by Nicola May
‘And how’s poor little Hot?’ Mary fussed. ‘I heard about the accident.’
‘Of course you did.’ Rosa smiled. Not much went unreported around here. ‘He’s on the mend, thank goodness. Look, I don’t want to be rude, but I won’t stay long as I want to get back to him.’
‘Queenie.’ Rosa addressed the old lady who was sat in her usual chair in the kitchen. Today, her long grey hair was in beautiful ringlets; with her dark glasses she could have passed for a glamorously aging film star. ‘Great hair.’
Mary smiled. ‘Yes, I thought we’d make the effort as it’s Sunday and you were coming.’ It was then Rosa realised that Mary’s black hair was arranged in the same style.
Queenie raised her hand. ‘I hear the opening was a roaring success. I just knew you would be a smart kid.’
‘Not sure about that, Queenie, but I shall keep trying to be.’
‘You do like roast beef, Rosa?’ Mary went to stir gravy on the hob.
‘I was only saying to Josh this morning that I hoped it would be just that, my favourite. Thank you so much for doing this.’
‘Not at all.’ Mary coughed. ‘We can see how hard you have been working.’
‘Ah, here.’ Rosa reached into her bag. ‘A lead for Merlin.’ On hearing his name, the big cat hissed. ‘I got green to go with his eyes. Hope you like it.’
Mary was joyous. ‘Oh, that’s marvellous, just marvellous.’
‘How much do we owe you, duck?’ Queenie piped up.
‘Don’t be silly, it’s a gift. You two have been nothing but kind to me since I arrived here.’
‘Pass me my purse, Mary.’ Queenie handed Rosa a ten-pound note. ‘How are you going to make a living if you are giving things away already? Now take this and put it in your kitty, with our love.’
‘OK, thank you very much.’
‘Now, sit down, child, and stop making the place look untidy.’
Mary dished up a scrumptious spread, which Rosa, after not having had any dinner last night or breakfast this morning, devoured in minutes.
‘You were hungry, love.’ Mary took her clean plate.
‘I didn’t even have breakfast this morning as I had found some letters hidden away a while ago - and today I felt I just had to read them.’ Queenie went still as a stone. ‘Anyway, I hadn’t related them to the bundle of letters you saw in my tea leaves, Queenie, but this must be them.’
When the old lady remained silent, Rosa went on, ‘Now, I know you said don’t tittle-tattle, but well, reading between the lines, I think Ned was having an affair behind your friend Dotty’s back.’
Rosa sensed that perhaps she should stop, but something was compelling her to speak. ‘It was with somebody called T. She was pregnant, but Ned didn’t know the baby was his because she lied to him – pretended it was some other man’s. But I guess you already knew that, as you were her friend too.’ Rosa’s voice grew impassioned. ‘What happened, Queenie? I feel that I need to know. It really is heart-breaking to read the letters.’
Queenie suddenly banged her hand down on the table. ‘Stop that talk, Rosa. I can’t bear it. Poor, poor Dotty.’
‘It’s all right, Gran,’ Mary soothed. ‘Rosa, maybe you had better go. Or Gran, would you like Rosa to bring the letters to you?’
‘Yesss.’ The word hissed through the old lady’s pinched lips like a snake.
Mary grimaced at her gran’s behaviour. She asked timidly, ‘Where did you find them, dear? They must have been well hidden.’
‘They were. Whoever did hide them had made a secret compartment at the top of the wardrobe.’
A small smile formed on Queenie Cobb’s face, which quickly disappeared as Rosa turned to look at her.
‘Ned must have wanted to keep his affair secret, but was obviously too deeply in love to bring himself to throw away the letters. It’s so sad. Each letter ends with “Meet me where the sky touches the sea” - whatever that means.’
‘Go up to the top of West Cliffs and you will . . .’
‘Mary! Hush up, just be quiet now.’ Queenie banged on the table with her fist again. She appealed to Rosa. ‘Please can you bring the letters to me? I know you are a good girl, but for the sake of Dotty’s memory, I think it’s only fair that the letters are left in the past where they belong now. We can put them on the fire.’
Rosa got up and went to her side, then put her hand gently on the old lady’s thin, papery one. ‘I will go and do it right now,’ she said. ‘And I’m sorry if I upset you.’
