Something to tell us
Alec was just about to set off when he got a call from the chief, who was working late.
"Alec, what went on at the Ashworth's?" he was asked.
"I put in my report," Alec reminded him.
"I know. Then why has he just called to make a complaint of harassment?" the chief wanted to know.
"What? We had a warrant, the uniformed officers completed a search and nothing was found – again. Someone forgot to include the car. Guess who that was?" Alec replied. "I'm already late setting off to see Rose, she will be worried about me if I'm too late."
"I'm sure she can live with it Alec," the chief told him.
"I doubt it, her husband was killed in a late night car accident," Alec replied, not wanting to start the car engine and be accused of using a mobile phone whilst doing so.
"Oh. Then I apologise but still Alec, it will have to be dealt with when you return or your little plan to use Rose to spy on his wife will have to be put on hold, they'll be too suspicious," the chief warned him.
"They won't suspect her," Alec was confident. "I would not put her in danger. Maybe we should search the Gillespie house again to even things up?" he suggested.
"Tread very carefully there Alec, the papers are already against them being harassed," the chief further warned him.
"You mean one paper," Alec replied, knowing which one it was. "That reporter is only out to make a name for herself at our expense."
"At your expense you mean Alec," the chief corrected him. "Be careful or you can forget that transfer you wanted, no-one will be willing to take you on, not even in a small seaside town no-one's heard of. You'd best ask your girlfriend if she's sure she still wants to go ahead with your plan."
"She will, if it means catching the killer," Alec was confident.
He sent a text to Rose to tell her he'd been delayed and for her not to worry and he'd still make two stops but for not as long. Rose told him she'd still wait up and to take the time he'd planned, then she wouldn't be as worried. He sent one back saying now he knew why he loved her.
Tess had called Dave after Alec had ended the call abruptly.
"He's up to something Dave," Tess was trying to tell him as Dave was taking the call in the other room so his wife wouldn't hear him.
"Tess, stop calling me at home for nothing," he reminded her. "If my wife comes in, I'll start talking about the case. You mean besides Alec sneaking around all afternoon? I thought he was off to get his girlfriend?"
"You don't have to rub it in Dave," Tess huffed. "He's planning on her staying here, I know he is and for Daisy to get to know her and their son."
Dave tried not to laugh.
"Tess, stop being so jealous, didn't you ever stop and think she might have been pregnant before he left her?" he asked her.
He was sure he'd already asked her that before but this was Tess.
"Well thanks for your support Dave. I bet he even blames me for the Ashworth's car not being included on that search warrant," she complained.
"Tess, it was your fault," Dave laughed, hoping his wife wouldn't hear. "Want to meet at the pub?"
"No, I'm not in the mood now," Tess replied.
At the Ashworth house, Lee was holding Claire against the wall.
"What did you do to get the police interested again Claire?" he growled at her.
"Get off me Lee," she tried to move him away. "I did nothing."
"You'd better not have," he told her, easing off. "Did that female detective call in the salon?"
"No. Have you been to see Cate again?" she challenged him.
"Back off Claire. That male detective been around while I've been out?" he asked her back.
Claire let out a laugh.
"I bet those two were married but not now. They're both playing around if you ask me," she told Lee. "So why did they come back? Were you even here or were you next door?"
"What do you think Claire?" he laughed at her. She went to slap his face but he caught her hand. "You'd better not be hiding something here."
He didn't see the guilty look on her face as she turned away while rubbing her wrists where he'd been holding them. She'd have to sneak back to the woods and make sure the flask belonging to Ricky was still where she'd hidden it that night.
Alec made good time on his way up to London and took the outer route towards where Rose lived for now. He was wondering what Donna would do about the offer given to her, it would be a shame to sell the house to someone outside the family.
He'd thought maybe they could rent it out through a property management company until Rose was ready to let it go or Jamie wanted it. He arrived in Rose's street and turned into Rose's driveway, seeing the kitchen light on as he did. Rose had been listening for the sound of a car, her mother having given up and gone to bed but Jamie had asked to be woken.
