Chapter 31
Alice
Alice had thought it best to leave the chat with her mother until the next day. Besides, the snow had melted a lot more by then, so it was easier to get around.
Hand in hand with Jamie, she entered her family’s shop and greeted her grandmother who was sitting behind the till reading a magazine.
‘Been wondering when you’d show up.’ Luna glanced up. ‘Mum’s in the kitchen making mince pies.’
‘How are you, Nan?’
Luna closed her magazine. ‘I think the question is, how are you two?’
Alice raised their linked hands. ‘Still married.’
‘Hmm, well, as long as you’re happy.’
‘Thanks, Nan.’
Luna looked at Jamie. ‘You just keep making the right choices for yourself, son. Then you’ll be okay.’
Alice wondered what she meant by that, as Luna often had hidden meanings in her words. Was Jamie about to face something bad? Make the wrong choice?
‘I have my plans,’ said Jamie, smiling at Alice.
They headed upstairs to find Lizzie singing along to a Christmas song on the radio. She looked quite festive in her holly-print apron, but all cheer disappeared as soon as she saw them enter her kitchen.
‘Come to tag-team me?’ Lizzie switched off the music.
‘We don’t want to fight,’ said Alice.
Jamie moved to the table covered with round and star cookie cutters and rolled pastry. ‘It’s me who wants to talk the most.’
‘Mum, will you please just listen.’ Alice sat on a chair and gestured for Jamie to do the same.
Lizzie wiped her hands on a tea towel and leaned by the sink. ‘I’m listening.’
Jamie spoke first. ‘I want you to know I love Alice. I guess I always have, but now we’re older, and since being locked up, I’ve realized just how much she means to me.
I did try to hold back — I want better for her, too — but then I stopped telling myself I wasn’t good enough.
I’ve changed, in many ways; not just what I do but how I think, feel.
Your daughter has been the one constant in my life, and I would never do anything to hurt her.
I’m proud to call her my wife, and I’m so happy she wants to build on our marriage and give me a chance. ’
Alice squeezed his hand and smiled, seeing the love in his eyes.
A moment of silence sat between them all.
‘Mum, Jamie and I really are going to give this our all. We just want a quiet life, to have it be as normal as possible. Just be a couple. But I won’t lie.
I do want your blessing. I don’t want the people I love to be at war with each other.
I know I upset you, but Jamie is part of my life, and I just want you to accept that. To accept us.’
Lizzie sighed quietly. ‘All right.’ She gazed at Alice.
‘You’re my baby, and all I’ve ever wanted was your happiness.
It’s always been Jamie, I knew that. It was obvious.
I have spent many a night wishing your heart was with someone less troubled, but it is what it is, and I’ll not fight you anymore. ’
‘I don’t want you to hate Jamie, though.’
Lizzie shook her head, looking at him. ‘I don’t hate you, Jamie. It was a bit of a shock, that’s all. If I’m honest with myself, I can see you’ve changed. Feel your energy even, and if you two want to be left alone in peace to enjoy your marriage, then who am I to stand in the way.’
‘Thank you,’ said Jamie softly.
‘I don’t want thanks, just my daughter’s happiness.’
‘My past is a different chapter in my story,’ said Jamie. ‘More like a different book. What I have now is so precious to me and I wouldn’t do anything to ruin our lives. She’s my world, Liz.’
Lizzie nodded briefly. ‘All right, Jamie. Let’s start over.’
Alice smiled so widely, her cheeks hurt from the strain. ‘Really, Mum?’
‘Yes, really. We’re all family, and it’s time to act like it, I say.
And if Jamie here has fought long and hard to change his attitude, then I can change mine.
’ Lizzie looked at Jamie. ‘I’ll be on your side now.
I’ll not fight either of you. You’re out of prison, have grown into a different man, and you deserve the right to rebuild in peace.
I promise not to bring up your past ever again.
You don’t live there. You live here now, and that’s what matters. ’
Alice leapt from her chair to swing her arms around her mother’s shoulders. ‘Oh, Mum, thank you so much.’
Lizzie smiled over at Jamie. ‘We do family group hugs here, love. Best you start to join in.’
Alice chuckled as Jamie’s arms came around her and her mother.
‘Well, this is going to take some getting used to,’ he said, a laugh in his tone.
‘Yep,’ said Lizzie. ‘But we’ll get used to it the more it’s done.’
They all stepped apart, Alice still beaming.
‘Thank you,’ said Jamie. ‘I really do appreciate you giving me a chance, Liz.’
‘You’re family.’ She shook her head as she blew out a small laugh. ‘Still can’t get my head around that one, but here we are, so best you wash your hands, roll your sleeves up and help with the baking.’
‘I can do that.’ Jamie headed for the sink as Alice switched the festive music back on.
Lizzie smiled her way. ‘It’s all good, girlie. We got there in the end, eh?’
Alice nodded. To her, it had taken more than days or weeks to get to where they were now. It had been years, and as hard as it had been, she was so pleased they’d all found their peace with each other.