‘It’s all right, young Rosa.’ Queenie’s voice was now soft. ‘Nobody can upset anyone else, I did it all by myself.’
Rosa hurried back down to the Corner Shop, put the old blue ribbon back around the letters and popped them into the Jiffy bag the flyers had come in. She gave Hot a doggie treat, then set off back up the hill again to Seaspray Cottage.
‘Here they are.’
Before she’d even finished speaking, Queenie had grabbed the envelope from Rosa and threw it straight on to the fire.
‘Whilst we have been talking about difficult things,’ Rosa said, and squirmed, ‘I have to tell you something else.’
‘Carry on, duck.’ Queenie seemed fixated on the flames.
‘Well, you know you mentioned a necklace when you read my tea leaves?’
‘Yes,’ Mary spoke up.
‘I did find one. Way down the back of the old sofa in the flat.’
Queenie just nodded her head slowly. ‘Go on.’
‘Well, I put it somewhere I thought was safe and now I can’t find it. And . . . and I’m worried that someone might have stolen it.’ Rosa blew out a long breath. ‘There, I said it. I promise you, hand on heart, I didn’t sell it, but I don’t know how to prove that to you.’
Mary looked directly at Queenie, who nodded slowly again.
‘You don’t have to prove it, Rosa.’
Rosa, slightly baffled how Queenie with such apparent bad sight and thick dark glasses could see anything, remained silent.
Making her way to one of the kitchen drawers, Mary scrabbled around, then handed her the very same, heavy gold engraved sapphire necklace.
Rosa was wide-eyed. ‘I don’t understand.’
‘I found it. Outside your back gate. Maybe somebody did try and get it, panicked and dropped it. Who knows, Rosa.’
‘Oh my God, so someone has been in the flat.’
‘Change the locks, dear. Maybe get an alarm now, that’s all I will say to you.’
‘Very well - I will. I’d been planning to buy myself a TV once I was in profit, but you’re right, I should do that first. And get a new padlock for the back gate too.’
Queenie piped up, ‘Good girl, Rosa, good girl. And as for the necklace, keep it.’
‘But it belonged to Ned and T.’
‘Neither of whom will be wearing it again,’ Mary said quietly.
‘Wear it on a special day, Rosa,’ the old lady urged, ‘and wherever you are, you can think of us and smile.’
‘I suppose if Ned has no family left, then there’s no harm - and it is beautiful. But what about T’s family?’
‘They would understand, duck.’
At that moment, Merlin jumped up onto Queenie’s lap and began purring loudly. She stroked the big animal, then reaching for Mary’s hand, she squeezed and shook it frantically at the same time. She looked almost ecstatic.
‘I can go now,’ she said, as if she was talking to herself.
Merlin let out an almighty meow and ran out of the cat flap in the back door.
Rosa mouthed, ‘Go where?’ to Mary, whose face had contorted so she couldn’t speak.
The old lady then leant forward and took both of Rosa’s hands. ‘Listen to me, Rosa. Sometimes in life, if you don’t know what to do: do nothing, say nothing and the answer will come to you. You are blessed.’
And with that, Queenie Cobb fell back in her chair and peacefully passed away.
‘Where are you, Rosa? I’m banging on your door. I can hear Hot, but there’s no sign of you.’ ‘Oh Joe, yes, hi - I’m so sorry. I’m with Mary at Seaspray Cottage. Her gran has died, and we are waiting for the ambulance. I completely lost track of time.’
‘Oh, how awful. How long do you think you’ll be? I can wait for you in the pub if you like?’
‘Ah, they are here now and so are the police. I’d better go, but yes, go to the Lobster Pot and I’ll keep you posted. I’m going to need a drink after this.’
Mary had removed Queenie’s glasses. The old lady looked very peaceful. It was as if all the lines and stresses of a long life had drained away with her soul. She also looked very familiar. Rosa had never seen a dead body before, but it didn’t frighten her. It was just the shell of the magnificent person who had been housed within.
‘Mary, are you sure your gran didn’t leave the house at all during the past few months?’
‘Well, that’s what she always told me.’ Mary went to the front window and opened it wide. ‘We had better let her soul fly free, Rosa. She’ll no doubt be causing mischief somewhere already.’
