Ellie felt angry and somewhat betrayed – by both of them. She hadn't expected Hardy to take to the new child-minder at all, let alone within a few days and she should have listened to Tom when he'd said he didn't like the way they acted around each other. She watched Tom laughing with Olly as they played a game of table hockey inside the arcade, Olly letting his younger cousin win and then playing a game of rolling a coin down a slope and Tom winning a few coins.
"Hi Mum, can we get something to eat?" Tom asked her, seeing Fred was now asleep.
"If you want," Ellie told him, hoping Rose and Hardy had left.
They had as Alec led Rose back to the guest house.
"Rose, you get unpacked while I go get my things. It's best I go now while Miller is out," he told her.
"Yeah, she seemed pretty mad. Now I've probably lost my job."
Alec put his arms around her once back in their room. "Are you going to unpack everything?" he asked when they had kissed.
"I might leave things that won't crease. I was hoping you'd take me back home the weekend after next."
"Sure, I have to meet your mother at some point. I may as well get it over with," he smiled.
"We may get there this weekend, if Ellie doesn't want me to watch Fred for her."
"Well we could set off early on Sunday morning, if you want?"
"Yeah but how do I tell my mum I lost my job because Ellie doesn't like the fact I fell for her lodger?"
Alec kissed her cheek. "That is down to you to explain. I am just as stuck what to tell my daughter, trust me. If we go this weekend, we can go see Daisy next weekend, you have to meet her at some point."
"Yeah, I want to meet her. Have you told her about me yet?"
He had to confess he hadn't thought it was urgent but now they were going to live together, that had changed everything.
"Not yet, have you even told your mother?"
"Ah, well no, not yet. Alec, this is all happening so fast."
"Well yes, I have to admit I never thought things would escalate. You are not having second thoughts are you?" he asked, his arms now around her waist.
"No, of course not. There are things you need to know about me though."
"Plenty of time for that. I should go while I have a chance of getting in and out before they get back."
"Well good luck with that then. If she says anything, don't you take all the blame Alec."
"We are both to blame but I did encourage you somewhat."
They kissed goodbye and Alec went off to pack, well the rest of his things, he was hoping he wouldn't get delayed by Miller but he was out of luck as he was loading his car when Tom had reached the gate.
"You are leaving then?" Tom asked him.
"It's for the best Tom, we all know that."
"Will you still come round, to see us?"
"Sure, if that's okay with your mum?" he asked as Ellie wanted Tom to take the stroller while she got Fred out.
"Do you want the other car seat back?" Alec asked her.
"Keep it for now, since Rose will probably get a ride back with you if she meets you at lunchtime. I meant what I said. Tom, go open the door so I can take Fred inside in the stroller, it'll save me waking him up."
Tom was disappointed he wasn't going to hear his mum telling off the detective for going on the ride with Rose yesterday.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Alec asked as she unfastened the strap.
"Come off it Hardy, did you really have to make a play for Rose? She was here to look after the boys. Do you know how difficult it is to get someone who doesn't mind what hours they work or coming in at the last minute?"
"Then don't let it make a difference Miller, you are the one making something out of it. How does the fact we are seeing each other reflect on her ability to look after your two boys? I thought you were pleased with her?"
"She can do the job but you're distracting her."
"What? In what way am I distracting her?"
"I'm not discussing it with you Hardy, I'll let her work the next three days but after that, I don't know. I haven't got time to find anyone else just now."
"You are being unfair Miller and you know it."
"It's up to me who I employ Hardy, I said I would think about it."
"She is really good with young what's his name you know?"
"You still don't know his name, you're such a knob Hardy."
"I do know his name Miller, I don't like admitting it but that is beside the point. I urge you to reconsider and keep her on."
"Why? So you can come round every night and keep her company?"
"You are acting like your son Miller," Alec told her, walking off. "Think carefully, like you said, who is going to put up with your hours?" he asked her, putting his sunglasses on in the late afternoon sun.
