by Nicola May
When she pushed open the door to the Lobster Pot, Jacob hastened over and gave her a massive hug. ‘Happy Birthday, Princess Rosa,’ he said, and did a twirl.
‘Thank you – but how did you know that?’
‘It’s the duty of a publican to know everything.’ He crouched down and tickled under Hot’s crinkled chin. ‘I expect you want to go up and see your mates, don’t you?’
Hot started barking and running around them both as Raffaele appeared from behind the bar. ‘Ciao, Rosa.’ He kissed her on both cheeks. ‘I hear you have a birthday.’
Rosa smiled happily. ‘You hear right.’
‘Hang on, let me put him upstairs with Pongo and Ugs.’ He swept Hot up in his muscly arms and took him through the bar. Reappearing minutes later, he handed Rosa a beautifully wrapped present.
‘Happy Birthday, Bella.’
‘Aw, that’s so sweet of you.’
Alyson popped a bottle of champagne open behind the bar.
‘Cheers.’ They all toasted Rosa with a glass of bubbles.
‘Twenty-six, eh?’ Jacob sighed.
‘And never been kissed,’ Rosa added, grinning.
‘By more than ten men at a time. Dirty slut!’
Rosa beamed at him. ‘Only you could get away with that, Jacob - and maybe Josh.’
She felt a bit low mentioning Josh; she had hoped he might come down, but when she had spoken to him last week he said he had had to change his plans. Probably because of Juicy Lucy and it being Easter weekend, she thought, and she hadn’t questioned him further.
‘Right, I have to rip this present open, I can’t ever wait.’
Rosa pulled the pink sparkly paper apart to reveal a beautiful little tartan coat for Hot and an equally beautiful sweater dress for her, which was bright green with a white dachshund print.
‘I didn’t think you’d appreciate a Barbour one, far too poncey for both of you,’ Jacob told her and Raffa nodded.
‘Exactly, but how did you sneak in and buy that for Hot without me knowing?’
‘Titch is obviously getting better at keeping secrets.’ Jacob refilled their glasses. ‘We did ask if she wanted to stay for a glass of champagne earlier, but she said she was feeling knackered after her shift and might come down a bit later.’
‘I bloody love this dress, thank you SO much.’ Rosa held it up against her. ‘And I can definitely see Hot wiggling down to the beach in his little number.’
‘I loved the poodle outfit you wore for your launch, so when I saw this in a boutique in London when I popped up last week, I knew it was made for you.’
‘It goes with your eyes,’ Raffaele added. He checked a text that had come in on his phone and winked secretly at Jacob.
‘Right, are you ready to eat?’ Jacob ushered them through to the restaurant area and sat Rosa with her back to the bar. They had put a pink birthday balloon on her chair.
As they all sat down, Alyson cranked up the music to Altered Images’ ‘Happy Birthday’.
Engrossed in conversation, Rosa was completely unprepared for somebody putting their hands over her eyes and kissing her right ear.
On hearing the word ‘Rosalar’ she let out a little scream of delight and jumped up.
‘Josh? Oh my God! I’m so pleased to see you - you lying toad.’
‘I couldn’t not come down for your birthday, could I?’
Jacob and Raffaele got up and shook his hand. Raffa signalled to Alyson to bring Josh a beer.
‘Are you on your own?’ Rosa asked, suddenly anxious.
‘I am tonight - I had to do a bit of negotiating. I’m meeting Lucy at Polhampton station tomorrow.’
‘Excellent. I get you all to myself and then get to meet the new bird too. ‘
‘Have you booked anywhere for tomorrow night?’ Jacob enquired.
‘No, I thought we could stay here, if you have room.’
‘Oh Josh, it’s Easter weekend, we’re fully booked,’ Jacob told him. ‘I can try the Ship for you.’
‘I don’t mean to be rude, but I’d rather sleep on the beach, thanks, Jacob.’
‘The Streatham Hotel in your neck of the woods may have something?’ Rosa asked Jacob and Raffaele.
Raffa grimaced and shook his head.
Rosa shrugged. ‘She’ll have to rough it for the night, then. You two can have my bed, I’ll sleep in the office.’
