Page 6 of One More Day
I pause, and then I just go for it.
Please can I stay in the cottage over Christmas? From tomorrow?
If you say yes, I’ll be eternally grateful. I promise you won’t even know I’m there. But if you say no, I will totally understand.
Anyhow, I hope you’re all OK and have a great Christmas either way. Love always. Rose
I press send and feel a rush of heat through my veins. I hug George closer and shut my eyes tight, urging myself not to hold on to the sliver of hope he’ll say yes.
He might just ignore me. I wouldn’t blame him if he did. In fact, I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t be wanted there, not in a million years.
I take George outside for a pee. I boil the kettle. I pop in some toast. I walk back into the sitting room and before I sit down, my phone bleeps. I catch my breath. I’m almost afraid to check. Could it be him? Has he replied to me already?
He has.
Wow. This is unexpected, he writes back. I was just about to fall asleep, but I’m glad now that I checked the phone first.
It is unexpected tometoo, as is his friendly, speedy reply. My eyes fill up.
I read on …
I’ll leave the key under the mat for you but don’t tell anyone, OK?
And please drive safely, Rose. It gives snow by tomorrow evening. I’ll try to see you if I can get to the cottage without anyone noticing. Oh, and don’t tell a soul you’re coming here. Please. Not a soul. I’m looking forward to seeing you again. It’s been way too long.
Am I crazy? One minute I think I’m seeing Michael in a hotel lobby and next I’m asking to stay at Seaview Cottage for Christmas over three hours away when it’s threatening to snow.
‘George, come here to me. We’re going to the most special place in the whole world,’ I tell my dog as I stare wide-eyed into space and let it sink in. George whimpers back as if he understands. ‘I’m not sure I deserve this, but he said yes.He said we can go to Seaview Cottage for Christmas. Oh, George.’
With a fresh wind in my sails, I quickly type back a response before he has the chance to change his mind. My fingers move like lightning, tears rolling down my face.
I’ll keep out of everyone’s way. No one will know I’m there, I promise.
Thank you so much. It will be just me and my dog. Did you even know I have a dog? We have so much to catch up on, but only if you want to, of course. I’ll see you tomorrow, I hope. Oh, I can’t wait. You’ve no idea how much I need this. Well, maybe you do. Anyhow, thank you. Thank you!
I’m going to Seaview Cottage for Christmas. I won’t believe it until I get there.
Nine Days to Christmas
Chapter Two
Charlie
‘I’m going,’ I say out loud to absolutely no one listening. ‘No matter how many times she calls me to convince me otherwise, I’m going.’
So now I’m talking to myself. Wonderful.
Helena has already sent me a grand total of five messages this morning from the new phone I bought her as an early Christmas present.
Six, if I include the meme she sent of a cute cartoon puppy in a Santa suit with giant eyes crying up into the camera lens. I do my best not to encourage her by replying, but a claw of guilt tugs at me from the inside, reminding me I’m all she has.
I push back my overgrown hair, which according to Helena makes me look like a seventies rocker. I’m never quite sure what way to take that. As much as I do love her, the way she has an opinion on absolutely every move I make can be a hard pill to swallow.
What are your plans today?she messaged at 6 a.m. before I’d barely opened my eyes.
Did you sleep well? I didn’t.
Are you still leaving today, Charlie?