Rose was also listening to the radio and jumped up to turn it off then unlocked the door, keeping the chain on until she saw Alec's car. Then she took it off and went to greet him, Alec catching her just in time. After a long kiss, she let go.
"Hello," she grinned at him, reminding her of the greetings she used to give him when they were teenagers.
Alec remember them as well. They had made being apart slightly more bearable.
"Well hello to you too, that was quite a greeting. I will just get my things and there is something for you all in the back seat," he replied, going to the back.
"You shouldn't have Alec," she told him. "Oh, Jamie wanted me to wake him when ya got here."
"I will go up and see him then," Alec promised. "Your mother gave up then?" Rose saw him smile under the outside light.
"Yeah, remember when she used to wait?" Rose had to laugh. "Best go inside before she starts complaining."
Alec took his weekend bag upstairs with him and left it in the bedroom then went up and knocked on Jamie's door.
Jamie was yawning as he opened the door, then he greeted Alec.
"We can talk in the morning Jamie," Alec promised him. "I won't keep your mum away for too long but we have to make plans to move. We can look up colleges, get your name down. You go back to bed eh?"
"Okay Dad. Uncle John said he'll give me extra help with history, well Scottish history in case I need it," Jamie grinned.
"Yes, well he helped your mum pass all her exams," Alec admitted. "Night Jamie."
That brought memories of himself and John helping Rose catch up on her school work so she wouldn't have to leave the school they were both at. It had been bad enough trying to convince her she could do it. Then it had been for nothing as she'd left anyway, Jackie rushing her away like she had done. Then when he'd found out the real reason, he was relieved she was safe but it had come at a price.
Rose had gone upstairs and was just going into the bathroom.
"Was he okay with ya waking him?" Rose asked.
"Sure love," Alec assured her. "You brought him up well."
"I have more photos printed out, I'll bring them out tomorrow but a lot of them are him with James," Rose told him.
"Rose, James was a big part of his life and I am fine with that. I hate to think of what things would have been like if you had not had him, if you had been on your own. Let's talk about this another time eh?" he suggested, since he didn't want her mother overhearing. "May I use the bathroom first?" he then smiled, knowing how long she used to take.
He went back to the bedroom and unpacked his bag then got into bed just before Rose got back, laying back on the pillow with his arms behind his head.
"I wish ya wouldn't lay like that," Rose teased him.
"Why love? I know what it used to do to you," he teased her back.
"That's just it, it's all coming back now Alec," she admitted. "I was thinking, about what ya asked me to do, about that case."
"Forget it Rose, I doubt it is going ahead now. We did a search and he put in a complaint, they will be suspicious now. We will find another way, Tess will have to do it."
"Good luck with that then," Rose laughed as she took her shirt off then stepped out of her slacks.
"Rose, come here love," he called to her, beckoning her and holding his arms out. "I missed you last week."
"I missed ya too Alec," she told him as she got into bed.
"Then show me how much," he insisted as he pushed her onto her back.
Afterwards, Rose put a thin nightdress on and got back into bed.
"Alec, I don't take any precautions ya know?" she reminded him.
"Well, so what love? Maybe you should not fight Mother Nature?"
"Alec, it might be too late anyway?" Rose replied.
"Maybe you should check up?" he wondered.
"Do ya mean that?" Rose asked him.
"Why not love? We could all have a fresh start down in Broadchurch, raise another baby together and no, I do not think it is too late and neither should you. If we are very lucky something may happen very quickly. Rose, why did you not say something that last time I visited you that you were so near your monthly?" he wanted to know.
"I had this awful feeling Alec, that she was gonna stop ya coming back, I don't know why. Ya were early and I didn't want you to go off thinking I didn't want ya. When you left, I already felt off, I just didn't want ya to know."
"Rose, if you had told me, nothing would have stopped me from coming back for you. I would have stayed in London, no matter what or kept you safe in Paisley," he told her, holding her tight.
"I'm sorry Alec, I was just so upset 'cos I thought Tess had already got to ya then when ya never even rang to say ya weren't coming that next weekend," she started to cry.
