"Honestly? Well, I survived a heart operation, which I never expected. At first I was looking to start again with Daisy but she is still not so sure about me, thinking someone abandoned you takes some getting over, I expect you feel the same with James?"
"Yeah, at first but I already knew what was going to happen, I was prepared for it but I didn't know what a mistake it was moving out so soon and back in with my mother. I should have waited and let the council re-house me. I just thought it best to go, before we really fell out, you know?"
Alec kissed her forehead, watching Jack play with a toy and rocking himself in the chair.
"I have to go soon, wait for me before you take the laundry to dry eh? Maybe we both needed a fresh start and for me, you and Jack were just what I needed, to feel wanted again."
"Aw, I'm sure your daughter will come round, it's not the same as me and James."
"I invited her to come down when she wanted, maybe I should call her?"
"It's fine Alec, if she turns up, you can't send her away but maybe you'd better tell her about me?"
"I will love. Now, I just have time to trim my beard before young Jack here puts his wet hand on it again."
"You look cute with the beard Alec."
"I am not shaving it off, don't worry. He needs to be able to tell the difference between me and his dad."
"Yeah, so does everyone else. If you see that reporter today, go easy on him will ya?"
"I will try, just for you."
After kissing goodbye and Rose getting Jack to wave then putting him in the playpen Alec had put up by the window, she gathered the laundry and just after ten, called James.
James Smith was in a bit of a dilemma since Rose's bombshell she was moving out of London and down to Devon. They had decided he would still see his son once a month though it would mean a few hours journey but he couldn't just abandon them. She'd been good about moving out but when she'd said last month she was unhappy sharing her mother's flat, they'd discussed again her getting her own place, out of London and she'd convinced him that Devon, probably Exeter was as good a place as any.
After all, he'd bought her a car to get around so she may as well use it so when his phone rang and her name came up, along with a recent picture of Jack, he was surprised since he wasn't expecting her call.
"Rose, is something wrong with Jack?"
"Hi James, no, he's fine, I've got some news for you."
"You're still in London?" he asked hopefully, to save himself from a long journey the following Sunday.
"No, I got as far as Dorset, Broadchurch to be exact."
"The place where that boy was killed last year? Is that a good idea with Jack?"
"Relax James, the killer was caught, it was an isolated incident."
"Yes but he walked free, haven't you been following it on the news?"
"I had other things to worry about James, in case you'd forgotten, like keeping Jack out of mum's way, it was almost as bad as keeping him quiet when you complained."
"Rose, I said I was sorry about that, I know young babies cry a lot, I told you, I wasn't prepared for it. What are you doing there?"
"My stupid car radiator bust, that's what."
"You need money to get it fixed? Where are you staying, in a B&B?"
"Not exactly, we're staying with someone who helped us when the car broke down."
James was getting suspicious. "You let a complete stranger stop and help you? Didn't you call breakdown?"
"Yes, a truck came to take my car to a local garage, it won't be ready until Tuesday."
"Right, that makes it ok then. Rose, what were you thinking of?"
"Stop it James, it was a police detective who stopped to help us." She was tempted to say it was Ellie Miller but he'd find out, when he came to see Jack. "It was Alec Hardy, the lead detective on that case."
James had noticed how the detective bore a strange resemblance to himself but had never mentioned it to Rose, who was already stressed out with the baby and she'd already left when it was revealed the defence had walked all over him and the killer had walked out of court.
"Tell me you aren't being serious? So you're staying with him until Tuesday?"
"Not exactly, I've decided to stay here with him."
"Oh. So you and him?"
"Yeah, me and him. I'm sorry James but you know how things were, we just weren't meant to be, we tried. He's getting my car repaired for me and we've moved in with him. Don't ask me how it happened so fast, I don't know."
"Well that's an easy one, he looks a bit like me. Have you told him?"
"Yes, he knows and he's fine with it. There's just one thing, Jack seems to think Alec is you, even though he's got a beard."
"Yes and sometimes I don't shave at weekends, remember? Geez Rose, how did you let this happen?"
"Well excuse me for getting out of yours and my mother's ways. What do you expect me to do?"
"Sorry, I know I don't own you, I never did, did I?"
"You were the one who backed off James. Let's not start all that again on the phone shall we? Are you going to come and see Jack next Sunday?"
"That was the agreement and Broadchurch is slightly closer than Exeter. Has anyone seen you all together yet? Will there be any problems only I'd hate to take Jack out and get arrested for kidnapping my own son."
