Having Abby on her side and always there to talk made an enormous difference to Rose’s state of mind. As though some of the burden and heartbreak had been shared, allowing space to breathe. To be able to get some perspective. Maybe it was having someone she could joke about things with and make light of the heartbreak that helped ease the pain. Or perhaps it was just not being alone with her thoughts, going crazy and not being able to vent.
Abby had upped a gear in keeping her friend occupied, and between work and her little friend, she was rarely lost for something to do. The days had flown by quicker, and thankfully run-ins with Rob had been non-existent for the past couple of weeks. He had thrown himself head-first into work and had gone on many trips. In a way, and this upset, it made Rose feel better, she was glad he wasn’t around to run into and wasn’t spending his time with Morag, but at the same time, she was broken over the fact that he was moving on with his life and didn’t seem to miss her at all. There had been no contact.
Her parents were arriving today, in time for the fete tomorrow, and to be honest, Rose was looking forward to their arrival more than she could ever remember. She had missed them more since moving here than she ever had in London, and when you were feeling low and vulnerable, you could use your parent’s cuddles. She put it down to the over-emotional rollercoaster ride she had been on lately and looked forward to seeing them.
They were booked into a small guest house a few miles away, as there was no longer a guest room in the cottage. She had offered them her room, and she would have taken the couch, but they refused. They wanted to visit in style and treat it like a proper holiday weekend. They had chosen a beautiful guest house with great reviews online, close enough to spend a load of time with Rose but far enough not to be breathing down on her the entire time they were here. She had to admit that she liked that idea more than cohabiting and being cramped up when she was still nursing a broken heart.
They finally arrived mid-morning and showered her with cuddles and kisses, admiring and complimenting the cottage as she showed them around and smothering Muffin in kisses. Muffin had been a gift from her mother when she had left to live in London. One of her mother’s own dog’s offspring, so they had a genuine love for the little fur ball. They loved seeing how much he had grown since the last time they saw him and always lavished him with treats, gifts, and another dog bed. This was as close to grandkids as her parents had, and it showed.
After the initial welcoming excitement had calmed down, tea and cakes consumed, and generally getting used to seeing one another again and catching up, they headed to town. They had planned to walk on this glorious day, the conversation never drying up where her mother was concerned. The sun was still high, but the heat became cooler as weeks passed. Soon it would be colder and darker, and winter would start moving in.
Her mother had brought her a beautiful sundress to add to her ever-growing collection, which she proudly wore. It floated around her legs as she walked in a beautifully subtle floral print on a buttercream base. It was strappy, floaty, and feminine, making Rose feel like a princess. A new dress could always lift her mood; her mother knew what she liked only too well, and it warmed her heart that she would still buy clothes for her.
They had left Muffin home chewing on a new pig’s ear and trying out his new fluffy, plumped dog bed with a matching blanket. They met Abby at the opening to the manor as planned, and together they all walked into town along the grass verge of the main road. As usual, the road rarely had much traffic and was a pleasant walk.
Her parents immediately adored Abby, finding conversation easy and quizzing the girl on her studies and home life.
Rose’s dad was a lot like Hamish Munro; he was large and grey-haired and loved to joke. Abby immediately struck up a great camaraderie; the pair had Rose and her mother in stitches as they arrived in the town centre. A shared sense of humour and irresistibly funny together.
Wandering into the centre of town to the desired destination, Rose took the lead, looking back towards her little brood as they continued to chat, right into Bella’s bakery. Turning to scope the tables for free seats, her face immediately fell as she was greeted by Rob and Morag standing at the counter, both backs to her and oblivious to her sudden appearance.
Here we go again!
She felt her insides droop. Morag had her arms entwined around Rob’s Left arm as he tapped his wallet on the counter. Distracted while she talked, he was looking straight ahead at the wall of prices and cake lists with a stance that suggested he was uptight. Probably a dreadful day at work or Morag giving him a hard time over something pointless. Rose’s stomach dropped, the colour instantly draining from her face and leaving an icy coldness to spread throughout her body.
Her sudden stop caused Abby to walk right into the back of her with a massive muffled ‘Ooooft’ noise, sending Ross sprawling forward and having to grab a nearby chair to steady herself. Rose’s dad laughed and skipped around the pair, pulling her mother out of the way to avoid a further collision and making it even more obvious they were all there. Rob turned, as did Morag, to see what the weird noise was.
Locking eyes for a mere second as she straightened herself up and fixed her twisted dress, she looked away. She headed towards the nearest empty table, hearing Abby awkwardly introducing her brother to Rose’s parents. Rob’s smooth, charming voice and easy manner as her parents warmed up to him gave absolutely nothing away, and even Abby sounded convincingly normal.
Way to go, Laird!
She had known they would instantly love him. It had been inevitable, and today was the last thing she could deal with. Morag’s high pitch purr was in full swing as she managed to sound very much like the lady in control, the one Rose had met at the museum so long ago. Mask fully stuck on today, then.
