"What did she mean by work it out?" Dave wanted to know.
"You want the truth Harris?" Alec turned to him. "She never told you why she moved to Scotland in the first place and came between myself and my then fiancée?"
"You were engaged before you met Tess?" Dave sounded surprised. "Well she bragged a bit but I thought she'd only lured you away from your girlfriend? You couldn't fight Tess off?"
"Don't look so smug Harris, you don't know half the things about Tess," Alec warned him. "She has been using you to get to me."
"Rubbish Hardy," Dave didn't believe what Alec was telling him.
Alec shook his head.
"Think about it? She could have chosen anyone up in Paisley when she arrived, then she found out I had a girlfriend in London, whom I didn't see much of. So, she saw me as an easy target. I found out later she just wanted to get back here after something had happened. If you dig deep enough, you will find out what it was," Alec hinted.
"Why didn't your girlfriend join you up there?" Dave wanted to know.
"Don't even go there Harris. She couldn't, it was personal, she doesn't talk about it. Even if she had done, Tess would have made it very difficult for us, trust me. If I were you, I would get out while you still can," Alec advised him.
"Why would you advise me to do that?" Dave laughed. "We were never friends Hardy."
"She will trap you, the way she did me. She won't care if your wife gets to know Harris," Alec further warned him. "Her intention was for Rose to find out but Rose kept away, hell, Tess even kept me away from Rose when I was supposed to visit Rose to finally get her to go back to Scotland with me."
"Hold on Hardy, she's never come between me and my wife," Dave insisted.
"Not yet Harris. She will play games with you, trust me. Now she's agreed to the divorce, just watch her," Alec told him.
"Would you drag my wife into your divorce?" Dave wanted to know.
"No but Tess would, if she needed to, because she can't drag Rose into it. Rose's husband died in a car accident a few years ago," Alec explained.
"Sorry to hear that Hardy," Dave replied. "Look, you won't get any trouble from me but if Tess starts threatening to bring my wife into it, well she'll be on her own. If that makes her change her mind about divorcing you, then you're on your own. I can't get my wife involved, her father is a very influential man in the town."
Alec nodded and got into his car, he was now late calling Rose but at least he had something positive to tell her. Jamie had got home from school and was waiting for Alec to call just as much as Rose was.
"Can I go see Luke after I've spoken to dad?" Jamie asked her.
"If I can remember the way," Rose laughed. "I'd best call your uncle when your dad's rung then?"
That made Jackie laugh.
"It's just like old times," Jackie reminded Rose. "I think I missed John as much as Alec."
"Yeah, me too Mum," Rose admitted. "I wish we'd known he lived nearby, especially after James died. Oh, I'm off to see Jamie's head teacher tomorrow, to explain things."
Jamie looked up from eating the snack Jackie always made when he got home when she mentioned it.
"Hey, it's nothing to worry about," Rose assured him. "It's just in case we do move. Jamie, ya should know that me and your dad, we are gonna get married, as soon as we can."
"I should think so as well," Jackie told her.
"So I'll have to change my name?" Jamie wanted to make sure.
Rose was sure he'd already asked that in his excitement.
"You'd best get used to it," Jackie told him. "Your mum will be changing hers as well don't forget."
"Can I ask something Mum?" Jamie turned to her. "Do you think Dad would have come to find us?"
"I'm sure he would have Jamie. It was very difficult for him but he was getting divorced even before I went to find him so yeah," Rose replied. "I have loads of photos of me and your dad from when I was with him in Scotland and when he used to come and visit but ya should know he looked a lot like your other dad."
Jamie then looked at Jackie.
"Did he Gran?" he asked.
"Yeah, he did Jamie but that's not why your mum married who you called your dad. She'd known him a good while and they always got on and he was always there for her," Jackie explained. "Your mum wanted to give you a good home, not bring you up on her own."
"What about my real dad though? Why could you never tell him Mum?" Jamie asked Rose.
"Jamie, things got very difficult between us. There was that woman trying to come between us, I had no idea what she was capable of. I could have gone up to Scotland and still lost your real dad and your other one might have given up on me by then," Rose told him sadly.
