Rose was waiting in their room for Alec to get back. She had promised Jamie she would get Alec to call him later so he could ask more questions about his newly discovered cousin and half sister.
"So my real dad thought my uncle was his cousin?" Jamie tried to understand. "Did they always think they were more than cousins?"
"All the time I knew them, I think it was becoming more apparent," Rose admitted. "They began to grow closer but I'm only guessing. Mind you, your uncle John only came back home after your dad's mum died, he'd been finishing his teaching course to try and help. Then it was confirmed. Jamie, your dad's mum and who your uncle thought was his mum would both have loved to have met you."
"So will you both tell me more about them?" Jamie then wanted to know.
"Yeah, we'll have loads to tell ya," Rose had to laugh. "Including the surprise me and your uncle pulled on your dad's birthday."
"Gran told me a few things," Jamie told her. "After you came back to London. She said dad used to come down every school holiday."
"Yeah, he did," Rose confirmed. "You'll have nothing to ask if ya don't finish this call," she had joked.
Alec had just entered the hotel when he was stopped again by the owner.
"Are you wanting your room keeping for when you come back?" he was asked.
"Well yes, I expect so," Alec wasn't sure. "I doubt I will find anywhere until I get back. Is that a problem?"
He doubted they were overbooked.
"Well no," the woman had to admit. "We can keep it for you. I trust your personnel department will give us notice if you are leaving?"
Alec thought first the woman objected to Rose being there but he could stay if he wanted? Now was the time to establish a few things.
"As soon as they find something suitable for my girlfriend and myself," Alec admitted. "Well actually, she was my fiancée but we have been apart for some time. I am hoping she will agree to going back to being such," he threw in for good measure.
"I see then?" the woman replied, wondering about his answer.
She had thought the detective looked lonely when he'd arrived but since the phone call to say he was expecting someone to join him, he had cheered up.
"We won't be here Friday night by the way," Alec then warned her. "We need to leave early."
He didn't exactly want to say why they would be away. He knew he'd have to go back to the personnel office and get them onto finding him somewhere else to live but how long for? Rose wouldn't want to stay here for long and there was Jamie's school or college to sort out. Maybe he could get in where Daisy was? That would depend how Daisy took the news and that would mean Tess got to know.
He was about to go to their room when his phone rang. It was just his luck it was Tess.
"I told Daisy you were coming to see her," Tess told him. "She wants to know what it's about."
Daisy hadn't been happy that Alec was being mysterious.
"He must have said why Mum," was the first thing she had asked when Tess had called her.
"That was all he said so don't make any plans, he wants you to be there," Tess had insisted.
"Well I hope it's important," Daisy had then said. "Is it about….?" she trailed off. "You're really getting a divorce, aren't you? Do you know what that will do to me?"
"Daisy. Well yes, your father is now serious about it, all of a sudden," Tess had to admit, thinking she may as well pin the blame on him. "I had thought being separated was enough. It's not about you Daisy and you will be taken into consideration."
"You mean when I'm old enough," Daisy replied after a few moments. "Please don't tell me dad has someone else as well?"
"Daisy, I have never said I have someone else," Tess then denied.
"You don't have to Mum, I've heard you on the phone, to whoever it is," Daisy insisted. "Are you going to abandon me or send me to live somewhere with dad?"
"What? Of course not," Tess denied. "I have a male friend at the station who I've been talking to."
"Yeah Mum, am I supposed to believe that?" Daisy asked cheekily.
"Be careful young lady," Tess had warned her.
Alec was wondering why Tess was bothering to tell him, when he'd said he wanted no excuses.
"Alec? She guessed you want a divorce," Tess continued.
"So you blamed me?" Alec wanted to know.
"Well you brought it up," Tess reminded him.
"So Dave will run off now it's come to divorce?" Alec asked, knowing the other man was just stringing her along for his own convenience.
"How dare you comment Alec," Tess just huffed, Alec staying at the end of the short corridor so Rose wouldn't hear. "Besides, it doesn't take a genius to work out why you suddenly go for it. You may as well admit she's in town Alec. It was only a matter of time."