Jamie gave her a cuddle as she approached the sink to wash her hands. ‘You okay?’ he asked quietly.
‘More than okay. This is all I wanted.’ She glanced over at her mother pottering around the other side of the table. ‘We have a hole in our family since Lisa died, and I never wanted to add to my mum’s sadness, so her acceptance means everything to me. Thank you for trying so hard to make friends.’
‘That’s because I want her as my friend. I don’t want to bring any more unhappiness to your family either.’
Alice lightly brushed his cheek with one finger. ‘We’re good now.’
His smile was warm and filled with love. ‘It’s hard to believe, isn’t it?’
She nodded. ‘I’m so happy, Jamie.’
‘Good. Me too.’
Lizzie called over. ‘When you two have stopped nattering, you can make some gingerbread men while I get on with the mince pies.’ She pointed at the fridge. ‘The gingerbread pastry is in there ready to roll out.’
Alice made space on the table, then handed Jamie the shape cutters. ‘Ooh, can we make some for the Hub?’
‘That’s where I was taking them,’ replied Lizzie.
‘I’ve got a shift later,’ said Jamie. ‘I can take them over.’
Lizzie grinned. ‘There you go, teamwork already. See, we’re going to be all right.’
Alice shared a look with Jamie. She wasn’t quite sure whether her mum was trying to convince herself or them, but it didn’t matter. The atmosphere in the kitchen had changed for the better, and when Lizzie tied a Mrs Claus apron around Jamie, the mood turned even cheerier.
It wasn’t long before Alice and Jamie were taking their baked goods to the Hub to hand out to anyone who popped inside.
‘What a relief, Angel.’ He kissed the side of her hat. ‘I feel like a weight has left my shoulders.’
‘Me too. I think things will be . . .’ She gasped, seeing the window to the Hub smashed, glass everywhere.
Jamie moved her back a step. ‘Wait here.’
She peered through the damage as he entered, calling out to see who was inside. ‘What on earth . . .’ she mumbled.
Spencer appeared from out back, and Alice opened the door, juggling the tray of iced gingerbread men in her hands.
Jamie jogged over and took the tray, placing it on the table that was free from glass. ‘You okay, Spence?’
Spencer splayed a hand to the shattered window. ‘Yeah. I only closed for a half hour because no one was here to help and I needed to pop to my shop to bring over some poinsettias. Just came back to this.’
Alice went to the back room to fetch a broom.
‘I’ve called the police,’ added Spencer. ‘Just got off the phone when you arrived.’
‘I wish we had arrived earlier,’ said Alice.
Jamie shook his head at her. ‘I’m glad you weren’t here.’
Alice turned to Spencer. ‘Anything been taken?’
‘I’m not sure. I haven’t had a good look yet.’
Alice scanned the storage room. ‘Where are the children’s chocolate selection boxes? Have they been handed out already?’
Spencer leaned over her shoulder to a low shelf. ‘They were in a box right there.’
Alice huffed. ‘Why would someone steal those? They’re for kids.’
Jamie called from the front. ‘Can’t see anything missing out here. Mind you, whoever did this wouldn’t have had long to load up.’
Alice went to the window with a dustpan and broom. ‘Good thing too. We’ve got loads of food now it’s Christmas, and we don’t need some lowlife running off with the lot.’
Jamie took the broom from her. ‘Let me. Fetch a box for this glass, and I’ll scoop it into there. You call someone about repairing the window.’
‘Ooh, yeah. Let’s hope something can be done soon.’ She went to the phone book they kept in the Hub that contained all their helpers and associates.
The door to the Hub swung open, and Samuel walked in. ‘What happened?’
‘Someone stole the chocolate we had for the kids,’ said Spencer, helping to clear the floor.
Samuel’s brow lifted. ‘That’s just shocking.’
‘I’m just calling the glazier that put the window in when this was being renovated. Hopefully, he’ll be able to help.’ Alice waggled the phone.
Samuel shook his head in disbelief. ‘I’ll check the security footage.’ He opened the app on his phone.
Jamie glanced up at the ceiling, not spotting any cameras. ‘I didn’t know you had any here.’
Samuel was focused on his phone. ‘Yep. Just outside.’
‘You wouldn’t think a place like this would need one, but Samuel had it installed when he joined the team,’ said Spencer, tipping glass into the box Alice brought over.
‘Some young bloke.’ Samuel showed everyone the screen on his phone.
Alice gasped. ‘That’s Gregg’s little brother, Karl.’
Jamie peered over her shoulder. ‘I’ve not seen him in years, but it does look like him.’
Spencer shook his head. ‘Didn’t even care to hide his face. Idiot. Well, the police are on their way, so that’s him caught. Not like they don’t know where that family lives.’
Alice went back to making her call. The memory of when such crimes around Port Berry were committed by Jamie washed over her. She was so glad he wasn’t that person anymore. And that he had nothing to do with the likes of Gregg or Karl.