"No, there won't be a problem. The town's reporter has been nosing around, we're gonna do an interview of how my car broke down and Alec helped me. Then if people see us together, which they will, they know he's not Jack's father but Alec suggested we meet somewhere else and you follow us back to see where Jack is living, if that's ok with you?"
"Do I have a choice? At least you've been honest with me, I respect that but the thought of Jack thinking he's his dad is a bit much to take in."
"Well if he sees you both together, he'll know, won't he? Well maybe not now, Alec thinks he's too young but he should go to both of you. I didn't want you to see it in the papers, if others pick up on it 'cos Alec's been in the news recently."
"Yeah, a killer got away and he'd been having an affair with a co-worker."
"James, that is not true. I met her and trust me, it never happened, the defence just wanted to get their client off. James, please, don't make anything of it. Alec's just getting over heart surgery, he almost died while catching the killer. The defence failed to point that out. So, why don't we meet in Weymouth?"
"No, I want to meet you in Broadchurch, to prove I exist, if you're going to the paper. I'll not hide Rose so forget trying to shield me, go to the paper if you feel you have to explain things."
"I just don't want any problems, that's all. When you get to the turn-off for Broadchurch, follow the road down to the harbour then turn right at the junction then on the left, there's a car park. Get an all day ticket, Alec said it's cheaper and call me, I'll bring Jack across."
"Fine, I will see you next Sunday then, with your cheque for this month, it will pay for your car. I expect now you won't be looking for a place of your own?"
"No, it should please you, you won't have to pay towards it. We aren't gonna fall out over it, are we?"
"No, we are not falling out over it, if this is what you want?"
"Yeah, I'm happy here, Jack's got some new baby stuff Ellie brought over, that's the woman Alec was accused of having an affair with by the way. Why would she do that if she was still seeing him?"
"I don't suppose she would then but it was pretty convincing, never mind. See you next Sunday, give Jack a kiss from me. Rose, I am sorry the way things turned out for us."
"I know James but maybe it was for the best. I just had three months of hell, it's a fresh start for me and Jack."
Seeing Jack had nodded off in the playpen, she made him comfy then put the washer back on the spin cycle, hoping the noise wouldn't wake him but James used to say he could sleep through a hurricane. She sat down again and called her mother.
"So where did you end up then?"
"In Dorset, my car broke down. I have something to tell you."
"You made up with James?"
"No, I met someone, his name's Alec, he's a police detective."
"That didn't take you long. He's willing to take you and Jack? Mickey would have done that."
"I am not going back to Mickey, how many more times Mum? Stop going on about it. Alec's given us a home and we're staying. Before you say anything, James already knows."
"I never said anything, did I? What about the rest of your stuff that wouldn't go in your car?"
"I'll come up for it when we get settled, I'll introduce you to Alec."
"Hang on, where are you? You said Dorset, are you in that murder town?"
"It's not a murder town, there was one isolated incident and it's called Broadchurch."
"You mean that detective, Alec what's his name? You know he looks like James?"
"I'm living with him Mum, I had noticed."
"Won't Jack get confused?"
"He's taken well to Alec, thankfully. So listen, I want you to promise not to tell Mickey where I am, you know he's been trying to get me back, that's why I left while he was at work. Promise me Mum."
"Ok, keep your hair on, I won't tell him but I'm not gonna lie to him and say I don't know where you are, I'll just say you're down in Dorset, it's a big enough place."
"I just hope he doesn't start looking for doubles of James."
Alec had got to work and was looking for someone to take over on Saturday mornings, since protocol demanded a senior officer was present over the weekend and the two who shared responsibility couldn't do Saturday mornings all of a sudden, which had landed him the task since Miller had two young boys.
"So, who's free then?" Alec was asking hopefully amongst the dozen or so officers present.
A newly promoted woman DS timidly raised her hand. "Sir, can I ask a question?"
"Yes, if you must Mason."
The woman was surprised he'd actually remembered her name but had noticed when he'd walked in, he was actually smiling for the first time since he'd come back to work and the bets were he'd had sex last night though who the unlucky woman was would be anyone's guess.
"Will that be every Saturday morning Sir? I could do it but I'd rather it was on a regular basis, so I can get the experience."
Another officer, Frank Harris spoke up.
"Mason's not had enough experience, I'll do it Sir, got something else to do have you?"
Alec scowled at him, he was now the same rank as Miller, who had been re-instated but Frank had taken over while she had been in Exeter and she wasn't too happy with it.
