“What if things crash and burn between you?” Because knowing Fallon, this was likely to happen.
Another shrug. “We’ll see. Don’t tell Rose. She knows about the operation, but not the recovery time.”
“I won’t say anything, you know that. Have you seen Rose since, you know, the wedding thing.” I was unsure of how to put it.
Fallon nodded. “This afternoon after you’d texted her. I spoke to her last night and told her about the wedding, all the things that had been left out, which I assume was so you and Laurie could have real weddings and not think ‘I’ve done this before’, at least, that was what I explained to her, but she’s the psychologist, she can work it out.” She sighed and shook her head. “I’m interfering.”
“Why?” Because Fallon generally kept out of things.
“Because I love both of you and I want you to be happy. You’ve done a lot wrong and you’ve been stupid, Carter, but none of it has been badly intended. Rose – we should’ve made Rose name how she felt about you ages ago.” She sat back on the fireside chair and hugged a cushion. “Don’t give her too much space.”
“I thought you’d be telling me the opposite.”
She sighed, considering. “I usually would. She asked a load of questions about the wedding, she asked to see photos so I showed her some, and then more questions followed – why Laurie wasn’t wearing a wedding dress, why didn’t someone walk her up the aisle. I think she was realising that it was nothing like the sort of wedding you’d imagine. She then went down the rabbit warren of how good friends you must be to support Laurie like that.”
I rubbed my face with my hand and looked at Fallon. “I’ve have fake married you, if you’d needed it.”
“Thank you for saying that and I’ll bear it in mind, but I don’t foresee a situation where that needs to occur. It’s more likely I’d need bailing out of jail. Are you good for that?”
“Depends on what you’ve done. I have some morals.” I sat back and watched the flames dance in the fireplace. “We’ve missed the whole dating thing.”
“You have. And maybe that’s what’s needed. Ask her on a date, Carter. And Harriet’s asked Laurie to her leaving party tomorrow night, so don’t feel weird about it.” She stood back up and stretched, reminding me of a cat.
“I won’t.”
She headed out to her sleepover and I spent the rest of the evening trying to come up with the perfect date.
CHAPTER 22
Rose
“Does my hair look okay?” Harriet checked her reflection in the mirror and looked uncertain. “I hate it when all the attention is on me and I can’t believe you’re making me do this.”
“You can’t expect Fallon and Erin to not make a fuss.” It was true; if I’d been the one organising things, we’d have had a low key meal somewhere, all at home by midnight, but Fallon and Erin were unable to avoid a shebang. I understood it; I was a great believer in marking milestones, they gave us anchors through time, moments we could attached our own development with, but right now, my sympathy was with Harriet.
“I know.” She turned around and looked at me, her face pale and expression drawn. “I’m going to miss living with you.”
The strength that was holding me together started to disintegrate. “I won’t know what to do with myself when you’re not here.”
The flat fell silent as if the walls were holding a guard of honour, the memories of the past few years absorbed into their bricks and mortar and plaster.
“When can you come to Stratford?”
“Three weekends. I can come Friday and go home the Monday. We can go book hunting. Have afternoon tea on a riverboat.”
“See a play. Unpack the books. We have plans already.” Harriet sat down on the floor, still wearing a dressing gown.
We needed to get a move on else we’d be late.
“It’ll be fun.”
“It will be. And we’ll be okay.”
“We’ll always be okay.” I sat down opposite her. “And your hair looks fine.”
“Thank you. It won’t by the end of the night.”
“Especially if you can find someone to mess it up.” I tried to lighten the tone, but it didn’t work.