The ambulance man and woman and policemen were thorough, respectful and informative in their duties. Rosa was slightly perturbed that one of the policemen was one of the pair who had interrogated her the other night, but he was professional and just kept to the job in hand.
As he was about to drive off with his partner, he opened his window and said, ‘I am sorry for your loss, but the good news for you is that somebody has come forward to verify that you were at home at the time you said you were, on the night of the hit-and-run, that is.’
She didn’t dare ask who it was, because nobody had known she was at home, apart from Luke - and it certainly wouldn’t have been him ringing any sort of incident line. Before she could think of a reply, the police car had driven off.
Turning to Mary, she put an affectionate hand on her arm. ‘You seem really calm, are you OK?’
‘It hasn’t sunk in yet, I don’t think.’ Mary winced as Merlin let out an almighty wail that would not stop, even on the offer of some chicken Dreamies cat treats.
‘Would you like a cup of tea?’ Rosa asked, and Mary nodded.
‘You sit down and let me get it for you.’ She put the kettle on and sorted out cups and teabags. ‘I’m happy to stay with you for a bit if you want me to?’
‘No, you go. You’ve got a date, haven’t you?’ Mary managed a smile.
‘Kind of. It’s with Joe from the Gazette. Don’t know if you know him?’
‘Not really.’ Mary took a sip from the strong, sweet tea that Rosa had just placed in front of her.
‘Are you sure you don’t want me to stay, Mary, because you are a lot more important than a stupid man. You’ve had a big shock.’
‘I will be fine. I probably need to be on my own for a bit. You go ahead - but Rosa?’
‘Yes?’
‘Take care.’
‘I will,’ Rosa promised. ‘Right, I’ve got to take Hot to the vet tomorrow, but as soon as I’ve done that I’ll come and see you.’
With a heavy heart, Rosa started to walk up to the pub. It would be lovely to see Joe, but after something so difficult happening she would rather be with someone who knew her well. In fact, the only person she wanted to speak to was Josh. She took out her phone.
‘Rosalar! How it’s going? Can’t talk for long, sorry. Lucy surprised me when I got home. I’d said I was taking her out but she’d already cooked me a Valentine’s meal. I’ve just popped out to get a bottle of wine.’
‘She’s got a key to your place then, has she?’ Rosa cringed at her reaction.
‘Er . . . no. I’m at hers. So, is everything all right?’
‘No, actually. Queenie Cobb just died in front of me.’
‘Shit, she was old though, wasn’t she?’
‘Yes, but it still wasn’t very nice and I’d weirdly become very fond of her and Mary.’
Rosa could hear a woman’s voice calling Josh in the background. ‘You’d better go,’ she said heavily.
‘Yep. Sorry I can’t talk properly. I’ll call you tomorrow, right?’
‘OK.’ Rosa sighed. She didn’t like playing second fiddle in any relationship, friend or otherwise.
Jacob didn’t work Sunday nights, so she didn’t even have the comfort of seeing his familiar face behind the bar when she arrived. Joe got up and kissed her on the cheek.
‘All sorted?’
‘Well, as sorted as getting someone carted off to the morgue can be, I imagine. I’ve never had to do anything like that before. In fact, I’ve never seen a dead body before.’
‘At your age I doubt many people have. So, what happened?’
‘Nothing dramatic; in fact, it’s the way that everyone would wish to die, probably. We’d had a lovely dinner, she was sitting in her favourite chair in her lifetime home, then all of a sudden, she literally just fell back - and she was gone.’ Rosa ran a hand through her curls. ‘Anyway, enough of that. I’m knackered but a large glass of Merlot would be a marvellous way to end this weekend.’
‘Look, I’m sorry again - about not making it to the opening.’
‘So, what’s the big scoop on the hit-and-run that was so important, then?’
‘Well, I do know a couple of the coppers in Polhampton, and one happened to be in my local there. He said that a girl had been seen getting out of a white van and running at speed down the hill.’
‘That’s old news, Joe. The police insinuated that that girl could be me, although it obviously wasn’t.’ Rosa suddenly thought it might well have been Titch though. Yes, the two of them had different coloured hair, but their height and build were similar. But if Titch had been in the van with Lucas still, and they were driving and had hit Jasmine - surely she would have told Rosa, when she was getting things off her chest.
‘What are you thinking?’
