ALEC

In the 8 years that Alec had been away from his home town, Millbrooke had changed very little.

It still had the cosy small town feel to it.

As he looked out of the window of the rented car he had taken from the airport in Chicago to drive the 8 miles to Millbrooke, he saw the Main Street.

It looked the same just with a few more additions in the long line of shops and food joints.

There were a few boutiques and some of the food chains had opened their branches there.

The feeling of coming back home was surprisingly nostalgic.

They passed the kindergarten school where he had met Jade for the first time.

Jade Tucker, his best friend!

Coming back home meant that he would meet her once again after almost 8 years.

Mom had said that she had stayed in Millbrooke itself.

Alec wondered how her life was now.

The crazy, funny girl he remembered had gone on to be one of the most popular authors in the country, and Alec could not be more proud.

He couldn't wait to meet her.

Just then they passed Jo's ice cream parlour.

Though there were some small changes in the town that Alec noticed Jo's was still exactly the same.

With it's colourful boards and chairs it still looked like the cheerful place he remembered.

He slowed down and entered the parking lot of Jo's.

"Where are we going? Have we reached?"

Emma's British accent from the passenger seat reminded him that he was not alone in the car.

"You have to try Jo's ice cream! It's the best in the world. I thought we'll just make a quick stop and then go home." He said before quickly getting into one of the empty spaces.

Emma snorted, "Best ice cream in the world? No ways! The best ice cream I had was in London. This is just a small town how good can it be?"

Alec did not even attempt to argue with her.

Emmaline Burns had very strong ideas and opinions and it was extremely hard to change them.

"Come."

He opened the door and stepped out.

He took a huge breath, breathing in the clear air without any pollution after years.

He stretched waiting for Emma to adjust her make up and step out of the car.

He looked around the parking lot.

Suddenly he spotted something that made him stand up straight and look carefully.

There on the other side of the parking lot four people were coming out of the ice cream parlour.

There were two kids who looked so similar that they had to be twins.

Holding the girl in one hand and a huge stuffed horse in the other was a man.

He was dressed casually and even from this far Alec could see that he looked good.

On the other side of him was the other kid, a boy with a stuffed alligator in his hand.

The man and the kids were laughing and enjoying the short walk to the car.

Just a few steps behind them was a girl.

She was tall with long legs and a thin waist.

Her black hair was straight and almost till her waist. She was wearing a tank top that showed of her bare arms.

She was tanned and Alec could see that she was stunning.

It was Jade.

He was sure. Though he could not see her face properly he was confident that it could not be anyone else.

The way she carried herself confidently and gracefully.

Was this her family? Mom had not mentioned anything about her marriage. And surely she had not said anything about twins.

And why was he feeling sick at the thought of her marrying some jerk?

There was no reason for him to be jealous. He should be happy for her and instead here he was getting a sudden urge to punch the man who was helping her strap the kids in the back seat of the car.

When the kids were strapped and secured Jade stood up and faced the unknown guy, with the white shirt which was spotless.

Who's white shirt is spotless? Thought Alec.

They spoke for a few minutes and then to Alec's surprise the guy bent and started kissing her.

Alec felt the acid burn in his throat as he clenched his fist.

He knew he was being silly. What difference did it make to him if Jade was kissing people in random parking lots?

God knows he had done more than enough kissing himself since the last time he had met her.

To his relief, Jade pushed the guy away. Well if he had to be honest she nudged him away.

The guy cupped her face and they exchanged a few words.

Alec was almost stalking Jade now, but he didn't care.

She stood on her toes and placed a soft kiss on his cheek, before turning around, getting into the car and driving away.

The guy stood for sometime before he too got into a car and drove away.

"What are you looking at? I thought we were going to have ice cream." Emma asked as she came to stand next to him.

Alec gulped the knot that was lodged in his throat and said, "Nothing. Come on."

She took his hand and they walked towards the ice cream parlour.

The bell on the door rang as they pushed it open and stepped into the parlour.

It still had the sweet smell of sugar, milk and waffle. A smell Alec could never forget.

"Is that you Alexander Carter?"

The gruff voice made Alec turn and he was face to face with old Jo.

He was more wrinkled than he remembered, with a shock of white hair on his head.

"Old Jo! Who did you think it was?"

Alec went and gave the old man a tight hug.

He was the superhero of his childhood.

