Just Rose

Chapter 18

Rob was right. Before long Abby had burst into the room full of life and energy, despite the fact she should be as hung over as Rose, she bounced on the bed sending the tray of leftover breakfast sliding about and hugged her friend. It was obvious by her attire that she had probably not even been to bed yet and her alcohol stench was strong.

‘You crazy girl! Imagine going for a crawl in the garden, you drunken whore.’ She laughed wholeheartedly before slumping down beside Rose.

‘Excuse me! I’m not a whore... Drunken i***t, but never w***e!’

‘Well, true, but the way you were wrapped around my brother when he brought you in here last night. I’m not so sure. I reckon he would have only had to ask!’ Again, with the hysterical laughter as she batted at Rose, making seductive motions and pouting kisses in the air.

’No?... Oh God!... Abby tell me I wasn’t being a wanton slapper?’ Rose almost barked in shame, trying desperately to drag back any ounce of memory from Rob bringing her back in here. If only she had even the tiniest memory of how she had behaved, of anything that had happened.

‘Was I that bad?’ She cringed, furrowing her brow and waiting to hear the embarrassing tale.

‘Yes, but No...You were pretty out of it really. You were the typical damsel in distress with arms looped around his neck and face pressed against him, but asleep. You never woke up really at all. We had to take your dress off and put on something to cover your modesty, seeing as you were hell bent on throwing off the covers every two seconds. Poor Rob would have had an eyeful. Not that I think he would have minded, being a hot-blooded male and all. He hung about out there till we dressed you and then sent me off to bed.’ She winked cheekily. ‘Oh, my god. I’m mortified. I can’t believe I caused so much drama.’ Rose winced at the thought but felt a little relieved that nothing had really happened.

‘Shut up. It’s hilarious. Sadly, your story was topped by the two fat wives having an outright scrap on the lawn at three am and one of them getting her knockers out.’ She laughed so hard she held her ribs. ‘All over some gangly little weasel who was having it away with both and neither are married to it!’ She mock vomited on the bed. Rose covered her mouth in minor shock, taking delight in someone else’s drama and rendering her own little episode un-newsworthy. Abby briefly described the scene and finer details before returning to the topic.

‘Seriously though Rose. You did scare us. Rob was frantic when we couldn’t find you. He even dragged that poor yank out of his taxi and demanded to know where you were.’ Abby had moved up the bed and was rearranging the sheets to get comfy. ‘Hot as he is; and those muscles! Phew...Move over Thor! Well, he had sauntered into the taxi and Rob, I don’t know what he was thinking; literally dragged him out. Was quite heated between them. I don’t know what Rob said, but they exchanged some serious looking words before he dropped him back down into the taxi and he left.’ She shrugged. ‘I have rarely seen my brother like that you know... He’s not normally aggressive and scary like that!’ She eyed Rose seriously, make up residue around her eyes making her look tired this morning.

‘Ughhh.’ Rose groaned at the thought that she had caused all this and covered her face with her palm shamefully. She tried not to picture that little scene, but it flew effortlessly into her mind’s eye. Thor meets Bruce Wayne! That had a pretty seductive ring to it.

‘He was running about like a madman with my phone, trying to call you. We found your bag under one of the seats in the main hall when the raffle was drawn. Oh, by the way, your name came up, you won a man for the day.’ She laughed with that but continued. ‘He even went to your cottage to see if you were there as we had your keys and your car. I have never seen him that way, he’s normally so cool headed and in control of everything.’

‘I’m sorry Abby. I really am. I’m such an arse.’ She leant forward, pulling the girl into a hug and stroked her hair. Genuine remorse at causing everyone so much stress. A tinge of happiness at knowing Rob seemed to care about her in a way that she may care about him, girlfriend or not.

‘What do you mean, I won a man for the day¿ Her brain snapped back to focus at the ridiculous insert of information.

‘The raffle! Rob came back down after a bit, he had been depositing Morag in the guest room as he had donated himself as a slave for a day and well, your name was pulled. Rob’s your man! Morag followed him back down and took an absolute b***h fit too, that was pretty awesome, and he told her to go F off too; she was proper going off on one at him.’ Abby grinned, lifting her head to face Rose. ‘I hate that woman with a passion. Stuck up cow!’

‘What?...I won Rob?... Ok, I’m lost... What am I meant to do with a slave for the day?... About Morag... You never told me that before, why don’t you like her? And why did she pitch a fit?’ Rose was trying to grapple with the surge of information, her mind still too slow and foggy to keep up. The little tit bit that Rob put her in a guest room was niggling at her too. Men didn’t put girlfriends in guest rooms.

