by Nicola May
Just as Lucas looked to Rosa in despair, they heard the sound of an ambulance siren.
‘I’d better go up and show the paramedics the way in.’ Kissing her own hand and pressing it gently on to Lucas’s forehead, Rosa ran carefully up the cellar steps and began to silently cry.
CHAPTER 20
‘So, run that by me again?’ The Managing Director of Costsmart Supermarkets noticed a dirty mark on his desk phone and started rubbing it off with his finger. ‘I’ve got the newspaper in front of me now.’
The voice on the other end of the phone replied: ‘I put in the bid for you as an independent purchaser. We make up some schmaltzy words, pick a charity involving animals and suggest a big donation – and if we also say we want to keep it as a pet store or similar, I reckon she will buy that.’
‘This all sounds great, but this Rosa Smith tart is no fool and she will know that we are a small but growing independent supermarket chain and she’ll tell us where to go.’
‘No, you’ve misunderstood me. What happens is that I take it on from the start when it’s all signed, sealed and delivered – then you buy it straight off me, for the amount I mentioned earlier. Plus you donate the charity money – although you can probably get away with not doing so, because I know that silly girl wouldn’t dream that anyone would not fulfil their promise.’ The caller sniggered derisively. ‘It’s a win, win.’
‘Now we’re talking business.’ The Costsmart man blew out a big noisy breath. ‘The locals won’t like it, mind.’
‘The locals will just have to get used to it. It’s the holidaymakers who bring in most of the money down here anyway, and you can just add some more bespoke farm-shop-type produce, so that you are not competing directly with the Co-op.’
‘I knew I met you in that bar for a reason.’ The supermarket boss went to take a sip of his coffee, but finding it cold, he put down his cup. ‘You didn’t mention that you’d run shops before though.’
‘That’s not the requirement, is it? But I’ve taken a few calculated risks in my time.’
‘OK. I need to do a bit of research and have a think. Let’s meet in a couple of weeks. Sorry, remind me, what was your name again?’
‘Let’s just say Frosty the Snowman from now on, shall we?’ said the voice.
The supermarket manager laughed superciliously, then hung up.
CHAPTER 21
‘Bloody hell, Mother, you scared the life out of me,’ Rosa squeaked. Mary had opened the front door of Seaspray Cottage in a tall witch’s hat, covered in fake cobwebs.
‘I thought you were a late trick or treater, that’s all,’ Mary said as Rosa went through to the kitchen and sat herself down at the table.
‘You’re very pale, daughter. What’s the matter?’ Mary thought the girl looked shattered.
‘Sheila’s dead.’ The words unleashed a torrent of tears.
‘What? How?’ Mary sat down next to Rosa. ‘I knew she was ill, but this all seems very sudden.’
Rosa blubbered her way through the sorry tale. ‘And…I know that we never really got on, but at the end of the day, I just saw a frail human being needing help. And now I feel guilty that I was so mean to her before.’ At this moment, Rosa felt for some reason that she must keep Sheila’s secret, as she had promised. Even from her mother.
‘Oh, Rosa. She hadn’t exactly been good to you, either. You just were there for that woman in her hour of need.’
‘I phoned Lucas a few days ago and told him that she was ill – I felt I should. Felt if it was you who was ill and I didn’t know, well, I would want to be aware of it. I know that Josh wouldn’t approve but, Mum, I had to.’ The word ‘Mum’ suddenly floated off her lips with ease. Before now, it had seemed too soft, too real, too intimate.
Hearing the word, Mary felt as if someone had just stroked her heart with a feather. ‘Josh is emotionally intelligent, Rosa, he would understand in this instance. He also knows that you are the kindest soul and I am more than proud to call you my daughter.’
‘And,’ Rosa wept again, ‘I love you so much, Mum, and I mean that.’
Mary sucked in her emotion in one huge gulp of air. She ruffled Rosa’s unruly curls. ‘And I love you too, missy, to the moon and back and with stars swirling around us.’
Rosa smiled through her tears. ‘That much, eh?’ Mary took another deep breath and nodded as Rosa continued. ‘Poor Lucas and Tom, they were obviously distraught. They felt so guilty, too, about not seeing her sooner, but she hadn’t let them know that she was so ill. Tom told me he saw her a month ago and she just said she had the flu.’