A superhero who had an ice cream cone in one hand and a ice cream scooper in the other.

"It's been years." Old Jo said once they stopped hugging.

"8 years is a long time. And how have you been?"

"Good good! Except for the fact that my son and daughter in law pushed me from behind the counter. I'm not allowed to work anymore. My own shop that too. But no!"

Alec laughed. It must have been quite a feat on Jo Juniors part to stop the adamant old man from doing the work he so loved.

"You've been betrayed by your own family have you?"

Old Jo guffawed.

"Now enough about me. Introduce me to the beautiful young lady with you."

Alec put his hand on Emma's waist and said, "This is Emmaline Burns. Emma this is Jo Bailey. The owner of the best ice cream place."

"Nice to meet you, Mr Bailey." Emma said in her clipped British voice with a smile.

"British are you? Always liked the English women. What with their strong accents and manners." Old Jo said much to Emma's amusement.

"Uh..." She started saying something.

"Now our Mr Bailey has always been a ladies man." Alec said.

Again Old Jo laughed loudly.

Alec said a quick bye to the old man and went towards the counter.

"Alec Carter?" Jo junior asked with disbelief.

"The same." Alec smiled.

"I didn't know you were in town. How have you been?" He said coming out from behind the counter and hugging Alec.

This is the thing of small towns.

Everyone knew everyone's business and everyone was glad to meet you.

"I've been great! Heard you took over the parlour?"

"Oh the old man needs to rest and as long as he works in the parlour he can't rest. So now I work and he sits there and orders me around."

They laughed.

Alec had been in the basketball team with Jo and they had always been good friends.

"This is Emma by the way." Alec said introducing Emma to him.

"Hello, ma'am! And what can I get you both?" Jo asked.

"I'll take my usual, cookie and cream cone. Emma?" Alec said.

"Umm... Strawberry?" She said.

In her beige ironed skirt suit she looked out of place in a colourful and fun place as the parlour. And she felt equally out of place.

"I'll serve it up in a minute." Jo said getting busy with the cones.

Alec turned towards Emma and said, "Why don't you go and catch a seat I'll get the ice cream."

Emma gave a parting look and walked in the direction of the empty booths.

The only booth that was empty was the one right next to old Jo's. As she took the seat, the old man started talking to her.

Emma winced and replied to him.

Alec laughed and turned back to the counter.

Now he could ask what he wanted to.

"Jo was Jade here a few minutes ago? I saw her leave but I didn't recognise the people she was with."

Jo turned around from the ice cream storage, "She was here with the twins."

"The twins?" Alec asked.

"Of I forgot you don't know. Nadia and Noah Bradshaw are Nicole and Jason Bradshaw's twins. They are three and notorious." Jo said.

"Jason and Nicole got married?"

"It's been 5 years now."

Alec was surprised at all the developments in the lives of his friends that he had missed out on in the last 8 years.

"That's a surprise." He made a mental note of calling up Jason the first chance he got and then continued, "And that guy?"

"Oh that was Matt Damon. He is the new doctor in town. Not so new anymore. It's been 4 years since he moved here." Jo said, "Here you go!"

Alec took the ice creams from Jo's hand and passed the money to him.

"Thanks Jo. By the way are they dating?"

Jo smiled.

Working at such a place which was frequented by almost everyone in town he knew gossip about everyone.

And he had been interrogated about people so often that he was quite used to it.

Guys asking about single girls. Girls asking about their ex's new girl. It was routine for him.

Jo placed his elbows on the counter.

"They were dating and I didn't hear anything about a break up. So I guess they still are." He shrugged. "Why don't you ask her yourself?"

"I'm going to do that. Didn't get a chance today." Alec said quickly.

"Okay. Enjoy!"

Alec smiled and took the ice cream to where Emma was sitting. She looked tortured.

Alec sat next to her and handed her the ice cream.

Old Jo stopped talking to Emma about the English women he had met in his youth.

Someone had ordered for Jo's special sundae and the old man started issuing orders to Jo who was making it.

Emma sighed and turned to Alec, "He can talk a lot!" She said.

"Oh yes he can!" Alec took his first bite of the ice cream and he remembered all those times he used to come here with Jade to have ice cream when they were small.

He had many memories in Millbrooke, that he had left behind.

And now that he was back those memories were not going to let him go easily again.

..............................

AUTHOR'S NOTE:-

Happy reading! xx