"Have it your way Tess," Alec was about to give up. "Why do you associate Rose coming back to me with coming to my senses?"
"Say what you want Alec, I'll get to know soon enough," Tess gloated. "At least be honest with Daisy."
"You mean like you have been about Dave?" Alec turned on her.
"How long ago did she contact you Alec?" Tess then wanted to know as she left for the evening. "Did she see you on the news?"
"It makes no difference Tess, I would have gone to find her when this blasted case is solved," was all he would admit.
He hadn't wanted Rose dragging into the case but it was her choice, he was more concerned about Rose being harassed by Tess. That was the main reason he'd not taken the first steps, at least until he'd filed for divorce, which he would tomorrow. Now, he was going to have to contact his uncle's old office to find out how to go about it, he had retained their services some time before his uncle had retired. He thought he'd let his uncle know about it first though.
In all the excitement of Rose being back, he wished he'd had more time to speak to his uncle and his dad but he expected John would have called them. He tapped on the room door and Rose greeted him, like she used to do when he visited her.
"Do you want to go out?" he then asked.
"Nah, it's fine. We can go out another night? So did ya talk to Daisy?"
"No, I just told Tess to tell her," Alec replied, trying to remember if he'd already said. "Did you call Donna?"
Rose put her hand over her mouth then laughed.
"I completely forgot. I'll do it later. I should have done," she admitted.
"You have time, do it now," Alec then suggested.
"Where do I begin though?" Rose wanted to know.
Donna had seen Alec on TV and so had her mother, who was annoyed at finding out Donna knew James had looked a bit like him.
Wilfred was trying to keep up when Donna had got home.
"So he was the one Rose split from?" he wanted to know.
"Keep up Dad," Sylvia told him. "Donna, I'd better not find out that was why Rose agreed to marry James."
"Don't be daft Mum," Donna was replying as her phone rang and she saw it was Rose. "She loved James. Rose?"
"Hi Donna, can ya talk?" Rose asked nervously as Alec sat opposite her.
"Yeah, of course I can," Donna replied, thinking of going into the kitchen before her mother and granddad tried to butt in. "How's Jamie?"
Rose loved how devoted Donna was to the teenager.
"He's fine and really excited," Rose sounded happy. "Donna, I'm down in Sandbrook."
"Whatcha happy about being there for?" Donna pretended she didn't know, getting attention suddenly.
"Why, where is she?" Sylvia wanted to know.
"Shush Mum," Donna told her. "What are you doing there? It's not like you to wander off Rose."
"What went on recently?" Rose reminded her friend.
"A girl died?" Donna guessed. "Oh, wait a minute. The detective in charge? Don't tell me it's Alec?" she laughed at being right as she sat down.
"You mean who Rose used to go out with?" Sylvia continued as if she didn't already know.
Donna had really regretted the invention of portable phones. At least in the hallway with a fixed phone she had an excuse to keep a conversation private.
"Yeah, he's here Donna," Rose smiled across at him. "Remember what I told you, about Alec being Jamie's real father? Ya didn't tell your mum did ya?" Rose wanted to make sure.
Donna looked across and then turned away again.
"No. So he knows?" Donna tried to remain secretive.
"Yeah and he's really excited about it. So's Jamie," Rose told Donna.
"Well, there ya go then," Donna replied. "So what happens now?"
"Can we call round on Sunday?" Rose asked her.
"Yeah, 'course ya can. Come for lunch then, ya know mum always makes too much," Donna reminded her.
Poor Sylvia had not been able to break the habit of still cooking for Donna's father, who had passed away a few years previously. Then she had always tried to get James to put more weight on when they used to go round.
"Yeah, Alec's bringing me back on Friday night," Rose agreed. "John lives not far away as well."
"We'll see ya all then?" Donna also agreed.
"Oh and Alec has a teenage daughter, Daisy," Rose added. "She's just a bit younger than Jamie and John's got a teenage boy."
"So he's got other relatives?" Donna pointed out the obvious.
