‘I know you don’t like him, Mum, but I know him better than anyone. I’m telling you he’s changed. And he’s staying here in the B&B.’
‘With you?’ Lizzie sounded deflated.
‘No. He has his own room.’
Lizzie slowly got up to leave.
‘Mum . . .’ Alice reached for her arm, but Lizzie moved away.
‘You’ve got lunch to sort.’ Lizzie stopped by the door, her expression having switched to anger again. ‘But I’ll tell you this, girlie. If one bit of trouble comes here, no matter how tiny, I’ll be taking our Benny home with me, because there’s no way I’ll have him subjected to that.’
Alice’s blood was boiling. ‘I would never do anything to harm Benny.’
Lizzie closed in on her. ‘No, but you’re fool enough to let a scumbag into his life.’
‘That was one time, and I didn’t know Alan was a narcissist, did I?’
Lizzie stabbed a finger towards her. ‘You’re too soft, Alice. Makes you an easy target for these losers.’
‘Jamie is not a loser, and Benny will be perfectly safe around him. Just give him a chance. He’s a thirty-one-year-old man. He’s changed.’
Lizzie waved off the comment and left.
Alice flopped back to the chair, placing her head in her hand.
Demi sat by her side. ‘Hey, Al, don’t be too hard on your mum. She’s just worried. My family were, too, when I got out. Assumed I’d go straight back on drugs, start robbing shops again. What I’m trying to say is, it takes time to build trust, but if Jamie is serious about starting a new life, he’ll show them. Trust is all about action, not words.’
Alice looked up and smiled weakly. ‘Thanks, Dem.’
‘No worries. Now, best get these lunches out.’
Alice stood to help. ‘Yes, sorry about all this.’
‘No apology needed. I’ve had plenty of rows with my lot, but you know what? I believed in myself, and that’s what really counts. Do you think Jamie is at that stage?’
‘Yes. The first couple of years he was inside, he got into all sorts of trouble, but then he started having therapy and had a mentor. Everything changed after that. He even took up studying.’
‘And you really believe in him, don’t you? I can see that clearly enough.’
Alice nodded. ‘I do. I always have. I know he has a huge heart, and I know he’s sorry for the trouble he caused around here.’
‘Was it that bad?’
‘Yep. Theft, fights, vandalism, racing stolen cars.’ Alice shook her head. ‘He was drinking heavily, missing for days on end, served a shorter sentence before this last one. But there were times when he’d take me up to his room and just hold me and . . .’ She didn’t want to tell Demi about his tears, breakdowns, his moments of tenderness with her.
The memory of them laying in each other’s arms, not doing anything but holding each other, hit hard. Every single time she would try to stop him leaving her arms, going back to that gang, being someone he wasn’t.
Demi rubbed her shoulder. ‘It’s okay, Alice. It’s all okay now.’
‘Give me one sec to wash my face, then I’ll get serving.’ Alice dashed to her quarters, avoiding Jamie in the foyer.
The cool water gave some respite, and the soft towel was a good place to hide her face for all of a minute. A warm presence came from behind, followed by a soft voice.
‘Angel, are you all right?’
She pressed the towel harder against her cheeks, then, straightening, took a silent breath and pasted on a smile. ‘Sure, just got a bit hot in the kitchen.’ Turning, she met curious eyes.
‘I don’t want me being here to cause you stress.’
