‘We can’t overcharge,’ says Rose instantly. ‘It would be wrong but still. Isn’t that great? I can’t wait to tell Adriana and Christos.’
‘You’re planning another retreat,’ says a man’s voice. ‘I would like to register interest.’
Rose catches her breath.
That voice – it can’t be.
She doesn’t want to appear in front of him.
He last saw her five years ago, when she was younger and looked younger too. Now she’s got silver hair and all the stuff she teaches people about accepting yourself seems feeble when the man she loved is standing just feet away—
‘Are you hiding?’
He’s just outside the housekeeping cupboard which is stuffed with spare pillows, toilet paper and towels.
‘Yes. No,’ she says, leaning against the cupboard wall. ‘I’m not sure I can take you on,’ she says.
She hears him approach and yells, ‘You can’t come in here!’
She’s got a lip balm in her pocket. Which is not ideal but it’s better than nothing. Rose smooths her hair and then applies lip balm. She wishes there was a mirror in here but such a thing is not required in a housekeeping cupboard.
‘Why can’t I come in?’ asks the voice.
‘This is a private office.’
Where the hell is Beata? She needs help to get rid of him now and then she can appear when she’s got lipstick on, a better dress, with her hair fixed …
But why?
If he has come all this way, then it’s because of her. He will have to accept who she is now.
Biting her lip, Rose takes up the housekeeping master list and holds it as a shield. Then she stands tall and makes her way majestically out of the housekeeping cupboard.
In front of her is Theo, slightly older but still beautiful.
‘Oh Rose,’ he says softly and he reaches out for her.
Rose clutches the list to her chest and retreats.
‘I’m working,’ she says.
He nods. ‘I totally understand if you want me to go,’ he says earnestly. ‘But I regretted that night so much – I should never have said those things. I pushed you away.’
Rose says nothing.
All week she’s talked about how people need to know their truth and say what is important to them. Now Theo is here, she has so many things she needs to get off her chest and she is saying nothing.
‘When the show went, I looked for you,’ he says. ‘I pestered your agent but she said she knew nothing. I didn’t know how you could just disappear but you did and then …’ His face looks animated. ‘Three days ago, someone mentioned this retreat. That you were back. I got here as fast as I could.’
‘I need a kingsize duvet—’ begins Beata, rounding the corner. ‘Or maybe I don’t.’ She looks at Rose. ‘Do you know this guy?’
‘Yes,’ says Rose.
‘I messed it up,’ says Theo sadly. ‘Am I too late, Rose? If I could just stay for a few days and we could talk? I met Adriana and Christos in the village,’ he’s saying.
Rose is clutching the housekeeping master list close to her chest.
‘They’re lovely people. They were both pleased that I wanted to register my interest. Adriana says I could probably partner with you on the retreat but “Only if she lets you,” as your sister says.’
