Chapter 6
Jamie
Jamie walked into The Butterfly Company, not knowing what to expect. He scanned the large open-plan foyer, seeing colourful seating, a large Christmas tree, and a white reception desk. The big windows allowed a lot of light to shine across the room, making the area look warm and inviting.
‘Hi, how may I help you?’ asked the female receptionist, her beam showing perfectly straight teeth.
‘I have an appointment with Henley Foster.’
‘Please take a seat and I’ll let him know you’re here.’
An athletic man with amber eyes entered the foyer. ‘No need. I’m already here.’
For some reason, Jamie had imagined the social worker to be a lot older than this fella who looked around his own age.
Jamie shook his hand and followed him to a side room. ‘So, is this just about work? I’ve not been to one of these places before.’ He remembered the last time he was in Penzance. Stealing cars with his mates wasn’t the best memory to have while sitting in a centre designed to help ex-offenders.
‘We do quite a few things here,’ said Henley, flipping open a file on the table between them. ‘I can help you find work, offer group therapy sessions, enrol you for further education.’
‘Go back to the group therapy. I had some one-to-one in prison, but what do you do in a group? Is it like those sobriety ones?’
‘It’s more of a safe place for ex-offenders to talk about their life. How they’re coping, what works for them, that sort of thing. It can be helpful for some to be around those with understanding.’
Jamie liked the sound of that. ‘When’s the next one?’
‘Tomorrow evening, upstairs.’
‘I’ll be there.’
‘Great. Now, let’s talk work placement. I see here you did some courses at your prison.’
‘Yes, I did GCSE English and maths, and desktop publishing. One of the men in my group used to create websites for a living, and I liked the idea of doing something like that.’
‘Okay, with that in mind, I know of an evening course you could start in January to learn that skill.’
‘Really? That would be great.’
Henley scribbled something down while humming, then glanced up. ‘Meanwhile, what about a day job?’
‘A friend just offered me some shifts at his café or tearoom, and they’re both along the road where I live.’
Henley glanced at his file. ‘Harbour End Road. Ah, was that Ginny Dean, by any chance?’
‘Her partner, Will.’
‘Kind of him. It might be worth taking him up on the offer. You’ll have something for the day, then come the new year you can get stuck in to your course and, who knows, by springtime, you could start your own website design business.
We can help with that too. There’s a woman here who knows all about how to run a small business, tax accounts, that sort of thing.
I can book you in for a chat with her after you’ve completed your course. ’
Jamie felt a little overwhelmed. He’d made the plans, but now they actually seemed doable. It was quite exciting to have a glimpse of the future.
‘We’ll take it one step at a time, Jamie. Always the best way.’
‘It feels a bit strange, if I’m honest. This day always felt so far away. You know, just dreams, hopes. But I can see how close it is to me now. How I can do this.’
‘There’s a difference between dreams and goals. You did the dream part, wishing, wanting, and now you’re taking the steps that lead to your goals. It’s the action that makes things work.’
‘I’m ready to take action. I’m ready for my life.’
Henley smiled. ‘I can see. Just keep your focus, and trust the process.’ He raised a palm. ‘Yeah, I know. I sound like a motivational bumper sticker, but it’s true. If you know what you want, go for it, and don’t let excuses get in your way.’
Jamie was already fired up to get started. ‘It’ll be December in a couple of days. So, not long now.’
‘Christmas will be different for you this year.’
Even though the holiday was fast approaching, he hadn’t thought about the big day. His mind had been occupied with building a future. And on Alice.
‘It certainly will.’
The rest of the meeting flew by, and Jamie left feeling inspired and grateful.
He headed for the shops to buy some clothes, visualizing his grandmother in a frenzy clearing out his bedroom. It was so unlike her to do such a thing, but he understood her frustration and anger. It wasn’t as though he had made life easy for her.
It was quite surreal, shopping. The last time he was in a clothes shop, he’d stolen a belt. He felt a tad proud of himself paying for his goods, even though it was his nan’s money. It just made him feel like everyone else. Normal.
He wondered if he’d ever shake off the bad memories. If anyone had accomplished such a task.
With a handful of carrier bags, he jumped on the bus to head home.
‘Hey, Jamie.’ Demi waved a hand.
He smiled on seeing her and sat by her side. ‘Hello. Excuse my bags.’ He moved some to his lap so her feet weren’t squashed with how many he had.
‘Looks like someone had fun shopping.’
‘I thought I’d get a bit done after my appointment at The Butterfly Company.’
‘Ooh, how did that go?’
‘Good. I’m going to be doing an evening course at college next year. So, I just need to get a day job, which I’m hoping to sort once I’ve dropped these bags home.’
‘What kind of job?’
‘In the café or tearoom along the front. The owner offered me some shifts. Thought I’d take him up on it.’
‘Yes, definitely get involved there. Will’s a lovely man.
Very friendly. And, not sure if you know, but Harbour Light Café has two nights a week where it opens as a food bank café for a couple of hours, serving dinner to those in need.
It’s part of the Les Powell Trust. Not sure if you’ve heard of that. It’s run by Samuel Powell.’
‘Lottie’s partner?’
‘Yes, that’s the one. See if you can do some voluntary work there. All looks good on a CV, you know. And let’s face it, we need all the help we can get when we have a —’ she lowered her voice — ‘criminal record.’
