Love, Rosie

by Cecelia Ahern

  Rosie: Oh very snazzy! I love that hotel!

  Ruby: I know, I think he’s on the fiddle again. Honestly you would think he’d know the gardai are watching him after he’s just got out of prison. Some people never learn.

  Rosie: Oh well, would you rather change it to Saturday night then?

  Ruby: No! Will you collect me from the hotel and we can head to the pub together?

  Rosie: Why don’t I just wait for you at the pub?

  Ruby: Because. If you come and meet me then they’ll know that I actually do have plans and that I’m not lying and trying to get away from them. Besides if you’re not there to drag me away they’ll never let me leave.

  Rosie: I don’t want to get stuck talking to Teddy’s brother though. The last time I met him he tried to put his hand up my skirt.

  Ruby: He had only been out of prison a few days though Rosie, you can understand how he was feeling.

  Rosie: Whatever. When I turn up, we’re gone. Out of there.

  Ruby:Absolutely, like a flash.

  Rosie: So what time should I pick you up?

  Ruby:8p.m.

  Rosie: 8p.m. are you joking?! What time does it start?

  Ruby:7:30p.m.

  Rosie: Ruby! You’ll have to stay a lot longer than that! I’m not arriving to take you away after only a half an hour; everyone will think I’m so rude! I’ll come at 9:30p.m. At least that way you’ll have two hours.

  Ruby:No! You have to come at 8p.m.!

  Rosie: Why?

  Ruby: Well, for one thing the party is in the penthouse suite of the Berkeley Court Hotel.

  Rosie: Oh my god why didn’t you just say so? I’ll be there at 7:30p.m.

  Ruby:No! You can’t!

  Rosie: What is wrong with you, why can’t I?

  Ruby: Because you’re not invited and they’ll think you’ve a cheek just turning up like that. If you come at 8p.m. you can quickly see the place and then leave.

  Rosie: But I want to stay at the penthouse. Have you any idea how much that would mean to me?

  Ruby: Yes I do . . . but I’m sorry you can’t stay. Anyway once you meet the rest of Teddy’s family you’ll want to leave straight away.

  Rosie: OK fine but I hope you know that you’re breaking my heart and I don’t care what you say, anything in the bathrooms that isn’t stuck to the floor is going in my handbag. Actually I think I’ll bring my camera!

  Ruby:Rosie, it’s a birthday party. I’m sure lots of people will have cameras.

  Rosie: Yes I know but I’ll take some photos for Katie too. She’d love to see what it looks like. I was hoping she would be able to come over but she can’t. Bless her she works so hard. It’s her 21st birthday a few weeks after me and I was hoping we could celebrate it together but unfortunately it’s not to be. Mum is going over to stay with Stephanie again so she’ll miss it as well. I was a bit upset about that but she’s been so ill lately I didn’t want to cause a fuss. I was just glad she said she wanted to go somewhere, even if it was on my birthday.

  So it will just be you and me once again, but at least this year I’ll get to sneak a peak at the penthouse suite! I’ll steal a few ideas for my own hotel. What a treat!

  Ruby: Looking forward to seeing the look on your face when that happens, Rosie. See you at 8p.m., room 440.

  PENTHOUSE SUITE

  440

  SURPRISE ROSIE!

  HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROSIE & KATIE!!

  Happy 40th Rosie,

  I had a wonderful weekend at your party, we really did surprise you, didn’t we?! It broke my heart pretending to you that I was staying with Stephanie but it was worth it to see the look on your face (and the tears in your eyes). Alex arranged the entire thing. He’s a lovely, lovely man Rosie. Shame about the wife though, I always thought you and he would get together when you were children. Silly isn’t it?!

  Anyway thank you, thank you, thank you for being a wonderful daughter and for all of your help over the past few years. Your father would be proud of you, I’ll be sure to tell him all about you when I see him!

  You are a beautiful young woman Rosie Dunne, your father and I did well!

  Lots of love, Mum

  CHAPTER 48

  HAPPY 70TH MUM!

