by Nicola May
‘I know - great, aren’t they? But going back to me for a minute, after last night, I’m glad I’m still pregnant. Well, I think I’m glad I am, anyway.’ Titch put her hand over her little bump. ‘Let me sort these bacon sarnies and I will tell you all about it.’
Rosa munched her toasted sandwich hungrily. Between mouthfuls she said to Titch: ‘To be honest, I can’t really remember much about last night. Just that we heard voices arguing and then Josh galloped off to your rescue.’
‘It’s big, Rose.’ Titch looked solemn. ‘What I’m going to tell you is really big.’
‘Be gentle with me, Titch. I am so hungover.’
‘I don’t care, I want you to know this. You know somebody accused you of running down the hill, the night of the hit and run?’
‘Yes.’
‘Well, it was me.’ Titch lowered her eyes and looked ashamed.
‘Shit! Oh, OK.’
‘I can’t believe that I’m telling you this. I know I can trust you, it’s just that it’s so awful - disgusting. I’m ashamed.’
Seeing tears welling in the girl’s eyes, Rosa moved to sit next to her and too her hand.
Titch went on shakily: ‘So, Lucas comes out of your place, he’s a bit drunk after your Prosecco, I’m wearing a little skirt, he’s in the mood and likes what he sees, I’ve always fancied him, so we jump in his van and shag. All pretty straightforward, all pretty slut-like, but . . . it gets worse.’
‘It’s fine, go on.’ Rosa squeezed her hand.
‘Seb comes by me in his van and pulls over. He must have seen us jumping out of Lucas’s van, I reckon, I don’t know. Anyway, I can tell he’s stoned, maybe a bit pissed - it was Christmas, after all, and everyone drinks and drives around here. He tells me that Sheila Hannafore has paid him a tenner to go and get Lucas’s girlfriend.’
‘Go and get, as in pick up, or run her over?’ Rosa was only half-serious, but she knew Sheila disliked Jasmine.
‘Shit, Rosa, don’t say that! I didn’t even think of that. So, he offers me a lift up the hill back to Mum’s. But he drives right past Mum’s road and starts to put his hand up my skirt. I struggle and push him off, but he carries on, calling me names and saying that I’m always after it. We reach the top of the hill by the garage, and I don’t know if you know it, but there’s a car park there when you can go off and walk through the woods.’
‘Fuck. I think I know what’s coming.’
‘He raped me, Rosa.’ Titch now had tears flowing down her face. ‘He hurt me so badly. Afterwards, he insisted on dropping me home, even though I just wanted to run away from him – couldn’t bear the sight of him. But then, as we were driving down the hill, in the headlights I suddenly saw this girl’s face.’ Titch shuddered, and for a moment she couldn’t speak. ‘I heard a massive clonk - and then Seb told me to get out and run. I should have stayed and helped, but I was scared and in a state. And he’d gone screeching off downhill at top speed.’
‘Fuck. So I’m guessing Sheila Hannafore doesn’t know he’s guilty?’
‘My mate Gully, who works in a car-sales place in Ulchester, he said she paid for the new red van that Seb’s driving these days, as the other was crushed soon after white paint was found on a bumper. So, make of that what you will, but she must know.’
‘Fuck.’
‘Rosa, can you please try and say something other than fuck?’
‘So, what happened last night then?’
‘I was going to let it lie about the rape, especially when I found out I was pregnant – by Seb presumably, since I’d used a condom with Lucas. The last thing I would want my child to know is that he or she was a product of something so violent and awful. Can you just imagine?’
‘At least they’d know where they came from, I guess… unlike me.’
‘Sorry, Rose, I didn’t think…’
‘It’s fine. Ignore me being such a self-pitying bitch, I’m just upset this has happened to you, Titch.’
‘I can deal with it, but it’s been eating me up lately as I thought, what if Seb went and did it to somebody else? Somebody even younger, more vulnerable? I would never forgive myself. So, in my head I decided, if I can’t go through with reporting him for the rape as it’s probably too late now, at least I can get him put away for the hit-and-run.’