‘You know they have to come spend a day with you at home, do whatever you ask within reason. No naked naughtiness or sexually abusing your slave. Not that he would mind, judging by the man eyes he was casting your way last night.’ She winked, and Rose felt her cheeks colour instantly. Unable to formulate any sort of denial. ‘Make him cook or clean or do some crappy manual labour. You get him for eight hours on the day of your choosing’

Roses head went into a spin, trying not to let her over active imagination fly away with her and focus on what Abby was still saying. Eight Hours of Rob Munro alone with her in the cottage! She would need a pacemaker at this rate.

‘Slow down Ab’s.... I thought Rob and Morag were a couple?’ Rose nudged her leg softly, her brain going into overdrive on the only subject she wanted to discuss right now.

‘Morag is what I would call a leech! Stuck on, sucking the life out of him eternally, yet he seems oblivious to how bad she is They’re friends, ex couple and as far as I am aware, occasionally date, but nothing oober serious.’ Abby flopped back on the bed to stare at the ceiling and sighed. ‘Morag hates Rob being Laird and having responsibilities, mingling with the community and dealing with mundane issues that take him away from her. She’s clingy and needy and it’s obvious she suffocates him; she treats me like a f*****g leper too.’

‘I’m sure Rob sees something in her Abby, I mean he’s with her after all, right?’ Rose frowned, her stomach back to washing machine mimicking, only this time it wasn’t entirely alcohol related. Talking about Rob and that woman was decidedly bad for Rose’s constitution.

‘I think he feels responsible for her. They used to be an item, back years ago, but she ruined it all with a pregnancy tale. They got engaged and then he found out she was lying and that pretty much put an end to anything really serious between them again.’ Abby sighed loudly as Rose regarded her silently, gnawing ache in her chest making her wonder why she was even wanting to know any of this.

‘That’s horrible.’ Rose blanched.

‘Morag tried to commit suicide soon after, I guess that’s what sealed Rob’s fate. Since then he has taken her under his wing, stayed friends and whatever else they are; God knows. He looked after her because he felt guilty, he felt like he pushed her that far and now, I guess, it’s gone on so long that they are something, maybe not serious but she is always with him.’

‘Maybe he does still love her?’ Rose interjected with a very lead heavy chest.

‘I don’t know what he feels for her; I don’t know why he puts up with her to be honest!’ she climbed off her brother’s bed and rummaged in a nearby drawer. Pulling out a black ring box she hopped back on the bed and revealed a beautiful vintage engagement ring. A diamond shaped setting, filled with delicate diamond stones surrounding an intricate design with a central deep pink crystal. ‘This belonged to my mum and a million Munro wives before! It’s been a tradition in this family that the sons give it to the next Munro wife and it gets passed down from mother to son, to be given to the girl they want to marry. It’s ancient! Rob never once gave it to Morag, not even when they got engaged. He bought her some fabulous, expensive ring but never this!’ She gave the box to Rose allowing her to pick it out and examine the precious beautiful piece. Up close it was far more intricate and stunning, her breath caught in its delicate beauty.

‘If he really gave two shifts about her then she would be wearing that ring. Rob may not be a traditionalist or anything, but I know for a fact he would use that ring on the woman he loves.’ Handing it back in the box carefully, aware of its value, Rose nodded, feeling a little lifted inside, but hoping it did not show. ‘If Rob falls in love and that ring makes an appearance then I’ll know it’s for real. Morag has never ever laid eyes on it, as far as I know, and they have dated for fifteen years on and off; she probably doesn’t even know it exists. Rob had it cleaned a couple years ago, so I know he’s well aware of it being here, he’s not forgotten!’ She got up and put the box back in the drawer with a sigh. Turning and leaning against the unit, she looked sad and frustrated

‘He isn’t happy Rose. He’s stuck! He has always had this profound sense of duty. With her! With us! With this house and his stupid title! He takes it all very seriously and I think it will make for a shitty, unhappy future, if he doesn’t get his head out of his ass.’ The girl sagged against the drawers, a faraway look of hopelessness son her face.

‘Abby, you need to let him make his own choices; as hard as it may be to watch him. You can’t make someone do what you want. Even if you think you know best.’ Rose drew up off the bed and walked towards her friend, placing a hand on her shoulder gently and leaning in to meet her down turned eyes. ‘Rob doesn’t strike me as the kind of guy who would just settle for mediocre. He seems like the kind of guy who goes after what he wants! Maybe he does love her, maybe he doesn’t. But I am pretty sure that either way, he will do what he wants, what’s best for him. Even if you don’t agree.’ Rose hoped so anyway.

‘Why could he not just fall in love with someone like you?’ It wasn’t really a question, more of a desperate statement without meeting Rose’s eyes. Rose laughed in amusement masking the inner somersault and her mental Yes why, can’t he?