Rose Tyler moves to Broadchurch

Chapter 12

Then it struck Alec that this was their opportunity to get around the compensation problem so people wouldn't think he was after her money, not that he was really bothered about what they thought about him, he was more bothered how it would affect Rose.

"Well, actually Rose is my girlfriend and we met while she was waiting for a transfer at work a while back, she's starting at the bank on the High Street in a weeks time. Say hello, Sweetheart." He put his arm around her and turned to Rose, who held out her hand, playing along as she got what he was trying to do.

"Nice to meet you Mrs Latimer," she said as she put her other arm around his back, knowing he had devised a plan. "I was so sorry when Alec told me about your son, please accept my sincere condolences. I know what it's like to lose someone. I lost my husband two years ago then I met Alec and he's helped me move on. I won't bore you my problems but if you ever want to talk we could meet up sometime. We've just rented a house down on the other side of the harbour, we've been waiting for everything to get sorted."

She glanced up at Alec, silently telling him she was game for playing along as it also struck her this was the answer to their problem, that if everyone believed that they were together prior to her arrival, no-one could judge them for accepting the compensation but it would mean Alec would have to admit to Miller that he was just trying to protect Rose and didn't want anyone to know he had a girlfriend, which would come as a shock to the rest of the staff in the Police Department as they probably found the concept of him having any friends at all, let alone a girlfriend, was inconceivable.

Beth held her hand out to Rose, looking at the two of them and was already convinced. "Nice to meet you Miss Tyler, although the Inspector kept you quiet but it's only to be expected under the circumstances. Being in charge of a murder investigation isn't exactly the right time to bring up the subject that you have a girlfriend in London. When did you lose you husband?"

"Just over two years ago, it was a hit and run accident and they never found the driver but I'm confident they will eventually," she said, glancing at Alec, who just smiled at her. "Oh, we only met a few weeks ago when I was looking around the town, I just came down for the weekend while I was waiting for everything to be sorted with my transfer," she added, looking up at Alec for him to catch on, not wanting things to get too complicated.

Beth hadn't seen him smile before, never thought she would and was surprised how different he looked with a smile on his face, dressed in a striped unbuttoned t-shirt, jeans and canvas shoes and his jacket. She had only ever seen him in a suit and tie. She thought that this Rose Tyler had certainly brought a transformation over him and that it was a pity she hadn't put in an appearance earlier.

"I'm sorry to hear that, you must have been devastated. I know I'll never get over my son's death, it's still painful to have someone you love taken away like that. Yes, I'd like to get together and talk to you, if that's ok, when you get settled. Have you been here long?" She looked at Alec.

"Since last Saturday, I'm staying at the same hotel I did the other week. My things are arriving from London tomorrow, we've been getting the house ready," pointing at the state of her clothes. "I don't normally dress like this but there was cleaning to do and blinds to put up." She had to stifle a giggle as she remembered Alec putting the blind up earlier and their sexual encounter on the floor. "I'd very much like to meet up with you. I know it's still painful but I've found Alec and he's made some of it go away. What about you, you have a new baby now, how are you coping?"

Beth looked at her daughter and said, "She was what we needed to fill the gap in our lives, she came along just when we needed something to hold us all together."