Recalling Queenie’s advice, Rosa kept her thoughts to herself.
‘I’m thinking that we are not detectives and should just leave this matter to the police. I reckon they will drop it soon anyway. If they haven’t sussed it now, when will they?’ Rosa gave a long, tired sigh. ‘May I have a Joe Fox off-duty now, please?’
He lifted his beer and clinked glasses with her.
‘Yes. OK. Belated Happy Valentine’s, missy.’
‘I don’t see what all the fuss is about really, with everyone celebrating this day,’ Rosa said thoughtfully. ‘I see sex without love as a good form of exercise; as for love, even though I’ve never been in love, it looks like a lot of pain, arguing and heartache to me.’
‘Blimey, ever the romantic.’
‘You’re the married one.’ She looked at his hand and noticed he was no longer wearing his wedding ring.
He waved his left hand in the air. ‘It’s over. I can’t do it any more. Once a cheat, always a cheat, I say. Now, what do you want to eat?’
Maybe it was because she had stared death in the face and her appetite for life had increased, because without even thinking what was coming out of her mouth, Rosa looked at the face of the man in front of her and replied, ‘I want to eat you.’
Their lovemaking had been fast and furious. There had been no ‘proper snogs’, more like improper raw, dangerous and downright dirty sex in every room of the flat.
Finishing up under the covers in her bedroom, Rosa turned to a now red-faced but very smiley Joe, and said, ‘I needed that.’
Joe cupped his hand over one of her perfectly round breasts, her nipple still very much erect. ‘Who said romance was dead? Oh yes, that’s right - you did.’ He grinned. ‘Joking aside, Rosa, you really are quite beautiful.’
She propped herself up on one elbow. ‘You’re not bad yourself, and if you asked I might even consider seeing you again.’
‘Blimey, that would almost constitute dating in your world, wouldn’t it?�
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‘Now, I’m not sure about going that far,’ Rosa teased.
‘Could we keep this quiet for a bit, though Rosa, if you don’t mind? It’s still early days, me being separated from Becca and . . .’
‘I understand, but only if you can just do what you did before with your tongue again.’
‘Harlot!’
‘You love it! And then in the morning you can go and get me a bacon roll and coffee from Coffee, Tea or Sea - or even better, give me and a Hot a lift back to Polhampton as we are going to see the vet. That’d be perfect!’
‘Oh dear. I wasn’t going to stay the night, Rosa. In fact, I need to get back. Suggs is in the house on his own: can you imagine the state of the place if I didn’t give him his final walk of the evening?’
‘Shit, of course. I forgot about poor old Suggs. So, does that mean you don’t live with your wife any more then?’
‘Like I said earlier – I can’t be doing with cheaters. It’s too hard to live with her, knowing what she’s been up to.’
Hot was asleep on the sofa when they both appeared from the bedroom. He opened one soulful eye, then went straight back to sleep again.
‘Good job he can’t talk or we’d all be in trouble,’ Joe commented and picked his keys up off the arm of the sofa.
He put his arms around Rosa and looked at her.
‘Thanks for the work-out - and I’m so glad everything’s going well for you.’
‘Pleasure.’ She smiled, then added before she could stop herself: ‘Maybe we can have a coffee when I come with Hot tomorrow?’ Rosa inwardly cringed. When had she become so needy with a bloke before?
‘Maybe. I’ve got to write up the new hit-and-run stuff, plus your shop article, so let’s see. And don’t forget you’ve got a shop to run now.’
Rosa put her head to her hand. ‘Duh. Look at me, I’ve been so used to being a free agent. I will have to see if Titch can cover me whilst I’m at the vet’s.’
She walked downstairs to see Joe out.
‘Don’t forget to double-lock, now it’s evident you have stock in here. And good night, sexy lady.’
‘Good night, super sleuth.’
Back upstairs, Rosa shook out the duvet and on doing so, one of Josh’s socks flew up in the air. She held it and looked at it. Yes, it had felt good having mad, bad sex with Joe, but if she was honest the feelings she had experienced when Josh had kissed her on New Year’s Eve had been deeper, more intense. But Josh was far more into Lucy than he had made out and despite Carlton’s comments that he’d rather be here with her than with Lucy on Valentine’s Day, anyone would help a good mate on their special day.