‘Then that was her decision and her own doing, Rosa. It is what she wanted. People will do what they want to do, however much you can tell them otherwise. We both know that from our own past mishaps with drinking and the like.’ Mary paused, then added with a naughty smile, ‘It’s quite apt for Sheila Hannafore to pass over on Halloween though. She’ll be coming back to haunt us forever now.’
Rosa managed another smile as Mary handed her some kitchen roll. Even Merlin was sitting quietly upright in Queenie’s armchair. The fire was offering a comforting glow and warmth. ‘Are her boys staying at the pub tonight, then?’ Mary asked.
‘I don’t know. Lucas messaged me from the hospital to say that despite every attempt to revive her, she had passed. He said that he would probably stay at his auntie’s in Exeter with Tom, but wasn’t sure. Are you still having your séance tonight?’
‘No. Edie has got a bad cold and cancelled – well, that’s what she told me – and Colette chickened out. Why? Do you want to do it with me?’
‘No, I don’t. Not now. That reminds me, I must text the boys to say I can’t help them clear up. I can’t face it.’ Rosa reached for her phone. ‘I do feel Queenie is with me a lot of the time, anyway.’
Mary put her hand on her daughter’s shoulder. ‘I think she’d be delighted that she was going to be a great-great-grandmother too, don’t you?’
‘Mum?’
‘You’ve just got the look. I know. Have you done a test yet?’
‘I was waiting. The longer I don’t come on, the more likely it is I am.’
Mary kissed the top of her daughter’s head. ‘You will do what you want to do too, my darling. And whatever that is, I will always be one hundred per cent behind you.’
CHAPTER 22
With Titch up to her eyes in baby teeth, puppies and wedding preparations, Rosa had told her to have a day at home to sort herself out. All the goings-on at the pub last night had got in the way of Rosa doing a pregnancy test, but was that still necessary? This morning she had woken up feeling slightly sick and with a sensation in her tummy that she had never felt before, so she was certain that something was happening down there. Unless it was due to the sheer number of ghoulish iced cakes that she had consumed in the café the day before.
She’d not heard anything from Lucas, but then why would she? Rosa thought. He’d have a lot on his plate, with a death to register and a funeral to arrange. Chief village gossip Edie Rogers, mother of Titch’s fiancé Ritchie, had reported that Luke and his brother Tom had managed to book rooms in a hotel in Polhampton, so she assumed they were still there.
Rosa was just cleaning the back kitchen when the shop bell rang.
‘I’ll be with you in a minute!’ she shouted through to the front. Hot poked his nose out from under his blanket to see who was there, then settled back down in his basket in the corner. Wiping her hands on a towel, Rosa came through and greeted the sun-kissed surfer dude.
‘I should have been cross with you, Scott Wilde, for telling the world that ownership of my shop is open to any bugger who wants it. But thankfully, that led to me having a serious think about how I could pass it on in a way that suited both my family and the community.’
‘Have you had many envelopes in yet?’
‘Not one. I guess people are considering their actions, or maybe there isn’t anyone out there who wants to take it on. Who knows?’
/> Scott laughed. ‘For one so streetwise, I don’t believe you see that happening. A free shop in this beautiful setting?’
‘It’s a massive decision if you are moving down here, and still a risk. I think people buy people, if you know what I mean. Somebody could take on this place and keep it running as it is, but they may not have the same impact as the delectable me, Hot and Titch greeting customers.’ Rosa smirked.
‘Look at you bigging yourself up, but yes, it’s not just the dog treats I’d be after if you weren’t already hitched.’ Rosa tutted at the cocky reporter as he went on cheekily, ‘If I wasn’t so ambitious about becoming a name in the media world, I might even consider making a play for it myself.’ He winked and clicked his tongue.
‘Have you not got work to do, Mr Wilde, by name and nature?’
‘Later I have, but for now I’ve got a date with a new señorita. I’m meeting her at the café, or should I say, your café in ten minutes.’
‘So – to what do I owe this pleasure?’