Jamie nodded. ‘Did you find it hard?’
‘I was lucky, because I’m a trained chef, so I got placed quite quickly but then the restaurant closed down. Robson offered me a temporary job at his pub, then Alice gave me the role at hers.’
‘Would you like your own restaurant one day?’
Demi scoffed. ‘No thanks. It’s too much stress. Anyway, with my menu at the B&B, and my online stuff, I’m happy enough.’
‘What’s your online stuff?’
‘When I first got out, I lived on my own and was a little lonely for a while so, in my spare time, I started creating short videos showing how to make cheap and easy meals for one. I had no idea it would turn me into some sort of food influencer. I get paid to advertise on my socials now.’
Jamie breathed out a small laugh. ‘You just never know where life will take you.’
‘I know, right.’
‘I joined group therapy at the centre as well, so that’s something new for me to try.’
‘I’ll be there tomorrow for that.’ Demi pulled out her phone. ‘I go to sobriety ones as well, and you know how we have sponsors that help us when we’re feeling on edge, so to speak?’
Jamie nodded.
‘Well, we can have the same sort of thing at Butterfly. So, if you want, we could swap numbers, and any time you feel you might slip into your old ways, you can call me to talk you down.’
He appreciated her kindness. ‘I don’t have a phone just yet.’
‘Let me write my number down for you. You can always ring from the B&B if you need me.’ She removed a small notepad from her handbag and jotted down her number. ‘It’s up to you.’
He didn’t feel he needed it but took the torn paper anyway, thanking her.
They got off the bus and headed towards their homes, saying goodbye at the Jolly Pirate pub.
Jamie was about to head inside the B&B when he spotted Will outside the tearoom just along the road. He called out, then made his way over.
‘Hey, Jamie. Been shopping, I see.’
Jamie glanced at his bags. ‘Yeah. Hey, listen, I was wondering if I could talk to you about any shifts going.’
‘Sure, come inside. I’ll grab you a coffee or something.’
Jamie followed him into the cosy tea shop and sat at the table near the window, pleased to see no one had swiped the tearoom’s Christmas lights. At least whoever had taken Alice’s didn’t return for another go.
He leaned back against the exposed brick wall and placed a hand on the boat-print tablecloth, thinking how nice everything looked. The scent of fresh coffee filled the air, and a waft of chocolate cake came from a woman’s plate at a nearby table.
‘Tea or coffee?’ asked Will. ‘Or hot chocolate?’
‘Black coffee is fine, thanks.’
Will brought the drinks over, then gestured at the glass counter by the till. ‘You want some cake?’
‘No, thanks. Spoil my lunch.’ Jamie laughed.
‘So, tell me, Jamie, what you’ve got in mind. Café or tearoom?’
‘I’m not fussed. Wherever you need your floors mopping.’
‘Oh, I’m sure we can get you doing a bit more than that.’
‘I’ve got an evening course lined up to start in January, so I just need some daytime work until I get the skills I need to start my own business.’
Will beamed like a proud father. ‘Brilliant. Doing what?’
‘Website design.’
‘Lottie runs the website for the Hub. She’s self-taught, but perhaps she could give you a few pointers while you’re waiting for your course to begin.’
It was a nice thought, but he wasn’t too sure Lottie had forgiven him enough to sit side by side with him as his teacher.
He stayed awhile with Will, arranging shifts, mostly at the café, then headed back home, looking forward to seeing Alice.
Benny was behind the desk, reading.
‘No school?’
‘Heating went, so we got sent home.’
‘Alice about?’
‘Nope. She’s gone to a bridesmaid fitting for Sophie’s wedding.’
Just for a second, Jamie visualized Alice dressed as a bride. Any man would be lucky to have her, he knew.
‘She said to tell you there’s lunch in the fridge with your name on it.’ Benny carried on reading his book.
Jamie went to his room and plopped his bags down, feeling he’d had a productive day so far. He couldn’t wait to tell Alice how everything went with Henley.
Glancing down at the bed, he smiled at how it had taken him a moment to gather his bearings when he’d woken at six that morning. He still couldn’t believe he was home.
He opened the balcony door and stepped outside to inhale the fresh salty air. Even though it was cold, it didn’t matter. The sea breeze on his face lifted him higher.
‘Oi, Stark!’ came a voice from the street.
Jamie peered down to see someone from his past. ‘Gregg?’
‘I heard you were out.’
‘News travels fast around here.’
The lanky man stepped closer to the B&B. ‘Come down, I might have a job for you.’
Jamie shook his head. ‘Not in that game anymore, mate. New life now.’
‘Oh, come on, Stark. Easy money.’
‘There’s more to life than money.’
Gregg scoffed. ‘Since when?’
Jamie waved one hand. ‘Don’t knock for me, Greggy-boy. I’m not playing out.’
Gregg grinned. ‘You know how to find me.’
Jamie watched his past walk away, knowing that was where it was going to stay. He didn’t blame Gregg for trying, reaching out in his own way, but unlike Gregg, Jamie had grown up and moved on.
Benny came into sight, first glancing down the road, then looking up at Jamie’s balcony.
Jamie stared back, raising a palm.
Oh, so you heard that .
In a way, Jamie was glad Benny had heard the conversation, because at least it showed the old days were over. He went inside and caught a glance at himself in the mirror, feeling pretty pleased with life.
Yep, it’s been a productive morning .