On the run

Chapter 38

Two months later

Rose and Alec had agreed to let her mother throw a big engagement party at the mansion for them and Ellie had travelled up to London to attend, being assured someone would look after young Fred. Since they didn't really know that many people in Broadchurch, they had also decided to get married at the mansion and had chosen a September wedding.

So on the afternoon of the engagement party, Ellie had arrived and Jackie was making a fuss over young Fred.

"Your mother is going to spoil him Rose," Ellie mentioned to her.

"Aw, you should have seen her when Tony was that age. I'm glad you decided to come up."

"Well since your fiancé came back to work, he's done nothing but go on about it, how could I avoid it? When are you going back to Broadchurch?"

"Tomorrow, we have loads to do with moving."

"I'm surprised you haven't bought a house, it's not like you can't afford one."

"We will, eventually, we just wanted something quick and we got lucky though if I'd had my way, we'd have got Alec's old chalet back."

"I heard that Rose," Alec interrupted them. "Trust Rose to go for a house in a road called Poppy Way," he complained to Ellie.

Rose smiled and put her arm in his. "So when we have kids, flower names are out then?"

Alec raised his eyebrows.

Ellie had to laugh. "It's like nothing's ever been wrong with you two. Olly asked for an interview when you get back."

"Yeah, we know Ellie, seems only fair since he got threatened by Yvonne's henchmen. I hope Tess and Daisy are gonna get here soon," Rose replied.

"I'm surprised you get on with his ex Rose," Ellie commented as Alec went off to catch Pete.

"Why shouldn't I? She doesn't want him to be miserable, it was a mutual split. Anyway, Daisy wants to come and stay with us and we have to decide on a bridesmaid dress for her and I've been meaning to ask you if you think Fred's old enough to be a pageboy?"

"As long as he doesn't have to do anything other than hold your dress he should be fine. What about your brother?"

"He's the ring bearer, Jake's looking up the role and instructing him but we've got a few months yet. As soon as this engagement party's over, mum will be re-booking the caterers for the wedding."

"I still don't get something though Rose and I can't get an answer out of Alec. Is Jackie your real mother or not?"

"I can't tell you Ellie, honestly, Pete won't allow us to say anything and it's caused enough problems already. It's all really complicated and how Yvonne unravelled everything, we don't know. Pete still suspects she had other help."

"So what happened to her?" Ellie wanted to know as Fred finally escaped Jackie smothering him and was looking for her.

"She was taken care of, she works at Vitex now, she still remembers things like her cousin went missing but some of her memories were wiped. I wonder what happened to him though?"

"One of life's mysteries? Fred, I'm here," she called to the young boy. "He's never seen such a big house. So, who was here that night? Was it you and Alec?"

Rose smiled. "One of life's other mysteries Ellie."

As everyone began arriving for the engagement party, Rose and Alec were still in her room. It was the first time he'd been back to the mansion since all those years ago.