"No…thank you for the offer, though." Rosa patted the door jamb as if she might reconsider, but then stepped inside and quietly closed the door, leaning back against it as she took in the room. A week. Seven days sharing a cabin with Billy.
Which might have been fine but for one five-foot-nine-inch issue standing in the lounge.
Billy Fisk.
Once the love of her life, then the bane of it. But what was she now?
Rosa shook her head, but the thoughts clung anyway. She pushed off from the door. Her case was still on the bed where she'd left it, all of her clothes hung up, her pyjamas tucked neatly under the pillow.
She moved the case and slid it under the bed, then changed her mind, placed it against the wall, and retrieved her nightwear and a towel.
Opening the door, intending to slip out and into the bathroom, she stopped in her tracks when she heard the quiet music and voice of the meditation session playing on what she assumed was Billy's phone.
"And breathe in…and out…"
For just a moment, she allowed herself to watch the scene and witness Billy in a state she hadn't seen in years. Still. At peace.
Afraid she would get caught peering into the life that was no longer hers to share, she crossed the hallway and disappeared into the bathroom.
Billy opened one eye and smiled to herself. Maybe she should have said something, but Rosa Cafferty never did like to be found out when she'd done something she wasn't ready to share.
But Rosa had watched.
Why?
Billy's chest tightened at the thought.
"And relax…let all your thoughts drift away."
"Easier said than done tonight," she mumbled to the faceless voice. "So much easier said…than done."
"Breathe in…and out…"
She let her shoulders drop and followed the instructions.In and out. Let it all go. In and out. But every blank space was filled with a flash of something, someone…Rosa.
A few minutes later, she heard the small click of the bathroom door as it opened and quietly closed again, followed by the repeating sounds of the bedroom door.
She turned the meditation off and pushed herself up.Camomile tea…that might help.
The kettle had just finished boiling when Billy turned at the sound of the door opening again.
"Are you making tea?" Rosa asked, standing in the doorway with her hair pulled into a ponytail, dressed in grown-up pyjamas; basic cream ribbed cotton trouser with matching button-up top. Unlike what Billy wore to bed, which was barely anything.
"Yes…chamomile," Billy said, pulling herself out of the inappropriate staring. "Would you like one?"
Rosa grimaced at the idea. "Is there nothing else?"
"There are proper teabags, but…caffeine." Billy smiled. "Chamomile will help you sleep. It's very good for you. It helps with inflammation and it's packed with antioxidants. Not that…you need anti-inflammatory stuff…" She wrapped her arms around herself and stopped talking.
Rosa smiled back as she edged into the kitchen area. "Oh, I don't know, maybe it would help me sleep."
Billy turned back to the kettle and reached for another mug from the tree. "Are you struggling to sleep?"
The small chuckle made her turn around.
"I haven't had a decent night's sleep in…" She searched her memory bank. "Sixteen years. I'm not sure I ever will." She continued smiling at Billy as she sat down on the island stool.
There was silence for a moment, except for the soft ‘tink’ as the spoon whirled around the cup. Finished stirring, Billy handed one of the mugs to Rosa.
