‘I’m sorry she didn’t write to you. Perhaps she was going to but didn’t know where to start. You know what they say, the longer you leave something and all that.’
He saw her shiver as a gust of wind blew up. ‘It’s okay. Come on, let’s get back to the B&B.’
‘Yeah, Benny will be home soon.’
Jamie took a calming breath, all thoughts on Alice’s nephew. He knew she’d raised Benny as her own for the past eightyears, and even though she’d spoken to the lad about living arrangements, Jamie just hoped Benny really was okay about the setup.
Chapter 5
Alice
Benny came home just as Alice was dishing up dinner in the kitchen. As it wasn’t a meal she had to prepare for guests, she could take her time and potter around at her own leisure. Only this time, she felt like a bag of nerves.
‘What’s the matter with you?’ he asked, approaching the sink to wash his hands.
She smiled falsely. ‘Nothing.’
There was laughter in his blue eyes. ‘You’ve got a weird look on your face.’
Alice frowned. ‘I’m just cooking dinner, that’s all.’
Benny peered over her shoulder at the fish pie she’d taken out of the oven. ‘Never play poker. You’d lose every time.’
She nudged him with her hip. ‘Erm, excuse me, but I can lie, thank you.’
‘Ah-ha! So, you are hiding something. Come on, Mum, tell me.’
It always warmed Alice’s heart when he called her that, as mostly he called her by her name. She hoped her sister would approve. No one ever struck lightning on her, so maybe Lisa was all right with it. Alice wished she knew for sure, but for some reason Lisa never sent messages to their psychic grandmother.
‘I haven’t got any secrets or lies to tell, Benny.’
‘There’s definitely something going on.’
She moved his hand away from the green beans she’d drained of boiling water. ‘Something did happen today that I want to talk to you about.’
‘Knew it.’ He snaffled some food.
‘Will you stop eating the beans? Go sit down, and I’ll bring your dinner over.’
His dark hair flopped onto his brow as it crinkled. ‘Why are there three plates?’
‘That’s what I want to tell you.’
Benny scrunched his nose. ‘Oh, please don’t tell me you’ve brought a date home and this is the meet and greet.’
Alice frowned. ‘You once told me you’d be fine if I dated again.’
‘I am fine about it, but I’m not too sure meeting your love interest over fish pie is the way to go.’
Alice chuckled as she dished him up a portion. ‘I don’t have a love interest. Anyway, there’s nothing wrong with fish pie.’
Benny folded his arms, giving the impression he wouldn’t eat a morsel until she got to her point.
She knew that he would last all of one minute and proved the point by handing him a fork.
Benny started to tuck in. ‘Spit it out, Alice. Who is plate three?’
‘Jamie Stark.’