‘Just give me that beer. I’ll worry about it tomorrow.’ Josh drank a third of his lager down in one go. ‘I’m so pleased I can relax now - bloody Friday traffic.’ He then asked casually: ‘No lover boy tonight, then?’
He saw the look of horror on the faces of his hosts. Rosa had relayed the whole sorry tale to them both.
‘What? What have I said?’
‘He’s a cheating bastard. I don’t want to talk about it today.’
‘Aw.’ Josh squeezed Rosa’s hand. ‘Forget him.’ He lifted the champagne glass Jacob had just handed him. ‘I propose a toast: to Rosa, for being the best shop owner in Cockleberry Bay and a generally top lass all round.’
Rosa felt that tingly sensation that she was starting to get used to since she’d moved down here.
‘To Rosa,’ Jacob and Raffa echoed.
‘You really are a joy to be around and we really appreciated you helping us out when I damaged my foot,’ Jacob told her, smacking his lips as he drank.
Josh smiled. ‘Look at you with all the boys loving the Rosalar.’
‘It’s Hot they love, really.’
‘Oh my God - I forgot our little Hot. Where is he - and how is the little fella?’
‘Fully recovered now, thank goodness. He’s upstairs with the pugs.’ Rosa didn’t dare tell Josh just yet about Joe’s son having been the one who hurt him, especially after his previous reaction to Lucas Hannafore. ‘I’ll go and get him when we leave. It’s too busy in here now, he’ll cause havoc.’
Two very happy hours later, with Hot safely on his lead and with hugs and goodbyes all round, Rosa and Josh made their way arm-in-arm back to the shop.
‘What a lovely evening - thanks for organising it. And that cake the boys made,’ Rosa sighed. ‘That was bloody delicious.’
‘Yes, I had a great time too. They are good friends to you.’
Rosa noticed that Seaspray Cottage was now in complete darkness. ‘Bugger.’
‘What’s up?’
‘I meant to call in on Mary, as she wasn’t at work. I’ve been keeping an eye out for her since Queenie died.’
‘I expect she’s got plenty of spirits to keep her company in the Coven.’
‘Oh, bless her, don’t. Ned was a dark horse - I’ve got so much to tell you but I’m still none the wiser as to who left me this place and why.’
They went round the back so as not to make the shop bell ring when they entered. Rosa hiccupped as she reached for her starfish keyring. ‘Thank God we didn’t hit the tequila, I’m drunk already.’
‘We can hit it now.’ Josh steadied her as she lost her balance. ‘Whoa, tiger. Shit!’
‘What?’
‘You really need to get a security light outside this back door, Rosa. I’ve just stubbed my toe on something.’
Josh shone the torch from his phone to the ground to see Hot sniffing at a black binbag.
‘What is it?’
‘Let’s get in first and get some lights on.’
After closing and locking the door against the chilly spring night, she pulled the bag away to reveal an oblong white box with a green bow stuck on it. It was heavy.
On rather gingerly removing the lid, they both let out a massive ‘Awww!’ For there, looking up at them, was a life-size bronze sculpture of Hot. Hanging from his left ear was a little present bag. Rosa reached out and wonderingly opened it: inside was a green square ring box. She looked questioningly at Josh.
‘It’s not from me!’
The diamond and sapphire ring, set in white gold, wa
s the most beautiful piece of jewellery Rosa had ever seen in her life. The diamonds were so sparkly they sent shafts of light around the room. There was a crumpled-up note in the bottom of the little box.
‘Go on, quickly - read it,’ Josh urged.
‘Oh my God.’
‘What is it, Rosa?’
‘This is too spooky. Listen.’ Rosa began to read the note which was printed in capitals. ‘DON’T QUESTION THIS GIFT, FOR YOUR HEART IT WILL LIFT. I WILL REMAIN BY YOUR SIDE, HOWEVER HIGH THE TIDE. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DEAR ROSA xx.’
‘And that’s it?’
‘You’re missing the point, Josh. The wording is virtually the same as the letter that I got with the documents for the shop. Which means,’ she added excitedly, ‘that whoever has left me this place is probably not dead - because they wouldn’t have known about Hot, would they? It’s hurting my head, Josh, I don’t understand.’
