Chapter 34
Jamie
It was the night before the wedding, and Jamie was in the Jolly Pirate with the other men while the women were up at Lottie’s having a pampering party.
The bar and restaurant were busier than usual, with a work Christmas party taking place along with Matt’s non-alcoholic get-together, that he wasn’t calling a stag do.
Robson had set them up in a corner by the opened double doors. The heat inside was a bit much for everyone, and a lot of customers had spilled out onto the front beer garden, where the air was crisp but mild for the time of year.
‘Sometimes I can’t believe how my life turned out,’ said Matt, going into the beer garden with Jamie.
Jamie smiled. ‘I know the feeling.’
They sat beneath the large grill area. Robson had started to cook some burgers because he was getting requests for barbeque food.
Matt glanced up at the high ceiling, then brick pillars. ‘When I first came to Port Berry, I wouldn’t even go inside this pub, worried in case it affected my recovery.’
‘Addiction is tough, eh, mate?’
Matt nodded. ‘Yeah, but what a difference it makes when you have support. And these people around here, the Hub, and my Sophie, have been the best ever.’
Jamie’s thoughts were with Alice. ‘It does help.’
‘I never knew I’d end up living by the coast. I like it much better than London. Did you ever think about moving away?’
‘No. I was never one for plans until I was in prison, then all I did was dream and set goals.’
Matt nodded. ‘When I decided to get clean from the booze, I set the goal of just walking. Not much of a goal, I know, but it just happened to me. I started walking away from all I knew, and I kept going.’ He splayed a hand.
‘Then I found this place. I just wish someone could have told me years back that this was my destiny. Wouldn’t it be good to have at least some idea? ’
The locals often went to the Dipple family whenever they wanted a sneak preview into what life might hold for them, but Jamie had grown up with little expectations for a future. Still, it would have been nice if someone had told him to stick with Alice at all times.
‘It is what it is, Matt. Who knows, maybe we’re supposed to go on these messed-up journeys.
Learn lessons, find ourselves, that sort of thing.
I look around sometimes and all I see are people living happy lives, and I wonder why I didn’t have such an adventure.
It can feel a little unfair, but that’s comparison for you, eh? ’
‘Thief of joy, they say.’
Jamie blew out a small laugh. ‘It definitely can be.’
Matt smiled. ‘I think you and me have epic stories.’
‘Epic?’
‘Yeah. We both struggled as kids, we took all the wrong turns growing up, did a stint in prison, overcame trauma, made the decision to change, made peace with ourselves, and how lucky are we that we got to fall in love and be with such kind and loving women?’
Jamie inhaled the waft of barbeque food blowing his way in the light breeze. He smiled to himself at how different his life now was, thanks to the changes he’d made.
‘Blessings, eh?’ added Matt, getting up to get a burger.
Jamie did feel extremely blessed, more so for having the guts to walk away from all that was toxic in his life. The circle he had now was a breath of fresh air.
A queue was forming by the grill, the scent of the food encouraging more customers, so Robson was getting everyone to sing a line from a Christmas song before handing over a burger.
The lively atmosphere cheered Jamie no end.
He found he wanted a moment of peace though so headed across the road to the pier.
The black sky revealed all its stars, and the calm sea swished gently below. Ever since he was a kid, Jamie loved sitting on the pier come nightfall. It was always so peaceful, and the openness of the water calmed his weary soul.
He looked heavenward, wondering if his grandmother was looking back. He smiled just in case, hoping she was proud of him now. He was certainly proud of himself.
‘I did it, Nan,’ he whispered into the gentle wind. ‘I became the person I was supposed to be.’
‘Took you long enough,’ he heard her chuckle out.
‘Ah, you know me, I like to go around the houses.’
‘You talking to yourself, Jamie?’ asked Will, plonking himself down beside him.
Jamie laughed quietly. ‘I was having a chat with my nan.’
‘Oh, would you prefer if I left?’
‘That’s okay.’
Will glanced up. ‘It’s nice here when it’s quiet.’
Jamie looked towards the pub. ‘You had enough of singing for one night?’
Will chuckled. ‘Hey, I like singing. But I also like to sit with the sea every so often.’
