Chapter 29
Alice
Alice was glad when her mum and nan went home after breakfast, not that anything else had been said since the night before. She just wanted to sit in peace and read a book or something. Her neck was up to a pain level of seven, so she had her neck brace on as soon as she got out of the bath.
Benny had gone to the newsagents, mostly to help Luna walk in the thick snow. They were sure they wouldn’t get many customers, but Lizzie liked to open the shop anyway.
The mobile phone rang in Alice’s pocket. She plonked down into the chair behind the desk at reception to answer, happy to hear Ginny’s voice.
‘Hello, chick. Will told me about you and Jamie. How you doing?’
Stressed was the word, but she couldn’t be bothered to get into how the situation had caused a flare-up. ‘I’m okay, thanks.’ Part of her wanted to ask how Jamie was, knowing he had gone home with Will, but she chewed her lip instead.
‘You want to talk about anything?’
‘Not really, Gin. I feel all talked-out. Mum calmed down in the end, but I know she’s still upset, which was why I never wanted her to find out.’
‘It was a big secret to keep all these years, chick. Things like that can put a strain on a person.’
Alice stared over at the twinkling Christmas tree. ‘It was never a problem for me. Quite the opposite.’ She mumbled the last part to herself.
‘Look, Al, I don’t want to poke my nose in, but I also called to let you know Jamie’s on his way to yours. I told him to ring you first, see how the land lies and that, but he wanted to talk to you face to face. I just thought you might appreciate a heads-up.’
‘I do, thanks for letting me know.’ Alice frowned at her grey loungewear, wondering if she should get changed into something not so drab.
‘Will told me off for interfering, but I thought you might be annoyed at me for not warning you.’ Ginny’s sigh crackled the phone. ‘Rock and hard place.’
‘It’s all right, Gin. I know where you’re coming from, and I’m glad I know.’ She went over to the window to peer out at the snow-covered road. ‘How’s he getting here?’
‘It said on the radio that half the roads were closed, so Will couldn’t drive him, but Jamie was determined to talk to you, so he’s walking.’
She wished he had stayed indoors in the warm. ‘When did he leave?’
‘About twenty minutes ago.’
‘Thanks for letting me know.’
‘Right, I’ll let you get off then. Oh, and, chick, you know where I am if you need me.’
‘Love you, Gin.’
‘Love you too, Alice.’
Alice started to pace the foyer, knowing Jamie would show up soon. Not knowing how she felt or what to say to him now he’d blurted their secret, she decided to potter around and do some light cleaning to help take her mind off things.
It wasn’t easy polishing and dusting while her neck felt like it had whiplash, but it wasn’t her first time wearing a neck brace so she just got on with her morning as best she could. There was no way she’d be able to concentrate on a book or TV show, not now Jamie was heading home.
The next time Alice checked the clock, it was almost lunch. Where on earth had Jamie got to? It was a bit of a walk from Happy Farm, but it wouldn’t take that long to reach the harbour.
All sorts started to flash through her mind. Accidents in the snow were common, and he had no phone to reach anyone. She really needed to do something about that.
Alice marched to the front door and looked both ways down the street. No sign of anyone about. She stood there for a while, staring over at the bitterly cold sea.
She decided to make a cup of tea to accompany her door watch.
After another half hour, Alice could take no more waiting. She headed to her bedroom, changed into jeans and a jumper and shrugged into her warmest coat. She didn’t bother with a scarf because her neck brace was warm enough, but slipped on a woolly hat and some gloves.
She figured if she walked the most obvious route to Ginny’s, she’d bump into Jamie along the way, or at least see if there had been any accidents.
The outside temperature was milder than the day before, so that was helpful, but it was still cold and Alice was grateful for the grip on her winter boots.
It wasn’t until she hit the first country lane that she chastised herself for not bringing her walking stick.
It was folded in her large bag back home, which was little use to her now, and seeing how her right calf was starting to cramp, it annoyed her even more that she had rushed out without thinking.
Alice slowed her pace, knowing what to do when her body played up.
She glanced over her shoulder, wondering if it would be best to head back before her knee went as well, something that was quite possible.
Her knees were unpredictable and she couldn’t always be sure her legs would stay the distance whenever she went out.
The sensible thing was to head home, but Jamie could be lying in a snowy ditch for all she knew so, leg pain or not, she had to continue.
Her luck was out. Cramp wasn’t giving up, even though she’d stopped to stretch her foot against a lamp post a couple of times, and her left knee had decided to join in with frustrating her.
Alice spotted a small wooden bus shelter and hobbled her way to its seat to take a moment, fed up she had to rest at all. Time was ticking on, and she hated sitting around doing nothing. Jamie could be . . .