Rose bit her lip, unable to turn around, but instead started to lay her bag on the chair and pull seats out for her family. Concentrating on breathing and keeping her legs from buckling under her. Seeing him was one thing, but seeing him with a serpent wrapped around his body was unbearable. Rose hated that even after a couple of weeks, she still went to pieces in his presence.
Abby appeared immediately, trying to catch her eyes and smiling to cover Rose’s obvious loss of mood as she, too, slid off her bag, propped it on one of the seats, and moved the menu cards off the table. Her parents were at the counter with Rob and Morag, ordering coffee and cakes, completely oblivious to anything happening before them.
‘Smile, sit up and dazzle.’ Abby warned under her breath and kept her eyes firmly on Rose so that she could glance over her head at the group behind.
‘Easier said than done.’ Rose whispered back, aware her cheeks were heating, and her hands had started to tremble.
‘Go to the ladies’ room and powder your nose. Take a minute to gather yourself.’ Abby smiled softly, eyes motioning widely that she had a chance to escape for a minute before they came over.
Rose sent her a silent thank you before retreating to the lady’s room to pull herself together and take deep breaths with her head between her knees. Her hands were shaking. Her skin had lost all colour.
Damn her for leaving her bag and blusher compacts out at the table.
Instead, she patted cool water on her face and tried to pinch some blush back into her cheeks, bringing back some much-needed colour to them and smoothing back the wild look as best as she could.
Upon emerging from the bathroom, Rose groaned inwardly. Her parents had convinced Rob and Morag to sit at the table next to theirs or followed him to sit down and were all chatting warmly. Abby looked agitated, tapping her foot against the leg of the table and casting Rob some crazy looks. Silent scorn that either he was expertly ignoring or wasn’t seeing. Like some scene from a cheesy soap, she was urged to return to the bathroom and stay there.
Shit, shit, shit.
Rose, taking one last calming breath and plastering a fake smile, ventured out and sat next to Abby as casually as she could muster. Aware that this meant her seat was directly in line with Rob’s, making them close enough to touch if she moved too far back or to the side. She felt awkward and wanted the floor to open up and swallow her whole.
This could only happen to her.
She felt eyes on her as she settled herself and fixed her dress but didn’t dare glance up to look. She could feel the heat coming from his side and smell the familiar scent as she tried to focus on her mother and keep up with the conversation.
Her mother was engaged with extreme interest in a topic with Morag, something to do with her museum and some ancient Scottish relic. Her mother, an ex-history teacher, was lapping it up and looked like she wouldn’t let the woman leave anytime soon. Rose was impressed that she had managed to engage that woman in any form of conversation if she was being honest. She was not the overly chatty type and had given Rose the impression that she didn’t like women at all in the past.
If only her mother knew what a traitor that made her.
Her father engaged Rob in a conversation about the estate and tomorrow’s fete while Abby threw worried glances at Rose and tried to signal her silently.
How could he just sit there? So normal and unaffected. Relaxed and sociable, acting as if nothing had ever happened between them?
Abby, silent and broody, was again sending some subliminal messages to her, but she could not think straight. Turning the silver ring on her finger and trying to look interested. Trying to act unaffected. She was trying to behave in a normal manner, as though she was merely listening to the conversation and not on the verge of an all-out emotional meltdown
The girl at the counter shouted Munro and Turner, signalling both their orders were ready, and Rose jumped up.
‘I’ll get it, Dad. You sit right there.’ She gushed a little too enthusiastically and sped to the counter, hoping to make it before Rob even got up.
Rob, unfortunately, was almost as fast as her, got up and followed her a little too closely. Aware of him behind her, she wanted to run, but that would have been ridiculous.
The two trays of cups and plates with steaming liquid and delicious pastries were slid in front of them as they stood side by side, reaching the counter together. They were close enough to hear each other breathe, but a hairline crack in the distance between them, so they did not touch. Rose kept her eyes front and centre even when he leaned in close, reaching for his tray, brushing his tanned arm against her naked skin. She bit her lip, unable to move until he had stepped back and grabbed her tray. Her hands were shaking so badly she knew she could not lift them. She wanted him to return to the table, but she could still feel him behind her, close enough to feel his breath near her hair.
What was he doing? Watching her?
‘I’ve got it, Rose.’ His voice was right behind her and tickled her hair.
He reached around her, taking the tray with one hand. Once again, their skin met softly, lifting it over her head expertly and steadily. She hated that it left a lingering warmth on her arm, something else to torture her mercilessly.
One tray balanced precariously in each hand, he threw her an unreadable look and smile and gestured they go back to the table with a head nod. She followed like a dumb, mute puppy dog. Walking behind him the short few steps and taking in his broad back, soft t-shirt and jean-clad rear. She wanted to cry.
Sliding the trays onto the two tables, he was standing in her way, so she could not sit but had to wait. Like some naughty schoolgirl outside the head office, unsure how to act or what to do, she fidgeted with her ring once again. He moved aside, stopping to pull out the chair he had pushed in when putting their tray down. She avoided his eye contact, sliding into the chair and avoiding another touch, fearing she may cry as he gently pushed her back in.
This whole scene felt so surreal. Like she was in some weird dream, melted clocks and flying pigs should float by any minute.
