said Jamie, smiling. ‘I hope so too.’
‘So,’ said Benny, still munching away. ‘I see you put up the Crimbo bits. But why no lights outside?’
Alice was so glad of the subject change, but then frowned at the question. ‘There are fairy lights around the bushes. Jamie put them on earlier.’
Jamie nodded. ‘And I put some on that mini tree out there.’
Benny raised his eyebrows. ‘Well, they’re not there now.’
Alice jumped up. ‘Oh no, you’re kidding.’ She dashed outside to see for herself.
Jamie came up behind her. ‘Someone has had it on their toes with them.’
‘Check the security footage,’ said Benny, standing in the doorway.
Alice sprinted across the foyer. ‘Good idea.’ She fired up the laptop, then let Benny do the rest. He was much better at the technical stuff.
The time on the footage told them that the thief had untangled the lights about half an hour before Benny came home and had shoved them under a bush.
Jamie pointed at the screen. ‘Look, there’s someone.’
They all zoomed in to see the hooded, masked thug walking off.
‘Now why would someone do that?’ questioned Alice.
Jamie nudged Benny. ‘Come on, let’s go get them.’
Alice went to the main door, watching them as they rummaged around the bush. ‘I’ve never heard of this kind of thing happening before.’ She shook her head.
‘I’ll switch them on, see if they still work,’ Jamie said.
‘Do you think I should call the police?’ asked Alice. ‘I know we’ve got the lights back, and we can’t identify the masked man, so I’m not sure what to do.’
Benny nodded. ‘Yes, let them know. Even if they can’t do anything right now, at least they know someone has done this. There might be other reports in the area.’
Alice nodded. ‘True.’ She smiled at Jamie, on his knees by the plug socket, then went to the desk to make the call.
‘This one’s working,’ he said.
Benny took it from him as soon as it was unplugged. ‘I’m surprised they didn’t try to hide the extension lead.’
Jamie frowned. ‘It’s a lot of bother popping in here just to unplug fairy lights only to dump them in the bush. Anything else happened around here?’
Alice was half listening to the woman on the phone and half listening to Jamie and Benny.
‘No,’ said Benny. ‘Oh, except that fire we had the other month.’
‘What fire?’
Benny pointed to the entrance. ‘Just a small one that burned the carpet. That’s why we have wooden flooring now.’
‘How did it start?’
‘We think one of the guests was smoking.’
Alice got off the phone. ‘They’re sending someone over to see the footage. Not that it’ll help, but at least it’s been reported now.’
Jamie looked up. ‘All the lights still work. Should we put them back up?’
‘Yes. Let’s not let them beat us.’ She gestured to the front. ‘Seaview B&B will look festive, whether they like it or not.’
It wasn’t long before the lights were back in place, the police had arrived to check everyone was okay, and dinner was finally finished.
Benny had gone to bed, and all the guests were in their room for the night, so Alice locked up, hoping her fairy lights were still there come morning.
‘Oh, what a day,’ she said quietly as she climbed the stairs with Jamie.
He turned at his door, smiling her way. ‘Is there any reason you’ve walked me to my room?’
Alice hadn’t even realized what she had done. ‘Oh, I’m too tired. I’m not thinking straight. Sorry.’
‘Ah, and there was me thinking you were worried about me, what with the Grinch on the loose.’
Alice managed a chuckle. ‘Let’s hope tomorrow is less eventful.’ She peered into the room as he opened the door. ‘I reckon you’ll get a good night’s sleep.’
He glanced at the bed, then her. ‘It’ll be different, that’s for sure.’
‘If you need anything, you know where I am.’
‘Same.’
Alice stood there for a moment, simply staring at him. It was all she could do to stop herself from reaching out and giving him a hug. ‘Welcome home, Jamie,’ she said softly.
‘Sleep well, Angel.’
Part of her heart melted as she walked away.