"You're early," Rose greeted him, sitting down and taking the red carton.
"Daisy insisted I took her home early."
"Why, what happened?"
"The usual 'you don't care about me' speech. I saw Tess before I picked you up yesterday, seems Daisy forgot to tell her I was coming back for visits."
"Tess has done nothing but scowl at me all week. Seems she's been told to back off since I took my exam yesterday morning."
"You never said love."
"Yeah, I was too busy with us making up for being apart. I will pass, won't I Alec?"
He reached for her hand across the table, looking over the rim of his sunglasses that Rose had said he looked sexy in.
"You will pass Rose, I have every faith in your abilities."
"Yeah except when I get something wrong."
"You made one mistake and I stuck up for you, let it go love. We could go out tonight, have a meal and a drink, we will get a cab and then have an early night."
"Yeah, that would be great. Why don't we go out for the day tomorrow, I'll drive since you drove up here."
They went back to get changed, Alec trying to delay because he wanted to do this properly, having been to a jewellery shop while he'd been waiting for her and bought an engagement ring and a silver fancy chain, in case she wanted to put the ring on it while she was at work but he gave her the chain before they set off.
"It's lovely Alec, thanks. So what's Broadchurch like then?"
"Sun, sea and never-ending sky and don't forget all the smiley freakin' faces."
"Bah-humbug," Rose laughed as he cracked a smile, putting his arms around her.
"It would be much better if you were there love, then I would think we were on holiday. Just as long as I stay away from the water."
"You still think about that, don't you?"
"Rose, I may not even be here had it not been for you pushing me out of that river. Yes, I think about it sometimes but having you with me keeps the nightmares away. I don't know how much longer I can stay there on my own."
"Let me get my exam results then you have another go at your new chief. Tell her I'll even take a DC's job if I have to or maybe there's another station close by? I could always travel."
"I will see her again on Monday though I will have to leave early again to get the caravan keys but since it will cost them less than the hotel, I think they will be happy to save some money. Shame it will not cover the cost of an extra detective sergeant?"
He pulled her close to kiss her.
"Or a detective constable. They haven't appointed a new DI yet so Hartley's doing both jobs. Can you believe he asked for me?"
"I hope you said no?"
"Of course I did Alec. I was busy all week anyway and they can't make me do it since I'm waiting for my results. How come you're getting a DS instead?"
"Because she was up for the job."
"Yeah, that's gonna make her happy, rubbing her nose in the fact someone else, an outsider, got her job."
"Whose side are you on here?" he smiled, kissing her cheek. "I will call for a cab or we will be late for our reservation."
Once in the restaurant, Alec had a word with the head waiter to bring a small bottle of champagne to their table after their desert had arrived.
So as the time approached, Alec thought he'd be getting nervous but he wasn't. He'd checked up on his divorce and it would be finalised in a few days anyway, though what had taken so long when there were no objections, he didn't know. He had ordered Rose's favourite Italian dessert that always put her in a good mood and the head waiter himself brought it on a trolley, along with an ice bucket containing the small bottle of champagne.
"What's all this Alec?"
"Just wait and see."
The head waiter opened the champagne and poured it into two long champagne glasses and put one in front of Rose then Alec and then nodding to Alec, left. People were already looking in their direction at this point as Alec suddenly got up and went to Rose's side of the table, going into his jacket pocket and bringing out a pale blue ring box.
Rose just looked up at him as he opened it and produced a single solitaire diamond ring and getting down on one knee, took her left hand.
"Rose, you know if not for you I would not even be here now. You saved me in more ways than you could ever imagine. So, will you do me the honour of marrying me? When the time is right?"
He couldn't very well say when his divorce was finalised in front of the other restaurant patrons who were now watching and all the waiters had stopped what they were doing.
Rose could only allow him to place the ring on her finger as Alec got up, still holding her hand and waiting for her reply. Yes, he'd mentioned it but she wasn't expecting him to propose so soon but he'd been away a week and they had both realised it had been too long. So she just looked up at him and smiled, admiring the ring.
"It's beautiful Alec. Yes, when the time is right, I'll marry you."
He pulled her to her feet, put his other arm around her and they kissed, to a standing ovation from the diners and the staff. Rose blushed as she heard them when Alec let go, helping her back in her seat. Once they were ready to leave and Alec was settling what he thought was going to be an expensive bill with the champagne, he was pleasantly surprised when the head waiter said the champagne was on the house and they always did that to couples who got engaged there, it was good for business.
When they got back, Alec insisted on carrying her into their bedroom. Lying her on the bed, he unzipped the dress she was wearing then removing his suit trousers, Rose moved across the bed to allow him to kneel on the edge. He removed the silver chain, reaching over to the bedside table then he leaned down to remove her bra, placing a kiss before he did so.
