‘He’s flown the nest, Alice,’ said Sophie. ‘Time to sit back and watch him soar.’
‘You two make it sound as though I’m going to pamper him. Wrap him in cotton wool. Take charge and . . . God! I do that, don’t I?’
They both nodded.
‘It’s not a bad trait,’ said Sophie. ‘You care too much, that’s all.’
‘I don’t want to suffocate him.’ She gazed out the window, wondering if she should take the long route home to avoid the café now.
‘Walk by his side, Alice,’ said Matt. ‘No pushing, no leading, just side by side. We all need those kinds of mates.’
‘He knows I fuss.’ Alice chewed on her bottom lip. ‘But I’ll take your advice, and not get myself too involved. If Jan is at the centre tonight, she can introduce herself.’ She looked at them both. ‘I just want him to have good people around him.’
‘He has that,’ said Sophie. ‘And once we’ve all had dinner together tomorrow night, he’ll have some more.’
Alice smiled softly. ‘Thanks.’ She headed for the door. ‘Benny reminded me what I was like on his first day at secondary school.’
Sophie laughed. ‘I remember that.’ She turned to Matt. ‘She was worried no end. Alice does tend to overthink.’
Alice nodded. ‘I do, but I’m going to go about my day now, not thinking at all. Jamie is fine. I am fine. Everything is fine.’ It was worth drumming it into her head.
‘It’ll get easier as the days pass,’ said Matt.
‘You’re right. He’s only been out five minutes.’ Alice smiled, reaching for the door handle.
‘And, Al,’ said Sophie gently. ‘Please try to remember it’s not your job to fix him. Help out like you would anyone who walked in the Hub, but don’t exhaust yourself.’
Alice nodded, said goodbye, then went back outside to face the bitter wind.
If it wasn’t her job to be there for Jamie, whose was it? She’d been there for him since they were kids. It was hard to hold back. But Matt was right. Jamie was a grown man, and he would want to be treated as one. He was finding his feet, and one day, those feet might take him somewhere else. Maybe far away.
Deciding not to peer in the window of the café as she passed, Alice scurried by, thinking it for the best. There was no way she wanted to act as though she were Jamie’s mum.
It was so hard though, as the need to at least wave if she caught his eye was strong. But she dipped her head and carried on her way.
‘Hey, Angel,’ called Jamie.
She turned to see him leaning out the door of the café, tea towel slung over one shoulder.
‘You not going to pop in to say hello?’ He was smiling.
Alice rushed up to him, quickly stopping herself from giving him a huge hug. ‘I have to get back.’
Jamie seemed to be studying her face. ‘Not checking on me then?’
Alice went for her best innocent look. ‘Me?’
‘Let me make you a coffee.’
‘Oh, no, I don’t want to get in your way. I have to . . .’ Alice found herself suddenly in the warmth of Harbour Light Café. She glanced up at the fishing nets hanging above and the fake seagulls, then looked down at the seat she was placed onto.
‘I’ve got a ten-minute break,’ he told her. ‘So I’ll join you.’
Alice smiled as he set about making them coffee, but Matt’s advice whirled in her mind, and Jamie had seemed to know shewas only by the café because he was working inside. Now she didn’t know how to act.
Jamie put the mugs on the table and sat by her side. ‘You look frozen.’ His smile was soft. ‘You been fretting?’
She met his eyes and decided not to lie. He always knew when she was anyway, so there really wasn’t any point. ‘I was going to look in on you, but then I changed my mind. You’re a grown man, and you don’t need me fussing.’
