Page 16 of Rescuing Rosie
‘Look – this is an important new direction for us,’ said Veronica. ‘I need to get our outdoor gear out there. I want Madison up high – I want people to know our clothes are the real deal.’
‘It’s a competitive market,’ said Ashley. ‘There’s three mountain gear shops in this village alone.’
‘That’s as maybe, but ours isn’t boring black, or dark green, or kill-me-now grey. It’s colourful and bright and just as well-made, if not better. Message being, why should good-quality outdoor clothing be dull as fuck?’
‘Also easier to spot if you get lost, I suppose,’ said Ashley, sounding a little more positive.
‘So let’s stop wasting time and get her to the shop so she can be fitted with boots.’
‘What about the others?’ asked Rosie. ‘Will everyone be climbing up there?’
‘Just Jono and you,’ said Veronica. ‘There are limits to my devotion to the brand. Kayleigh will do hair and make-up before you leave; Madison’s good at touching up as necessary, and Jono knows what I want.’
‘So,’ said Rosie to Ashley. ‘I’m to get the full Lake District experience after all!’
‘Yes – it’s lovely up on Loughrigg,’ he said. ‘And there’s an interesting cave on the way down – an old slate mine. You could get some good pics in there.’
‘We’ll go get your boots as soon as we’ve shaken off the gawpers,’ said Veronica. ‘The shop owner’s pretty excited to meet Madison.’
‘Which one?’ said Ashley. ‘There are two.’
Veronica at last cracked a smile. ‘The one who looks like Timothée Chalamet.’
Madison emerged, back in her lime-green activewear, her lips re-outlined in beige. ‘Who looks like Timothée Chalamet?’
‘The guy who’s about to fit you with a pair of boots for tomorrow’s shoot,’ said Veronica. ‘We’re going up a little hill with an awesome view that’s famous on Instagram. You on the top, your arms in the air. A sweeping fly past with the drone as you take your final steps to the summit.’
Madison was looking mutinous. ‘How high are we talking?’
‘A thousand feet,’ said Ashley, glancing at Veronica. ‘Or so.’
‘Athousand?’ said Rosie.
‘Minus the two or three hundred we’re already at,’ he added. ‘Seriously, Rosie, remember our conversation in the van?’ He smiled. ‘If the weather’s fine, you’re going to love it. You cankeep your massages and your yoga – see what a day on the fells does for your wellness. For yoursoul.’
‘Aday?’ said Veronica. ‘My research said ninety minutes round trip. We have lots to shoot indoors in the morning – yoga, the sand bath …’
‘Should be fine,’ said Ashley. ‘I can drive you to the start, pick you up after. And it doesn’t get dark until gone nine now. Your biggest problem is likely to be the zillion other walkers up there on a fine Sunday afternoon.’
Outside the gingerbread shop, chaos reigned. A panicked police officer was pleading with people to stay on the pavement while attempting to direct the traffic.
‘Madison’s on her way,’ called Guy to the crowd. ‘She’ll pose for a few selfies, but I’d ask you all not to push.’
‘We should’ve been informed–’ began the officer, but the rest of his words were lost as Madison appeared from the shop and a forest of phones rose to snap the star, everyone shouting her name.
Lucas was filming the people filming Madison, the star pouted and posed, while Veronica hollered into her phone. Things were getting wild; the police officer was barely keeping control. Rosie lost sight of Madison in the crowd of jostling fans, and wondered how many people it took to make a ‘crush’.
‘That’s enough,’ barked Veronica, pocketing her phone. She marched forward and somehow managed to extract Madison. ‘Pick us up from the boot shop in half an hour!’ she yelled to Ashley. Cocking her head at Rosie, she dragged Madison along the pavement towards a shop a few doors down where a man had appeared in the doorway, waving at her.Hill and Dale, Outdoor Gear,said the lettering above the frontage.
Madison and Veronica, followed by Rosie, sprinted to the shop and lunged through the doorway, the crowd in hot pursuit.The man quickly locked the door, shutting out the clamour, and flipped a sign toClosed.
He turned to them with a wide smile. ‘Well hello, ladies, and welcome to Hill and Dale,’ he said. ‘I’m the Dale part.’
Chapter Eight
Holy guacamole. That’s just not fair on a girl.
With his tousled dark curls, lofty cheekbones and a jawline sculpted by the gods, Dale reallydidlook like Timothée.
