Chapter 32
Jamie
Jamie was hanging some mistletoe around the B&B, thinking it would make Alice laugh when she had to keep stopping for a kiss with him. It was something to do now that he didn’t have his shift at the Hub. The window was getting fixed, and Alice was still over there, refusing to leave.
Benny had just broken up from school for the Christmas holidays, so he was busy in his room, wrapping presents.
It had been a busy day, and Jamie still couldn’t believe Lizzie was now his friend and had welcomed him into her family. There was no way he was going to let her down.
Part of him wanted to go back to the Hub to lend a hand, not that there was much to do, but Alice was there with the rest of the founders, so he knew he wasn’t needed.
He considered going to group therapy later.
Even though Demi praised it so much, he didn’t feel it was a fit for him anymore. Perhaps one more go wouldn’t hurt.
Life was good. A few hiccups, but he didn’t expect perfection. He couldn’t wait to start his new course in January. To see in the new year with Alice. His dreams were coming true, and it felt beyond amazing.
Jamie started to whistle as he clambered down the stepladder by the main entrance. He abruptly stopped when Gregg came strolling down the pathway.
‘Can I have a word?’
It felt rude to not talk to him. After all, they were good friends before prison. Jamie moved the ladder and waved him inside, gesturing towards the dining room.
Gregg pulled out a chair from one of the tables and sat straight away, making himself at home.
‘Don’t tell me,’ said Jamie, sitting opposite him. ‘This is about Karl breaking into the Hub, right?’
Gregg shrugged. ‘So you heard?’
‘Saw the damage. And did you know he stole sweets that had been donated for kids?’
‘Yep. Easy to sell selection boxes this time of year.’
‘So, what do you want from me?’
Gregg’s beady eyes bore into Jamie as he straightened in his seat. ‘You’ve got access to their security.’
Jamie scoffed. ‘Seriously? You want me to tamper with that? Erase your brother from the footage? The police already have the evidence, Gregg. There’s nothing anyone can do now.’
Gregg sighed loudly. ‘Then do something else.’
‘Like what?’
‘Help him. He’s young. Not even twenty-five yet. You know he won’t be able to handle a stretch. He’s not like us.’
‘I’m not like us.’
Gregg waved off the comment. ‘This is me you’re talking to, mate. I know exactly what you’re like.’
‘No. You knew a past version of me. You don’t know me now.’
‘Jay, mate, I’m asking for your help with that lot. Surely you can put in a good word or something.’
Jamie frowned. ‘Put in a good word? Are you crazy? Your brother broke into the Happy to Help Hub. He stole from the food bank. From kids.’
Gregg shot forward, slamming his fist on the table. ‘You owe me.’
‘I don’t owe you anything.’
‘I looked after you when you were one of us. Treated you like family. Got you money.’
Jamie scoffed. ‘You taught me how to pick locks, boost cars, shoplift. Now you’re acting like you’re some sort of role model.
I’ve just done eight years inside. Where were you then, eh?
Did you visit? Write? You vanished, mate, so don’t come to my home and tell me I owe you, because I don’t owe you sod all. ’
Gregg stood, his lanky body leaning over the table between them. ‘Short memory, Jay.’
‘No, long one, Gregg. I remember it all. If you were any sort of friend of mine, you’d be happy I’ve turned my life around. You wouldn’t be standing in my home trying to get me involved with your brother’s crimes.’
‘I wasn’t asking for the crown jewels here. If you just explain to that Hub lot that my brother was drunk, not himself, anything, they might listen to you now you’re in with them, and perhaps tell the police they don’t want to press charges. It that too much to ask?’
‘Yes,’ snapped Jamie. ‘What a bloody cheek you’ve got.’
Gregg smirked. ‘I suppose I could just ask Alice.’
Every single part of Jamie boiled as he jumped to his feet, eyes darkening and heart thumping. ‘You go anywhere near my wife, and I’ll rip your throat out.’
‘Now, there’s the Jamie I know and love.’
Jamie chastised himself. He couldn’t allow Gregg to draw him back into a world he hated. Aggression, crime, emptiness.
‘Hang on,’ added Gregg, chuckling. ‘Married her, did you? Well, there’s a turn up. Does she know about all those women you slept with while she was hanging around here with your granny?’
Jamie unclenched his fists, trying so hard not to take the bait. ‘There were no women.’
‘Yeah, but she doesn’t know that.’
‘So that’s your plan, is it? You’re trying to blackmail me by using lies.’
Gregg shrugged. ‘Just helping my little bro.’
‘Perhaps prison will help him. It certainly changed me.’
Gregg narrowed his eyes. ‘I don’t want him going inside.’
‘And I don’t want this being my business.’
‘Then do something to help.’
‘No.’
Gregg smiled. ‘Fine, then I’ll tell your missus a whole heap of crap, and we’ll just let that sit on her chest for a while. See what grows of those seeds.’
Jamie took a calming breath. ‘Why are you being so nasty? What did I ever do to you?’
‘He was always jealous of you,’ said Alice, standing in the doorway.
Jamie’s stomach flipped, and not in any good way. There was no telling what lies Gregg was about to say, and Alice might believe some. He didn’t know what to say. He couldn’t even think straight.
‘Hello, love.’ Gregg winked at Alice, but she just scowled at him. ‘Been there long?’
‘Long enough.’
Gregg sat on the table. ‘So you can see my dilemma?’
Alice shook her head. ‘No. All I see is a loser trying to get my husband into trouble.’