  YOU MADE IT TO THE BIG 7-0 AND YOU LOOK AS BEAUTIFUL AS EVER! WE’LL HAVE YOU OUT OF HOSPITAL AS QUICK AS WE CAN; IN THE MEANTIME HERE ARE SOME GRAPES TO MAKE YOU FEEL REALLY SICK!

  LOVE YOU ALWAYS AND FOREVER MUM.

  LOVE,

  ROSIE

  Hi Kev. Steph here. Can’t get you on the phone. You might want to come to Connemara now. It’s time.

  Hi love, get in touch with ur dad ASAP. He’s booked u a flight home 2morrow. I know it’s short notice but Grandma has been asking 4 u. Kev will collect u from airport t bring u here. C u 2morrow.

  Love mum.

  Dunne (nee O’Sullivan) (Connemara, Co. Galway and formerly Dundrum, Dublin 10)

  -Alice beloved wife of Dennis and loving mother of Stephanie, Rosie, and Kevin; will be missed by her grandchildren Katie, Jean-Louis, and Sophia, son-in-law Pierre, brother Patrick, and sister-in-law Sandra. Removal at 4:45p.m. today from Stafford’s Funeral Home to Oughterard Church, Connemara. May she rest in peace.

  “Ar dheis lamh De go raibh a anam uasal.”

  THIS IS THE LAST WILL dated the 10th day of September, 2000, of ALICE DUNNE

  HEREBY REVOKING all former Wills and Testamentary Dispositions made by Alice Dunne.

  If my husband survives me by thirty days I GIVE, DEVISE, AND BEQUEATH the whole of my estate to him and appoint him my executor. If my husband does not survive me by thirty days the following provisions shall apply:

  1. I APPOINT Rosie Dunne (hereinafter called “my Trustee”) to be executrix and trustee and appoint her trustee for the purposes of the Settled Land Acts, Conveyancing Acts and Section 57 of the Succession Act.

  2. I GIVE, DEVISE, AND BEQUEATH to my Trustee the whole of my estate upon trust to sell the same (with power to postpone such sale in whole or in part for such time as they shall think fit) and to hold the same or the proceeds of sale thereof on the following trusts . . .

  You have an instant message from: STEPH

  Steph: How’s my baby sister holding up?

  Rosie: Oh hi Steph. I’m not sure. There’s an eerie silence in my world these days. I find myself switching on the TV and the radio just to fill the background. Katie had to head back to work; people have stopped ringing and calling around to offer their sympathies. Everything is calming down now and I’m left with this silence.

  I’m not quite sure what to do with myself on my days off now. I’m so used to hopping on the bus and traveling over to Mum in the west. Life is strange now. Before even when she lay in bed looking frail and weak she still managed to make me feel safe. Mothers do that don’t they? Their very presence can help. And even if I ended up mothering her in the final days, she still was taking care of me. I miss her.

  Steph: I do too and at the oddest times too. It’s only when you get back to the normal routine of life that you really feel it. I keep on having to remind myself that when the phone rings it’s not her. Or when I get a free moment in the day I pick up the phone to call her and then I remember that she’s not there to call. It’s such an odd feeling.

  Rosie: Yeah it is. Kevin is still in a huff with me.

  Steph: Ignore Kevin; he’s in a huff with the entire world.

  Rosie: Maybe he’s right though Steph. Mum has put me in such an awkward position by leaving me the house. Perhaps I should sell it and split the profits three ways. It’s fairer.

  Steph: Rosie Dunne you will not sell that house for me and Kev. She left it for you for a reason. Kev and I are both financially secure, we both have houses, we really don’t need the Connemara house. It would be different if we were both broke but Mum knows that me and Kev are OK so that’s why it was left to you. You work harder than the two of us put together and you still can’t get out of that flat. Mum discussed it with m
e before and I agreed with her. This is the best way. Don’t listen to Kev.

  Rosie: I don’t know Steph; I’m not hugely comfortable with it . . .

  Steph: Rosie trust me, if I needed the money so badly I would tell you and we could work something out. But I don’t. Neither does Kevin. It’s not like we were forgotten about in the will. We’re both fine, honestly. The house in Connemara belongs to you. You do with it whatever you wish.

