Just Rose

Chapter 8

The next few days went by incredibly quickly, Rose was so busy getting into the swing of sorting out the rooms in the cottage in the last sweep of effort; She had made a huge dent. She could now easily use the rooms without tripping over boxes or stray pieces of furniture and even Muffin had his designated cosy corner full of toys and a snuggly bed. All of her personal things had found homes and most of the packaging was sitting in the hall ready to go away.

She had spent time on her laptop and phone sorting out her next illustration project and had the dates in hand. She was awaiting the manuscript for the story along with the author’s notes on how she wanted the character’s scenes to lay out. All was set, and her fee had been signed off on. Her first p*****t in the bank and it was making everything feel more final. She had celebrated the new commission by buying herself a dress online for the dance and then felt incredibly stupid when her first thought was what he would think of it. This really bad habit he had of creeping into her mind unexpectedly and then she would slap it away again, feeling irritation rise. She had pushed the thought down the back of the sofa with all the ooze and dust of previous years to fester.

Thanks to Tommy the gardens had been brought into order by a local man Malcolm, and his teen son Liam, with the taming of the gardens they had even added chicken wire to the back fence for her, making it Muffin safe. She knew Rob must have okayed them being here and felt slightly miffed at the fact she owed him some thanks. There was not a single escape route for that fiery little fur ball and he was now enjoying running around like a mad hound in the garden, rolling in the newly shorn lawn and exploring the now tame flower beds, which had surprisingly been full of gorgeous wild flowers.

She had worked out a regular deal with them to keep the place trim and fabulous. An inexpensive necessity that didn’t infringe on their manor working hours. So, she didn’t need to be any more thankful to that arrogant sod up in his mansion for anything more. The garden was looking beautiful. She had been overwhelmed with emotion when she had seen the neat long garden with its stepping stone path to the outhouse’s blue door. Trim flower beds and a washing line leading down the side of the garden. A small metal patio set purchased locally was laid out on the now cleared paving stones to the right of the door and It brought back so many memories of back garden picnics on days like this. Summer tents made from bed sheets and rolling around playfully with her aunt, lost in some youthful game.

As the week progressed, Abby came by most mornings for a quick cup of tea as she headed to the bus stop a good ten minutes’ walk out of town. That was the upside to both the cottage and manor entry roads being only a mile apart on the same road. Abby loved walking and just loved walking right in here for tea and Muffin cuddles. Rose could almost set her watch by her visits and really looked forward to the young girl’s arrival every day. She had helped move the remainder of the furniture in place in each room, carted boxes to the garden and helped take a lot of packaging and trash to the local dump in the back of Rose’s car. She had been a godsend in helping with the finishing touches and a dab hand at D.I.Y. Showing up one morning with a wheelbarrow full of power tools to hang up heavy mirrors and pictures and tighten some loose hinges. She had taught Rose what a rawl plug was and the joy of a power drill.

Rose had finally taken delivery of her new kitchen appliances, and the very helpful men even put them in place for her. Probably sensing she was pretty useless at any sort of manual labour that involved mov-

-ing appliances and had no idea how to plumb a washing machine or attach a gas cooker. They had even removed her old appliances free of charge. She guessed her coffee and cakes, delivered with a smile had swung that. The kitchen overall was not too bad. It was made from real wood units in need of a sand and varnish, but there was something so quaint and shabby chic about them that Rose intended to whitewash them instead of replacing them.

Most of the jobs in the house were easy cosmetics, elbow grease and just a lot of time spent doing tedious manual labour. All in all, she was finally getting the place to resemble the cosy home of her memories. It had not taken much painting either. Her aunt had only ever lived alone and had the paint touched up every year until she left. There was nothing that a wipe down and clean couldn’t remove and the majority of the walls were cream with stained dark wood beams and dark wood floor. She had found old sealed cans of paint in the shed and had managed to use the name to purchase a new tin for touch ups. Nothing Rose wanted to change. She was in love with the mash up of old vintage furniture and new modern things in her cosy little home and had finally found the refuge she had been seeking.

In week two, Rose and Abby had taken a four-hour round trip to Ikea a few towns south and managed to pick up so many bargains that she had the whole place looking modern yet quaint. Vintage meets Ikea. Somehow it worked and was pretty much the home she had always dreamed of.