"We'll tell ya when we see ya," Rose replied as she was feeling hungry.
"She was asking a lot of questions," Alec noted.
"I hope she doesn't tell her mother that you look a bit like James," Rose asked worriedly.
"So they never knew?" Alec wondered.
"They were still upset over losing him," Rose replied.
"And you weren't?" Alec asked as he took her hand. "Sorry."
"Donna suspected," Rose reminded him. "It was up to her to tell them Alec. They may not say anything to you anyway. If they do, do I tell them what happened with James?"
"Rose, it may be hard for them to take," he warned her as they got up. "As you say, they have been through enough."
"Yeah? I thought about what you said. Maybe it's better they believe it was just an accident?"
"It's for the best," Alec agreed.
He'd thought about it earlier, Rose had been worried she had caused James's accident by letting him walk out after finding out who he looked like, even after taking on the role of father to Jamie but hadn't he already known after seeing Jamie starting to grow up? James must have noticed that Jamie was beginning to resemble him when he shouldn't have done, just like himself and John. Well it had just been unfortunate he had chosen that night to find out but it was in no way Rose's fault.
"Rose, I looked up James's accident report today," he continued as he opened the door for Rose, having picked up the key.
"Alec, I don't want to be reminded but thanks. We just had to accept what we were told at the time and the inquest," Rose replied as she grabbed her jacket. "I'm sure Donna would have taken it further if she couldn't accept it."
"Maybe she left it because of how it would have affected you and Jamie?" Alec wondered as he let her go first.
"Maybe? Oh, can ya call Jamie later?" Rose changed the subject.
He knew he shouldn't push her, they were only just getting used to each other and coming to terms with the fact they both had teenagers who now needed to get used to the fact they had an extended family. They talked quietly over dinner, Alec telling Rose a bit about Daisy and that she'd not taken the split very well.
"How did Jamie cope when he lost James?" Alec wanted to know.
"He was only nine Alec, he didn't understand at first," Rose admitted. "Donna took it on herself to try to bring him out of it. He didn't want to see anyone or go to school."
"It was only natural he took it badly," Alec agreed.
They were about to leave when his phone rang and he saw it was Daisy.
"Dad, why do I have to wait until tomorrow to find out what you want to talk to me about?" she wanted to know.
He knew Tess had been trying to cause trouble.
"Daisy, I want to talk to you in person, not on the phone," he replied.
"I know it's about you and mum splitting," Daisy tried to remain calm.
"Just hold on a minute Daisy. I will call you back to save your credit," Alec offered, not wanting to answer where he might be overheard.
"Well you'd better keep your promise," Daisy now sounded upset to him.
"What's wrong Alec?" Rose wanted to know as he let her go upstairs in front of him.
"What do you think love?" he asked. "Tess, as usual. She will have made me out to be the bad guy again."
Rose stopped when they reached the first landing.
"Alec, you're not fighting her any longer. Just go find out about the divorce and refuse to argue with her. It's what she wants," Rose reminded him.
"I already know that," Alec admitted. "Don't get involved Rose, please."
"Well tough Alec, I am involved. She took years of my life from me, remember? She took Jamie's father from him. I think I deserve some pay back," Rose told him.
He knew she was right, no matter how he tried to shield her from it, Rose had been a fighter and he'd let her down badly by being taken in by Tess. Why had he let Tess win in the first place?
"I don't deserve for you to fight my battles Rose," he insisted as they went up to the next floor.
Rose stopped to let him open the room door, touching his hand.
"I should have been tougher back then and I'm so sorry I wasn't," Rose assured him.
"I was the weak one Rose. If you had the chance to be happy, I do not blame you," he replied.
"But you were so sad Alec," Rose reminded him. "That wasn't fair."
"It was of my own doing, I should have walked away when I got back from seeing you," he admitted. "I had a feeling things were not well between us when I left you though."
"I already knew she'd got to ya Alec," Rose recalled. "I wasn't sure what was going to happen. I told my mum I'd lost ya. I waited all that next weekend Alec, thinking you were on your way. James had a feeling you weren't gonna show up so he came to see if I was okay."