‘Oh, I was just checking in to say hello to the little Rich Bitch of the Bay and to see what was going on with the shop sale – not a lot, by the sound of it. C’est la vie.’
‘You’ll be the first to know – not.’
‘I know you don’t mean that. Watch out for charlatans, eh, though, Rosa. You never know who’s waiting in the wings to schmooze you without you being aware.’
‘Scott, with my background, I’d like to think I’d know if someone was trying to bamboozle me.’
‘That’s quite a word for a Monday. Even with my exemplary writing skills I’m not sure I know how to spell it. Have a good day, pal.’
Rosa became thoughtful as Scott sauntered off down the street. He didn’t miss a trick, and reminded her of Joe Fox with his duplicitous ways. How love had blinkered her then, but things had changed. Yes, without doubt she loved the Corner Shop and all it stood for, but she had vowed she would never be blind-sided like that ever again, in any aspect of her life.
CHAPTER 23
Rosa had taken a lot of care preparing for a FaceTime call with Josh that evening. She had borrowed a baby sleepsuit off Titch and spent ages sticking felt letters she had got from the craft shop in Polhampton on to it. It then took another age and more dog treats than were good for him, for Hot to be convinced that wearing such a thing around his bits was all in a greater cause. Fortunately, she had already relayed the sad tale of Sheila’s death by text message to Josh, so that she didn’t have to use precious call time with him on that sorry subject now.
‘You OK, wifey? Sorry about the noise, I’m walking to Midtown Manhattan for a meeting. Rosa, what have you been up to? You look a bit shifty.’
‘Shifty? I think not. How else do I look?’
‘Er, gorgeous, as usual. What’s going on with you, Rosalar? You’re being very strange.’
She disappeared off the screen for a second to hoist up a miserable-looking Hot. As a New York fire-engine siren blasted across the airwaves, making Rosa feel like she was immersed in some Hollywood movie, she held up the now struggling dachshund in his babygrow, which announced in multi-coloured letters WHO’S THE DADDY? Rosa had assumed that this would be a fun and wondrous moment in their lives: one which every mother-to-be dreams of when she announces her big news. However, she hadn’t reckoned with a dachshund’s digestion. The number of dog treats made a sudden and unwelcome reappearance as, with one huge, gulping retch, Hot proceeded to sick them up all over Rosa’s jeans and the iPad screen.
Josh was utterly bemused. Through the chaos of barking and noises of distress from Rosa, he said, ‘Bloody hell, Rosa, what’s happening – and why is Hot wearing that get-up? Hang on, don’t tell me – I need to cross the road.’ And on reaching the other side: ‘What did it say? I saw the words…’ Josh stopped and tried to work it out. ‘As in I’m Hot’s daddy? Or…’ His voice rose an octave. ‘Rosa, are you telling me what I think you are telling me?’
‘Yes, yes,’ Rosa gagged, ‘but I’ve also got Hot’s smelly sick literally all over me so I’m going to have to sort this and I will call you back straightaway, I promise.’
‘No, don’t go. You’ll have to get used to more than that all over you in nine months’ time. I love you so much, darling girl. When are you due? How are you feeling? And have you had any envelopes for the shop yet? I want to know it all!’
‘Josh, I’ve got to go. Ew, this stink.’ She gagged again. ‘Call me after your meeting. I’ll still be up, and we can have a proper chat then. I love you, Boo.’
‘Love you more and I take it I am the daddy?’ Another siren drowned out Josh’s laughter.
Feeling guilty for having subjected her beloved hound to such an ordeal, and rather glad he could only bark, not talk, so as not to report her to the RSPCA, she fussed Hot and gave him a bowl of fresh water. Then, wiping the lumps of sick off her jeans with a tea towel she went through to the lounge to open the balcony door for him, and to breathe in some fresh air. As she did so she noticed the security light coming on in the yard: somebody was entering through the back gate. There were only a few people who knew how to get in that way – and one of them was Lucas Hannafore.
Rosa shivered with the cold and slight trepidation as to what the handsome plumber might want. If he had taken advantage of her drunken state less than a year ago, then the question of: ‘who’s the daddy?’ really could have been debatable!
