Page 13 of Whispers from the Past

‘Right, enough about the book shop. Tell me more about you. Who is Rose?’

Rose cringed a little at the phrasing, but tried to hide it as she took another sip of her beer before she filled Tony in on her life. She recalled Holly’s words earlier about how nice Tony was, she could cut him some slack for his slightly embarrassing technique when talking to her. ‘From as early as I can remember, it was always me and my mother travelling around in her Capri. I don’t remember us staying anywhere for longer than 6 months which made school hard. I was never anywhere long enough to make proper friends. At first I don’t remember it being a big issue, but the older I got the more I wanted to stay in each place a bit longer. Like clockwork though, when we hit the six month milestone, we moved on. We did hang around in London long enough for me to do my GCSEs and A-levels though. My Mum was adamant I was going to go to Uni and see the world. Then during my first year at university, she got sick and died and I’ve been looking after myself ever since.’

‘That must have been hard. Being on your own at eighteen.’

Tony moved to reach across the table, but Rose edged herself backwards. ‘It was. But I muddled through. How about you?’

‘Quite ordinary in comparison! I grew up in Leeds, but we used to come here every summer. That’s where I met Lucy. She lived here and over the years we got to know each other. We got married 15 years ago. But that chapter is over now. She has moved to Bristol and apparently has moved on from me too. Sorry, I didn’t mean to start talking about her.’

‘It’s ok. I would have thought it weird if you didn’t talk about her!’ Rose smiled reassuringly as Holly called for last orders. She finished off her beer and started to pull her jacket on.

Tony jumped up to help her, ‘I didn’t realise until after she left how few friends I had here. I guess I was so caught up in us and making the cafe successful. So I’m making an effort to be friendlier! And in that spirit, fancy dinner on Friday?’ he asked as they made their way through the timber framed door, out into the chilly evening air.

‘Ok,’ Rose smiled.

‘Just ok? Looks like I’ll need to work harder to get more excitement from you.’

‘You seem like someone up for a challenge,’ Rose called behind her as she made her way across the road to the book store.

‘Challenge accepted,’ Tony called as sidled past her to open up the door to the cafe.

Just as she was fishing out her key to head inside herself, Holly whistled from the pub to catch her attention.

‘Not so fast young lady. Get your arse back in here. I need to live vicariously through your non dating.

‘Ssshhh Holly. He’ll hear you!’

‘You’d best get over here quick before I start asking more questions then!’

Rose laughed as she made her way back into the quiet and warmth of the pub.

‘So, tell me everything. I kept having to check on Natalie and couldn’t eavesdrop on your date like I wanted to.’

‘Firstly, I told you it wasn’t a date. We chatted about the book shop and then a whistle stop round up of life before coming here. He told me about Lucy and asked if I wanted to go for dinner on Friday.’

‘Ok well most of that sounded highly dull. But a date on Friday is promising.’

‘I wouldn’t get your hopes up Holly. He’s a nice guy and he’s being friendly. I really don’t think he likes me like that.’

‘Have you seen you? He’s an idiot if he’s not thinking of you like that.’

‘Luke doesn’t think of me like that,’ Rose blurted out before she had the sense to think about what she was saying and who she was saying it to.

Holly’s eyebrows immediately rose and she pursed her lips. ‘I’m going to put a pin in that little slip up to come back to another time. But I will just say that if we’re talking about idiots, then my brother tops the list. You can’t use him as a benchmark for normal male behaviour.’

Rose could feel herself blushing. ‘I just meant that Luke can’t seem to stand being around me for more than a few minutes at a time. So I can’t be that irresistible. Anyway, enough about my non-existent love life. Why are you needing to live vicariously through me?’

‘Oh Rose, we haven’t got enough vodka behind the bar for me to explain the horrors of my love life.’

‘Come on, tell me about you. Who is Holly?’ She only just got the question out before she guffawed with laughter.

‘Who is Holly? Who the hell says stuff like that?’

‘Tony,’ she was now crying as she laughed. ‘I feel so terrible to be laughing about him with you, but that was a weird thing to say, right?’

‘Oh it most definitely was. And it is now my go to question behind the bar!’ Holly grinned mischievously.

‘No you can’t! He’ll know I told you!’