Titch’s voice wobbled. ‘I left an anonymous message on the Gazette answerphone and somebody there must have told Seb! I know that because he phoned me last night, accusing me. I denied it, of course, but he kept saying he wanted to speak to me in person. He was kicking off so badly and I didn’t want him coming into Mum’s and causing a fuss, so I arranged to meet him at the back of the shop. I figured I’d be safe and could come to you if he started on me - which he did.’ She rubbed her hurt knee and looked tearful.
‘Blimey. Titch, you should have told me before. I really can’t believe you are having his baby. Would he have done this to you if he’d known you were pregnant?’
He doesn’t know I’m pregnant – and he will never know it’s his,’ the girl said fiercely. ‘even if he or she turns out to have ginger hair.’ She smiled through her tears. Then: ‘I can’t get rid of this little soul, not now, it’s too late. And I love him or her already.’ She sniffed. ‘We all need someone to love, Rosa.’
Rosa wanted to cry. She hugged Titch tightly. ‘Yes, you’re right, we do.’
The younger girl exhaled loudly. ‘I think all of this just has to be put to rest now, just like the suicides of Dotty Myers and my brother. What was it that Joe said on the radio? Closed cases, wasn’t it?’
‘Did you know about Dotty killing herself then?’ Rosa asked. ‘Surely that was many years ago.’
‘You know what this town is like. We’re all the cast in its very own soap opera.’
‘So, would Mary have known that – about Dotty’s suicide?’
‘She’d certainly have heard the rumours. After all, her gran was Dotty’s best friend. Why do you ask?’
‘It doesn’t matter.’
‘Right, I’m going to take myself home and have a long bath. If the Gazette or the police contact me, I’ll just say that it wasn’t me who called. I rang from a phone box anyway, so they won’t be able to trace my mobile.’
‘But that means he’s getting away with everything – with running Jasmine over, with rape, which has a hefty penalty by law, and with beating you up last night too! He should be locked up!’ Rosa’s blood boiled.
‘It’s fine, Rose,’ Titch said, and this time she was comforting Rosa. ‘A boomerang always returns to the person who throws it. Karma will get him in the end.’
‘Did your mum say that too?’
‘Yes, she did.’
They both laughed, and it was a release.
‘Take care, Titch, and I’m here if you need me,’ Rosa told her. ‘Any time.’
‘Likewise. Don’t stress too much about Josh, either. He’s a big boy. He’ll do the right thing.’
Rosa bit her lip. The knowledge of just that was what was troubling her.
CHAPTER 58
The delivery man waved through the window as Rosa was coming down the stairs to open the shop.
‘Rosa Larkin?’
‘Yep, that’s me.’
‘I’ll have to park up the road a bit as the back alley’s blocked.’ He was back in minutes, carrying a massive flat box, wrapped in sausage-dog paper and adorned with a big red bow.
‘Birthday girl, I assume?’ he grinned.
‘It was recently, thank you. Do I need to sign?’
‘No, that’s all right. Can you manage, love, it’s a bit heavy?’
‘Yes, thanks, I’ll be all right.’
Rosa put it down, quickly locked the front door, then carried the parcel very carefully upstairs. Hot was running around in and out of the wrapping paper as she ripped it off and threw it on the floor. She was delighted to see that it was a shiny new HD television, a perfect size for her
living room. Half-hoping to find a note from Joe, gushing with apology, she scrabbled through the paper on the floor and saw a pink envelope addressed to Rosalar in black ink. Ah. She smiled as she opened it.
Birthday girl!! In all the commotion, I drove off and forgot to give you this. What a bloody mess. Will call you soon, promise. Cuddles for Hot. Slap on the arse for you. Your Joshx
Rosa held the card to her heart. ‘My Josh.’
She went to the kitchen to get a knife to open the box, then cursed in pain as it was her turn to stub her toe on the bronze sausage dog that had been mysteriously left on her doorstep, the night of her birthday.
With everything that had been going on, she had completely forgotten about the beautiful sculpture. Hurrying into the bedroom, she went to her bedside table drawer and pulled out the ring with its crumpled note. Thank heavens that was still safely there. Holding out her hand, she admired the sparkle of the stones as it sat snugly on her fourth finger. It was as if it had been made to measure. She picked up the note and read aloud the words in capital letters.
