Billy shook her head. "I don't think she thinks that. You're her parent."
Rosa pulled a face at that remark. "So are you."
"No,” Billy said firmly. “She calls me Billy. When it comes down to it, you're the one she looks to as a parent. You're the rules and regs. If she believes she'll disappoint you, she won't do it. If she supposes she would be in trouble with you, she thinks twice."
"I don't think I like that."
"You're her mum. I'm just the person who showed up halfway through her life and took her to do fun stuff."
"She loves you."
"She loves us both, but we have different roles in her life, and yours is the important one."
The trolley rattled to a stop beside them. "Would you like a drink? Any snacks?"
Rosa smiled up at the stewardess. "Is it too early for wine?"
Chapter six
Two drivers met them with signs, one reading ‘Fisk’, the other, ‘Cafferty’.
"How are we doing this?" Billy asked.
"We can go in the Cafferty car, and you and Mum can go in Fisk," Imogen said before Rosa had time to think.
"Uh, that's not going to happen," Rosa finally said. "I'm not letting three teenagers get into a car with a man I've never met before."
Imogen looked annoyed.
"Your mum's right," Billy said, backing Rosa up. She turned to Rosa. "One of us can go with them, or I can take—"
"I'll go with them. We'll see you at the house." Rosa was already moving towards the taxi driver, suitcase in tow. "Come along, girls."
"She's so bossy," Imogen mumbled.
Billy caught it. "Hey, she's your mum and she cares about you—all of you. So just remember that, okay?"
"God, now you, too," Imogen whined before following Rosa.
"Yeah, me as well," Billy called after her. "Because I'm your mum too." She watched as Imogen turned back and frowned at her. "And don't forget that," she said quietly before heading towards the guy still holding one of the signs.
The drive lasted another two hours, and it had started snowing—two hours where the girls chattered the entire way about what they would do first and how good at skiing they all were. Rosa and the driver stayed silent.
Imogen’s grandparents, Meredith and Schultz, lived in a picturesque house in Gerlos, on the Tyrolean Alps, in an oversized chalet with a hot tub and sauna and views for miles. Rosa had only ever seen pictures of it from when Billy had taken Immy over to see them.
As they drove the winding road, snow a foot deep either side of the tarmac, Rosa could understand the beauty of it and why they'd made the decision to retire here and not stay in the UK.
She might have chosen it too if it had been an option. She sighed and continued to watch the snow fall as they drove.
They were ten, maybe fifteen, minutes out when the taxi turned off the road and stopped outside a smaller chalet—not the one from the photos.
Meredith was standing out front, all bundled up in winter jacket and hat. She waved as the car slowed. Rosa got out and the girls followed.
"Meredith, this isn’t…"
"Oh, Rosa, it's so good to see you." Meredith pulled her in for a hug and waved with her fingers at the teenagers. "Now, I hoped you wouldn't mind, but…we've only got two spare rooms at the house and with the girls staying…I spoke to my neighbours, and they said you'd be welcome to stay here in their cabin. They only use it as a holiday home. It's practically brand new." She gripped Rosa by the elbow. "Come on, I'll show you."
"I don't understand. I thought we were all staying together."