‘I’m too pissed to deliberate over your mystery benefactor tonight,’ Josh said truthfully. He yawned. ‘Come on, let’s go up - and don’t lose that ring, it probably came from Tiffany’s or something.’
‘You’d better not show Lucy, she’ll want one as big.’
Josh followed Rosa upstairs with the heavy statue in his hand. ‘I’m not marrying her, Rosa.’
Rosa made a funny little noise. ‘It’s been a few months now though, hasn’t it? And she’s around your age, right? She’ll be getting broody soon, will want you to put a ring on it - you wait and see.’ Rosa waved her wedding finger in the air and started to do Beyonce-type dance moves.
‘Oh, shut up, Rosalar and pour me a drink, wench. I need to get your present out of my car, as well.’
Deliberating who could be bothered to go downstairs to get Rosa’s birthday gift, they sat outside on the balcony with blankets over their legs, Hot sitting beside them companionably in the moonlight, and a nightcap of JD & Coke in their hands. The soft sound of the sea created a hushed and magical atmosphere.
‘Look at us, like an old married couple.’ Rosa swung her hand over and put it inside Josh’s.
Josh squeezed. ‘I’m sorry about Joe.’
‘I’m not. It’s a good lesson, not to let my guard down. They say love is blind. I can’t believe I was so stupid.’
‘Did you love him?’
‘The L word - I don’t know, Josh.’ She looked right at him. ‘But whatever it means, I do feel something when I’m with . . .’
‘Get the fuck off me!’ The female voice carried in the still night air. ‘I mean it.’
Then a man’s voice. ‘Are you really so cheap, that you’d grass me for a poxy reward of a thousand quid? You were there too, remember.’
‘It’s the only thing I will get you behind bars for, I know that now.’
‘You’re just a dirty little slag.’
They then heard a thud and a man running down the road at the back of the shop. The girl was now sobbing loudly.
Josh jumped up. Hot started barking furiously.
‘I’m going down.’ Josh vaulted over the little gate in the balcony, leapt down the spiral steps and out through the back gate, where leaning against his car he found a shaking Titch. Blood was running down her face, her dress was torn, and her right knee grazed.
Swinging her up into his arms, Josh carried her upstairs and laid her gently on the sofa. Noticing her little pregnancy bump, he had a pained expression on his face.
‘What happened? Who did this?’ Rosa demanded.
Titch looked up. ‘I’m so tired,’ she said - and with that she promptly fell asleep.
‘We can’t leave her like this, covered in blood,’ Rosa fretted.
‘She’s knackered, poor lass.’ Josh put two blankets on top of her, tucking her in and covering Hot as he did so too. The little dog had settled by her side, and was watching over her. ‘We can sort her out in the morning. She’s living with her mum now, isn’t she?’
Rosa nodded as Josh continued. ‘Do you think we should text her mum to let her know that Titch is here?’
‘How can you think of things like this, even when you’re drunk? You’re so sweet, Joshua Smith.’ Rosa rested her wobbly head on his chest. ‘That man’s voice was familiar, but I can’t think who it was.’
‘Come on, Rosalar, bedtime for birthday girls. Everything will seem clearer in the morning.’
Rosa dragged her legs like a little girl and groaned, ‘Carry me to bed.’
Josh laughed. ‘You’re like a little kid sometimes.’
‘I’ve never been one of those.’ Rosa made her own way to her bedroom, stripped off to her underwear and got into bed. She patted the pillow next to her. ‘Come in with me tonight, Josh. I could do with a cuddle. I’ve missed you.’
Josh smiled down at her. ‘All right, but no funny business. Keep your hands to yourself.’
‘Oh yeah, I forgot. You’re a married man now.’
‘Shut up about that,’ Josh joked and pinned her down with her arms above her head.
‘No funny business, you said.’ Rosa, squirming around, brushed his lips with hers by accident. Josh needed no further invitation; with his lips stuck right on hers and his tongue firmly in, they were suddenly kissing as if the world was about to end.
‘Get down there,’ Josh panted, gently pushing Rosa’s head down under the covers towards his now very hard cock.