"Right, you're it Harris and yes, I do have something to do though it's none of your business and I heard you lot earlier. Get back to work."
He went back to his office and tried calling Rose, getting her answer phone but then he thought she would be calling James and her mother. She saw the missed call and guessed it was Alec, who else would it be?
"Good news love, I got someone to cover for me, did you make your calls?" he asked, making sure his door was closed.
"Yeah, James insists on coming here to see Jack."
"Well I half expected that so we go to the paper. I will call and see if there is anyone around and break the news to him, so to speak. We have to decide what exactly we are going to say."
"The truth Alec, that we met and now I'm staying with you. James doesn't want to hide and neither should we."
"No, we are not hiding. I have to go love, I have to give a good impression on my last Saturday morning and they are already taking bets as to why I was cheerful when I came in. The general consensus is I had sex last night."
Rose burst out laughing. He knew if this relationship was going to work, with Rose being much younger, he would get talked about but he was willing to take the risk. He was about to leave when the chief stood in his doorway.
"Alec, a word. I can't let you keep working Saturday mornings on top of what you are already doing, it's too much for you yet."
"Think I am going to collapse on you? I can assure you I can shuffle a few folders on my desk and yes, I send others out or go with Miller, as per your instructions but you will be pleased to know Harris is taking over from next Saturday."
"Then I'm glad to hear you've come to your senses. I thought I would have a fight on my hands, you saying you've nothing better to do."
"Yes, I have come to my senses, I do have something else to do with my Saturday mornings."
"Anything I should know about? Those accusations about you and DS Miller?" Elaine smiled.
"No, I have someone staying with me now."
"Your daughter?"
"Well maybe in the foreseeable future but no. I met someone on Thursday evening, her car had broken down and I stopped to help her, she had nowhere to go."
"That's very commendable of you Alec but won't she be on her way once her car is fixed?"
"No, she's in no hurry to leave, like I said, she has nowhere else to go and she has a six month old son."
"Well, that's a turn up for the books Alec, taking up with a young mother, she must be someone special?"
"Aye, she is. She split with the baby's father and she's had a difficult time the last few months, she needs a fresh start."
"With you, apparently. Well at least she's stopped you from over-working, I like her already."
Alec decided to go home via the newspaper office, next to the amusement arcade but only saw Ellie's sister, Lucy packing up.
"DI Hardy, can I do something for you then?" she asked cheerfully.
"Your son not around then? Gone to bother someone else?"
"What have you got against him?"
"Personally? Where do I start? He went after someone yesterday, it bothers me he never came to me first."
"Oh, the blonde and the baby? Got something to say have you?"
"I'll stop by on Monday, tell him I said stay away from her."
"He's tired of you bossing him around."
"Well tell him to stop riling people then, he brings it on himself," Alec scoffed, looking at the food stalls and wondering if Rose wanted some lunch.
Figuring he'd be safe with some jacket potatoes with cheese, he waited for his order and sent her a message saying he was ordering lunch, to which she replied she could come and meet him in a few minutes so he said 'why not?'
He ordered some tea to go with the food while he waited and saw her carrying Jack along the street, having picked him up from the playpen where he'd woken up and she'd grabbed a bottle of baby milk and the rusks into her shoulder bag. She waved as Alec was collecting the food, saying he'd be back for the drinks and they sat at a table on the corner.
"Hi, that was a nice surprise," Rose greeted him, kissing his cheek and Jack wanting Alec to take him. "Hang on Jack, he's got his hands full. I should have brought the buggy."
"No, he's fine, aren't you young man? He needs to get out of it once in a while, here I'll take him, I used to eat one-handed holding Daisy."
Lucy Stevens was still waiting for Olly to pick her up to take her to the supermarket and had seen Rose come along to meet Alec and them greeting each other. Maybe now she could convince her son and get that twenty quid bet off him, now the detective was holding the baby and eating at the same time. Olly pulled as close as he could get with his car and she got in.
"Did you see those two at that table?" she asked him, putting the seatbelt on, Olly looking through the rear-view mirror at who he could just make out was them.
"Aunt Ellie wouldn't tell me anything, just her name was Rose."
"Well sunshine, he just came looking for you, maybe he wants to do an interview after all? He said for me tell you to leave her alone, seemed a bit upset you'd tried to talk to her."
"Yeah, like Hardy would voluntarily give me an interview," Olly huffed as they drove off. He could live in hope he supposed.