She peered down the road at a man heading her way. His head was dipped, his body slumped, but she was pretty sure it was Jamie.
He glanced up for a second, then went back to looking at the ground before his head shot up to face her.
It was Jamie. Alice had never felt so relieved, but she still had the hump with him so tried to suppress her smile.
Jamie’s plod turned into a jog, reaching her side within seconds. ‘Alice? Where are you going in this?’
Seeing how she was sitting at a bus stop, it would be easy for her to lie, but she was in too much pain to have the energy for fibs.
‘Ginny called. Told me you were coming to see me this morning.’ She tapped her wrist as though wearing a watch.
‘But that was hours ago, so I got worried and came looking for you.’ She ignored the slight quirk that hit the corner of his mouth.
Jamie sat by her side. ‘I would have been home sooner, but I saw an old man on the ground outside his cottage and have been helping him.’
‘Oh, goodness, is he all right?’
‘A bit bruised, but I got him indoors and called his son, then waited until he showed up. Turned out his son is the head chef from Robson’s pub.’
‘Oh no, poor Thomas.’
Jamie frowned. ‘How about we focus on you right now. Did you give up looking for me and decide to catch the bus home?’ Before she could reply, he added, ‘Not seen one come along while I’ve been out. I’ve not seen any cars either.’
She glanced at how thick the snow was covering the road. ‘Actually, I was just taking a rest.’
He peered along the way she had come. ‘You’re only fifteen minutes from home.’
Alice huffed. ‘Tell that to my legs.’
His finger pointed up at her neck, clearly just noticing the brace. ‘What’s happened?’
‘Fibromyalgia, that’s what.’
His gaze lowered. ‘I’m sorry, Alice. I didn’t mean to cause you stress. And after what I did, you shouldn’t have come looking for me.’
‘I can’t help it if I worry,’ she snapped.
‘Yeah, I know, Angel. I worry about you too, and we need to talk — but not out here. Let’s get you home and warm and where you can put your feet up.’
Alice gestured to the road. ‘That would be great, but right now my knee doesn’t want to walk so I’m going to have to wait for a bus.’
‘We could be here a very long time.’ Jamie stood, waggling fingers. ‘I’ll carry you.’
Alice had to laugh. ‘I’m not being carried.’
‘It’s better than sitting here all day freezing.’
He had a point, but she felt a bit silly.
‘What if you slip?’ she questioned. ‘We’ll both end up in hospital.’
Jamie flashed one of his smooth smiles. ‘I won’t fall, not when I’m carrying such precious cargo.’
‘Hmm. Well, perhaps I could get on your back.’ It seemed better than him holding her like they were about to step over the threshold. Something they hadn’t done on their wedding day.
Jamie turned so she could clamber on.
Alice wished she could bury her head further into her neck brace. She was pleased no one was around to witness the piggyback.
‘You good?’ he asked. ‘Knee okay?’
‘Yep.’
Jamie’s muffled laugh vibrated through her, causing her to grin.
‘Take a rest every few minutes,’ was her advice, sure he couldn’t go the full fifteen minutes with her on his back.
‘I’ll let you know if I need a break.’
‘We need to get you a phone. I could have called to make sure you were all right.’
‘Or you could have just stayed home where you were safe and warm.’
‘I like to live dangerously, don’t I?’ She made sure she showed her sarcasm.
‘Look, Alice, I’m sorry for telling your mum.’
‘Are you?’
There was silence for a while, apart from his heavy breathing.
Alice wriggled. ‘Put me down a sec, please.’ She slid off his back and waited for him to face her.
‘You okay?’ he asked, concerned.
‘I’m just confused, and my mum is upset.’
He lowered his gaze. ‘Yeah, I know.’
‘What possessed you?’
‘Can we talk about this when we get home, please? I just want you settled back indoors.’
Alice knew he was being sensible so gave a curt nod before climbing back up, silently cursing her knee. At least the cramping in the calf had eased.
Jamie didn’t slow until he’d reached Harbour End Road, and Alice wished he would take a rest. She even offered to walk, seeing how they were so close to home, but he kept telling her he was fine.
When they finally closed the door behind them and Alice was back on her own two feet, she said, ‘Ooh, I’m glad to be indoors. Thanks for helping me.’
Jamie went straight to her quarters. ‘No thanks needed. Right, you get into your loungewear which I know are your favourite clothes, and I’ll light the wood burner and get your blanket. You can spend the day on the sofa. I’ll make you something for lunch.’
Alice sighed to herself. ‘And then we can talk about our marriage.’ She noticed his flush cheeks pale a little before he turned for the door.
‘Sure.’