Imogen nodded. “I figured. That’s what I told Pippa.” She grinned, adding, “She thought you were on a date.”
“Oh.” Rosa blushed. “No, I mean…that would be—”
“Kind of cute, but no. I said you’re more friends now and that’s a good place to be.”
“Absolutely.” She felt the need to add something more, but it was tricky. “Your mother and I would like to have a better relationship where you’re concerned. I think we can find a way to be more in each other’s lives, like you want us to be.”
“Really?” Imogen sat up. “Cos that would be kind of cool too, you know. We could have family days and maybe another holiday.”
“I…I’m not sure, we’ll see.”
The sound of a car horn bibbing outside offered a reprieve from the possible pathways this conversation could take.
“That’s Georgia.” Imogen put her mug down and jumped up. “I’ll be back tomorrow after football.”
“Imogen?” Rosa got up and reached out, stroking her daughter’s cheek much like Billy had done with hers earlier.
“Yeah?”
“Why don’t I see if Billy would like to watch you play tomorrow?”
“Really?”
“Sure, I mean, she might have plans already.”
“I’d love it.” The horn beeped again. “Okay, I gotta go.” She grabbed her sports bag, slung it over her shoulder, and was out the door.
Rosa watched through the living room window as Imogen climbed into Georgia’s BMW and they drove away.
Chapter fifty-one
Sitting in Rosa’s room, on the edge of the bed Rosa had slept in alone all these years, was grounding for Billy. The furniture was different; the bed covers not what they’d have chosen together. The pictures on the wall were of Imogen and times they’d spent together—times that had included Billy, before they’d parted ways.
Imogen was so tiny. Rosa was just as beautiful, even in her tired, just-given-birth state.
The closest Billy had come to Rosa’s bed before now were the small, snatched glimpses during their late-night video calls. Now, she was planning to spend the night—invited into the sanctuary. She was aware of how important this was—how big a moment they were sharing.
Rosa’s bed had remained empty all these years—not because she couldn’t have filled it if she’d wanted to. God knows there would have been enough admirers, Billy considered. A small wave of jealousy rolled over her at that thought. She sat with it for a moment, acknowledged it, and let it pass.
She heard voices in the hall below. The house shook gently as the door closed. A moment later, she smiled to herself as Rosa called up that the coast was clear.
Billy clattered down the stairs, laughing. “Oh my goodness,” she said when she finally made it to the bottom. “I honestly thought you’d be sneaking me out and I’d have to get a cab home.”
Rosa rolled her eyes. “Thankfully not, but it was a close call.”
Pulling Rosa into her arms, Billy said, “She’s going to find out eventually.”
“And when she does, it will be because we sit her down and tell her, not because she catches us acting like horny teenagers.”
“I do kind of enjoy that aspect, though.”
Rosa stared up into Billy’s eyes, a smile spreading across her lips. “I do too.”
“So…back upstairs?” She turned to pull Rosa in that direction but found herself held fast.
“Not so fast. I want to talk first.”
“Alright. Lead the way.”
