Chapter 28
Jamie
Jamie woke to a blanket of snow covering the fields around Happy Farm. It looked so serene and pretty that just for a moment he wasn’t thinking about why he had spent the night at Will and Ginny’s. Peace surrounded him, and he felt a tad free from his life.
He had a cellmate once who had lived on a farm. He would talk about rolling hills and trickling brooks. They’d swap stories of harbour life and country living, using their imagination and memories to whisk themselves off home for a while.
Staring down at the chicken coop, Jamie knew he was as enclosed as the chickens today. No one was going anywhere with the amount of snow all around.
He got washed and dressed and headed to the kitchen to see if there was anything he could help with.
‘Sit yourself down, chick,’ Ginny said as soon as he entered. ‘We’re having a fry-up. What do you fancy?’
Jamie sat at the table. ‘Bacon sarnie is good enough for me, thanks.’
Will waggled the kettle his way. ‘Or we’ve got juice.’
‘Juice, please.’ Jamie went to stand, but Will waved him down. ‘You stay there. We’ve got this.’
Jamie glanced at the carrycot in the corner. ‘Is he asleep again?’
Will peered over. ‘Nope. Staring at his mobile. Go and take a peek.’
Jamie wasn’t sure if the baby would cry on seeing a strange face, but he had a nosey at their son. ‘Hello, little man. I like your farm animals.’ He tapped one of the sheep on the mobile hanging over the cot.
Baby Robert gurgled, making Jamie smile.
‘Roads are covered,’ said Will, putting some bread on the table. ‘Said so just now on the radio. We won’t be opening the shops today.’
‘It should clear a bit tomorrow.’ Ginny plated some food. ‘We’ve got Sophie’s wedding in a few days. It might look nice with the snow, but it won’t be nice if we can’t get there.’
Will gave her a gentle hug. ‘It’ll be all right by then, Gin.’
She nodded. ‘Yeah, you’re right, it should be. There aren’t supposed to be more blizzards heading our way, but you never can tell in this country.’
Jamie sat back down and thanked Ginny for his sandwich. ‘Is there anything I can help with around here, seeing how I can’t get home.’ He added a small shrug. ‘That’s even if I’m welcome there.’
Ginny smiled warmly. ‘Will told me what happened. I’m sure Alice will have calmed by now, chick. It was all a bit of a shock, wasn’t it?’ She widened her eyes. ‘Shocked the life out of me. Can only imagine how Lizzie felt.’
Jamie felt terrible for how it had all come out. He had betrayed Alice, and it hurt so badly. He hoped she would forgive him. He needed to make things right. ‘I will apologize to Lizzie as soon as I get back. Well, I’ll try. I’m not exactly her favourite person right now.’
Ginny glanced over at her child. ‘As a mum, all you want is the best for your kid. Lizzie knows the old version of you, and that’s why she doesn’t want Alice around you.
I wouldn’t want my Robert in with a bad lot.
What parent would? But I can see you’ve changed.
You just need to convince Lizzie of that.
So, yeah, by all means apologize, but I think it’s going to take more than a sorry. ’
Jamie knew it would take time for Lizzie to see his changes. In the meantime, she would carry on thinking the worst.
‘I can talk to Lizzie about your paid and voluntary work at the café,’ said Will. ‘Let her know how well you’re doing.’
‘And I can mention you’re helping at the Hub,’ said Ginny. ‘Show her you’re part of the community now, rather than against it.’
Jamie warmed at their kindness. ‘Thanks. Who knows, maybe she’ll like me one day.’
Ginny tapped her fork on the edge of her plate.
‘But if she never comes around, chick, word of advice — don’t spend your life trying to impress her.
Just be you, do you, and focus on yourself.
’ She shook her head slightly. ‘If you’ve left your past in the past, then you make sure no one drags you back there.
Let them knock on old doors, you won’t be there to answer. ’
‘Ginny’s right,’ said Will. ‘Have a chat with Lizzie. Clear the air. But that’s as far as you can go. After that, it’s up to them.’
Jamie nodded. ‘She did agree to give me a second chance, but that was before she found out I’m her son-in-law.’
‘Why don’t you give Alice a call after brekkie?’ said Ginny.
‘I don’t have a phone.’
Ginny gestured to the hallway. ‘There’s one right there. All yours to use whenever.’
‘Thank you, but I’m not sure she wants to talk to me.’
Will thumbed behind him. ‘Only one way to find out.’
Jamie finished his breakfast, listening to Ginny and Will talk about the chickens and donkey. Robert was pretty quiet, and a black cat padded in to curl up beneath the carrycot. The whole kitchen held a cosy family vibe he wished he had.
Ginny took the baby into the living room for a feed, and Will went off to check on Ralph, leaving Jamie to pace by the telephone.
Alice had never looked so mortified, and the disappointment in her eyes last night still stung. He really had no idea what to do for the best. She was probably busy anyway, no doubt cleaning something. She would be snowed-in too so would more than likely answer the phone, at least.
The phone seemed to torment him, or perhaps he was just tormenting himself. He didn’t want to talk to her that way. Face to face was best.
He went over to the window to check how deep the snow was.
Everything they had gritted was clear, but he couldn’t see the road.
Did it matter? He wasn’t about to drive.
But walk, he could do that. Happy Farm wasn’t too far from the harbour, and if a bus managed to get through some parts, he would hop on.
Will was out back, so Jamie went there first.
‘Hey, Will, is it okay to borrow one of your coats?’
Will nodded as he came out of the chicken enclosure. ‘Sure. Why where you going?’
