Page 100 of A Secret Cornish Wish
‘Er . . . ’ I’m torn. ‘You don’t have to get married if you love someone, not if you don’t want to. But until recently some people who have wanted to get married to each other haven’t been able to.’
‘Why?’
‘Because it was against the law. It’s only recently things have changed so that two men or two women are allowed to get married.’
Rosie thinks about this. ‘What does it matter if it’s a man and a woman or both the same? Love is love, isn’t it?’
I put my arm around her shoulders and give her a squeeze. ‘It is. Of course, it is. And it doesn’t matter who you love – if they love you back, it’s the most special feeling ever.’
‘Have you ever been in love?’ Rosie asks.
‘I have.’
‘But you didn’t get married?’
‘No.’
‘Why?’
I sigh. I thought Rosie had grown out of the ‘why?’ stage years ago.
‘Because we were far too young at the time. Now, shall we go and get a drink from the bar?’ I say, hoping she’ll forget about this line of enquiry.
‘Do you ever get too old to fall in love?’ Rosie continues as I guide her towards the bar.
‘No, of course not.’
‘I hope you fall in love one day, Mum, and that person loves you back. I’d like you to feel special again.’
I take a breath.How could the words of one so young be so very powerful?
‘That’s a lovely thought, my darling. But you are the only person I need to love right now. And as long as you love me back, that’s all that I need.’
Relieved that Rosie has stopped asking me difficult questions for a while, we queue up at the bar to get some drinks, and, as we wait, I notice a bit of a kerfuffle at the entrance of the restaurant.
I glance over to see what’s happening, and as I do I notice that everyone else in the room is looking too.
The other guests stare with excitement and interest at the famous film star who has just made an entrance to the party.
But all I see when I look at him – is Rob.
Twenty-Seven
Hurriedly, I turn back to the bar.
But all I can hear around me are whispers and low voices, interspersed with occasional words and phrases like, ‘movies’, ‘superhero’, ‘Danger Man’ and ‘looking older these days’.
I quickly order our drinks and then Rosie and I carry them over to a table where Alice and Claire are sitting with Mandy and another woman.
‘Mandy!’ I say at the same time as Mandy calls out to me.
‘Frankie, long time no see!’
Mandy stands up and after I’ve deposited our drinks carefully on the table, we give each other a hug.
‘You’re looking well,’ I tell her. The last time I saw Mandy in the flesh was ten years ago at her sister’s funeral, and understandably she looks a lot less fraught and worn today. In fact, she probably looks healthier than I think I’ve ever seen her before.
‘So are you,’ she says. ‘Hello, Rosie. Goodness, don’t you look like your mum did when she was younger.’