‘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
The shop had been Ned and Dotty’s for so many years, there just had to be a connection. It was time for Mary Cobb to spill some of those magic beans of hers.
The TV set-up would just have to wait until later. Rosa was carrying the box downstairs to put in the recycling when she heard the key turn in the front door lock and Titch was shouting her name in panic.
‘I’m here, I’m here!’ Rosa called back. ‘Are you all right?’
‘I am, but they’ve just carted Mary off in an ambulance from the Co-op; she had an oxygen mask on her face and everything. Blue lights and sirens too. I’m surprised you didn’t hear something.’
Rosa was stricken. ‘Titch, are you busy?’ she asked. ‘Can you manage the shop for me for a while and keep an eye on Hot?’
‘Just go, girl. I’m on it.’
Rosa waved Jacob off, who had given her a lift, then headed straight to the A&E Department of Ulchester General. A friendly-faced receptionist greeted her.
‘I’m here for Mary Cobb,’ Rosa said, flustered.
‘Are you family?’
Rosa started to garble. ‘Er . . . no, I’m a friend, but she’s just lost her gran, and she’s got a cat called Merlin, and I need to know if she’s going to be all right, and whether the cat needs feeding or not, and . . .’
‘Right. OK, calm down, love. Miss Cobb is in Resuscitation at the moment, but I will make sure somebody lets you know as soon as we have some news for you. Take a seat, and there’s a coffee machine in the corridor.’
‘Thank you so much.’
Rosa went and sat down. Resuscitation? She’d watched enough medical shows to know that it was serious then. She couldn’t settle so went outside and phoned Josh. The call went straight to message without even ringing. She texted Titch to say she could be a while, then went back inside and started flicking through the pages of magazines she’d never think of picking up normally. She was halfway through an article about growing your own chillis in Gardening Times, when somebody called her name.
A tall, bald consultant ushered her to a room to the side of the reception desk.
‘Hi, Rosa. You’re Mary’s friend, aren’t you?’
‘Yes, she doesn’t have any family of her own, I don’t think.’
‘Well, the good news is, she’s out of the woods.’ Rosa breathed a sigh of relief as the doctor continued: ‘She has a condition called COPD – Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease - and it was a nasty attack this time. A respiratory tract infection set it off.’
‘It’s serious then?’ Rosa had never heard of this COPD, but she knew that Mary coughed most of the time.
‘Like today, it can turn nasty. We recommend “rescue drugs” to be on hand ready for an attack, but Mary obviously didn’t have these at home. We have stabilised her breathing and started her on steroids and antibiotics. We will also increase the dose on her inhaler before she goes.’
‘OK, thanks so much. What causes this condition?’
‘In Mary’s case, years of smoking. Those warnings on the cigarette packets aren’t gruesome without good cause, you know.’
Rosa raised her eyes to the ceiling. ‘That’s awful.’
‘That’s reality. We do need to keep an eye on her for tonight, but she can go home in the morning. She will need a bit of nursing if you can manage to keep an eye on her.’
‘Can I see her now?’
‘She is very tired and will be for a few hours, so please don’t stay long.’
Rosa was given the name of the ward and was directed to a private room off a corridor. A drip was feeding clear liquid through a canula into Mary’s hand and she was being fed oxygen through her nose. Her head was turned to the side and in her deep slumber a small trail of dribble had run from her mouth. Rosa went to her side and gently wiped her mouth with a tissue. She then sat down next to her and held her free hand.
She felt Mary squeeze it slightly, then saw her half-open her eyes and glance at the ring, which Rosa hadn’t had time to take off her finger.
‘Rosa?’ She managed a little smile.
‘Ssh. You need to sleep.’
‘Queenie was beckoning me, but it isn’t my time, not yet, is it, Rosa?’ Mary whispered.
Rosa bit her lip. ‘No, Mary, not yet.’
Mary shut her eyes again and her breathing became deeper. Letting go of her hand, Rosa stood up, careful not to disturb the sick woman. Poor Mary. She wasn’t even that old, but it seemed life had aged her before her time.
