‘Wow, why didn’t I know this already? It all makes sense now with the ghosts and the ghouls.’ Rosa listened, entranced. ‘Go on.’
‘So, this night was usually a celebration of being in touch with the spiritual world and many would experience heightened sensitivity around this time.’
‘So, what does a carved pumpkin stand for then?’
‘Well, a folklore tale states that the jack-o-lantern was originally supposed to help lost souls find their way home. It got its name from an Irish folk tale about a prankster named Jack. Jack was a known troublemaker who was stuck between the world of the living and that of the dead. Legend states that Jack tricked the devil into the trunk of a tree by carving the image of a cross in the tree’s trunk. His mischievous ways denied him access to heaven – and the devil was so enraged by being tricked that Jack was also denied access to hell. So he remained a lost soul trapped between two worlds. In Ireland, people would carve turnips and pumpkins and place candles inside on All Hallows Eve to help guide Jack’s spirit back home.’
‘That’s an amazing tale!’
Sensing that Hot was asleep, Merlin sauntered downstairs. On finding his bowl now empty, just as he’d suspected, he glared at the snoozing dog and headed in a huff out of his cat flap, letting it bang shut behind him.
Rosa laughed. ‘That cat! He channels Queenie more and more every day.’
Mary fumbled in her dressing-gown pocket for her inhaler, pulled it out and took a puff. She then took a gulp of tea before resuming, ‘Going back to my lesson, Rosa, because the veil between the spirit world is more accessible at that time, the tradition of adorning the house in scary-looking decorations is said to keep any bad spirits away.’
‘Ah, I see. It all makes sense now. Is it just the UK and Ireland who do this then?’
‘No. Many cultures around the world continue to celebrate All Hallows Eve in a more traditional way by lighting candles and offering food for their loved ones who may return. I see it as a lovely celebration to spare a moment to think of those who have crossed over, and send them love and gratitude to help them move on their way.’
‘I love that. I’m so glad we stopped by today. I have received a history lesson too.’ Rosa went to wake up Hot.
‘Me too.’ Mary stood up and tutted. ‘Anyhow, look at me still in my night clothes. I must get ready for the day.’ Facing her daughter, she put both her hands gently on Rosa’s young shoulders and squeezed them lovingly. ‘Have a good day, but be aware, my girl. The Jacks of this world…they come in many guises.’
On walking up to the Lobster Pot, Hot once again trotting ahead, Rosa’s thoughts turned to Lucas. Surely Sheila had told her family that she was very ill – and if she hadn’t been able to get a message to Lucas, then his brother must have tried? And if Lucas did know that his mother was ill, then why wasn’t he coming down to see her? Or maybe it was because he couldn’t bear to see his mother unwell… So many scenarios, but if Alec was in front of her now, he would tell her not to make a story in her head. He’d say that time would tell – and that ‘nobody is ever thinking what you tell yourself they are thinking!’ He would also probably say it was none of her business.
It occurred to Rosa that if something was wrong with Mary, she would want to know immediately and certainly wouldn’t shoot the messenger, whoever they might be. However, that didn’t stop her worrying, in case, despite her deep love for Josh, even talking to Lucas might bring back all the feelings from before. She didn’t love Luke, just lusted after him and also cared about him. After all, they had had sex, for goodness sake; that emotional connection had been made and would never be forgotten. She stopped to check her phone and, as she had thought, the handsome plumber was still in her contacts list: he had not been deleted in a drunken rage as she quite often used to do when men crossed her. And then, with fingers hovering over his number, Rosa took a huge intake of breath and pressed it.
CHAPTER 17
Rosa reached for the remote control between the sofa cushions and started to flick through the countless TV channels; not settling on anything she fancied, she turned it off and lay back with her head to one side. She had enjoyed her walk on the beach with all the dogs and now Hot, completely exhausted from chasing and play-fighting with Ugly, Pongo and the Duchess, was also lying flat on his back with his bits on show, snoring in his bed.
It had been a mild September, but the late-October nights were drawing in and the heating was cranked up high. Rosa had been so busy preparing the announcement about the official launch of the Gift of the Corner Shop that she hadn’t really had time to miss Josh – until now, that is. She checked her watch: it would be 1 p.m. in New York – maybe she could catch him in his lunch break. She tried him on FaceTime but there was no connection. The last time he had used Messenger showed three hours ago and she also realised that he hadn’t replied to her text from this morning. A sudden and familiar pang of jealousy went through her. Where was he? Why wasn’t he picking up?
Her heart started to beat a little faster. She thought back to Alec’s words of advice for when she started having irrational thoughts; when her fear of abandonment reared its head – a sad result of her childhood in care and never feeling good enough. She must breathe in and out deeply and slowly to help her think clearly. This was the man who had married her, who wanted her children, who had on countless occasions not just said those three important words but had backed them up with even bigger actions.
At times like this before, she would have reached for a glass of wine, imagined every worst possible scenario, drowned them out with alcohol and either texted in a rage or crashed out and gone to bed early. Tonight, she ran a deep bubble bath.
Just as she had sunk into the hot soapy water, she heard the sound of a FaceTime call coming in on her iPad. She jumped up, sending water and suds everywhere, and ran naked through to the lounge.
‘Rosalar!’ There he was, her handsome husband. ‘Oh my God, look at those pert little breasts. I wasn’t expecting that. It’s not my birthday, is it?’
‘Hello, darling!’ Rosa replied. ‘It’s very dark, I can hardly see you. Where are you? I thought it was lunchtime in New York.’ As she spoke, Hot heard a noise downstairs and began barking loudly enough to drown out the ring of the shop’s bell and the noise of the shop door opening.
‘Aw, I can hear my little sausage and yes, it is lunchtime in New York.’ Rosa squealed as the voice of her husband suddenly carried up the stairs. ‘But it’s not in Cockleberry Bay.’
‘Blimey, what are you doing here?’ Rosa squealed again as all six-foot two of her handsome other half walked in, put his phone on the side and hugged her tiny, wet naked body tightly to him.
‘Getting back into that deep soapy bath with you and then you can take me to bed or lose me forever.’
Rosa giggled. ‘Oh, my God! I love it! Top Gun. Just show me the way, honey!’
‘I needed that.’ Josh kissed his wife tenderly. They were both radiating with the glow that only a long session of passionate lovemaking could bring.
‘You mean you got on a plane and came all the way back to England just to shag me senseless?’