"Shush love. Get some sleep eh? Nothing is going to happen this time, that I can promise you."
"It was all my fault Alec, I believed it was gonna happen and it did, I made it happen. I should have called ya that afternoon to make sure ya were setting off," Rose admitted. "I guess I was afraid Tess would answer it and say you were busy or something or that she'd tell me you weren't coming and that it was over."
"Rose, you knew me better than that love. I would never have got her to tell you that," he assured her. "She may have tried to put you off but I would have grabbed the phone from her."
"Would ya have been able to?" Rose asked him.
"That's not fair Rose. Yes, she sort of had a hold over me but maybe if you had called me, I would have come to my senses? Let's not argue eh? That was exactly what Tess wanted and I am sure she was extremely disappointed you never called so she could put you off," Alec told her. "She won regardless love but she would have had more pleasure hearing you crying over the phone. I did tell you why she did it but you have to promise me not to confront her, I do not want to have to arrest you for assaulting an officer."
"Huh, ya mean ya don't wanna slap the handcuffs on me?" Rose teased him.
"Come back here and I will show you what I would rather be doing," he encouraged her. "No more talking about the past love, the fact we never called each other was all down to her. She made you afraid to call me and she made me think it was too late to call you and apologize. Why don't we all go out somewhere tomorrow?" he suggested.
"Yeah but maybe not Brighton?" Rose agreed.
"You used to love Brighton," he reminded her as she snuggled up to him. "Too many memories?"
"It's not that. Donna talked me into going on the store trip, with James and he was the first one I told I was pregnant. I still don't know why I told him first, we'd only just started going out," Rose recalled. "Sorry."
"You have nothing to be sorry for love. You needed someone and I did not deserve you after I failed to arrive," he admitted. "I would have felt bad if I had turned up late, you may not have forgiven me. Well your mother would not have," he smiled to himself as he turned the lamp off.
The next morning, Rose decided to call John to see if Luke wanted to go out with them to keep Jamie company on the rides he'd want to go on and they drove off to Margate, Rose letting her mother sit in the front.
"I don't mind sitting with the boys," Jackie was insisting as everyone got in and Rose held the door for her.
"You'll be more comfortable there Mum," Rose insisted. "I expect the boys will have plenty to talk about."
"Not too loudly you two," Alec called behind him when John had dropped Luke off and given him some spending money.
"Hey, remember when we went to that big theme park?" Rose recalled.
"Wasn't that for his birthday?" Jackie remembered.
"How long ago was that Dad?" Jamie laughed.
"Never mind," Alec joked as the others started laughing as well.
Once they reached their destination, they all walked along the beach but Rose knew the boys wanted to go to the amusement park, since they could see it in the distance. Rose remembered they didn't have that much money back then and only went on a few of the rides but the last time they'd gone with James, it had been different.
Alec insisted Rose went on at least a few of the rides, holding onto her whilst riding on the carousel and whispering into her ear that he wanted them to go out when they got back.
"Alec, we'll be tired when we get back," Rose insisted, going to where her mother was sitting at one of the outdoor cafes.
"We leave late tomorrow afternoon love," he reminded her.
He looked around to see where the boys were then had an idea. He led her towards the canopied Ferris wheel that he remembered they been on a few times before and gave the number of tickets required and waited their turn.
"What are you up to?" Rose smiled as they waited, unaware he had sneaked her old engagement ring into his jacket pocket while she had been in the bathroom.
He had warned Jackie that he was going to ask Rose again and she had told him it had better work this time. As he smiled at Rose and whispered for her to just relax and enjoy the view when they got on, he recalled he'd told Jackie that it was all his fault the last time.
Jackie had told him not to be so hard on himself.
"Rose got it in her head Tess had already made a move on ya," she had told him earlier. "There was no convincing her otherwise. That time Tess answered your work phone did it if ya ask me."
"She tricked me Jackie," he'd told her while Rose had been organising Jamie and waiting for Luke to arrive.
