‘I understand,’ the man replied gently. ‘I should have let you know I was going to be here.’
‘No, no, not at all, you don’t need permission. I’m glad you are here, and I really am looking forward to getting to know you.’
‘Good, good.’ He sneezed loudly. ‘Strangely, I’m allergic to dogs – but not cats. Not that Merlin will give me the time of day. I’ve just taken an antihistamine but not sure how long it will last. I also brought one of these with me.’ He pulled a surgical mask from his pocket and put it on.
Rosa laughed and relaxed. ‘You’re funny.’
‘I prefer peculiar.’ His eyes were smiling. He then took her to the side of the kitchen and whispered, ‘I also thought I could check on how your mum is – you know, after what you told me the other day.’
‘Thank you,’ Rosa replied, feeling even more grateful that she shared this truly kind man’s genes.
Rosa then went back through to the lounge and removed the huge bag of stuff from under the pram, saying, ‘You’d honestly think I was leaving him with you for a week, not a few hours.’
‘Don’t you worry, duck. When did you last feed him?’
‘Just before I left but there are three made-up bottles in there, just in case. Oh, and six nappies.’
‘Just in case,’ Mary repeated and smiled at her daughter who smiled back and carried on.
‘The milk will need warming and my phone will be on, so, honestly, call me if you have any concerns. He does usually go down around seven, but if you can’t get him off, don’t worry. I reckon I’ll be back by eight, latest. Oh, and there’s Hot’s special bowl in there and I’ve measured out his biscuits for him. He usually eats about six o’clock. I got so worried about the way he swallows the lot in one gulp that I’ve started using one of the puzzle bowls that we stock in the shop: they force dogs to slow down and try to get at the biscuits that are all in different places.’ At the sound of his name, the little dachshund lifted his head from his comfy chair, then let it flop down again, his eyes closed.
‘So you’ll be back around eight, you say. The tide will be getting high by then.’
‘Yes, Mum. The fun will be over by then, outside anyway.’
An unmasked Christopher bought two cups of tea through and put them on the sideboard. ‘Did you want one, Rosa?’
‘No, I’m going to get off now, thanks.’
‘Make yourself at home, won’t you?’ Mary directed at the man sarcastically, although she was secretly happy that he was. Then, seeing the yellow teacup and saucer in front of her, the spiritual woman had a sudden flashback. Placing a now-sleeping Little Ned carefully back into his pram and tucking him in, she put a hand on her daughter’s shoulder. ‘Be careful tonight, won’t you, duck?’
‘Oh Mum, don’t go all weird on me.’
‘In fact, hang on, yes, I have something for you.’ Mary headed to her messy drawer in the kitchen and returned with a small, polished black crystal. Christopher looked on in bemusement.
‘Black tourmaline.’ She dropped it into Rosa’s coat pocket. ‘I love you, daughter. Now go and have some fun and I’ll be seeing you later.’
Mary occasionally got things wrong, like thinking that Josh had been involved in a plane crash once, when all that had happened was that he had got stuck in New York because of bad weather. However, Rosa was sure that the peridot stone that she still had in her bedside drawer had helped her with her jealousy and also to move forward in her relationship with Josh. So, she never totally dismissed her mother’s motives or visions.
On her way back down the hill to the beach, Rosa hit up Google for more information on the new crystal. She read: When it comes to protection, the black tourmaline crystal is powerful for more than just your personal energy – it’s also a protective shield for your home.
Rosa was just wondering what on earth it could all mean, when she bumped into Titch, Ritchie and Theo all coming out of the Corner Shop. Theo grinned at her then squealed, ‘Hot, Hot.’
‘No, he’s at Mary’s today, Theo darling.’ Rosa bent down to his level and took his little gloved hand. ‘Exciting about the fireworks though, isn’t it?’ He started to arch his back to try and free himself from his straps. ‘Rosa play. Rosa play.’
‘On the beach you can get out, darling,’ Titch said, handing him a rice cake, then put her hand to her aching back and sighed.
Ritchie bent down and kissed Rosa on both cheeks. ‘I haven’t seen you for ages, mate.’
‘I know. This baby lark is all-consuming.’
‘Yeah, poor Titch, my mum’s got full-blown flu now so I’m having to do more shifts in the chippie.’
‘Who’s got the dogs tonight then?’ Rosa asked.
‘My mum,’ Titch piped up. ‘She wanted this little man as well, but I think he may be old enough this year to enjoy it, let’s see.’ She leaned into her husband, who was pushing the stroller. ‘We should have left him there for a sleepover, so we can be alone. I need this baby giraffe out now.’
‘You’ve still got nearly two months to go, so you can’t be talking like that,’ Ritchie said. ‘Tell her, Rosa, tell her to behave.’ He then confided: ‘Despite her womanly wiles I’m ignoring her. This baby can’t be popping out too early and I don’t want to hurt her. And does that old wives’ tale work, anyway?’
‘I am here,’ Titch muttered.
They reached the beach which was already buzzing with people. Nate had done a wonderful job decorating the café and the Ship, too, looked great, with its strings of flashing lights and spotlights. The Residents’ Association had made one of their legendary fruit and alcohol punches, which was being ladled out to already stressed parents, and the pasties that Raff had made were laid out above food-warmers on a big long table in front of their white tent in the car park. As usual, a big barbecue was sizzling with burgers in front of the hotel and both Lucas and Danny were manning it, wearing tall white chefs’ hats. On seeing the handsome pair, Titch nudged Rosa and winked. Lucas’s firework playlist was belting out Katy Perry’s ‘Firework’.
Leaving Titch and Ritchie to queue for a burger, Rosa walked over to the café. It felt strange being totally on her own but also wonderfully liberating to not have to be Rosa Smith, wife, mother, daughter, sister. She could please herself for a few hours for once.
She was just about to grab herself a hot chocolate from the table out at the front of the café when a small dark-haired boy with a missing front tooth came running up to her. Tina Green was following in hot pursuit.
‘Guess what day it is today, Rosa?’ the boy cried excitedly.
Rosa got down on her haunches to the lad’s level, then went to her bag.
‘Hmm, now let me just think.’ Rosa handed the little boy a wrapped gift. ‘Happy Birthday, Alfie.’
‘You knew already!’ the boy shouted. ‘Can I open it now, Granny Green?’ Without waiting for an answer, he ripped open the packaging and dropped it onto the wet sand. Tina Green dutifully picked it up and put it in the bin handily placed next to the table that had been set up for hot dogs outside the café.