“I know… You’re right.”
“Better get the thermals out and packed.” Tanya chuckled.
Chapter four
"Imogen, you need to hurry up, the taxi will be here in five minutes," Rosa called up the stairs. She turned back to look down the hall at her case, all packed and ready to go.
"I'm coming," Imogen shouted back.
Rosa moved into the kitchen, checking for the umpteenth time everything that could be switched off or unplugged, was.
"I already told you I'll pop in and water the plants," Tanya said, drinking the last of her cup of tea. “If anything is amiss, I’ll sort it.”
"I know." Rosa laughed at herself. "I just…we don't go away often. I'm still getting my head around it."
There was a beeping from outside.
"Taxi's here." Tanya grinned. She put her cup down and passed Rosa her bag. "No need to check. Money, passports, phone—everything else you need is all there."
They hugged each other.
"Okay, I'll see you in a few days." Rosa smiled. She left the room and was just about to shout up the stairs again when Imogen appeared at the top and made her way down. "Ready?"
"Yep. We're meeting Janka and Robbie and Billy at Gatwick, right?"
"That's the plan," Rosa said, opening the front door and dragging her bag out. "Bye, Tan."
"Bye, girls. See you when you get back."
The taxi was right out front, engine running. The driver jumped out and took their bags as he whistled a happy tune.
"Gatwick North," Rosa said.
"He knows. You had to tell them when you booked," Imogen said as they climbed into the back and got settled.
"No harm in reminding," Rosa said.
The car pulled into a space outside of the departures entrance to let them out.
"Okay?" Imogen asked. The driver was already out of the car and pulling their cases free from the boot.
"Yes." Rosa smiled. "Let's get going, shall we?"
Getting out of the car, Imogen looked around, eyes searching. "There's Billy." She pointed and waved.
Rosa looked up and noticed her ex waving back. Billy had her hair down for a change—all curls and mess that caught the light just right. Rosa remembered why she'd fallen for her in the first place. Though if she really allowed herself to think about those traits, and she didn't often, it was the smile and the overconfident bravado that had drawn her in and made Billy Fisk stand out from the crowd.
"Hey," Billy said, doing all of that as she approached and hugged Imogen, smiling over her shoulder at Rosa. "Figured I'd wait outside for you both."
"Have you seen Robbie or Janka?" Imogen asked with that sense of excitement only a teenager would have, completely ambivalent to anyone else in the moment.
"No, not yet," Billy answered, but it was Rosa she said it to. "Need a hand with that?"
Rosa struggled to lift the case up the kerb. "Nope, all good, thank you."
Imogen looked up from her phone. "Robbie said they're inside by the escalators." She bounced and clapped. "Oh, I can't wait. This is going to be the best birthday yet."
Billy saw the hurt flash across Rosa's face.