Trips to town had resulted in meeting a handful of locals, full of character and charm. The old women who organised jumble sales, the old men who stood around waiting for the women to scour the secondhand shops on a Wednesday morning and then on to the church weekly coffee morning. Young mothers, with toddlers and babies, who frequented the parent groups. Kids going to and from the local schools who loved to hang out in town on lunch hour. The general locals who worked in every shop and stall and always greeted her with a huge smile and chit chat. Rose had done more socialising in under two weeks here than her six years in London and Abby was fast becoming the friend she had longed for since leaving home.

It was on a morning trip to town that Rose stopped into the bakery to pick up cakes for Abby coming over. Lost in thought after placing her order at the counter, she was rummaging in her bag for her purse; head down and humming to herself on another gloriously sunny day, full of summer joys.

‘What’s got you so happy Penelope?’ Robs voice infiltrated her thoughts and the sudden haze of sexy aftershave over swept her as his body heat came dangerously close behind her.

‘I’m in my favourite bakery, buying cakes! Do I need any other reason?’ She answered immediately, half smiling before reminding herself how much she didn’t actually like this guy. She glanced back to see he was adorned in a white shirt and jeans and looking his usual dapper self; which only made her annoyed with the way it made her feel like sighing.

‘Sweet tooth, much like Abby. I can see why you two get on and spend so much time together.’ He smiled with a dazzling almost sexy grin, but Rose just frowned and turned back to the counter to try and ignore his presence.

Easier said than done.

‘It’s partly for Abby, we’re meeting later.’ Rose answered tonelessly then smiled graciously when the counter girl appeared with a large white paper bag, fit to bursting.

‘How the hell you two stay so thin, with an order that size, is beyond me.’ He observed with another smiley tone, Rose just sighed.

‘Lucky I guess. Good genes.’ She paid for her purchase and turned to leave but he didn’t move to let her pass. She frowned up at him towering over her, a little impatiently and sighed when he still didn’t move.

‘Look Penny. Maybe we could have a do-over? You and my sister are practically inseparable, and I think we got off on the wrong foot. Would be nice if we could just put it in the past.’ He pushed his hands casually into his back pockets, emphasizing his muscular frame, making it clear he wasn’t moving and Rose had to avert her eyes, pretending to check her cake bag contents.

‘Mmmmm hmmmm.’ She said distractedly, trying so hard not to let her eyes wander back up or betray the sudden hot flush he was causing.

Okay, so maybe he was a little too attractive.

‘You could sound a little more enthusiastic about it.’ He jested, a hint of that Abby mischief tone that caught her a little off guard.

‘Sure whatever.’ She sighed and straightened up, meeting that intense grey gaze which was very firmly locked on her face in a rather disturbing way. Knowing that this was the mature and sensible way to behave, she thrust her hand towards him reluctantly. ‘Rose... Not Penny! Rose Turner and I guess, your new neighbour.’ She smiled with all the effort of warmth and friendliness she could muster.

‘Rob; as you know. Rob Munro, and yeah, kinda figured you were in Olivia’s old place; seeing as you’re her niece.’ He smiled knowingly. ‘Town grapevine was talking about you for weeks before you showed face.’ He smiled again, having a little bit of an effect on Rose’s heart rate and making her suddenly feel awkward.

‘I guess that’s the curse of a small town. Everyone knows everything.’ She moved to try and get around him, but he turned as she did so.

‘I guess I’ll be seeing you around a lot more with Abby, the dance too?’ He wasn’t smiling anymore but his tone was still friendly, and Rose felt herself soften a little. He was really trying to be the gentleman, trying to be nice and she guessed she could cut him a little slack. For Abby’s sake, it would be a lot easier if she tried to get on with him.

‘I guess you will; Ab’s keeps trying to talk me into coming up to yours for a tea and cake fest.’ She softened her tone and gave a genuine soft smile his way, catching his eye which still seemed locked on her a little too intensely.

‘You should; our housekeeper makes some of the best. You’re welcome anytime Penny. Would be nice to see Abby with someone; she spends too much time alone for a girl her age.’ That maternal tone in his voice pretty much killed the last traces of hostility in her, she was a sucker for some genuine affection between siblings and he seemed like a protective brother. She loved Abby dearly, so he was only cementing a slight like for him now.