‘Do you miss being in the navy?’
‘Sometimes. It was a big part of my life, but I’m happy with Ginny and our son up at our farm.’ He sighed deeply while smiling. ‘Still blows my mind when I think about the life I have now.’
‘Matt was saying something similar a minute ago.’
‘I guess we all look back at our old life at times and compare it to the one we live in now.’
Jamie knew he had been blessed to have had Alice in all stages of his life. ‘Mine’s definitely improved.’
Will laughed. ‘Mine too. Good, isn’t it?’
‘We were saying how it would be good to have some guidance along the way. Someone to point out which direction you should go, that sort of thing.’
‘But then you’d have no surprises.’
Jamie scoffed. ‘I don’t like surprises. I’d rather know what my map looked like.’
‘Maybe there is no map, just the decisions we make.’
There had been many bad decisions Jamie had made over the years. He did reach a point where he wondered if he was just stupid, but Alice often told him he was simply human.
He inhaled the salty air, then slowly sighed. ‘I’ve got Matt, Jed, and Sam all staying at the B&B tonight while the bridal party sleeps over at Lottie’s. There’s a room for you, too, if you want.’
‘Thanks, but I’m picking up Robert from Ginny later to take home. I’ll see everyone at the church in the morning. Good thing no one’s drinking tonight.’ Will tapped his shoulder. ‘Right, I’m off for a burger, or, with a bit of luck, a steak if Rob’s stuck some on the grill. You coming?’
‘In a bit.’
Will waved one hand as he went back to the pub. Jamie stretched as he stood, glancing in the direction of Berry Hill, where Lottie lived. If he took a slow stroll that way, he’d be closer to Alice for a moment, and he wanted so much to be with her.
The climb up the steep hill had him a little breathless, and it was decided that he would up his fitness levels in the new year.
The row of pastel coastal houses looked different since Lottie and Samuel had knocked three of them together to make one big house, but the street still held its charm.
Jamie went to the other side of the road to peer over the waist-high rail that wasn’t there when he was a kid. The drop down to the shingles was always a concern for the locals, so he could see why the council finally got around to making the grassy verge safer.
The boats in the distance bobbed gently in the dark sea, a faint clinking sound was all that filled the air. Ever since his release, it didn’t matter which part of Port Berry he was in, it all made him smile. He was home.
‘Jamie,’ came a small voice behind him.
He turned to see Alice coming out of Lottie’s.
‘Ginny said she spotted you from the window.’ Alice wrapped her white dressing gown further around her as she plodded over in her slippers. ‘What you doing out here all by yourself?’
‘I didn’t feel by myself. I felt close to you.’
She tilted her head, seemingly studying him.
‘I just missed you, Angel,’ he added quietly.
Alice snuggled into his side. ‘Is your energy low?’
‘It’s been fluctuating all day.’
‘Keep holding me and I’ll give you some of mine.’
He smiled, then kissed the side of her head. ‘I’m not draining you of your energy.’
‘Doesn’t work that way when you both love each other. When you’re running low, I fill us up, and when it’s my turn for some emotional support, you share your energy with me.’
‘What if we’re both running low?’
‘We eat chocolate.’
Jamie laughed. ‘Oh, I do love you, Alice.’
They held each other in silence for a while, Jamie hugging her close to give her all the body heat he could.
‘Do you know what’s bothering you, love?’
He wasn’t entirely sure. Perhaps the wedding, maybe his new life overwhelming him, or just knowing he wasn’t going to be with Alice all night. ‘I don’t know.’
‘How are you feeling now?’
‘Always better with you.’
Alice rolled her head up his shoulder to face him. ‘I have strong energy.’
He smiled and kissed the tip of her cold nose. ‘You have everything, and as lovely as this is, you need to go have fun with your mates. I need to get a grip and go back and celebrate with Matt and the others.’
‘I don’t mind staying out here with you for a bit longer.’
‘I know, that’s how wonderful you are. But tonight isn’t about us — though tomorrow night we’ll have some catching up to do.’
Alice giggled on his lips. ‘Look forward to that.’
He walked her to the door and kissed her once more before heading down the hill, a slight skip in his step. Alice always did have healing powers.