Chapter 8
Jamie
It was nice sitting in the kitchen with Alice and Benny, each talking about their day, and when Jamie shared his news of the upcoming college course and his shifts at the café and tearoom, it warmed him to see Alice so happy.
Benny went off to do some homework, and Alice asked Jamie if he’d like to go for a walk.
‘You do like your walks.’
Alice chuckled, wrapping herself in a coat, hat, and scarf. ‘I like to use my legs while I can.’
He followed her out into the brisk chill. ‘While you can?’
She gave a brief nod. ‘There’s something about me I haven’t told you.’
He felt his stomach flip. ‘Should I be worried?’
‘No, it’s okay. It’s just, well, I have a medical condition called fibromyalgia.
Basically, I’m in some sort of pain every day, but I measure it on a scale of one to ten, and quite often I’m around two to four, so not bad.
Some days my knees play me up, and I can’t get around much.
So when the going is good, I like to oil my joints, so to speak, by going for walks or doing some light yoga.
In the summer, I jog round the block with Robson.
It’s more of a power walk, but still.’ She grinned.
‘I’m so sorry to hear that. Is there anything I can do to help?’
‘Not really. Flare-ups tend to happen if I’ve been out in the rain or freezing cold too long or if I’m stressed, so as long as you don’t stress me, my levels will stay low.’
He saw her smile but knew there was truth in her statement, and he vowed to himself to help bring peace to her life as much as possible. ‘How long have you had it?’
‘It started about six months after Lisa died.’
He lowered his head as they started walking. ‘Yeah, that was a tough year for you.’
‘You too.’
Jamie hated being such a mess back then. It was the one time he could have been there for Alice, but no. He had to go and get himself arrested and sent to prison. ‘I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you.’
‘It’s done now,’ she said quietly, staring over at the calm sea.
Jamie sighed silently, keeping his focus on the multicoloured Christmas lights on the windows of each house or shop they passed. There were some things in life that would always haunt him, and the year Alice needed him was one.
‘Benny told me Gregg stopped by,’ she said, breaking the silence.
He saw her arms tighten a little around herself, and he wasn’t sure if she was just warming herself or feeling tense. ‘That’s right. Gregg was just testing the water.’
‘Do you think he’ll be back?’
Jamie stopped, turning to face her. ‘I told him not to return. Please don’t worry, Angel. Gregg doesn’t get to live in this part of my story.’
She slowly nodded, then tucked her chin down into her dark scarf.
‘You warm enough?’ he asked, giving the wool a gentle tug up to her mouth.
‘I’m okay. I’ve learned how to work with my body over the years, and I’m pacing myself so I won’t be ill for the Port Berry Christmas tree lighting.’
‘They still do that?’
‘On the first Saturday in December every year.’
Jamie laughed. ‘I think I was a kid the last time I went to that.’ He stopped smiling. ‘I never really cared about much in my teens.’
‘No, you didn’t.’
He met her eyes, seeing the regret he felt. ‘Seems I have a lot to catch up with.’
‘You want to go?’
Jamie nodded. ‘Yep. I’m working at the tea shop that day, and seeing how it closes at four, I’ll be able to pop along and watch the event. Is it still at Old Market Square?’
‘Yep. Do you want to go together?’
He grinned as they made their way over to the short pier across the road. ‘Are you asking me on a date, Alice?’
Alice blew out a laugh. ‘No.’
‘Ah, well, never mind. I’ll still go with you.’
They leaned on a rail, listening to the hum of the water washing against the pilings.
Jamie looked up at the stars. ‘It’s absolutely beautiful out here.’ He’d never been one to stop and smell the flowers, but since walking out of prison, he noticed everything, big or small, and so much about life now made him smile on the inside.
‘It’s peaceful when the sea is calm.’
‘I’m a big fan of peace and calm nowadays.’
Alice smiled. ‘Me too.’
They stared down into the dark water.
‘Jamie, is there anything you haven’t told me?’
He gazed her way, frowning. ‘Is this about Gregg?’
‘No. I just know that when we used to write to each other, we kept it light. So, I wondered if anything might have happened to you that you’d like to talk about now you’re out of that place.’
He shook his head, then went back to looking out to sea. ‘No. I pretty much told you everything in those letters. I know there wasn’t much to tell during the first couple of years, but once I settled down, I was happy to share all the positive things going on with me.’
‘I was worried more about the negative stuff.’
‘I didn’t get into any more fights after I started therapy.’
