‘It was a big secret to keep all these years, chick. Things like that can put a strain on a person.’
Alice stared over at the twinkling Christmas tree. ‘It was never a problem for me. Quite the opposite.’ She mumbled the last part to herself.
‘Look, Al, I don’t want to poke my nose in, but I also called to let you know Jamie’s on his way to yours. I told him to ring youfirst, see how the land lies and that, but he wanted to talk to you face to face. I just thought you might appreciate a heads-up.’
‘I do, thanks for letting me know.’ Alice frowned at her grey loungewear, wondering if she should get changed into something not so drab.
‘Will told me off for interfering, but I thought you might be annoyed at me for not warning you.’ Ginny’s sigh crackled the phone. ‘Rock and hard place.’
‘It’s all right, Gin. I know where you’re coming from, and I’m glad I know.’ She went over to the window to peer out at the snow-covered road. ‘How’s he getting here?’
‘It said on the radio that half the roads were closed, so Will couldn’t drive him, but Jamie was determined to talk to you, so he’s walking.’
She wished he had stayed indoors in the warm. ‘When did he leave?’
‘About twenty minutes ago.’
‘Thanks for letting me know.’
‘Right, I’ll let you get off then. Oh, and, chick, you know where I am if you need me.’
‘Love you, Gin.’
‘Love you too, Alice.’
Alice started to pace the foyer, knowing Jamie would show up soon. Not knowing how she felt or what to say to him now he’d blurted their secret, she decided to potter around and do some light cleaning to help take her mind off things.
It wasn’t easy polishing and dusting while her neck felt like it had whiplash, but it wasn’t her first time wearing a neck brace so she just got on with her morning as best she could. There was no way she’d be able to concentrate on a book or TV show, not now Jamie was heading home.
The next time Alice checked the clock, it was almost lunch. Where on earth had Jamie got to? It was a bit of a walk from Happy Farm, but it wouldn’t take that long to reach the harbour.
All sorts started to flash through her mind. Accidents in the snow were common, and he had no phone to reach anyone. She really needed to do something about that.
Alice marched to the front door and looked both ways down the street. No sign of anyone about. She stood there for a while, staring over at the bitterly cold sea.
She decided to make a cup of tea to accompany her door watch.
After another half hour, Alice could take no more waiting. She headed to her bedroom, changed into jeans and a jumper and shrugged into her warmest coat. She didn’t bother with a scarf because her neck brace was warm enough, but slipped on a woolly hat and some gloves.
She figured if she walked the most obvious route to Ginny’s, she’d bump into Jamie along the way, or at least see if there had been any accidents.
The outside temperature was milder than the day before, so that was helpful, but it was still cold and Alice was grateful for the grip on her winter boots.
It wasn’t until she hit the first country lane that she chastised herself for not bringing her walking stick. It was folded in her large bag back home, which was little use to her now, and seeing how her right calf was starting to cramp, it annoyed her even more that she had rushed out without thinking.
Alice slowed her pace, knowing what to do when her body played up. She glanced over her shoulder, wondering if it would be best to head back before her knee went as well, something that was quite possible. Her knees were unpredictable and she couldn’t always be sure her legs would stay the distance whenever she went out.
The sensible thing was to head home, but Jamie could be lying in a snowy ditch for all she knew so, leg pain or not, she had to continue.
Her luck was out. Cramp wasn’t giving up, even though she’d stopped to stretch her foot against a lamp post a couple of times, and her left knee had decided to join in with frustrating her.
Alice spotted a small wooden bus shelter and hobbled her way to its seat to take a moment, fed up she had to rest at all. Time was ticking on, and she hated sitting around doing nothing. Jamie could be . . .
She peered down the road at a man heading her way. His head was dipped, his body slumped, but she was pretty sure it was Jamie.
He glanced up for a second, then went back to looking at the ground before his head shot up to face her.
ItwasJamie. Alice had never felt so relieved, but she still had the hump with him so tried to suppress her smile.