Ellie took Fred out carefully but he woke up and called for Rose. She knew he got on well with Rose but she couldn't just allow them to use her house to get cosy every night. Now she wondered where she was going to get someone else, she had taken a chance with Rose and it had paid off. Why was she so angry about it though? She was back to normal hours from next week, Hardy wouldn't have a chance to get in the door.
Maybe she was jealous but not because Rose had captured Hardy's recently mended heart. No, it was because she had lost her husband and the worse thing was, he wasn't dead, just to her. She'd met people who had thought they were too hard on him but if the jury wouldn't convict him, the community had to, how could they have let him back when he wouldn't admit what he'd done?
Alec got back to the guest house and Rose went down to help him carry his things back upstairs.
"Are we going out later, for hot chocolate?" Rose smiled.
"Rose, why did I get you that jar earlier love?"
"Just checkin'. I'd rather wait and make some when we get to the caravan though, these cups are too small."
"Well if that's what you want, we can go out later then, if it is not raining."
"Why the sunglasses? Not that they don't make you look all mean and moody," Rose grinned. "Did Ellie say anything?"
"Never mind her, she will see sense."
"I hope so, what am I gonna do Alec?"
She put her arms around his neck, taking his sunglasses off, though why he still had them on inside, she had no idea. He did look kind of sexy in them and no-one did sexy better than he did. They went out later, Alec driving up into the town and finding a pub that was serving food. Then they drove back to the harbour, like they had been doing and after their hot drink, walked around to the end of the esplanade, Rose leaning into him as he rested against the wall.
"We could go back to our room you know? Or are you finding it difficult to break this habit we started?" he asked as she snuggled into him.
"Yeah but this is much nicer Alec, don't ya think?"
"Yes, it is pleasant enough. The caravan is only temporary, we should look for something else."
"I don't know, let's stay there a while yeah? You don't need all those stairs."
They went back inside and Rose was about to take her things into the tiny bathroom, though it was slightly better than sharing she supposed.
"Rose, can't you get ready for bed in front of me?" Alec asked, a bit disappointed.
Rose tried not to blush. "Yeah, okay then but turn around."
"Seriously? I did see you earlier you know and you told me not to be in such a hurry next time, did you not?"
"So I did, well that's different Alec. You win," she told him, taking her t-shirt off. "Care to help me?"
Alec grinned like a schoolboy. They snuggled up in bed, just kissing and Alec kissing her exposed skin, since Rose opted to wear a pale blue v-necked nightdress she thought she would never wear when she had bought it last week on impulse. It wasn't long though before they agreed she would be the one to lose her underwear, since he had opted to let her keep hers earlier and they were soon lost in each other's touch.
The next morning, Alec was woken by his phone buzzing and it wasn't his alarm. It was his daughter, just after seven thirty.
"Daisy? Is something wrong?" he asked, trying to move Rose's arm since it was over his bare chest.
"Wot's going on Alec?" she murmured, objecting to him moving her arm.
He tried to cover the phone. "Shush love, it's Daisy."
"What's going on Dad? Are you with someone?" Daisy laughed, thinking it wasn't before time now he was well again.
"Nothing. So, why are you calling me so early?"
"Dad, I have to go to school, remember? I wanted to know if you were going to come up this weekend?"
"I can't, not this week but I was planning the week after. Daisy, there is someone I want you to meet."
"I knew it, you have got a woman with you, really Dad, why bother pretending you haven't? Can I come and see you then?"
"I have somewhere to go this weekend but I will come to you the weekend after, I promise."
"Where are you living now? Mum said something about you were staying with someone you knew and she swore it was Ellie Miller. Were those rumours true then? Is that who you're with?"
Rose heard. "Excuse me, I'm not Ellie Miller," she huffed, reaching for the t-shirt Alec had thrown on the headboard.
"Rose, shush love. No Daisy, her name is Rose, she's a child-minder who works for DS Miller but I will introduce you to her. Put your mum on the phone."
