She motioned to the door. ‘Best for me to make a start on adding some holly and mistletoe.’
‘And we’ve got a lot of events to look forward to this December.’
Alice squealed quietly. ‘Ooh, yes, Sophie and Matt’s wedding on the twentieth. How are her nerves holding up?’
Jed chuckled. ‘Not sure my granddaughter has nerves. But Matt might need his hand holding if you see him. He can’t wait for their big day, but I think his excitement overwhelms him some days. He keeps going out for early morning swims in the sea.’
Alice shivered at the thought. ‘It’s freezing out there.’
‘Ah, you get used to it when you do it every day.’
‘I prefer snuggling in front of my wood burner this time of year.’
Jed pointed at the B&B. ‘Do you want my help with the decorations?’
‘Thanks, but I’m okay. You get back to your walk. Demi’s in the kitchen, prepping for the lunch guests, so I can always grab her to lend a hand if need be.’
‘Well, you just give me a shout if you need anything.’
Alice waved as he headed off. Just that brief chat with Jed had lifted her a touch. Life was short, Christmas was around the corner, and Mabel would want her to put the tree up and show the guests some festive joy.
‘Right, that’s it. Holly jolly time.’
It was nice and warm inside the small foyer, helping Alice’s stiff bones to relax. She approached the light-wood reception desk and rummaged around in a box beneath for the key to the storage room, where the Christmas decorations were kept.
Each year, she’d help Mabel with the task of giving the B&B a slight touch of Santa’s Grotto, so she knew where everything went. Perhaps this year she might add something of her own.
It was heart-warming looking through Mabel’s ancient garlands and tree ornaments, and Alice was pleased Mabel had left so much behind for her to keep.
‘Some of these bits and pieces have been with this place before my time, Alice,’ Mabel would say each year.
Alice felt blessed to have had such a wonderful woman as her friend.
Pulling out the stepladder, Alice held back tears and composed herself. Mabel would tell her off for all the doom and gloom. Not one to grumble about the bad things that happened, Mabel kept her chin up and her head in the game. Alice needed to take a leaf out of her book.
It was hard not to think about Mabel while climbing the ladder to pin one end of a foil garland in place. The only joy the woman really had was the B&B, until she met her girlfriend who she’d been about to join in Jersey. Her son had been a rotten drunk, hardly ever home, and her grandchildren never seemed to appreciate the fact their grandmother raised them after their mum had died when they were six.
Alice was so grateful to her mother and nan. They had always been there for her, even more so when she adopted Benny. It was nice having such a close, loving family. She was lucky, she knew that and could never take them for granted. Mabel’s grandchildren were the same age as Alice, but age made little difference. The granddaughter lived in Australia and didn’t come back for the funeral or send flowers. She never wrote or contacted Mabel. And as for the other twin, he was still in prison.
Jamie Stark was never far from her mind, but he needed to be, as there was work to be done.
Alice smiled as a young couple came down the stairs. ‘Enjoy your day.’ She waved, remembering how they had told her at breakfast that they were off to Penzance for the day to visit friends.
‘Thanks, bye.’
Alice wondered if she should put the radio on low behind the desk. There was an older gentleman still in his room, and a middle-aged woman typing away on her laptop in the small lounge area. She didn’t want to disturb her guests, so opted for silence. Perhaps later, when the writer had left, she could add some festive tunes to the foyer, ready for the lunch customers.
She climbed down the ladder and dragged it across the room so she could pin the other end of the garland. At least she had made a start, and she was feeling a bit better in herself.
Moving a potted leafy plant out the way, Alice settled the ladder along a wall, checked it for sturdiness, then climbed once more, stretching for the ceiling, grateful for her long limbs. She started to hum a Christmas song while blowing strands of her long dark hair out of her eyes, then giggled to herself as the garland slipped and landed on her head.
‘Hello, Angel.’ The male voice startled her.
Only one person in the world called her by that name, but he wasn’t being released from prison until early next year.
In a tizz, Alice swirled on the ladder, lost her footing, and tumbled straight down into athletic arms that caught her. She stared up into soft blue eyes. ‘Jamie?’
A moment of silence passed as they stared at each other.