Abby was unreadable. A dark look in her normally glittery green eyes.
Seems she has Rob’s great skills there.
Morag and her mother still monopolising the conversation and had moved to Robert Bruce’s era.
For the love of god, mother! Realise this Satan’s beast is the enemy and set her free!
Her father joked about Rose as she tuned back in, realising he was talking to Rob about her. Her mother reminisced about some vague memory of Rose when her aunt had owned the cottage. Some affectionate childhood stories in which Rose starred in all her youthful cuteness. Abby had joined in, ignoring Morag, who had finally shut up and was listening with a bored expression.
Rose just cringed.
For god’s sake. Could this be any worse?
She felt his chair shift forward, so he could better look at her father, who was interested in what he had to say. This meant he casually leaned in and rested his arm across her chair. His forearm grazed her exposed back and shoulder. She froze at the sudden electric touch, finding words hard to form as she tried to answer something her mother had said. She was looking at her expectantly as though she had asked something of Rose. She had no clue and had been out of whack with the entire conversation, only aware of his proximity and what it was doing to her. It was sheer agony.
Grabbing her mug, she instead took a mouthful of coffee, trying to drown it out, nodding and shrugging simultaneously, hoping it answered her mother. She used eating her pecan pastry as an excuse to stay zoned out and try and ignore his constant skin-on-skin heat. She wasn’t even hungry, but it was better than nothing.
‘Seems she always liked rambling in the gardens then.’ Was all she heard in that familiar deep tone, and she turned around rapidly, catching the devilish look in his eye. She was suddenly aware that they were regaling the night of her disappearance after the ball. Morag was glaring at her nails, her mouth pursed tight and tapping her foot against her other leg in an irritated fashion. Her temper was simmering beneath those glittering, narrowed eyes.
At least there was some good coming from this meeting. Morag’s irritation.
His arm came up and around her front unexpectedly, across her chest, squeezing her as he continued. It was an easy, nothing sort of gesture but was devastating to her, and her breath caught in her throat, causing her face to immediately flame.
‘Scared the crap out of us, and really, all she was doing was napping in the rose bushes, like some Disney princess.’ He laughed, his voice and closeness tickling her hair and neck, making her crazy.
Her father erupted in laughter, claiming ‘like mother, like daughter’ as Rob returned his arm to its previous position. Maybe also aware of the heat growing between them at the slightest touch.
What in the actual hell was he doing? In which world did he live?
Laying his hands on her so effortlessly. Sitting cosying up to the parents of the girl whose heart you have broken. Your mistress. Non-mistress. Whatever the hell she was, sitting there fuming. No sense that this was the most uncomfortable awkward situation ever.
She felt her temper rising both at being the topic of conversation and by the absurdity of it all. She pushed her chair back, giving off a loud scrape and knocking his arm off ungraciously.
‘Mum, I’ll be back in a few minutes. I need to get something from around the corner... A book! I forgot I said I would pick it up from Mary’s bookshop today.’ She tapped her watch, trying to be convincing. Her mum looked surprised and raised an eyebrow but nodded with a smile as Rose excused herself, avoiding Rob’s eye and slid out from behind the table. Abby started to come, but she gestured not to. She sat back down, lifting her phone and giving Rose a look that she understood.
‘Pass my bag, mum. I need the receipt in case the other girl is on the desk instead.’ Rose smiled calmly, hiding her eternal wall of pain and needing her bag to get her phone.
Her mum passed her the bag, and she turned, walking out quickly before anyone else could delay her; she needed space. She didn’t care what it looked like to him. She just needed to get away from that completely absurd scene, away from the proximity of him and his arm against her back.
Hauling out her phone, she texted Abby that she needed a few minutes to clear her head and not to worry. The air felt good, and to avoid truly lying to her parents, she ducked into the bookshop and began looking for a title she would normally buy.
She was shaking all over. Feeling the rising knot in her stomach as she tried for the millionth time in the last few weeks to calm the inner storm.
Deep breaths, Rose. Deep slow, and steady. Feel the air around you and nice, calm, steady breaths.
Pulling a random art book from the shelf, she headed to the counter and paid for it without really opening it.
‘I’ve suggested we take a walk.’ The text beeped.
‘Soon as you get back, we leave, okay?’
She loved Abby. She replied with an Okay.
‘Told them I felt a bit queasy in here. Ughhh!’ even Rob believed me, although he has gone into protective brother mode and offered to drive me home.
‘Okay, Ab’s, I’m coming now. xx
She knew she could count on her favourite girl to rescue her, and upon returning, she did not even have to venture inside far. Abby was hauling them out, yelling goodbyes to the unwanted’s and pushing Rose back into the street in a rather unsophisticated fashion. Mumbling curse words under her breath and masking them with a huge smile. Her cheekiness, as always, brought Rose back to a happier place.
Her parents did not seem any wiser to the craziness that had just gone on before them, and scooping her book from her hand, her mother admired her choice. Rose smiled, faking interest in the artist and some vague reason she wanted it. Noticing it was a contemporary artist, and almost frowned that she would even buy it, but her mother didn’t seem to notice.