Daisy was rolling her eyes as she passed the phone to Tess.
"What now Alec? I'm trying to get Daisy off to school early. Who is she going to meet? You want her to meet Ellie Miller?" Tess asked.
"No, not her, there's someone I want her to meet though."
"Well I'm glad it's not her, you thought I was bossy enough. Who is she then?"
"Her name is Rose, she's Miller's child-minder. Not objecting then?"
"Why should I Alec? If you're bringing her with you, meet Daisy out somewhere, I'm not ready to have your girlfriends in the house."
"Fine, tell her the usual place at seven, a week on Saturday."
He rang off and pounced on Rose, who was about to get out of bed. "Sneaking off darlin'? Come back here."
He dropped her outside Ellie's house just after eight thirty, Rose saying she'd have breakfast there. She was feeling tense though as she let herself in. Tom was just leaving.
"Hi Rose, will you be here when I get back?"
"Yeah, I'll be here. Were you planning on staying out?"
"Nah, not today. Bye."
Fred was sitting in his high chair.
"Hi Fred, how are you today then?" Rose asked the young boy.
Fred held his arms out to be lifted out so Rose took hold of him. Ellie was at the sink.
"I can do that Ellie," Rose told her as she carried Fred over, who then decided he wanted his mum.
"I have to go Fred, stay with Rose," Ellie told him. "Rose, if you're taking him to meet Hardy at lunchtime, please make sure you pay attention to him."
"I always do, I can't understand why you're so upset about Alec and I seeing each other. Nothing's been going on in the house, I can assure you."
"I'm not saying there has but the temptation was there. Tom is vulnerable right now, he doesn't need to see you two playing house, in his house."
"We weren't but we never even talked about it. He's still wanting to meet when he gets out of work and Fred seems to like his company."
"Stop using Fred in your defence Rose. I'll make my mind up by Thursday and in the meantime, just carry on but don't have Hardy coming in later."
Rose thought she was being just a little harsh. "He's collecting me later."
Ellie went off and Rose put Fred in the dining room in his playpen. "Seems like you and me are in trouble with your mum Fred? Want to go meet Hardee with me later?"
Fred looked up. "Hardee!" the boy laughed. "Meet Hardee!"
Rose smiled. "Guess that's unanimous then?"
She finished the housework then played with Fred for a while and set off just after one to walk down the cliff path. Things were tense when Ellie had left but Rose couldn't understand what was going on with her employer, unless she was actually jealous of either her and Alec or the fact her husband had been run out of town and she was now on her own.
Whatever it was, Rose didn't think she and Alec deserved to be on Ellie Miller's hit list. She found a seat just opposite the station in the outdoor catering area and got Fred his cup out.
"Let's see who sees Hardee first Fred?" Rose joked to the boy but just as she turned, Olly was making his way over.
"I told you I'm not interested Olly," Rose told him.
"I came to see Fred. Hi there little guy. Meeting someone?" he asked Rose.
Rose picked up the menu. "Yeah, my boyfriend so maybe say goodbye to your cousin, Olly."
"I can take a hint. It's Hardy you're meeting, don't deny it, my aunt confirmed it yesterday."
"So, I never denied anything did I? Is seeing a detective suddenly a crime around here?" Rose wanted to know, wishing she'd not got there that early.
Alec was sitting at his desk, wondering whether to send Rose a message but he was meeting her in twenty minutes or so. Last night for him had been amazing, Rose insisting they took their time in getting to know each other and she was right, it had been far more enjoyable than rushing things and he was now glad they'd not had a quick grope in the back of his car, unlike some people he could think of.
He wondered how she'd got on with Miller but knowing her, she'd bottle it all up until she had to make the decision to still employ Rose or not. Well, he had to take part of the blame so tonight when he went to collect her, he was going to have it out once and for all with his soon to be again DS and if it cost Rose her job, then he had to offer to look after her until she found another because now, he couldn't let her go back home.
