Page 87 of One More Day
‘Yes, who did you think she was?’
‘Yourgirlfriend!’
‘Oh, Rose,’ I laugh, as her actions last night now begin to make sense. ‘No, she is my sister and she’s absolutely wonderful.’
I spin Rose under my arm and as she ducks under, her face lights up in a way I’ve never seen before. She throws her head back with a beaming smile as I pull her in towards me again and we waltz around the kitchen with the odd pause for me to move the food around the frying pan. When the music comes to an end, I expect Rose to rush away, but she doesn’t.
‘I must go now, Charlie!’ shouts Helena. ‘Mary is dying my hair today for Christmas and she’s waiting, but that was fun! Call me later!’
‘OK, I’ll call you later, bye Helena!’ I shout as Rose and I stand frozen, holding each other even though the music has now stopped and the only sounds are the sizzling of the frying pan from behind me on the cooker. Thank goodness it’s turned on very low.
Rose closes her eyes.
‘About last night,’ she whispers, running the tip of her tongue across her lips.
‘Yes?’
She breathes in and out so slowly now, I can see her chest rise and fall. Before she can continue, a loud knock on the kitchen window makes us both jump a few feet apart. I look out. It’s Rusty. Talk about bad timing. We fidget and fix ourselves like teenagers caught in the act, and if Rusty saw anything through the window, he doesn’t mention it.
‘I’ve been knocking on the front door a few minutes now,’ he says, coming in and standing by the kitchen door.
Rose looks like she might burst out laughing any second. I will too if I catch her eye.
‘Sorry, Rusty,’ I say, going back to the frying pan. ‘We were getting into the festive spirit. How are you?’
‘Have a seat. I’ll get you a cuppa,’ says Rose, already filling the kettle. ‘You must be freezing cold. Looks like we’re in for a white Christmas, eh?’
Rusty rubs his hands and blows into them, and George sniffs around and jumps up for attention, but it doesn’t faze Rusty at all. He pats the dog’s head as he speaks.
‘No thanks, love. I’m not staying. But speaking of Christmas, I come bearing good news for a change,’ he says, his eyes darting between Rose and me. ‘Your car is ready for the road again, Rosebud. The part arrived in yesterday’s post, and I’ve fitted it this morning so you’re free to go back to Dublin if that’s what you still want to do.’
He hands Rose the keys. She takes them as if she is handling burnt coals. I focus on the bacon and sausages in the frying pan and turn the heat down very low, matching the sudden dip in my appetite.
‘Gosh, thank you,’ she says after a brief silence. ‘I wasn’t expecting that at all. Gosh. Great news. Thanks, Rusty. Do you need a lift back to the yard?’
Rusty looks confused at Rose’s lack of delight. I feel her glance my way but I can’t look.
‘No, no, I’ve a young lad waiting for me in the pick-up,’ says Rusty. ‘He followed me here in your car. It’s not a day for driving, mind you, but I promised you I’d do my best to get you back on the road as soon as possible.’
Rose, realising he seems a bit deflated, springs into action and gives him a hug.
‘Thanks, cuz,’ she says, then she goes to the fridge and takes out her chocolate cake.
Rusty’s eyes light up. ‘Granny Molly’s cake?’ he says in surprise. ‘Did you make that? Ah, Rose.’
His eyes glisten as she wraps three large slices in tinfoil and hands them to him.
‘One for you, one for the lad outside and one for Marion. It might sweeten her up.’
She winks, then they both say in unison, ‘Heat it, eat it, and enjoy.’
They hug again.
‘It’s been so good having you here,’ Rusty says with a beaming smile. He rubs his ginger beard. ‘Granny Molly would be proud of you. She wanted this place to be for the whole family, not just mine.’
The penny drops now I hear that Rusty and Rose are related. The way she knew her way around the cottage fromday one. The tension with Marion, which must be from some sort of family dispute.
‘Thank you for putting your life on the line for me,’ Rose tells him, to which he chuckles in return. ‘How much do I owe you?’
