Enjoy x


Alec followed her in the cosy, warm country pub, the fire roaring in the corner, low wooden beams and the loud buzz of multiple conversations. Taylor waved at someone and Alec followed her over to a small little nook to one side.

His face fell slightly as he saw Olly Stephens sitting there with a huge grin on his face. He stood up from the little table and they hugged tightly 'Taylor you're back! Fucking finally!' she grinned and kissed him on the cheek 'I know! Feel like I haven't seen you in years'

Taylor stepped back a little 'Right, Olly, I'm trying to show Alec that we're not all potential suspects, he's hanging around for the trail'

Olly nodded with a shrug 'ha, well, we've had our differences'

He held out a hand and shook Alec's 'I was just doing my job, sorry if I overstepped the mark mate'

Alec looked surprised but shook his head 'it's fine, it's done'

They all sat down in the little alcove and Taylor turned to Alec 'this is the Crown and Anchor, it's the most popular pub in Broadchurch I reckon, me and Olly used to spend far too much money and time in here when I first came'

Olly laughed 'well we still do to be honest, as long as you can get a babysitter for Flynn'

She nodded in agreement and Alec looked a little confused 'oh, you've got a son?'

She nodded 'Flynn, he's just turned three. Right, I'll get some drinks in, Olly, the usual?'

He nodded 'Alec, what do you want?'

'I'll have the local'

Taylor smiled and went up to the bar, talking to the girl behind it for a while

Alec glanced at Olly 'is her son's father still around?'

He saw the way that the younger man's jaw tightened and his hands balled into fists, his answer incredibly quick and his voice was a little cold

'No, and we don't talk about him- ever. Don't bring it up to Taylor, alright, unless she mentions it first. I'm her best friend and we only talk about James once a year at the most, he'd not a good guy'

Alec blinked but nodded as Taylor came back over, holding two pints and a glass of wine expertly in her hands, putting them back down on the table.

'Impressive'

She laughed 'I worked in a bar the whole time I was at vet school, I'm a pro at this'

Alec sipped the pint, enjoying it 'this is good. Where did you study?'

'Royal Veterinary College, it's in London. Bit of a nice slowdown of pace coming here to be honest, it's a lot of pets and a few horses round here, I was doing all kinds of stuff in London'

Olly glanced up and saw someone across the bar 'oh god, Steph is here, I'm gonna have to leave you two, sorry'

Taylor peered through the crowd 'oh god she is, I'll talk to you later, let me know how it goes'

When he left Taylor laughed, taking a drink of her wine 'they were dating a while back, she lives in the next town, but she's so clingy, it's quite funny actually. Not for Olly of course, but it is for the rest of us'

Over the rest of the night they sat in their little area to one side, talking about the people in there and sitting closer and closer together. Alec was genuinely enthralled by Taylor, who seemed to know a lot about the people in the area, and seemed to be genuinely liked, everyone smiling at her and saying hello.

Her laugh was light and pretty, and Alec kept finding himself staring into her eyes with a smile as they talked.

He noticed Chloe Latimer sitting at the other side of the pub eating dinner with Dean, and noted quickly that she was drinking a coke and not alcohol, still underage.

He was glad to see that she looked happy at least, and Dean was looking at her with nothing short of adoration.

After a while Dean paid and they left, having to walk past their little table. Chloe saw Taylor and smiled, looking genuinely happy to see her Taylor, you're back?'

She nodded 'got back a week ago, I've been swamped under work, did you get my email?'

Chloe shook her head 'Mum's been sick most of the day, I haven't been on the computer yet, I've been making her tea and buying ice cream'

Taylor smiled sympathetically 'ah, yeah, I remember those days. It should pass pretty soon though; at least she's got you looking after her. I sorted out the paperwork, you can start at the practice whenever you want'

Her face lit up 'I can do my work experience?'

'Well I was gonna pay you to be honest, put it down as work experience but you're going to need some extra money when you start your A-levels, and there isn't any way you can hold down a job and work experience, I may as well just pay you for it'

Chloe looked beyond excited and was practically jumping up and down, holding onto Dean 'did you hear that?'

He laughed 'well done'

Chloe leant over the little table and pulled Taylor into a bone crushing hug, a huge grin on her face 'you are literally the best person ever Taylor'

She rolled her eyes 'I'll call you in the week, now you should be getting home before Mark starts to worry where you are'

Dean nodded politely and Chloe gave an excited goodbye to them both before they left.

Alec turned back to her 'well that was generous'

She shrugged 'why not? I can always do with an extra pair of hands, got to do the paperwork along with the veterinary work- and I've got a little kid at home. Chloe's a good kid, and this will keep her working and she's more likely to get into vet school if there is work experience there. The Latimer's need some positivity in their lives, you saw how happy she was there'

Alec nodded 'you've got a good point'

It's none of my business but I'm just curious, have you got any kids?'

'A daughter, she's just entered rebellious teen stage'

'Ah I remember giving my Dad absolute hell at that age. They don't really hate you, they just sort of think they do, just hang in there, women are so difficult to understand, she'll come through fine'

'Well, I hope so. I'll be here for a while with the Latimer trial so I won't be able to travel up to see her much'

Taylor touched his hand gently 'she'll be fine, don't worry yourself'

Alec glanced down at her hand and she moved it away awkwardly, and a long pause followed between them.

'So… got any brothers and sisters?'

They stayed for another half an hour until the crowd in the pub began to thin out and they were some of the last people in there. The streets outside were fairly dark, only a small beam of light coming from the street lamp, and there was no one around as they walked back up to the top road, standing close together to protect themselves against the cold wind.

As they got to the end of the street Taylor motioned down the road 'well, I've got to go this way, I uh, I guess I'll see you around then'

He looked like he was about to say something, opening his mouth, closing it again and sighing 'Yeah, are you sure you're alright to get back on your own?'

Taylor laughed slightly 'can you see that big white cottage type house just there, and the stone building a little behind it? That's the practice and my house, it's a five second walk, I'm sure I'll make it, if not I'll be sure to alert you'

Taylor had the phone in her hands and Alec took it, putting his number in and handing it back 'my number- let me know when you're back safe'

She smiled, putting her phone back into her pocket 'well, I guess this is where we part ways then'

Alec leant his head down slightly and kissed her on the cheek very quickly and lightly 'let me know when you're home'

Taylor grinned, starting to walk down the long road and waving a hand as Alec watched her, before turning and walking back towards the Hotel.

Alec sat in his room and looked down at his phone, staring at it for about twenty minutes before picking it up and writing a message.

To: Taylor

From: Alec H

I had fun tonight, thanks. Alec

About forty minutes later as Alec was changing to get into bed his phone bleeped and he glanced down at the message 'I got home fine, Flynn wouldn't get to sleep so I forgot to text. So did I, thanks. x'

Alec felt a feeling in his heart that wasn't at all familiar, not the tight, constricting feeling of his heart failing as he had become horribly used to in recent months, but something very different.


Please let me know what you think, and what you want to see

A little bit of Ellie to come

x