"That was totally unexpected Alec," she told him, holding out her hand and admiring the ring again, not that she hadn't stopped looking at it in the cab on the way home.
"Rose, I am not going back to Broadchurch without knowing you will wait for me to either come back or you get a transfer."
"I would have waited for you, I love you."
She reached to unfasten his shirt and ran her finger down his torso. He spread himself over her and Rose put her arms around him and they kissed. They soon got under the bedclothes and called each other's names as they felt the waves crashing over them. Before they fell asleep, Rose asked him if he'd heard about his divorce.
"Yes, that is why I said carefully when the time is right. Rose, this is the first time you have asked me about it love."
"Yeah, I never wanted to bother you about it, I knew it was going through. I also know we'll still have to wait, won't we?"
"It depends on the conditions of the divorce, I never really looked into it, I just wanted to get on with it. You said you would wait."
"I will Alec, it doesn't matter. I can't wait to show this off on Monday.'
"Rose, you would be best waiting, until Tess gets the divorce papers through, she could turn really nasty on you. That was why I got the chain for you, you can wear it under your work blouse and it won't be seen."
"You know I don't want to hide it Alec."
He kissed her cheek and lay her on her back, hovering over her.
"I know love and I really don't want to ask you to but I am only thinking of you. Tess will just make a scene and tell everyone that I just couldn't wait until the divorce was finalised. She will make sure everyone in the station knows how you stole me away from her, not that there is anyone left who does not know about us but they don't know all the details. Please Rose, just for a while, wear it around your neck, just for me?"
"Yeah, ok but as soon as you get the papers, I put it back on my finger, right?"
"Right, now show me how much you love me."
After fooling around at breakfast the next morning, they drove out into the country and stopped at a village pub for lunch then went for a walk down a country lane. They had an early night because Alec had to leave before six the next morning to get back in time since he needed to finish early to move into the caravan but before they went to bed, he said he was going to talk to the chief again.
"I can't promise she will agree but it might work."
"What might work?" Rose asked as they got ready.
"How about if they put you on standby? It would mean you only get paid if you work but if someone is off sick or anything, you could fill in for them."
"Really? Can we manage though?"
"Yes, I will be getting the caravan paid for, we can stay there until the end of October and even then, we might be able to stay longer. What do you think?"
"That it's a brilliant idea, if she goes for it but it's not a transfer as such, I'll have to stay here until she does agree and calls me to fill in. Once she does, I'll stay down there."
"It could take a while love, I mean unless there is an emergency but we will manage if I come up every weekend. You will have to give notice on this place though."
"Yeah but it doesn't mean I have to stay here, does it? Can I just tell my friends we got engaged? They won't say anything, they dislike Tess as much as I do. Did I tell you that Annie said half the women in the station used to fancy you until Tess made you hide yourself away?"
"Is that so?" he asked, fingering the hem of her nightdress. "Then be grateful she did make me hide away."
Rose went to see him off the next morning, them both having to do it quietly as they kissed at the side of the car furthest from the building.
"I will be back next Friday night love, I promise and you never know, if Jenkinson goes for it, I could be taking you back with me."
"Yeah. I love you Alec."
As Rose got into Annie's car later, she couldn't contain herself and pulled out the ring on her chain she put on after Alec had left.
"Wow, it's really serious then? You have to hide it from her though."
"Yeah, I know but as soon as she gets her papers, I'll be wearing it where it belongs."
Alec got to the station in plenty of time to make himself some tea and some toast and take it to his new office. Then he went to try his luck with his new chief.
"It's a good idea Alec and it wouldn't cost any extra I suppose but what about when no-one is off?"
"Well I was thinking about that on my way down. Rose stays where she is for now and if someone calls in sick or a family problem, she can be down the next day, I will drive up and get her as long as you clear it with Chief Moore."
"Then I'll see what he says but if she gets her promotion?"
"She is prepared to fill in where needed as long as she keeps her current or new rank."
"Very well, I'll put it to Chief Moore then."
"There is one more thing. You have to promise me the next vacancy that comes up is hers."
"Leave it with me Alec. You look very cheerful this morning, any reason?"
"Yes, I asked her to marry me last night, when my divorce comes through and she said yes."
"Then congratulations. You gave me your assurance you can both work together, I hope you can stick to it?"
After settling in his new caravan that he hoped he wouldn't be alone in for too long, the rest of the week didn't go too badly. A few petty crimes as the holiday-makers made their way to the town and he'd been assigned a driver until a car could be found for him or until DS Miller came back and Rose more than made him welcome on his next visit but the week after was going to be put on hold and neither of them could have predicted what was going to happen.
Rose had got up on the Friday morning and felt a bit off but thought it was just the excitement of Alec's visit and still went to work as normal but she had to rush out and Annie followed her. She'd finally found out she hadn't passed the exams and had been talking to Alec every night, him wishing he was there to comfort her but had told her to try again.