"I don't blame him for not wanting you to be upset Rose," Alec assured her as he closed the door.
"Do ya wanna speak to Daisy on ya own?" Rose wondered.
"What I have to say to her concerns you as well Rose, she is not going to come between us, she will just have to accept it, like Jamie seems to have done," he told her, pressing the green button on Daisy's number. "When I have talked to her, do you want to hear what I found out about the accident? It is up to you."
"I don't know how I feel about it Alec, there's a lot going on now," Rose replied as Alec waited for Daisy to answer.
"Dad? Mum said you're serious about a divorce," Daisy confronted him.
"Did she now?" Alec asked her, wishing Tess would keep her big mouth shut. "This is not about you Daisy, you need to accept that. What exactly did she say to you?"
"She wondered why you weren't sticking to a separation and she denied she had a boyfriend," Daisy admitted to him. "Has she?" Do you have someone else Dad?"
"Daisy, as far as I know, your mother has a male friend and whether he is her boyfriend or not, our first priority is you. We only agreed to you staying with her because I could only find a guest house to stay in at present. That is going to change, very shortly."
He didn't want to say he may also be moving away from the town, Daisy was already upset and she would think he was leaving her.
"Daisy, did you hear what I said?" he then wanted to know.
He put his hand over his phone and looked at Rose, who shrugged her shoulders, remembering they had parted company when they had been just a bit older.
"Yeah Dad, I heard," Daisy replied quietly. "She has, hasn't she? I mean he's her boyfriend?"
"Daisy, we need to talk about this, properly," he reminded her.
"Does that mean you do have someone Dad?" she still wanted to know.
If he admitted it now, Daisy would be sure to tell her mother at some point.
"Daisy, let's not speculate eh?" he asked her. "Your mother knows there was someone else before we got married. Everyone, well nearly everyone has someone before they meet the person they marry."
Was that a good way of putting it, he wondered.
"Well, okay, we'll talk about it when I see you then?" Daisy agreed reluctantly. "Dad, you won't lie to me, will you?"
"Daisy. No, I will not lie to you, okay," he agreed. "I will also get your mother to tell the truth about the friend she has," he added, thinking Tess had better not deny it.
If she did, that would prove she had something to hide but wouldn't she want to admit it if he admitted Rose was back, if only to get her revenge and prove she could get someone else, if she wanted? If that was the case, then all those years ago, why had Tess gone for him instead of another male officer back in Paisley?
What kind of person went for someone who was already engaged? Well Tess was now going to learn the truth, that she couldn't control him any longer because now Rose was back, he could finally face her and tell Tess they were over and he was going for joint custody of Daisy so she could get to know her other family.
He ended the call and went to sit next to Rose.
"We have a lot to talk about Rose. I will do my best over Daisy, she needs to get to know you and that she has to meet Jamie and who is now her grandmother."
"Well, mum's gonna love that, having two of 'em," Rose laughed.
"I can imagine," he agreed. "Then there is Luke."
"Wow, yeah. Did we even mention that?" Rose tried to remember, since so much was happening. "Well, you'd best make a start and call Jamie then, I'll give ya his number shall I?"
Alec dialled the number and waited for Jamie to answer. Jamie was looking at the unknown number.
"Well answer it," Jackie was telling him. "It's probably your dad?"
"Gran, I have to get used to having a dad again," Jamie admitted. "How am I going to do that, after all this time?"
"I know sweetheart," Jackie sympathised. "We all have to get used to these changes, you having other cousins and a sister."
"So I'll get to meet more of dad's family?" Jamie still ignored the phone until Jackie picked it up and answered Alec.
"Is that you Alec?" Jackie wanted to know. "Jamie's a bit shy at answering," she told him. "Come on Jamie, talk to him."
That left Alec wondering how it had affected the boy, having the father who had brought him up taken away from him and his real one appearing after all this time. Tess had a lot to answer for as he heard a weak "Hi Dad" down the phone.
