‘Just know I’m around if you ever need another friend.’ Demi headed towards the door. ‘Are you staying close by?’
‘He’s living here,’ said Alice.
‘Till I get sorted,’ he added, not wanting to put her out. Seaview B&B wasn’t his home anymore. Hadn’t been for years, and now it belonged to Alice.
‘Okay,’ said Demi. ‘Well, I’ll see you in a bit.’
Jamie turned to Alice as soon as Demi left. ‘Thanks for letting me stay here.’
‘It’s your home.’
‘We both know that’s not true anymore.’
‘You don’t have anywhere else to go.’
He looked up through his dark lashes. ‘I’ll sort something soon.’
‘There’s no rush. Erm, back when you lived here, I know your family used the top level as your home, but a few years back, Mabel moved down here, and the top rooms are rented out.’ She glanced at the door behind the desk and moved her head in that direction. ‘Benny and I are back there now. It’s just two bedrooms, but you can have a room on the first floor. One with an en suite and a sea view.’
‘You’ll lose money if you give me one of the best rooms.’ He lowered his gaze.
‘It’s winter. You know we won’t have many guests this time of year.’
He knew. He had grown up watching his grandmother run the place single-handed.
‘I’ll get a job soon enough and start paying my way.’
‘How about we get you settled and worry about that another time.’ Alice went to fetch a key. ‘Are you hungry?’
‘A little.’
‘Let’s put your things away, then we can see what’s in the kitchen.’ Alice glanced at his feet. ‘Oh, you don’t have much.’
‘I never went in with a suitcase.’ He grabbed his one carrier bag and followed her to the first floor and into the bedroom.
The air smelled of furniture polish, and the fresh sheets on the bed looked inviting, but it was the sea view that captivated him for a moment.
‘I used to love looking out at the sea.’
‘We can ask Jed to take you out on his boat.’
He stared over at the red-and-white lighthouse in the near distance. ‘I think we both know that you, and now Demi, will be my only friends around here.’
Alice stepped to his side. ‘You’re not that person anymore. In time, they’ll see.’
‘I terrorized the neighbourhood. Brought nothing but trouble to my nan’s door.’ The memory was raw, made worse by the fact he couldn’t make it up to his grandmother now. ‘I couldn’t even face her funeral, and I was allowed to go.’
‘It’s in the past, Jamie. Things are different now.’
He could tell she was being hopeful, rather than certain, and he needed her to know that he had changed, and that she’d get no bother from him. ‘I just want peace.’
‘And you’ll have that here.’ Her sweet voice went straight to his heart, as always.
He turned to face her. ‘I’ll skip the food and stay in here, if that’s okay.’ Not only did he feel like a burden, he felt like a failure. And a pity party for one was heading his way.
Alice frowned. ‘No, it’s not okay. You’ve just spent years confined to a room. I want you to walk around freely. Head to the kitchen to eat whenever you want. No timings, no routine, no restrictions.’ She took his hand, looking down at the connection. ‘I know it’s going to take time for you to adjust, and I don’t want to force you to do anything, but I honestly believe it will do you the world of good to show yourself you’re free by acting that way.’
Jamie heard her words, but his concentration was on their joined hands. ‘Angel, I—’