Gregg laughed. ‘Ooh, you look so tough, Dipple.’
‘It’s Stark. And, no, I’m not tough — I’m just not entertaining you. Neither of us are. So you, and your brother, can rot in hell for all I care. You’ll get no help here.’
‘And there was me thinking you so nice.’ Gregg’s smile changed to a smirk.
‘Get out of our home, and don’t come back. You’re not welcome here. Oh, and just so you know, you can make up a million lies about Jamie, I’d never believe you.’
‘That’s because he’s got you wrapped around his little finger, as always.’
Alice smiled. ‘Good. That’s exactly where I want to be. Now, if you don’t mind, we have a happy life to get on with. Good luck with your crappy one.’
Gregg’s nose wrinkled as he stepped towards her, but Jamie moved between them, daring him with his eyes to touch her.
Alice placed her hand on Jamie’s back. ‘Let’s just see him to the door.’
Jamie wasn’t about to take his eyes off Gregg, and Gregg wasn’t giving the impression he was going to leave anytime soon.
‘Get out,’ snapped Alice.
‘Make me.’ Gregg’s smirk was back.
Jamie felt Alice’s hands tighten on his waist.
Gregg laughed. ‘If you touch me, Jay, who do you think is going straight back to the slammer?’
‘If you don’t leave our home, I’m calling the police to arrest you,’ shouted Alice.
‘Do it then, Dipple. Ooh, sorry, Mrs Stark.’ Gregg’s tone was immature and filled with venom.
‘There’s no need for that,’ said a deep voice from the foyer. ‘We’ll make him leave, and he won’t come back.’
Jamie turned to see Will, then he spotted Robson, Spencer, Matt, and Samuel.
Gregg saw them too and raised his palms as he walked towards them. ‘Yeah, all right. No need for dramatics.’
‘Stay away,’ warned Will.
Gregg shrugged as he met the pathway. ‘Never liked this place anyway.’
Jamie went to follow him, but Alice tugged his hand. ‘It’s all right, Angel. Give me two secs.’ He kissed her cheek, then caught up with Gregg on the pavement.
‘Get lost, Jay. I’m done with you.’
‘That’s what I came to make clear to you. I thought we could still be mates, you know, from a distance. I would never have ignored you if I saw you out and about, but after this little stunt, you’re no longer a mate of mine.’
‘Suits me. Don’t like your type anyway.’
Jamie raised his brow. ‘What’s that then, nice?’
Gregg waved a hand as he walked away. ‘Stick your life, Jay. Have fun with your new mates.’ He glanced over his shoulder. ‘Oh, and if you ever need my help, don’t ask.’
‘I don’t need anything from you.’
As Gregg disappeared around a corner, Jamie took a deep breath. Another part of his past was gone with clear instructions not to return. The relief overwhelmed him for a moment, that and Alice overhearing and stating she wouldn’t believe anything Gregg said.
Jamie stopped at the end of the pathway and stared through the open door at the men inside the B&B. He had different friends now. Ones that were good role models. Ones with compassion, encouragement and advice. He felt so blessed, and happiness washed over him as Alice came into view.
‘You see that, Jamie, that’s what change gave you,’ he heard his grandmother whisper.
He went inside to thank everyone for their help and to let them know Gregg wouldn’t be back.
‘We were heading to the tearoom to get some tables and chairs for outside the Hub,’ said Will. ‘We heard you shouting, Alice.’
‘Thanks for coming to check on me.’ She smiled softly, clinging on to Jamie’s arm.
Spencer gestured at the door. ‘Best get back to it now we know everything’s okay.’
‘Why are you taking tables and chairs to the Hub?’ she asked.
Samuel smiled. ‘So many people have heard about the break-in already, and the carollers from the church have just arrived to sing outside with their collection buckets. We figured some seating while we served hot drinks would help liven up the street. The ones outside the café are in use.’
Alice pointed at her dining room. ‘Use those ones. Ginny needs hers more than me at the moment. Come on, we’ll help.’
The men got on with the task, and Jamie pulled her to one side.
‘Hey, you okay?’
Alice nodded. ‘Just a few chairs and a couple of tables.’
‘You know I’m not talking about that.’
Alice leaned into him, making him smile. ‘Your past is staying back there, Jamie, and no one is bringing it here.’ She kissed his lips, then kissed him again. ‘Let’s go have a sing-song.’
‘Benny’s out back. I’ll just go get him.’ Jamie couldn’t stop smiling as he went off to ask Benny to come see the carollers.
Within moments, they were all outside the Hub, the Christmas songs cheering the growing crowd, and Jamie had Alice wrapped in his arms.
‘This is what we do here, Jamie,’ she told him. ‘We come together and make everything better.’
He kissed the back of her head. ‘You make everything better for me. I love you, Angel.’
Alice turned in his arms and kissed his mouth. ‘I love you too,’ she mumbled on his lips. ‘And I love it even more when you sing “Jingle Bells” at the top of your voice.’
Jamie laughed as he got the hint, then belted out the song along with the carollers and gatherers. It really was going to be the best Christmas ever.
Alice snuggled into his side and joined in with the song, then handed him a hot chocolate when Jed passed a tray of hot drinks their way. ‘Cheers, love.’ She tapped his cup with her own.
‘Cheers, Angel.’
Will flung an arm around Jamie’s shoulder while booming out the song, making Jamie laugh into his hot drink.
The collection buckets were filling, and it was safe to say parents visiting the food bank for a Christmas parcel were going to receive chocolate treats for their kids, as planned.