‘Did he say why?’ enquired Alice.
‘He did. He came to see me and explained everything.’
‘And?’
She told Alice all about the men near the train station, and how they had unsettled Declan. She went on to tell Alice all about Declan’s sister.
‘How dreadful,’ said Alice sympathetically.
‘And then he dropped a bombshell,’ she told Alice as she took a deep breath. ‘He told me he had killed someone.’ Jess could barely believe the words that were coming out of her mouth. It had thrown her into turmoil.
Alice’s face was expressionless as she placed her cup down onto the coffee table. Perhaps it was just as well Declan had spoken face to face with Jess.
‘He killed someone?’ Alice asked.
‘Accidentally apparently. The guy was a local drug baron,’ explained Jess. ‘Anyway, Declan swore it was not deliberate, and was eventually convicted of causing death by dangerous driving rather than something more serious. Which is pretty miraculous, given the circumstances around his sister’s death.’
‘And you don’t believe it was an accident?’ Alice raised an eyebrow.
‘That’s the trouble. I don’t know what to believe,’ said Jess, a faraway look in her eyes. ‘I want to believe him, of course I do, but…’
Alice picked up her slice of cake from her plate and silently chewed. It was very good cake that Alice suspected had come from the M&S Food Hall.
‘Then I can imagine that to be a very difficult position you find yourself in,’ said Alice. ‘And I am afraid there is not much advice I can give, if that is what you were hoping for.’
It was exactly what Jess had hoped for. Alice’s wisdom seemed to know no bounds, but of course she was right. How could she advise her about something like this? Jess would need to figure out for herself if she believed Declan or not, if there was to be any kind of a future together.
‘But what I will say is this,’ said Alice. ‘Do you really believe Declan is capable of mowing someone down in cold blood?’ she asked candidly.
‘No, no I don’t.’ Jess shook her head. ‘But then emotions can tip people over the edge, can’t they? Maybe he saw red and stepped on the accelerator when he spotted Tony.’
‘Perhaps that is the case. Or maybe he was blinded by the sunlight and did not see him until it was too late. Call it a freak coincidence. Some may even call it karma,’ she said. ‘But whatever it was, Declan has paid the price for his crime. Should he be made to pay for it forever?’ she asked gently.
‘No, of course not.’ Jess sighed. ‘And maybe if he had been imprisoned for something else, I might find it a bit easier to accept. But he was convicted of killing someone. I have Maisie to think of,’ she told Alice. ‘What if I make a terrible mistake, inviting him into our lives?’
‘Oh, Jess, I am afraid only you can decide,’ said Alice, placing her teacup onto the table. ‘But what I see in Declan is a fine young man and I am not usually wrong about people, I will say that.’
‘I see that too,’ admitted Jess. ‘And he is so lovely with Maisie.’
She thought of how he always had a joke or a ready smile for her daughter, who appeared to be pretty taken with him too.
‘Then if I were to give you any advice, it would be to take things slowly,’ advised Alice. ‘People’s true colours do not usually take too long to shine through. Go on dates, get to know each other. I believe people move in together far too quickly these days,’ said Alice.
Jess was inclined to agree and she thought of her mother and Pete Riley.
‘And as you rightly say, you have Maisie to think of,’ continued Alice. ‘Trust your instincts. And if you need a babysitter, I am available.’ She winked.
Jess went and threw her arms around Alice, unable to stop herself.
‘Thanks, Alice. You are right, Declan has paid the price for his crime, and I will take things slowly. Perhaps we all need someone to have a little faith in us.’
‘And to invite us over for tea and cake, which is quite delicious, thank you,’ said Alice.
‘M&S Food Hall’s finest,’ Jess said with a grin. Just as Alice had suspected.
As they finished their drinks and continued their chat, Jess realised that true friends came in all shapes and sizes.
During their chat, Jess told Alice all about the time she had spotted her father in the café with the employee he ended up leaving her mother for.