"You're not on ya own Alec, it happens all the time, she took advantage of how much ya missed Rose. I won't tell ya what she was like when ya didn't arrive that Saturday. Somehow though, James had an idea ya wouldn't and he came to see her, to make sure she was okay," Jackie explained.
"I am glad he looked after her for me then," Alec had replied, trying not to let it show that he would give anything to be able to reverse what had happened.
A carriage arrived but Alec stepped forward and asked the operator if four people together wanted to get in and that he wanted to surprise his girlfriend. The young man got the idea and called four others forward as Rose watched Alec.
"You are up to something," Rose laughed.
"Just wait and see," Alec replied as another carriage arrived and just a family were waiting, who probably wouldn't want to cram in with them.
He let Rose get in first then sat opposite her, taking her hands. Then he waited until the wheel was fully loaded and began turning without stopping.
"Remember when we used to ride on this with mum and John?" Rose called over to him.
"Ah, yes love, that first time I thought your mother was going to be sick," Alec smiled.
"I'm glad she wasn't," Rose had to laugh. "So when do I get to meet Daisy?" she asked after a while.
"Soon love, I will mention it to her again when we get back," he promised as the wheel began to slow down, wondering how the operator remembered who to let off first and hoping it wasn't them or his plan would fail.
They had gone past the platform when it stopped so Alec slid over to sit next to Rose and put his arm around her, hoping the canopy would give them a little privacy from above but maybe not from across but they had their backs turned anyway. The wheel slowly began to rise again and Alec began fingering the ring box in his pocket.
Why he was hiding it, he had no idea, it wasn't like she wasn't expecting to wear the ring again but he'd wanted it to be special this time, a bit more romantic unlike before when they had known all along they would get engaged when they were old enough.
"Rose," he whispered as he moved a strand of her hair. "You know how much I still love you."
"Yeah Alec, I never stopped loving you," she told him again.
He finally got the ring out of the box and held it between his fingers, hoping he wouldn't let it slip onto the floor or worse still, to the ground below, since they'd reached the top. He carefully slipped it on her ring finger before the wheel started to move again.
"Rose, last time I put this ring on you, well I know it made you happy but we were always apart back then," he told her. "When I am able, will you marry me?" he asked quietly.
Rose didn't hesitate.
"You know I will Alec. Yeah, it was a bit rushed last time, behind the block of flats," Rose smiled. "It did make me happy though."
It was soon their turn to get off, the wheel operator looking at them.
"Did ya get him to let us on by ourselves?" Rose asked.
"I did not want to ask you in front of strangers," he smiled back. "It worked out anyway."
"Best go tell mum and Jamie, you should call John before Luke does," Rose insisted.
"Yes, I hate to think what he will say," Alec agreed as they went to find Jackie, whom he thought must be getting bored by now.
Jamie and Luke were already with her so it made it easier when he returned with drinks and some food for himself and Rose. Jackie had already spotted the ring but had said nothing in front of the teenagers until Alec had sat down.
"Well you two had better have something to tell us," Jackie told both Rose and Alec.
"Dad?" Jamie looked up after putting his drink on the table and wishing he'd got something else to eat.
"Jamie, you know your mum and I were going to be married, before she met whom you knew before as your dad?" Alec reminded him.
Jamie nodded, Luke now also paying attention, since John had tried to explain what had happened.
"Well, I did marry someone else, your mum knows who it was, I will tell you later Jamie but we plan on getting married as soon as we can. Luke, I will call your dad and tell him eh?" Alec added as Luke got his phone out.
"Yes, Uncle Alec," Luke had to agree, getting him a smile from Rose.
"Alec, give them some money to get some food before they eat ours," Rose laughed.
The boys went off after asking Jackie if she wanted something.
"Well about time you two," Jackie told them. "Alec, you'd better get a move on with that divorce then."
"I am doing my best Jackie," he assured her. "Tess thinks I do not mean business but I set a few things in motion before I left yesterday."
"Are ya gonna tell me what they are?" Rose smiled.
"You will soon find out, as Tess will," Alec smiled back. "When she gets a letter on Monday morning."
