Chapter 15
Alice
Alice caught a snowflake on her tongue before heading into her mum’s shop, feeling the need to do something to make herself laugh.
After the morning she’d had with Shannon’s nastiness, then Jamie living in the past, she thought it the best time to talk to her mum about things.
There was no way she wanted any more of her days to be tarnished.
She may as well deal with all the crap on the same day.
It was Christmas soon, and Sophie’s wedding.
Alice wanted to be enjoying the time, not having arguments.
Jed was behind the counter reading a newspaper while Luna was serving someone. They both smiled as Alice approached.
‘Still snowing, I see?’ Jed gestured at Alice’s hair.
Alice looked up, wiping her locks, feeling some dampness. ‘It’s only light.’
‘With a bit of luck, we’ll have a white Christmas.’ Luna placed some money in the till, then said goodbye to the young man she’d just sold a fizzy drink to.
‘Is Mum upstairs?’
‘Yep, but she’s not in the best of moods.’
Alice went to the stairs out the back. ‘Oh?’
‘She had a date, but he cancelled.’
‘I didn’t know she was dating again.’ Alice remembered her mother trying speed dating not too long ago. She went to a single’s night at a local pub, but not much came of anything.
Plodding up the stairs, she hoped her mum would at least listen to what she had to say about Jamie.
‘Is that you, Alice?’ called Lizzie from the kitchen.
Alice smiled to herself. Her mother knew everyone’s footsteps. ‘Yeah.’
‘In here.’
Alice entered the kitchen to see her mum had a tarot spread laid out on the table. ‘Who you doing a reading for?’
‘No one. I’m just wondering why I’ve got a card missing.’ Lizzie glanced up. ‘What you after?’
‘I’m here to talk because I don’t like the tension.’
Lizzie patted the chair to her side. ‘I’ve not got a problem with you, girlie.’
‘Yeah, I know, just Jamie, and you’re worried he’ll lead our Benny astray or something.’
‘Oh, Alice, he was just such a rotten egg. Stealing cars, and shoplifting. I don’t know what else. You can’t find me a mother out there who would want their daughter around someone like that.’
Alice started fiddling with the black crushed-velvet bag on the table. ‘Mum, he changed in prison. He doesn’t like that person he was, and I need you to give him a chance so I can have a peaceful life.’
‘It’s not as though he’s your partner, love. So what does it matter what I think of him? He’s not part of our family. Right now, he’s just one of your guests, and if he keeps his nose clean, stays to his room, and hurries and saves some money to move on, then I’m okay with that.’
It wasn’t exactly what Alice wanted from her mother. She was hoping for a bit more forgiveness. It wasn’t like her mum to be so cold towards anyone.
‘Okay, Mum, spill the beans.’
Lizzie looked up from her cards. ‘What do you mean?’
‘There’s more to this. You’re one of life’s helpers. Always have been. You’re a huge fan of reform, and you don’t believe in back shaming, so why are you so different when it comes to Jamie?’
‘Because you’re too close to him, that’s why.’
‘He’s my best friend.’
‘I know what you’re like with that lad, and I worry about just how far you’d go for him.’
Alice chuckled. ‘I promise we won’t turn into Bonnie and Clyde.’
Lizzie huffed. ‘I just want someone trouble-free for you.’
‘Mum, he wasn’t all bad. He just got in with the wrong crowd.’
‘See, there you go again, making excuses for him. Can’t you see yourself when it comes to him? You’re giddy, love. Giddy.’
Alice snorted a laugh. ‘I’m not giddy. We just have a really strong connection.’
‘Yeah, it’s called soulmate, love.’
‘Oh really? Well, if you think he’s my soulmate, you would want me to be with him, wouldn’t you?’
‘It’s because I know he’s your soulmate that scares me.’ Lizzie waggled a hand towards the door. ‘Your nan isn’t the only one around here with psychic abilities. We’ve all got it in us. Don’t you pick up on anything when you’re with him?’
Alice shrugged. ‘Just our bond.’
‘You love him, girlie. About time you dropped your walls and started admitting that to yourself. That way, you might be able to save your heart from a thrashing.’