"Rose, it's fine love, you'll pass next time."
"Yeah but from Monday, I have a feeling the chief is gonna make me Hartley's DC and I can't stand him."
So when she threw up in the sink, Annie rubbing her back, her friend had her suspicions.
"Something you want to tell me Rose?"
"Such as?" Rose asked, trying to lift her head.
"I know you don't want to be Hartley's DC but this is going a bit far," Annie joked.
"Ha, ha, very funny. Maybe I ate something in the canteen?"
"Maybe you and Hardy went a bit too far?"
"What? He's only been gone three weeks. Mind you, the night before he left, well I wasn't covered, you know."
"Rose, it only takes once you know and if you were making the most of it. You have to go get tested, I'll go with you at lunchtime."
"Don't tell anyone."
"What do you take me for Rose? We'll get a kit and bring it back."
"No, I'll go to the pharmacy and wait, I can't do it here."
"Fine, we'll do that. You'll only bring your lunch back up if you ate anyway."
"I can't be pregnant, can I? It will only be three weeks on Sunday."
"Rose, it's the only explanation and everyone is different. My sister knew when she was two weeks, don't ask me how."
"We had this plan, me and Alec that he'd get his chief to call our chief if they were short staffed and I'd go fill in."
"Good idea, did it work?"
"Well obviously not, I'm still here, just about."
She stuck her head in the sink again and prayed Tess wouldn't decide she needed the loo.
While Rose was being sick, Alec had been feeling sick himself, having being taken to Harbour cliff Beach and standing over the body of a twelve year old boy and had already got off to a bad start with DS Ellie Miller and getting back to the station had discovered the boy's name had been released on social media and was praying Rose wouldn't find out, well not yet until he called her. Maybe now she would be sent for, they were going to need all the help they could get.
Elaine Jenkinson had already been on to the chief constable, who had said get all the extra staff in she needed but the area was already overstretched with three music festivals starting that evening so she had called the chief in Sandbrook to ask if Alec Hardy was free, he could go up and get her overnight.
"Of course Elaine, I'll be happy to let you have her under these terrible circumstances but she's been absent from her desk several times already today, I don't know what's going on with her. As soon as I can get hold of her, I'll send her home to pack."
"Thanks Andy, well this is what they wanted but it's not ideal, it's too much like their last case and I'm not sure he's the one for the job."
"Elaine, it wasn't his fault, it was his ex wife's. The divorce papers finally came through, she went home early."
Elaine finally caught up with Alec and dragged him out of the station to buy him an ice cream.
"What's all this for? I have a murder to solve."
"I want you to think very carefully about taking the lead in this case."
"What for? It was my now ex wife who screwed the last one up. Have you sent for Rose?"
"Yes, have you time to go get her? You'll have to call a press conference later."
"I will go get her as soon as it is over. You know she failed her DS exam?"
"Yes, I expect she will go for it again?"
"I will encourage her to do so and I want her working with me."
"DS Miller will not be happy about that but under the circumstances, she did work with you before, she can help where necessary but DS Miller remains on the case with you."
"Understood."
"By the way, DC Tyler wasn't around when I called her chief. Have you spoken to her today?"
"No, I have been too busy. Did he say anything else?"
"No, maybe you'd better find the time to call her? By the way, who leaked the boy's name?"
"The town's reporter made a lucky guess."
"Yes, it was a lucky guess considering he is DS Miller's nephew. Go call your fianc e Alec."
He finally had a minute to call Rose, who wasn't feeling any better when the chief had told her to go home and pack. She managed to do some packing then went for a lie down and closed her eyes until her phone rang.
"Alec, hi. I heard what happened, I'm so sorry. The chief said I was attached to Broadchurch police immediately. Are you coming to get me?"
"Yes love, I have a press conference then I am setting off. Jenkinson said when she talked to your chief, you'd been away from your desk."
"Yeah, I think I had a bad Chinese last night or something."
"Rose, don't lie to me. What's wrong?"
"Alec, just come and get me please? I can't stay here on my own any more."
"I know love, I will be there as soon as I can and we will stay there tonight and come back in the morning, Miller can hold the fort in the morning until we get back. I love you Rose and whatever is wrong, we will sort it out. Are you wearing your ring?"
"Yeah, Tess went home early today."
"I know, she will have got the papers through. I'm free Rose."
"Yeah, you are. Why do you want to marry me?"
"You know why. We will talk about it tonight. I have to go, it is chaos here and they have never handled anything like this before. I need your experience on this love."
"See you tonight then?"
"Yes and I want to know what is wrong with you."
Rose had time to think once she'd found out Tess had gone home. She had guessed the reason since Alec was expecting it all going through very shortly and now he was actually free, he may have time to think how hot-headed he'd been asking her to marry him.