‘I’m going to see Alice.’ He looked down. ‘I’ve got my boots. I’ll be fine — it’s just a bit of snow.’
‘I would drive you, but it’s a bit dodgy, and as I said earlier, a lot of the roads are closed.’
Jamie bobbed his head. ‘I’ll be all right walking.’
‘Take a hat and scarf as well.’
Jamie thanked him, then headed off to the cloakroom to wrap up for his journey.
Ginny came out of the living room. ‘Will got you doing stuff out back?’
‘No, I’m going to walk to the B&B.’
‘Ooh, you sure about that, chick? It’s cold and there’s snow everywhere. How about you call first? Check she wants to see you.’
‘If I do that, we’ll end up talking on the phone. She deserves an apology to her face and I can’t wait days for this snow to melt.’
‘Okay, if that’s what you think is best.’ Ginny followed him to the door. ‘You mind how you go out there.’
Jamie tugged a blue woolly hat down to his ears. ‘I’ll come back later for my bag, if that’s all right?’
Ginny nodded. ‘Don’t you worry about that. And if you need to stay here any longer, you’re more than welcome.’
‘Thanks for everything.’ He gave a small wave and headed off up the driveway.
Whether he’d be doing the same walk back later was up to Alice. He knew what he wanted to say, but he really had no idea how she was going to react. He’d hurt and upset her, betrayed her trust, and caused friction between her and her mother.
With every step of the long walk, he practiced the words he’d say, but nothing sounded good enough for the trouble he had caused. If she slammed the door in his face, he wouldn’t blame her. Did he even have any right to turn up on her doorstep? It was all such a mess. His mess, as usual.
The snow was deep along the pavements, and in some places Jamie had to walk in the road. No traffic came by, and he could see why. The roads looked dangerous, and the chances of him catching a bus were slim to none. At least the sun was out, even though it wasn’t giving off any heat.
His heart thumped in his chest when he saw an elderly man on the ground outside a cottage along a back road. He quickly opened the small blue gate and sprinted along the pathway.
The old man groaned on seeing someone.
‘Are you all right?’ It was clearly a stupid question, but Jamie didn’t know what else to say.
‘I was trying to clear the path,’ said the man.
Jamie crouched to his side. ‘Do you think you can get up if I help?’ He was no medic so wasn’t sure if moving the man was the best thing, but he could hardly leave him there freezing in the snow. The man’s trousers were already soaked through.
‘I’d like to try.’
With that, Jamie hooked his arms under the man’s and heaved him to a sitting position first. He glanced around to see if anyone else was about to help, but the cottage had no neighbours for a mile or so.
‘How’s that so far?’ Jamie asked, checking for scrapes or signs of bleeding, pleased to see none.
‘My hip feels a bit bruised, but that’s about it, I think.’
‘Let’s see if we can get you inside. Is there anyone in there?’
‘No, just me, son. My wife died two years ago now.’
Jamie’s heart went out to him.
‘My boy is supposed to be along today,’ the man added. ‘I wanted to clear the snow for him.’
‘How about we give him a call when we get you settled in the warmth?’
The man nodded, and Jamie took a deep breath before lifting him to a stand.
‘How you feeling? Dizzy at all?’ asked Jamie, checking him over.
‘I wouldn’t mind getting out of these wet clothes, son.’
‘Yes, yes, of course. Let me help you inside.’ Jamie took the man’s arm, noticing the old fella was a bit wobbly on his feet, and got him into the hallway.
‘Thanks for this. I’m normally all right walking about and doing odd jobs, but I slipped.’
‘Do you want me to help you upstairs?’
‘No, I can manage. Just a bit bruised, that’s all.’ He pointed at his telephone by the door. ‘Can you call my boy? His number is written on the front of the phone.’
‘Will do. What’s his name?’
‘Joseph.’ The old man started to slowly climb the stairs, groaning on each step. ‘He’s a chef, you know, at the Jolly Pirate pub along the harbour.’
Jamie smiled to himself. He hadn’t met any of the kitchen staff at the pub, but at least he knew he could call Demi for help if he couldn’t get through to Joseph. He had memorized her number.
‘What’s your name, son?’
‘Jamie Stark.’
‘I’m Thomas.’ He frowned for a moment. ‘You’re not Mabel’s grandson, by any chance?’
‘Yep, that’s me.’ Jamie squirmed on the inside, wondering what memories Thomas had of him.
Thomas hummed quietly for a second. ‘I remember your mum. Lovely lady. You look like her.’
The comment warmed Jamie a touch. His mother was hardly spoken of, so it was nice to hear someone say something about her.
Thomas knitted his bushy eyebrows. ‘I also remember you causing mischief.’
‘I’m not like that anymore,’ Jamie said softly.
‘Good for you, son. I was nothing but trouble when I was a lad, then I sorted myself out, fell in love, got married, and lived a peaceful life. More so within, you know?’
Jamie knew. ‘You get yourself changed before you catch your death, Thomas, and I’ll call your son to let him know what’s happened.’
‘All right.’ Thomas went off to his bedroom and Jamie made the call.
Joseph was distraught on hearing about his father’s fall, and said he was on his way. Seeing how he would have to walk, he should be there in half an hour.
Jamie called up to Thomas to let him know.
‘Stick the kettle on then, son,’ Thomas called back. ‘You’ll have a cuppa with me, yeah?’
Jamie smiled. ‘Will do.’ He headed to the small country-style kitchen and filled the kettle. A half hour was no big deal. He’d see Alice soon enough. As for now, he was doing what he’d set out to do when he left prison. Helping people and finding ways to give back to his community.