"Ya did the right thing," Jackie told her. "Bring those photos down after Alec's rung and show Jamie how happy you two used to be," she suggested.
Rose was now wondering if she should confess to her mother what really happened the night James died but would she tell Jamie and they'd both turn against her? Then, if Donna got to know, she could even get into trouble for withholding the information from the police because James wouldn't have been out that night.
She thought maybe she'd ask Alec what he thought before she said anything. She jumped when her phone rang.
"Hi Alec," she greeted him.
Poor Alec almost expected to be told he was late phoning her, then he remembered it was Rose, not Tess he was calling.
"Sorry love, I got caught up in something," he apologised. "I finally got through to Tess I was serious about the divorce."
"That's good news then," Rose sounded pleased. "Did she cause any trouble?"
"I dealt with it Rose, don't worry. She knows I figured her out. Why did I not see through her before?" he still wondered.
"Stop feeling guilty Alec, it wasn't all your fault. Blame her, she made it all happen," Rose reminded him. "Jamie wants to talk to ya, then he wants to see Luke."
"Well I am pleased they took to each other," Alec replied. "Do you remember where they live?"
"Ah, I may have to call for directions," Rose admitted.
"Just call them, I'm sure one of them will come round for him," Alec replied. "You had best put him on then or maybe I should call his phone?"
"Yeah, you call him, then I can call John," Rose thought was the best idea, indicating to Jamie to get his phone. "Call me back then."
While Alec called Jamie, Rose called John but Sarah-Jane answered.
"Hi Rose, John's helping Luke with a science project," she told Rose. "Hey, maybe Jamie would like to help?"
"Well he wanted to know if he could visit," Rose admitted.
"I'll pop round then? Your address will still be on the sat-nav," Sarah-Jane told her. "I told John he'd taken Jamie back too early yesterday. I expect he didn't want to overwhelm either of the boys?"
Rose had to agree with her. Sarah-Jane would eventually be her sort of sister-in-law she supposed. There was nothing now that would stop her marrying Alec, like she should have done all those years ago.
"Yeah, I expect so then?" Rose agreed. "It's even more exciting for Jamie to find out he's got a half sister as well. I mean Luke already knows Daisy."
"They don't see a lot of each other but I expect that will all change now?" Sarah-Jane wondered. "Sorry but no-one really liked Tess, especially John's mother. Yes, he told me about her, you can talk about her," she assured Rose.
"She was really nice ya know," Rose recalled Alec's aunt Mary. "She treated me like one of the family right from the start, I felt more at home there but there was a lot going on. It wasn't my mum's fault we had to leave."
"I know Rose, Alec told us some of it. He said everyone was upset you never got to say goodbye," Sarah-Jane told her. "If ever you want to talk, just pop round if Jamie wants to come round," she offered.
"Yeah, I'd like that," Rose agreed. "I didn't want to move there but in the end, I didn't want to leave."
"That's usually the case," Sarah-Jane laughed. "Hey, why don't I pick you all up, have tea with us?" she offered.
"Oh, I don't want to put ya to any trouble," Rose replied.
"I'm sure John would love to catch up some more," she was told.
"Hey, it had better not be anything embarrassing," Rose laughed back.
"Well since Alec rang with the good news, he's told me a few things," Sarah-Jane couldn't resist admitting. "Why don't I come round in half an hour? Don't dress up, will you?"
"I'll call Jamie and drag mum away from the TV then?" Rose agreed. "Jamie was talking to Alec, I was waiting for Alec calling me back."
That agreed, Rose went off to tell her mother to get ready and she went to shout Jamie, who was saying goodbye to Alec.
"So is that why mum's going down there next week? To find somewhere for us to live?" Jamie wanted to be sure.
Alec was sure they'd explained it already but this was such a big change in the teenager's life.
"We will find somewhere suitable, then you and your gran can come and see it," Alec promised him. "I should have a few places we can look at by the time she gets here. Jamie, your mother did explain that we are going to get married as soon as we are able?"
