Will gave her a gentle hug. ‘It’ll be all right by then, Gin.’
She nodded. ‘Yeah, you’re right, it should be. There aren’t supposed to be more blizzards heading our way, but you never can tell in this country.’
Jamie sat back down and thanked Ginny for his sandwich. ‘Is there anything I can help with around here, seeing how I can’t get home.’ He added a small shrug. ‘That’s even if I’m welcome there.’
Ginny smiled warmly. ‘Will told me what happened. I’m sure Alice will have calmed by now, chick. It was all a bit of a shock, wasn’t it?’ She widened her eyes. ‘Shocked the life out of me. Can only imagine how Lizzie felt.’
Jamie felt terrible for how it had all come out. He had betrayed Alice, and it hurt so badly. He hoped she would forgive him. He needed to make things right. ‘I will apologize to Lizzie as soon as I get back. Well, I’ll try. I’m not exactly her favourite person right now.’
Ginny glanced over at her child. ‘As a mum, all you want is the best for your kid. Lizzie knows the old version of you, and that’s why she doesn’t want Alice around you. I wouldn’t want my Robert in with a bad lot. What parent would? But I can see you’ve changed. You just need to convince Lizzie of that. So, yeah, by all means apologize, but I think it’s going to take more than a sorry.’
Jamie knew it would take time for Lizzie to see his changes. In the meantime, she would carry on thinking the worst.
‘I can talk to Lizzie about your paid and voluntary work at the café,’ said Will. ‘Let her know how well you’re doing.’
‘And I can mention you’re helping at the Hub,’ said Ginny. ‘Show her you’re part of the community now, rather than against it.’
Jamie warmed at their kindness. ‘Thanks. Who knows, maybe she’ll like me one day.’
Ginny tapped her fork on the edge of her plate. ‘But if she never comes around, chick, word of advice — don’t spend your life trying to impress her. Just be you, do you, and focus on yourself.’ She shook her head slightly. ‘If you’ve left your past in the past, then you make sure no one drags you back there. Let them knock on old doors, you won’t be there to answer.’
‘Ginny’s right,’ said Will. ‘Have a chat with Lizzie. Clear the air. But that’s as far as you can go. After that, it’s up to them.’
Jamie nodded. ‘She did agree to give me a second chance, but that was before she found out I’m her son-in-law.’
‘Why don’t you give Alice a call after brekkie?’ said Ginny.
‘I don’t have a phone.’
Ginny gestured to the hallway. ‘There’s one right there. All yours to use whenever.’
‘Thank you, but I’m not sure she wants to talk to me.’
Will thumbed behind him. ‘Only one way to find out.’
Jamie finished his breakfast, listening to Ginny and Will talk about the chickens and donkey. Robert was pretty quiet, and a black cat padded in to curl up beneath the carrycot. The whole kitchen held a cosy family vibe he wished he had.
Ginny took the baby into the living room for a feed, and Will went off to check on Ralph, leaving Jamie to pace by the telephone.
Alice had never looked so mortified, and the disappointment in her eyes last night still stung. He really had no idea what to do for the best. She was probably busy anyway, no doubt cleaningsomething. She would be snowed-in too so would more than likely answer the phone, at least.
The phone seemed to torment him, or perhaps he was just tormenting himself. He didn’t want to talk to her that way. Face to face was best.
He went over to the window to check how deep the snow was. Everything they had gritted was clear, but he couldn’t see the road. Did it matter? He wasn’t about to drive. But walk, he could do that. Happy Farm wasn’t too far from the harbour, and if a bus managed to get through some parts, he would hop on.
Will was out back, so Jamie went there first.
‘Hey, Will, is it okay to borrow one of your coats?’
Will nodded as he came out of the chicken enclosure. ‘Sure. Why where you going?’
‘I’m going to see Alice.’ He looked down. ‘I’ve got my boots. I’ll be fine — it’s just a bit of snow.’
‘I would drive you, but it’s a bit dodgy, and as I said earlier, a lot of the roads are closed.’
Jamie bobbed his head. ‘I’ll be all right walking.’
‘Take a hat and scarf as well.’