After lunch, Rose took the wet laundry across and put it all in the large dryer and noting the time it would take decided to go around to the harbour stores and get a bottle of wine for later then persuade Alec to go find a Chinese takeaway so they could have a romantic evening in.
When she got back, they drove down to Dorchester, Alec getting the wrong roundabout and having to follow the satnav to the store, which amused Rose since he was confident he'd seen it on the map earlier. He almost had an argument with another car at a junction, Rose getting worried since it was at Jack's side but the other driver had seen the baby and backed off so as they were getting out in the store car park, Rose had something to say.
"Rose, it was not my fault the corner was like that, that idiot was in the wrong, he backed off, he was trying to be clever."
"Not with my son on that side he wasn't, what the hell was he doing, he came from nowhere."
"Calm down love, Jack is fine."
Jack was still in the car, Alec had his arm around Rose, who was a bit shaken.
"It was probably a local who knew the road layout, forget about it. Now I'll get him out of his seat love, you go get a trolley eh?"
They located what they needed, bedding for the cot and Alec got him some more of the expensive nappies then they got some groceries, Rose saying she could have got the wine in the store.
They got back without further incident, Alec normally being a careful driver, when he was in an automatic and not crunching the gears of Ellie's car anyway and Rose went to put the new bedding in the cot while Alec put the groceries away after placing Jack in his playpen. The baby fell asleep in the playpen again and Alec took a photo of him as Rose covered him with a baby blanket.
"He did that earlier, he'd just woken up when you sent that message. Time for a lie on the sofa?"
"Of course but we have a lot to talk about love. How did James take the news you are living with me?"
"Better than I expected but what did he think, that I'd stay as I was?"
"Shush love, if he wants to see Jack, I have no objections but does he still want to give you money towards Jack's upbringing?"
"He said he did. Let him do it this month, I can pay you back for the car repairs."
"Well I am still on reduced hours, well slightly so just this once, when you get the money, keep it in your bank and you can pay for the groceries if you take Jack to the supermarket and start getting those better nappies eh? He'll be a lot happier if you do."
"Yeah, it was only because of us coming down here, the others were supposed to be as good."
"No supermarket brands are better, it's just a ruse to outdo their rivals. Now, no more talking eh? By the way, my boss was pleased I am no longer working Saturday mornings. I told her the reason."
"So, the first steps? We don't have to do the dating thing do we?"
"Oh, you want dating do you? The cheap dates, wining and dining? You'll be wanting chocolates and flowers next?" he teased, putting his hand under her t-shirt.
"Well I got wine, maybe you can get us a takeaway later?"
They spent the rest of the afternoon on the sofa until Jack woke up then Alec played with him for a while, making the boy giddy rocking him in the chair and taking photos of him, then they eventually got him fed for the night and Rose took him to the bath, Alec getting the water temperature just right and putting in the baby bath oil that was supposed to help him sleep.
"Mmm, wouldn't mind using this myself," Rose hinted as she took a sniff at the bottle.
"Only if you let me help you eh?"
"Thanks for the offer but maybe another time? This is all new to me Alec."
"I know love, I was just teasing you. Maybe when you feel more relaxed with me?"
"I'm not opposed to it, really, it's just too soon, when I get settled, we can, you know, do things like that together."
"Then I look forward to it. I think that bath oil is doing the job."
Alec lifted the boy carefully out and Rose had a baby towel ready to wrap him in. Once they had him settled, Alec took the baby monitor and kissing Jack goodnight, he switched it on.
"Rose, you can't stand over him all night love, come on and I'll go get us some food."
Managing not to get too shy getting undressed in front of Alec at bedtime, he asked if she wanted him to make use of his recent purchase again, pointing out that morning she seemed to have enjoyed being underneath him.
"Yeah, that would be nice Alec, I'm still not confident with those things though, they're a bit on the thin side."
"That is the idea Rose, to make them more shall we say 'realistic'? If you would rather wait, it's fine, really love."
"Well maybe this time but just be careful, I'm not ready for more kids yet."
"I know love, you have your hands full with Jack, just tell me if you want me to back off. Fancy helping me again?"
They managed between them, Rose thinking it was a bit soon to be getting so intimate with each other but they'd already had sex once and had come close that morning, it was only natural it would lead to other things. As she lay beneath him, thinking that maybe letting him be on top did have certain advantages after all, they seemed to know what the other wanted and soon, they had fallen over the edge and Alec began kissing her.