  Rosie: Thanks Steph.

  Steph: No problem. So what are you going to do over there on your own Rosie? I hate you being all alone. Do you want to come over here for a while?

  Rosie: No thanks Steph I really have to work. I’m going to throw myself into this job and make it the best damn hotel in the world.

  The Grand Tower Hotel

  Tower Road,

  Dublin 1

  Dear Mr. Cronin Ui Cheallaigh,

  Following our visit to The Grand Tower Hotel we at the Department of Public Works are sending you an emergency order due to an imminent and substantial hazard to the life, health, and safety of occupants.

  After their visit last week, the Department of Building Inspection listed more than 100 code violations, including missing smoke detectors, water damage, and inadequate lighting.

  The bathrooms are noted as being unsanitary and during our visit rodents were spotted in the kitchens.

  According to our records you have received many warnings over the years to improve the maintenance of the building and you were advised to make the necessary improvements in order to keep the building acting as a hotel. These warnings were ignored and we have no choice but to shut you down.

  The business on the ground level may remain open.

  Please be in touch with our offices as soon as you receive this letter. Details of the Health and Safety Act are overleaf.

  Yours sincerely,

  Adam Delaney

  Office of Public Works

  FROM:Katie

  TO:Mum

  SUBJECT:Your job

  I’m so sorry to hear about you losing your job, I no you hated it but still it’s never nice to have to leave when it’s not your own decision. I couldn’t reach you on the phone, you’ve either been on the phone all day or they’ve cut you off. Either way I thought I’d e-mail you instead. I completely forgot to tell you that when we returned to Dublin after the funeral that what’s-his-name called around to the flat to see you.

  I didn’t want to call you because you were upset enough as it was so I took a message. He dropped in some post that had been delivered to his house for you and said that he hoped that they would be some sort of help to you now that your mum and dad are gone. He said he understood how you felt as his mum died last year and he didn’t want to be the cause of your loneliness.

  He seemed sincere but who can ever tell with him. It was odd seeing him after so many years. He’s really aged. Anyway I hope whatever is in the envelopes isn’t too important but let me no what they are all the same. I left the two envelopes in the bottom drawer of the living room cabinet.

  Dr. Reginald & Miranda Williams

  invite ROSIE DUNNE to join them in celebrating the

  marriage of their beloved daughter

  Bethany Williams

  To

  Dr. Alex Stewart

  At

  The Memorial Church of Harvard University

  & a reception at

  The Boston Harbor Hotel

  On the 28th of December

  RSVP Miranda Williams

  Rosie,

  I’m returning to Boston tomorrow but before I go I wanted to write this letter to you. All the thoughts and feelings that have been bubbling up inside me are finally overflowing into this pen and I’m leaving this letter for you so that you don’t feel that I’m putting you under any great pressure. I understand that you will need to take your time trying to decide on what I am about to say.

  I no what’s going on, Rosie; you’re my best friend and I can see the sadness in your eyes. I no that Greg isn’t away working for the weekend. You never could lie to me; you were always terrible at it. Don’t pretend that everything is perfect because I see what’s going on. I see that Greg is a selfish man who has absolutely no idea just how lucky he is and it makes me sick.

  He is the luckiest man in the world to have you, Rosie, but he doesn’t deserve you and you deserve far better. You deserve someone who loves you with every single beat of his heart, someone who thinks about you constantly, someone who spends every minute of every day just wondering what you’re doing, where you are, who you’re with, and if you’re OK. You need someone who can help you reach your dreams and who can protect you from your fears. You need someone who will treat you with respect, love every part of you, especially your flaws. You should be with someone who can make you happy, really happy, dancing on air happy. Someone who should have taken the chance to be with you years ago instead of becoming scared and being too afraid to try.

  I’m not scared anymore Rosie. I am not afraid to try.

  I no what that feeling was at your wedding—it was jealousy. My heart broke when I saw the woman I love turning away from me to walk down the aisle with another man, another man she planned to spend the rest of her life with. It was like a prison sentence for me. Years ahead without me being able to tell you how I feel or hold you how I wanted to.

