(Time Jump – They're in Glasgow in a city hotel)
Alice smiled as she watched the sea of colours below her all somehow merging into the grey blur that was the bustling city centre. Nothing much had changed since she'd left; students still occupied every corner of the city, business men and women rushing around, school children rushing to catch a bus and of course the wacky stereotypes that you would only ever find in Glasgow. She sighed slightly as she thought back on her time in Glasgow; smirking slightly as she glanced East towards a number of nightclubs. She remembered those all right in all her rave culture attire. Looking to the opposite side she noted the university – the place she'd trained to be a vet. That place held both the good and the bad... she shook her head to dissolve the thoughts. She needed to be positive, not matter how hard that may be.
Behind her, Alice heard the door gently close and footsteps creeping closer to her. As soon as they reached her, they stopped, a pair of muscular and familiar arms twining their way around her waist; a gentle kiss placed to upon her neck.
"You ready?" Danny murmured, following her eye line and gazing out to the same city she was. He felt her nod against him. "You sure you don't want me to come with you?"
"No... I'll go alone first, the girls need you." Alice smiled, "I don't want to overwhelm him..."
"Ok... well, don't forget I'm only a phone call away." Danny replied.
"I'll text you if I want you to come... just take the girls somewhere nice. Spend some time with them. They never get much time with just you." Alice sighed before turning round in his arms, "I'm gonna get going."
"Ok..." Danny whispered, looking into her eyes, "Be careful."
"Yes sir, you too... you know where you're not to go?"
"Yes... I know, stick to the city centre." Danny smirked, tweaking her nose gently, "Believe it or not I listened."
"Just checking..." Alice grinned, her eyes sparkling with love.
"Hmm... I love you... good luck." Danny murmured to her.
"I love you too." Alice replied before both leant forward, their lips meeting. Alice squeezed his hand before sneaking out of the hotel room as not to be spotted by Rosie or Charlotte, she didn't want questions... she'd bottle out if anyone stopped her. As she reached the busy main street she glanced up towards the bus stops, before shoving her hands into her pockets and walking to her old bus stop. "Here goes..." Alice breathed almost silently as she joined the long line of students and old women.
It didn't take Alice all that long to find her way to her old address. She stopped for a moment, completely frozen as she simply stared at the house in front of her. It's large white PVC door... it's red brick... the pathetic garden, withering away due to lack of care. Alice took a one deep breath before edging forward, her hand shaking and clammy as she raised her clench fist to the door. Slowly she knocked, taking deep breathes as she took a step back. Eventually, the door opened – her brother's face almost a relief as she smiled at her.
"Alice." Rowan said quietly, "It's good to see you."
"And you... so, not to mention his health huh?"
"He hates people coming to see him due to his health..." Rowan explained, "You might want to call Danny before you go in..."
"I'll text him." Alice smiled, pulling out her phone and tapping in a quick message before shoving it back in her pocket. "Ok... let's do this..."
"He'll come round." Rowan murmured as she let her in. He marched on ahead at a pace that made Alice struggle to keep up...
"Who is it?"
Alice's breath caught slightly at the sound of his gruff, grumpy voice. Her father's voice. It was still as Glaswegian as ever, she bit her lip before pulling herself together, ready to face her Dad.
"Who is it?"
Alice finally made her way around the corner. She blanched almost immediately as she noticed his pale, ill state. He was a shadow of the man he'd once been...
"Hello Dad." Alice finally spoke, standing in front of him. He simply stared at her, his face showing no true emotion.
"Alice." Her Dad whispered, "What do you want?" He demanded, finding his voice.
"I was in the area... I wanted to see you." Alice told him shakily.
"Why would you want to see me?" He laughed, "You have no reason."
"I do actually." Alice replied, still stood in the centre of the room.
"What I'm ill?" He shouted angrily, Rowan rushed forward immediately to calm him.
"No..." Alice shook her head, "I have... I have people I want you to meet. It's wrong for you not to know your granddaughter..."
Her Dad lifted his head, his eyes softening as he stared at his daughter. It was then he finally took notice of her, saw her for who she was a grown woman. An air of confidence surrounded her, her figure was that of a woman rather than some awkward young girl, she was still as short but seemed to hold herself so much taller. Her clothes were smart and modern... not that of a teenage trend. Her eyes held an intelligent light, a knowledgeable glisten and a glint... a sparkle that he could quite understand. It was then he noticed something else sparkling... his mouth dropped slightly as she noticed the ring she wore. She noticed and looked down, smiling slightly.
"You... You have a daughter? A..."
"Yes... Charlotte... and I'm engaged to a man called Danny, he's a vet too. He has a daughter, Rosie." Alice clarified. Her Dad's eyes glistened ever so slightly.
"I'm a Granddad..." He whispered, "But why didn't any of you tell me? Was she born after..."
"Before I left Scotland." Alice admitted, "I was young, stupid, naive. I hated you... you hurt me Dad. I guess, no matter how wrong it is, this was my way... of revenge."
"Alice you never..."
"What bring family into it?" Alice snapped, "What did you do? All I wanted to do was make you proud... that's all that eighteen year old girl wanted when she told you she was going to university to become a vet and that is all that twenty three year old young woman wanted when she wrote to you to explain she'd graduated..."
Her Dad remained silent, the entire room was deadly quiet, so quiet a pin drop could no doubt be heard.
"You do make me proud." Her Dad finally admitted, "Seeing you... stood there, a woman..."
"Dad..." Alice's throat tightened,
"No let me finish!" He demanded, "I can see how far you've come and all I can do is apologize for what I've done wrong..."
Alice nodded before slowly moving forward and hugging her father... at first it was awkward, ginger almost but after a few moments that all dissolved and as Alice stood up, a smile occupied her face.
"I'll find out where about Danny and the girls are." Alice smiled as she withdrew her phone, it buzzed in her hand and she smirked slightly, "Speak of the devil." She murmured, she glanced to Rowan who was beaming and then back to her Dad, "I'll go get them..."