CHAPTER 24
‘You smell like a battered sausage,’ Titch whispered, as Ritchie, tired from his evening shift at the chip shop, appeared in the spare bedroom of her mum’s bungalow and kissed her on the cheek.
‘And how lovely to see you too, Tinkerbell,’ Ritchie smiled.
‘I honestly think all of my muscles have seized and I could well wet myself on standing, but I have had complete peace for two hours. I know I should have put him in his cot, but…’
Ritchie gently unravelled the sleeping child from his mother’s arms and, making soothing noises as he went, he tiptoed off to put little Theo down in his cot. Bringing a cup of tea back through for them both, he sat opposite Titch and stretched out his long, gangly limbs.
‘Your mum’s in bed early then?’ he asked.
‘Yes, thank goodness. It’s full-on soaps on TV tonight and you know how loud she has to have it. I so can’t wait until we can get our own place.’ The puppies carried on gently snoring either side of her legs.
‘Soon, it will be soon. Our savings pot is growing now. Let’s get married first and then in January, well, it’s my aim to get us out of here and into our own home.’
‘It’s such a shame re Rosa’s flat.’ Titch stroked the sleeping puppies gently.
‘Yes, but it is what it is. I felt a bit bad saying that Josh was stuck-up the other day, but nobody upsets my girl like that and Rosa has got to do what she feels is right. It’s up to her.’
‘Am I really that useless? I’m sure I could run the shop, you know.’
Ritchie jumped up. ‘Come here.’ He gently pulled Titch up by her hands and hugged her into him as tight as he could without suffocating her. ‘You, my gorgeous fiancée, are not useless at all. You could run that shop blindfolded. And the joy that you and that little man of ours gives me is insurmountable. You’ve given me a future that I could never have dreamed of, living down here. And if all five of us had to move into a tent on the beach, I’d still be the happiest man alive.’
‘You big softie you.’ Titch reached up to kiss him on the lips. ‘Let’s go to bed, it’s about time we loved each other properly. But do me a favour, Ritchie. Shower first – you stink.’
‘Ta-dah! I present to you one large, clean sausage ready for battering,’ Ritchie announced on entering the bedroom, one hand in the air, the other holding a red flannel over the huge erection he was going to reveal, like a waiter presenting a dish.
He let out a soft laugh. For there was his wife-to-be, butt naked aside one stocking and her sexiest bra, spread-eagled across the bed, face down a
nd snoring, with a baby dachshund on either side of her head.
As he went to gently pull the duvet up over her, he noticed that by her hand was a silver envelope, covered in gold stars. It wasn’t stuck down or addressed to anyone, and a piece of paper was poking out. With his ardour now fading and his curiosity getting the better of him, Ritchie pulled on his dressing gown and headed off to make himself another cup of tea. Seated at the kitchen table, he started to read his fiancée’s neat handwriting. She had outlined various bullet points.
• Name (To be confirmed)
• Charity – Sea & Save and £50 – or maybe that should be more? (will think of something I know she’d like here)
When he got to a bullet point entitled Why you should gift the shop to me Ritchie put his hand to his heart. It wasn’t a finished version, as there were crossings out and random words dotted about, but there was enough for him to get the gist and realise that his wife-to-be was just the most incredible woman. Being not only smart, funny, cute, quirky and a wonderful mother, he realised too, on reading this, just how incredibly generous she was, and kind in spirit.
CHAPTER 25
Lucas sat on Rosa’s sofa holding the can of beer he had brought with him. His eyes were red from crying; his body and soul exhausted with the shock and disbelief that only the grief of losing a loved one can bring. Rosa could see how hard he was trying to hold it together. As soon as she said the words, ‘All right, geezer?’ it was as if their cockney bond allowed him to let go and he began to sob like a baby.
She went to the bathroom to get him some loo roll to wipe his streaming eyes. Every time he tried to speak, off he’d go again. Hot just sat and stared at him, and as if feeling the young man’s pain, he began to make funny little whining noises. Rosa wasn’t sure whether to hug Lucas or not. In the end she decided on not; just sat beside him on the sofa with her hand on his shoulder. Taking the can of beer from him, she eventually spoke.