Once outside, vowing to never touch another cigarette or even have another puff of a joint again in her life, Rosa sucked in a massive breath of fresh air and went to get the bus back to Cockleberry Bay. If she was lucky, there was one due in twenty minutes.
After a full text update from Rosa on the bus, Titch was waiting in the Corner Shop’s downstairs kitchen with hot cups of tea and bourbon biscuits.
‘You’re a good ’un, you are,’ Rosa sighed gratefully. ‘Thanks for holding the fort - has it been busy?’
Titch shoved down two biscuits in as many minutes. ‘Trust me to get cravings for something unhealthy.’ She spat biscuit crumbs as she added: ‘A lot of visitors have been passing through on their Easter holidays, so the shop bell has been ringing constantly. I do wish Hot wouldn’t bark each time.’ She grinned. ‘Oh, and cue for a drum roll, please.’
Rosa bashed her hands on the counter. ‘Not the Versace tie?’ she said disbelievingly. ‘But the price was exorbitant!’
‘Yes! What’s more, I thought the dogs’ heads on it were hideous - but some city slicker will be prancing around wearing that in the office on Monday.’
‘Hilarious! That’s Jacob for you - he insisted someone would love it and he was right. But great, that can go towards my washing-machine fund.’ Rosa opened the till and handed Titch a twenty-pound note. ‘And that’s towards the Titchy Titch Fund. I’ll do your wages as normal at the end of the week, but I really appreciate you stepping in today.’
‘Thanks, Rosa - are you sure?’
Rosa thought back to all the awful bosses she had encountered during her shaky employment history. ‘Course I’m sure. The Titchy Titch Fund needs filling too. Now get up the hill to Mumma Whittaker and rest those little legs of yours.’
Titch was just going out of the door when Rosa called her back. ‘Would you do me a massive favour, so I don’t have to go out again? I forgot to get a door key off Mary. Can you just take this bowl of crunchies and put it outside the back door of Seaspray for Merlin, please? He’ll be all right with that until tomorrow.’
At the end of a busy afternoon, Rosa shut the door behind her last customer, locked it and turned the sign to Closed, then made her way slowly up the stairs. Hot was sleeping in his bed in the front room. He opened o
ne eye and then with a little yap of a hello, closed it again. Suddenly feeling completely drained from the day’s events, Rosa went to the kitchen to pour herself a glass of wine.
She tried Josh and was surprised that her call went straight through to answerphone again. He hadn’t even replied to her earlier text thanking him for the TV and telling him about Mary; it wasn’t like him at all. Maybe he was just busy at work or had his phone on silent, so he didn’t have to suffer the wrath or hormones of Juicy Lucy?
Drink in hand, she flopped down onto the sofa. The TV sat opposite her, all ready to be set up, but she didn’t even have the energy for that. Try as she might, she couldn’t get the vision out of her mind of poor Mary lying in that hospital bed, all alone. They were similar in the fact they had both lost a mother, albeit in very different circumstances, but that was where the line was drawn. But for some reason which Rosa couldn’t put her finger on, she was very fond of Mary Cobb, with her quirky ways and spiritual doings.
Growing up without a mother’s love had made Rosa resilient, independent and somewhat streetwise in one way, but it had also made her reckless and insecure. But those were the cards she had been dealt. Now, thanks to the miraculous inheritance of the Corner Shop in Cockleberry Bay, and the gifts that had come with it, her life had been transformed.
There and then, Rosa vowed to find out who was responsible. Once Mary was better, her quest would begin – in earnest.
CHAPTER 59
It was a sleepy Rosa who woke from a restless slumber to find Hot lying right down the side of her with his bum in her face and his tail tickling her.
‘Oi, Mr Sausage, no wonder I don’t sleep.’ Her adorable mutt turned himself around, licked her cheek, then shut his eyes again. She admired his crinkly neck, and soft black whiskers for a moment whilst inhaling his heavenly dog scent and his less heavenly dog breath, then checked her phone: nothing still from Josh, but there was a text from Mary.
It’s Mary. Rosa loved the way she always started her texts with that. I’m alive (smiley face) and I’m getting a lift back with a practice nurse from Polhampton. I forgot Merlin! (horrified face).