Page 56 of One More Day
I wonder if she has eaten much today. She doesn’t seem to eat a lot or cook a lot either for that matter. She seems tolive on toast and ready meals, and the longer we share this cramped space, the more I wonder what’s really going on in her world.
Here we go again, Charlie. Just butt out and mind your own business. It was your big idea not to speak to each other as far as possible, so don’t go breaking the rules after you’ve set them. You always want to have it both ways, but that’s not how life works. You must choose one way or the other, not have your cake and eat it too.
As I hear Clodagh’s taunting and mocking voice in my head, I can’t help but toss around possibilities as to why Rose was so upset earlier when she returned to the cottage in such a state.
Maybe I should have made more of an effort to speak to her instead of pretending I couldn’t tell she had been crying and going back to my cooking? But she didn’t exactly leave me much room or time to communicate. She didn’t seem in the mood to talk to anyone, never mind me and my texting rules.
Regardless, I’ve left a chicken casserole in the oven with a note on the fridge whiteboard to help herself should she decide to come downstairs at any stage of the evening, though I’ve a feeling she won’t. That’s if she’s even here at all.
I go to the door half expecting to find her there, but instead I’m greeted by a woman who is almost unrecognisable with her raincoat hood up and a scarf that covers most of her face. She pulls it down to greet me.
It’s Marion.
‘Sorry to bother you, Charlie, but I was passing by, and I just wanted to make sure you’re settling in well. Do you need anything?’
Passing by?No one ‘passes by’ Seaview Cottage unless they’re heading towards a dead end or a field full of sheep.
‘Hello, Marion. Gosh, come in out of the rain. It’s lashing down,’ I say, standing aside. Marion seems glad of the offer.Where the hell is Rose in this weather?
‘Sorry to disturb you.’
‘Not at all,’ I reply. ‘Come in by the fire. I was just reading and chilling out – and to be honest I’d no idea it was such a treacherous night outside. How are you?’
Marion’s eyes glance around the living room which makes me glad I did a quick tidy up earlier. Sleeping in the bedroom upstairs is one thing but camping out in the sitting room and trying to keep it relatively tidy isn’t quite so easy. I think back to the first day I saw Rose’s tornado effect on the living room and can understand why it looked that way. I wonder where she is.
I see my phone light up where it sits on the arm of the chair and I know it’s rude, but I lift it to see if it’s a reply from Rose. Surely she isn’t out there wandering around in the rain again? She has no vehicle, so wherever she is, she’s on foot.
But it’s not Rose. It’s Helena. It’s another missed call, which makes seven from her today.
‘Now, I really don’t want to intrude on your time here, Charlie, and I wouldn’t have come inside at all if it wasn’t raining so heavily outside,’ Marion continues.
I put the phone down and give her my full attention to see her eyes now squinting slightly when she sees the pile of blankets and a pillow stacked on one end of the sofa. She seems puzzled.
‘So, is everything in working order for you? Do you have enough . . ?’
I wait for her to finish.
‘Enough?’
She doesn’t answer, but instead her eyes seem stuck on my makeshift bedding and they won’t seem to pull away.
‘I was going to ask if you were OK for firewood and …’
‘Yes?’
‘Is the bed upstairs OK, Charlie?’
‘The bed? Yes, it’s very comfortable. It’s perfect. Why do you ask?’
‘Good,’ she replies with a frown. ‘Sometimes the cottage does get a little damp and cold at this time of year, but I hope you’d say so if that’s the case?’
I go to open my mouth to explain but something tells me to pause and think on my feet. She thinks I’m sleeping on the sofa out of choice … oh dear. The penny drops in my head.
She doesn’t know Rose is staying here. Rusty hasn’t told her.
‘No, no, the cottage isn’t damp or cold at all,’ I say quickly, staring now too at the blankets and pillow. ‘You see, well … well, I fell asleep by the fire last night with old Max at my feet, so I just thought it might be best if I was prepared in case it happens again tonight. It’s a very cosy room.’
I don’t want to get involved in Rusty’s marital disputes, but I feel a strange urge to protect Rose, which surprises me. Marion throws her head back and then nods as if it all makes total sense now.
