Page 20 of Bed of Roses

Thursday morning, I was busy restocking the diapers when I heard a knock at the door. I was trying to get everything organized before I returned to work on Monday. Haz was doing well, but she was still physically recovering, so I wanted to make her life as easy as possible. Before I got to the living room, Haz had already answered the door. A tall, professional-looking woman in a cream suit stood there. She looked to be in her 50s, graceful and elegant.

“I am so sorry to interrupt you, but I think we need to have a talk. Blake, is it?” she said, bypassing Haz to look at me.

I had a bad feeling about this.

“Yes, I’m Blake,” I moved forward, nudging Haz behind me as I stood in front of the door.

“I’m Loretta, Rose’s mother. I was wondering if I could talk to you for a few minutes. Inside,” she said, motioning toward our living room.

Hell no.

“No, I think at the door is fine,” I stated firmly. Coldly.

“Look, I know Rose has caused you issues. I’m only here because I wanted to warn you. She’s not well. The night Colin died, I stayed with her. She has a nursery set up, all in pink with bear decals. I’m trying to get her help, but you should know, she hasn’t moved on. I don’t like that you led my daughter on, and I don’t know what your problem is to be misleading young women, but I’m also a mother and I’m worried for your baby. I don’t think Rose would hurt an infant, but she has some pretty strong delusions,” she finished.

Holy fuck. A nursery? When would the fallout from my fuckery end?

Harriet gasped softly behind me.

“Thanks for letting me know. Why aren’t you getting her help? There’s nothing I can do beyond look out for my family.”

“I’m trying,” she snapped. “She apparently hasn’t done anything to warrant a forced admission, but I’m working with my sister, she’s a psychiatrist, to help her. I don’t need your fucking advice. I’m doing you a community service even being here.”

“Message received. Surely Rose is moving out?” I asked.

“I’m not sure. Colin’s will won’t be dealt with until next week, but my guess is he’s leaving it to Rose. I know he changed his will when she moved in, and she is his only child,” she snapped. “I’m watching her but can’t be here 24/7. I have a life too.”

“Right.” I shut the door in her face. I didn’t want to cut off contact with the only woman who seemed to be trying to deal with psycho Rose, but I wasn’t about to let another person into my fragile relationship.

“The hits just keep on coming,” Harriet said angrily.

“I know, I know. I’ll put off my work return date until we know if she’s staying or going,” I offered.

“You can’t do that. Mick is working too many hours as it is, and you’re still drawing a wage from his hard work. I’ll be fine. I’ll keep the doors locked and if I leave the house, I’ll give Jacqui a heads up so she can watch me leave.”

I felt horrible. This was a fucked-up situation. My wife couldn’t leave the house without supervision. She couldn’t put Immy in her stroller and take a walk up the street like any new mother with cabin fever should be able to, and it was all my stupid fault.

“Okay, but I’ll stick to the local jobs, and you can call me at any time,” I commanded.

“Fine.”

Immy’s cries through the monitor broke our concentration and Haz moved to go and get her. “I’ll do it,” I said, already on my way to her room. Even Colin’s death hadn’t solved the Rose drama. It seemed to have reinvigorated it by bringing hard-faced Rose Senior to our door. I wasn’t comfortable with the thought of leaving Haz in the house while I was at work, but unless Rose moved, and movedfar, far away, our only other option was to move ourselves. I had never raised that possibility with Haz. She loved this house, but I’d wrecked her sense of security. She no longer felt safe here. Even if Rose disappeared into the crazy woman sunset, there would always be the memories here of this fucked-up six months.

I had no idea what I was going to do.

Chapter 19. Harriet - Creepy stares

After the visit from Rose’s mother, I had a very difficult week. Even when Immy was asleep, I couldn’t sleep. I began crying at stupid things, and sniping at Blake even more. Belle gently suggested I might need some help. When she told me that, her face was hesitant, like she thought I’d lash out. That worried me because I’d never lashed out at Belle. I must be a raging ball of emotions for her to be so reluctant to talk to me about that. That day, I booked myself into counseling. I was living in fear of Rose. I was constantly exhausted and would snap between wanting to be kind to Blake and wanting to rip his head off.

Shelley, the counselor, was so nice. She didn’t think I had postpartum depression but was very concerned I was heading there. We spoke about everything, and I left after the first session feeling hope. We’d met twice since then; I’d committed to weekly counseling, and she suggested that when I felt ready, I could bring Blake in for a session so we could talk calmly about everything.

Belle was amazing. She visited, she called, and she always listened. She sent me funny mothering memes randomly through the day. When she called yesterday, she asked me if I wanted to go with her to visit her parents for the weekend. They lived only a few hours away and they were dying to meet Immy. Blake was encouraging and thought it would be good for me to take a break. He knew Belle and her parents would spoil me and help with Immy, and was hopeful that I might actually get some sleep.

So, here I was, waiting in the living room with my cases and Immy in her carrier waiting for Belle to arrive. She was coming here but we’d take my car to her parents because it had Immy’s seat in it. Belle insisted she would drive, relegating me to DJ duties. I was so excited. I felt like a kid waiting to be picked upfor a birthday party. Immy had been fed and changed, so I was hoping we could make the drive without having to stop.

I heard a car horn and made my way outside. Belle ran up the path and grabbed my cases, while I carried Immy. “Mom is so excited. She’s made you your favorite cookies and Dad has bought four varieties of wine in case your taste has changed.” Rod and Jane were so sweet. They’d been like parents to me since I’d met Belle and I was thrilled that they were about to meet Immy.

Belle was packing the car and I was clipping Immy in when my spidey senses began to tingle. I pushed in the last clip and stood up. Rose was at her front door, just staring. First at me, then at Belle. She stared at Belle for some time. My friend could obviously sense the weirdness too because she looked up from the trunk and stared directly back at Rose. Neither of them broke eye contact. It began to get creepy.

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