‘Soulmates don’t beat up each other’s hearts.’
‘No, but if he ends up back in the slammer, your heart will shatter.’ Lizzie folded her arms as she sat back. ‘Be honest. Tell me how hard it was for you knowing he was locked up?’
It wasn’t something Alice liked to think about.
The first couple of years had been a nightmare.
Not only was she trying to live a life that didn’t include Lisa, she had struggled to cope with Benny’s grief, not knowing what was best for him.
Hiding the fact she was in contact with an inmate made things difficult, and each time she went home after a prison visit, she had cried.
‘It was tough until I got used to it,’ she muttered.
‘I don’t want anyone to hurt my baby,’ Lizzie said quietly, taking Alice’s hand.
‘He’s never done anything bad to me.’
‘You need someone who is solid, Alice. Reliable.’
‘He’s that way now, and he’s going to stay that way. Look, I can prove it.’ She tapped the Four of Swords. ‘Do a reading on him. Go on. Check out his future for yourself.’
‘Maybe I would if I knew where my missing card was.’
Alice scanned the floor, noticing it poking out from under the fridge. ‘There it is.’ She grinned as she picked it up. ‘The Lovers.’
‘Hmm,’ muttered Lizzie, shuffling her deck.
‘Three-card spread. Past, present, future.’
Lizzie tutted. ‘Let me just do my own thing. Anyway, we all know his past.’ She turned over four cards and simply stared at them.
Alice tilted her head to have a read, knowing the meanings, having been taught at a young age, just like Luna had taught Lizzie. ‘Ooh, Wheel of Fortune. Seems to be turning in his favour.’
‘My attention is more on the Two of Cups.’
Alice had already spotted that card too. ‘If it is a deepening connection between him and me, at least it shows a positive outcome.’
Lizzie sighed loudly. ‘All right, love. You win. I’ll give him a chance.’
‘You will?’
Lizzie bobbed her head. ‘I won’t lie. I will be wary for a while, but if he’s changed, I guess we’ll all see in the end.’
‘Benny vouched for him, didn’t he?’
‘Well, there is that, as well.’
‘Thought so.’
Lizzie put her cards away in the black bag. ‘I only want good things for you, love.’
‘I want good things for me too, and I have that in my life. Jamie is just finding his feet and could do with a mate or two for support. That’s all I’m being.’
‘What’s he up to now?’
‘Putting our Christmas wreath on the door. The competition winner will be announced in a few days. Why don’t you put one on the shop? It’ll look nice with the fairy lights.’
‘I’ll pop to Berry Blooms later. See what they’ve got.’
‘You’re supposed to make your own.’
‘Yes, I know. I’ll have Lottie teach me, but right now, I need to get back behind the counter and give your nan a rest.’
‘Okay. I’ll be off. And, Mum, thanks.’ Alice kissed her cheek. She practically skipped down the stairs, giving her nan a kiss as well at the bottom before heading home.
With the tarot revealing good vibes for Jamie, Shannon hopefully gone for good, and the past off of everyone’s chest, Alice felt she could get on with Christmas now. She smiled widely on seeing Jamie faffing about with the door wreath while quietly singing a festive tune.
‘What you grinning about?’ he asked as she spun in a circle on the pathway.
Alice put her palms out to catch the light snow flurry. ‘Sorted things with Mum. Oh, and Benny put in a good word for you, so now no one’s judging you on your old self and we can move forward.’
‘Speaking of which, I just saw Will a minute ago. I’m going to help out at the café tonight.’
‘The free meals evening?’
‘Yeah, it’s normally two nights a week, but he’s opening for three just for winter.’
Alice smiled. ‘Well done for helping.’
‘I want to give something back. Be a friend not foe.’
‘Well, that’s one way to make a start.’ She came to the door to inspect his work. ‘Have you had anyone say anything to you while you’ve been working?’
Jamie picked up a fallen pine cone. ‘No, not yet. So far, people have been quite kind.’
‘I think we should celebrate.’
He laughed as she grabbed his hands, spinning him into a dance. ‘What exactly are we celebrating?’
Alice twirled under his arm. ‘Kindness.’