Page 74 of In This Together

Beside his portrait was a picture of Seth with a group of other soldiers, sitting around on crates and folded out chairs, at what looked like an operating base. He had one knee bent up as he perched on a tower of crates with a guitar in his hands.

Moving to the shelves, she realised the music had been arranged in alphabetical order by artist. Someone had lovingly worked through the collection and sorted it this way. It must have taken hours and hours of time.

She slipped out a few records – Bob Dylan, Dean Martin, Dolly Parton, Frank Sinatra, Guns N’ Roses. It was quite a collection. Whilst she was hovering in the ‘G’s area of the shelves, she came across a record that stole her breath.Grace, a self-named title.

Taking the record from the shelf, she admired the close-up of the woman on the cover. Her roman nose and high cheekbones, her painfully exquisite smile that lit up her eyes, which were a reflection of Andrea’s and her long dark hair, the same colour as Sofia’s.

Settling into a high-back chair, she admired the image of Andrea’s mother until she was looking at it through wet eyes. How sad it must have been to lose her mother at such a young age. A space in her life that could never be filled. Rosalie had never lost any close relatives in her life, yet she could understand feeling like something, or someone, was missing.

‘Rosalie?’ Frankie called from somewhere in the distance. ‘You ready for beer and wings? I feel like my throat’s been cut here and the others are telling me I’ve got to be all chivalrous and shit.’

Rosalie chuckled. ‘On my way.’

She breezed onto the lawn towards the guys and the long table that was laid with food from the grill. ‘Looks yu?—’

Catching herself right at the last, Rosalie yelped when the heel of her shoe dug into the mud, making her stagger-stumble forwards.

‘Nice choice of footwear for the lawn there, pretty lady,’ Billy called out.

Tim appeared at her side. ‘Darlin’, I think I’ve got some spare boots from summer harvest that might fit you, if you like?’

‘Oh.’ Rosalie laughed off her tumble. ‘Not to worry. Us city girls can handle our shoes, Tim.’

Nevertheless, she was grateful for the arm he offered, linking him as he helped her to the picnic bench-style table.

Staring at the spare spot next to Seth, she contemplated how she was going to get her legs over the seat gracefully in her dress.

‘Need a hand?’ Seth said with irritation in his voice.

Rosalie wanted to stick out her tongue in response but refrained. ‘I’m fine, thank you,’ she said, bending to sit on the seat and pressing her knees together as she swivelled over the bench seat. ‘There. I’m in.’

‘Now that the lady’s here, let’s dive in,’ Tim said, lifting a plate of sweet-smoky wings from the centre of the table, holding them up for Rosalie in his red apron that readMy son is a rock star.

Rosalie stared at the plate, wondering how she was supposed to get the sticky meat to her plate, feeling all eyes on her.

Well, she could always wash her hands afterwards,she supposed, as she took two wings between her fingers and popped them onto her own plate. As she did, she told Tim, ‘You might need an apron that says mysonsare rock stars soon.’

He beamed like the proud father he was. ‘That I will, darlin’.’

Rosalie glanced to Seth, offering a smile, but got nothing in return, except the usual stone-faced Seth, as he seemed to be only with her.

Rolling her eyes, she picked up a wing and gently nibbled the food between her teeth, being careful not to mess her lipstick. Then the taste hit her tongue and, moaning, she wrapped her mouth around the chicken. Forgetting herself completely, she spoke through a mouthful of food. ‘Oh my goodness, Tim, these are soooooo good.’

As she bit hungrily into the wing again, all the men laughed. ‘Seriously, Billy, you’re going to love these. Dig in.’

‘Yes, ma’am,’ Billy said, as eager as Rosalie with his food. ‘Oh yeah, that’s good grill, sir.’

‘Tim, where did you learn to – Oh, pants!’ The wing she was holding slipped between Rosalie’s fingers, and as she fumbled to catch it, her elbow caught the edge of her plate and in a split second, two chicken wings covered in sauce had rolled down the front of her pink dress and landed in her lap.

Not knowing what to do, she stared down at her dress, open-mouthed. The stain would neverevercome out of the fabric.

‘Oh good Lord,’ Tim said, rushing to her and rubbing her dress with a cloth that spread the sauce further.

‘Oh hell,’ Tim said, pulling back in a fluster.

Right then, Billy laughed. Frankie laughed. Seth stifled a laugh, and Rosalie… well, what else was there to do than laugh with them.

Once their giggles had subsided, Seth stood and offered her a hand up. ‘Come on, I’ll get you some clothes of mine that might be more appropriate. You can throw as much food down them as you like, promise.’

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