  Twice we stood beside each other at the altar, Rosie. Twice. And twice we got it wrong. I needed you to be there for my wedding day but I was too stupid to see that I needed you to be the reason for my wedding day. But we got it all wrong.

  I should never have let your lips leave mine all those years ago in Boston. I should never have pulled away. I should never have panicked. I should never have wasted all those years without you. Give me a chance to make them up to you. I love you, Rosie, and I want to be with you and Katie and Josh. Always.

  Please think about it. Don’t waste your time on Greg, this is our opportunity. Let’s stop being afraid and take the chance. I promise I’ll make you happy.

  All my love,

  Alex

  CHAPTER 49

  FROM:Ruby

  TO:Rosie

  SUBJECT:Are you OK?

  I haven’t heard from you in almost two weeks. Is everything OK? I called around to see you at the flat but Rupert told me you had gone to Galway. You just packed up and left without saying good-bye, something must be up. How long are you planning on staying there and why didn’t you tell anyone?

  Your mother’s phone has obviously been disconnected so I didn’t know how else to reach you. I understand that you probably just need some time to yourself, losing parents is really difficult. As much as I complain about how mine were, it was still tough dealing with their loss. I know I joke around a lot but I’m seriously here for you Rosie if you need someone to talk to, a shoulder to cry on, or even someone to scream at.

  I would say I’m sorry that you lost your job at the hotel but I’m not sorry at all. You were better than that hotel; you had bigger dreams that extended far beyond those crumbling walls. Now the world is your oyster.

  Please just respond to let me know you’re OK or I’m coming down there myself to check up on you and that’s not a threat, it’s a promise.

  Welcome to the Relieved Divorced Dubliners Chat room

  There are currently 2 people chatting

  LonelyLady: The guy from my reading group asked me out yesterday. To go out on a date, like. This weekend. Just me and him. But I just don’t know . . .

  Wildflower:You don’t know what?

  LonelyLady: Well I don’t know if I should start dating again. I mean I don’t know if I’m ready, being so soon after Tommy and all . . .

  Wildflower: So soon? So soon? In case you haven’t noticed it’s been 10 years since Tommy left you.

  LonelyLady:Oh. It doesn’t feel like 10 years.

  Wildflower: Well if you ever stopped whinging and moaning about how lonely you were, you would be able to think rational
ly about your life. Which guy in your reading group are you dating?

  LonelyLady:The only guy in the reading group.

  Wildflower: I bet the ladies will drop out like flies now. But the all important question for you is, does he have a criminal record?

  LonelyLady:No I checked.

  Wildflower: God, I was only joking! But at least you know your TV won’t go walkabout when you go to the toilet.

  LonelyLady: A luxury which most women don’t appreciate.

  SureOne has entered the room

  Wildflower: Well he sounds perfect for you then. I see no reason why you shouldn’t go out with him. Good luck with the date.

  SureOne:LonelyLady are you going out on a date?

  LonelyLady:You say it like it’s a disease.

  Wildflower:Well it could turn into one I suppose.

  SureOne:No I’m just shocked! But in a good way! Congratulations!

  LonelyLady:Thank you! Hey, you changed your name!

  SureOne: I know, I was granted my annulment. See I told you the church had sense. They agree that Leonard is a complete prick.

  Wildflower: SureOne! Well it’s a change to hear that come from you! I’m not quite sure the church thinks exactly that but it’s a start . . .

  Buttercup has entered the room

  LonelyLady:Well congratulations anyway SureOne.

  Buttercup: Why, what are you celebrating SureOne? (Nice name change by the way.)

  Wildflower:She got her annulment.

  Buttercup:Oh congrats!

  SureOne:Thanks girls!

  Buttercup:So I take it I haven’t missed anything?

  SureOne: No. We haven’t heard from you in a while Buttercup, where have you been lately?

  Buttercup: I’ve been staying in the house in Connemara for the past few weeks. I’ve had a lot of thinking to do.