‘It’s my bloody birthday,’ Rosa objected, causing them both to roll about laughing. ‘And, no. Lucy is coming tomorrow and after what I’ve just been through, I’ve realised Rosa Larkin is far too big to be a bit on the side.’
Josh sat up, did a slow hand clap and exclaimed, ‘At last!’ And, then without even thinking about it, the words, ‘I bloody love you, Rosa Larkin,’ flew out of his mouth.
At that moment, Hot came charging in and managed to leap on top of them both on the bed, making them collapse with laughter. ‘If it’s not one of you, it’s the other,’ Rosa giggled, and made a fuss of her trusty hound.
‘Now, you get on your own bed, Mr Sausage, and Josh - just hold me and go to sleep, you big hunk of rugby love.’
CHAPTER 56
Titch awoke to the sound of somebody knocking on the upstairs balcony door. Disorientated and whimpering with pain from her damaged knee, she put her hand to her face and felt the blood that had dried on to her now very sore cheek.
With half-open eyes, she managed to crawl off the sofa, nearly tripping over a barking Hot, who had come scampering in to see what was going on, and unlocked the French windows. She was nearly bowled over by a tall girl, dressed in smart jeans, a red V-neck jumper and a black puffa jacket. Blonde curls flowed down her back, as if she’d just stepped out of a Mayfair salon.
‘Hi, I’m Lucy,’ the stranger said. ‘Can’t you shut that dog up? Happy Birthday for yesterday - and oh shit, what have you done to your face? And where’s Josh got to?’
Before Titch could open her mouth to speak, Lucy had already made her way through the flat, inspecting the empty spare bedroom, the kitchen and finally walking unannounced into Rosa’s bedroom. On discovery of the sleeping pair, she stood for a moment taking in the scene then pulled the cover off them and threw a glass of water from the bedside table all over Josh’s face.
‘What the fuck?’ Josh sat straight up. Then on seeing Lucy, he groaned and tried to explain. ‘Oh my God, Lucy, this is so not what it looks like, I promise you.’
Rosa, too hungover to actually care about another woman’s jealousy attack, offered her hand. ‘Hi Lucy, and Josh is right, we literally just crashed out in here because,’ she gestured out to the lounge, ‘Titch, my friend, needed to stay over. Josh would have been on the sofa, otherwise.’
‘So, you are Rosa. I knew it all along.’
Josh, pulling his jeans on quickly, went to hug Lucy.
‘Get off me!’
‘Knew what all along, Lucy? Don’t be ridiculous. Rosa and I are friends. Yes, this doesn’t look good, I agree, but
you can see that we both have underwear on. She’s like my sister. And what are you doing here anyway?’
‘I came down last night, I had a feeling I couldn’t trust you.’
At this point, Titch came limping into the bedroom. ‘Lucy, they are not shagging,’ she said wearily, ‘so can we please all have a nice cup of tea, then I need to get home.’
‘Josh, we are leaving now.’ Lucy flicked her hair back over her shoulders in dramatic fashion. ‘And if you dare to say otherwise, then . . .’
Rosa dragged on her dressing gown and went to put the kettle on.
‘Then what, Lucy?’ she said. ‘You really are overreacting here.’
‘Maybe you won’t think I’m overreacting, when I tell you . . . I tell you . . . that I’m pregnant!’
‘Snap,’ Titch said under her breath as a saucer slipped through Rosa’s fingers and smashed into a million pieces all over the kitchen floor.
CHAPTER 57
‘What’s happening?’ Rosa clasped her cup of tea in both hands and sat on the sofa. ‘Ooh, I feel so rough.’
Titch had rallied round, swept up the glass and put some bacon under the grill. ‘They’ve both gone.’
‘I can’t believe she’s pregnant,’ Rosa sighed. ‘I also can’t see Josh with her. But I know what he’s like, he will have to marry her now.’
‘Oh, Rose. You can still be mates.’
‘It won’t be the same. I think I love him, Titch. But then, it doesn’t feel the way love is supposed to feel like.’ Rosa took a slurp of tea. ‘Oh, I can’t explain.’
‘My mum says that sometimes the heart sees what’s invisible to the eye.’
‘Your mum and her observations.’