Alice leaned a little closer. ‘I was thinking more about your health.’
‘Ah.’ Now it made more sense what was playing on her mind. ‘I never had any health scares.’
‘Would you have told me?’
He nodded. ‘Yes. I never hid any of my cancer worries from you. Why would I? You’ve seen me at my worst. Mopped my brow and read me to sleep.
You were always there throughout my treatment.
I remember you trying to keep me up to date with school work, and the times you’d just sit and hold my hand. You’re my angel.’
‘It’s what friends are for.’
He wanted to place his arm around her shoulder and give her a gentle squeeze, but thought it best to keep his arms to himself. ‘You went above and beyond. We both know that.’
They shared a warm smile, then Alice looked away.
‘I’m surprised you never went into nursing or something along those lines, especially after Lisa,’ he added. ‘Have you got any more presentations lined up before the schools break for Christmas?’
‘No. No one’s going to want me educating them about smear tests just before Christmas. I’ve got my next talk booked in at a uni in the springtime.’
‘It’s good what you do.’
Alice smiled at the black sky. ‘I do it for my sister. Raising awareness is important to me. Perhaps Lisa’s story can help save someone’s life.
And so many young girls come up to me after my talks to tell me they didn’t know women could get cervical cancer that young.
They’re shocked when they discover Lisa was only twenty-seven. ’
‘I reckon you’ve saved lives. It’s what the angels that walk among us do.’
‘You are getting mushy in your old age, you know that?’
Jamie smiled. ‘I realized a long time ago, life’s too short to be angry all the time. I like my softer side.’
‘You’re softer than you act.’
He raised his brow. ‘Is that right?’
Alice shivered, snuggling further into her scarf.
‘Time to get back,’ he said, pulling off the rail. ‘How about some hot chocolate? It’s almost Christmas, so I’m thinking, cinnamon, and a candy cane on the side of the mug, perhaps.’
Alice nodded as they made their way over to the B&B. ‘Not sure I have any candy canes yet, but there’s definitely cinnamon.’
‘I remember Nan used to put a bowl of sweets at reception each year for guests.’
‘Ooh, yes. I’ll buy some. And candy canes.’
‘You could put them on the tree.’
Alice nodded. ‘With some chocolates. I haven’t got many guests staying, but you never know who might pop in. Plus, we get lunch customers now, so they might like that.’
‘Are you booked in for Christmas dinner at the pub again?’
‘Yes, but I’m only going there now if you come, too. Otherwise, we’ll eat at home.’
Jamie didn’t want her changing her traditions because of him. ‘You just do what you always do.’
Alice grinned. ‘What, look after you?’
‘Hmm.’
She nudged his side. ‘You’ve been invited to eat at Robson’s with us beforehand. So, you could try it out if you like?’
He helped her remove her coat in the foyer. ‘Who invited me?’
‘It was Lottie’s idea.’
Even though she was faffing with her hat and scarf, he could see her eyes held hope. He didn’t want to let her down.
‘Okay, well, I have group therapy tomorrow evening, so how about the evening after?’
‘Sure. I’ll see if I can get that arranged.’
Jamie headed for the stairs. ‘I’ll just put my coat away, then come make those drinks. You can put your feet up.’
Alice called after him. ‘Bring your new clothes down with you, and I’ll pop them in the machine for a wash. It’s always nice to wash new stuff before wearing.’
‘I’m not fussed. And anyway, I can sort that tomorrow. I know where the washing machine is. If it’s still in the same place?’
She grinned. ‘I think it’s the same machine.’
Jamie laughed to himself as he entered his room. His nan always seemed to make things last. He hung his coat up in the oak wardrobe, then tipped his clothes out of the shopping bags and onto the bed.
She kept some of my things .
The memory had him shoot off to the storage room. It was locked, so he called out the back to Alice to ask where the key was.
Benny came out and opened a drawer beneath the desk. ‘Alice is just in the bathroom. Here you go.’
‘Thanks. I’ll put it back in a minute.’
Benny went back to his room, and Jamie entered the storage section to search for anything he recognized.
Within a minute, he noticed two cardboard boxes with his name on, so he picked them up and moved them to the reception desk so he could lock up and put the key away.
He had no idea what his nan had saved so was a little intrigued.
As he placed the boxes on the floor in his room, he pondered over opening them there and then, but Alice would be waiting for him to make hot chocolate, so he decided whatever of his past was tucked away, it could wait.