"Yes Dad. I know this is the first time she's been happy since my other dad died. She was so sad after the accident."
"I know she was Jamie. I am going to do my best to keep her happy and it will make her happy if you and I get on well and if you get on with Daisy and your other new relatives," Alec told him.
"When will I be able to meet Daisy?" Jamie wondered.
"I will see what I can arrange and see if we can go visit Scotland," Alec promised.
"Great," Jamie replied. "During the school holiday?"
"We'll see eh? I should speak to your mum," Alec reminded him.
Rose was about to knock on Jamie's door when her phone rang.
"Hey Alec. Sarah-Jane invited us all round, I was just gonna get Jamie."
"He was just saying he wanted to go round," Alec laughed. "It's good to see he gets on with Luke."
"Yeah. I was thinking of showing him all the photos of when me and you were together up in Scotland. Do ya think it's a good idea?" she wondered.
Then she shuddered when she remembered James's reaction to them. Alec sensed what she was thinking.
"Rose, it's completely different to what it was with James," he tried to assure her. "Just be honest with him, he already knows most of it."
"So did James," Rose reminded him. "I'd best tell Jamie we're all going out then."
"No talking about me," Alec joked, not wanting John to tell Jamie anything embarrassing.
"Well not too much," Rose couldn't resist teasing him.
Alec knew what she was up to and didn't take the bait, Jamie would find out soon enough how his parents had been so much in love since they were teenagers.
Sarah-Jane was trying to persuade Luke there wouldn't be room for him if he went with her to pick up Rose, Jackie and Jamie.
"They'll be here soon enough," John was laughing at the teenager. "You should call Daisy and see what she thinks about having a brother while you wait for them to arrive."
"Is that a good idea John?" Sarah-Jane wondered as she got the car keys. "Alec won't have had much time to talk to her about it, he still can't believe Rose found him."
"I know," John agreed. "Luke, if Rose agrees, you can ask if Jamie can stay over one weekend though maybe not next weekend, if your uncle Alec's coming back."
"Luke, you should maybe call her aunt Rose," Sarah-Jane corrected John.
"What about her mother?" John then wondered as Sarah-Jane disappeared.
"Maybe Jamie can stay some of the next holidays Dad?" Luke asked hopefully.
Once everyone was back at John's house, he insisted showing the others the videos they'd taken when they'd met up with Alec and Daisy and Rose noticed Tess wasn't in many of them.
"She kept out of the way," John explained. "Sorry but she knew no-one liked her."
"Ya don't have to explain John," Rose told him.
"Do you get on with Daisy?" Jamie asked Luke nervously.
"Yeah, she used to be a bit stuck up but she's okay now I suppose," Luke replied.
"Luke, don't talk about your cousin like that," his mother warned him, making Rose and Jackie smile.
"Have ya got photos and stuff from when ya used to come and visit us?" Jackie wanted to know.
"Yes Jackie, I kept them but never showed them to Alec. Tess never visited much, even when they moved to Sandbrook," John told her. "Alec tried to find you Rose," John told her sadly as Luke and Jamie went off to Luke's room.
"Yeah, he told me," Rose replied. "Mum must have been visiting me and James when he did, I moved in with James when I found out I was pregnant."
"I'm sorry we never knew," John sympathised with her.
"John, it may have still upset them both," Sarah-Jane reminded him.
"It's okay," Rose told her. "James was really good to me, they were a lot alike but I never thought much about it."
"You must be looking forward to Alec coming back," Sarah-Jane tried to change the subject, hoping John would get the hint.
"Yeah, I can't wait, even if it means staying in Sandbrook for a while until he gets his transfer," Rose replied.
"Best stay away from Tess though," John laughed.
"I don't need reminding of that," Rose laughed back.
John drove them all home again and Rose called Alec again.
"Alec, I've been thinking. I've not much else to do really, can I come back down tomorrow?" she asked him. "Maybe I can go look at some apartments, if ya can't get a transfer just yet?"
"Well, let me work on the transfer?" Alec laughed. "I promise you Rose, I will get moved, I would just rather not have to move twice eh?"
"Well if I can talk to Donna about the house, that's one less thing to worry about," Rose reminded him.
"I know it's important to you that it stays in James's family," Alec agreed. "You said it was put in trust for him until he was old enough? You could do that and leave it for Jamie," he suggested.
"Well Donna might agree to rent it until then?" Rose wondered. "I'll call her about it then contact our solicitor, the one who took care of everything when James died, he was really nice, he was Scottish as well."
"You do that love, see you have plenty to do until I come up there," he reminded her.
"Sorry, I was just anxious to see ya again," Rose apologised.
"I miss you too love," he replied. "I can do video calls you know, Daisy taught me what app to use on my phone."
"Then use it tomorrow?" Rose suggested.
The next day, Rose made an appointment to see James's solicitor for the following morning but wondered if her mother would want to stay there after thinking about it.
"Rose, it's too much for me," Jackie insisted. "Ask Donna and her mother, they can sell their house and rent this one for now, if ya want Jamie to have it like James's parent's left it to him?"
"I think it's only right Mum, I mean James did bring Jamie up as his own all that time," Rose agreed. "I'm sure he'd have wanted that, I can't just let it go to anyone."
When Jamie got home, he wanted to go back and see Luke so Rose dropped him off and went to see Donna, after making sure she was at home.
"Rose, this is a surprise," Donna greeted her.
"Sorry. I just wondered if ya'd thought about the house yet? Alec doesn't really want to move twice and we both really want to move to Broadchurch," Rose told her.
"Why there?" Donna's mother wanted to know.
"It has a lot of special memories for me and Alec," Rose told her. "We always dreamt of living there."
"Well, when do you want to know?" Wilfred asked her.
"Mum and Jamie can stay there for now," Rose replied. "I can stay where Alec is for now until he can get a transfer, he said he'll even consider gettin' one here but I'd rather he didn't. That's partly how we ended up being apart."
"I remember ya sayin' something about it," Donna told her. "We could put the house up for sale and buy yours I suppose?"
"Donna, I had a better idea," Rose admitted. "How about renting or a fixed term lease? I have an appointment with James's solicitor tomorrow."
"Ya mean that Scottish one out in Pinner?" Donna laughed.
"He helped me sort things out when James died, remember?" Rose objected to Donna laughing at her choice. "I think James would have liked it to stay in the family and you might not even want to get stuck there so I thought if you all agreed, you could live there until Jamie was old enough?"
"What then?" Sylvia wanted to know, Rose thinking trust her to think of that.
"Mum," Donna knew what she was getting at. "Let's at least consider it?"
"I agree with Donna," Wilfred told Sylvia.
"Well, just because Rose wants to go live with Alec," Sylvia objected. "Would she have left James if he'd come looking for her?"
"That's not fair," Rose reminded her she was still there. "I maybe would have told Alec that Jamie was his, if he'd told me he was divorced," she admitted. "That was why I never went looking for him, before I lost James. I knew Tess had too much of a hold on him. That woman ruined my life but I still loved James."
Wilfred went up to her and sat on the chair arm, patting her shoulder.
"Don't go getting all upset Rose, we know you did. Did you know you made James very happy when you agreed to be his girlfriend," Wilfred assured her.
"You never said he told you anything Granddad," Donna told him.
"I promised him I wouldn't tell you," Wilfred replied. "He was a bit embarrassed to say anything to you, after all that time he spent trying."
"I know how hard he tried," Rose recalled. "I never took any notice, all I did was go on and on about Alec in front of him. I feel really bad about it now."
Sylvia looked like she was going to say something but Wilfred gave her a frown.
"He just waited," Rose continued as Wilfred motioned Donna to take over from him.
"He was stubborn, I'll give him that," Donna laughed as she sat beside Rose and Wilfred moved. "You've no idea how many questions he used to ask me about you. He used to go around all day with his head in the clouds."
That made Rose smile.