Page 27 of Whispers from the Past

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As they entered the old cinema on Sunday night, Holly led Rose to their seats. She sank down into the red velvet chair and let the conversation she’d overheard between Eleanor and her scrabble buddies sink in. Something about it was niggling at her, but she couldn’t put her finger on it.

‘I overheard Eleanor talking with her friends this morning about her husband. They were surprised that she’d taken most of his paintings down. Do you think it’s odd that she took them all down?’

‘I suppose with you moving into the flat, she probably didn’t think you’d want them everywhere?’

‘Yes I suppose. They were also asking her how she was coping…I’m guessing they meant with me being there. Has she been alone since Michael died?’

‘He died before I was born, but it’s always just been her. No extended family; just her. I think that’s why she took me and Luke under her wing once our parents died. Like finds like, and all. Popcorn?’ Holly whispered, nudging her with a ridiculously large box of popcorn as the lights dimmed. Rose let out a contented sigh as she took a handful and savoured the puffed kernels. She’d had a busy week at the bookshop and if she was being honest, a Jurassic Park movie marathon (original trilogy) was the last thing she wanted to do. She’d come really close to cancelling. Even got as far as going to speak to Holly during an afternoon lull. But when she’d got to the bar, she’d excitedly lifted her apron to reveal a vintage Jurassic Park movie t-shirt and she didn’t have the heart to disappoint her. So, instead of curling up in bed with Edmond again, she splashed cold water on her face, pulled her hair back into a messy ponytail and made her way to the small 1950s cinema that overlooked the bay.

‘Everything ok?’ Holly’s questions brought her back to the present.

‘Just a bit tired,’ Rose confessed.

‘Some dinosaur action will sort you out,’ she enthused as the lights dimmed and the opening shot of the forklift truck carrying the vicious velociraptor filled the screen. That was all it took for Rose to remember how much she liked this film. Holly had been right, the first film was just what she needed and she easily made it through the second one. But by the time Alessandro Nivola appeared on screen in the third film, Rose could feel her tired, heavy eyes betraying her. The screech of pterodactyl attacks weren’t enough to stop the tidal wave of sleep that was pulling her away from the comfort of the cinema and into a world of dreams. Dreams where dinosaurs were chasing her and Luke through a deserted supermarket in the dead of night. Luckily they’d found a hiding spot which, although was barely big enough for both of them, they’d managed to squeeze in to. Rose was having to hold on to Luke so tightly to keep them both safe within the confines of their hiding spot. Just as a claw started to pull Luke away, she was nudged awake. The end credits were scrolling on the screen and the familiar theme music echoed through the speakers.

‘Good nap?!’ Holly teased playfully.

‘I just closed my eyes for a second …which somehow became an hour.’ Rose smiled to herself, remembering the absurdity of her dream. She marveled at why her subconscious had put her in such a ridiculous situation.

‘Please?’ she asked.

Rose realised that for the second time recently, she hadn’t been listening to the person she was talking to. So, hoping that she wasn’t about to agree to skydiving, she said ‘Sure?’.

‘Really? Great! Oh this will make things so much easier.’ Hoping that more details would naturally follow, she just smiled. And, thankfully, they did. ‘So, we need about five more prizes’

Breathing out a relieved sigh, she pressed for more details. ‘And when do you need it by again?’

‘Oh, Wednesday.’

‘This Wednesday? As in three days from now, Wednesday?’

‘Two days now,’ then adding apologetically, ‘it’s after midnight. Sorry - I’m usually much more on the ball with it but Lucy always organised everything and I forgot all about it. And Natalie hasn’t been sleeping well so I’ve really dropped the ball on this! It always raises much needed funds for the volunteer hospital transport bus. And I’d hate to let them down. They’ve been selling so many tickets and I’ve got hardly any prizes.’

Rose tugged at her messy ponytail. ‘It’s fine. Leave it with me.’

‘You’re a star Rose.’

She gently shoved her, ‘Come on, let’s go. Some of us need our beauty sleep.’ She picked up her bag and stood up to leave.

* * *

‘Yes, it’s for the local hospital volunteer transport bus. It would be lovely if you could offer a prize?’ Rose asked later that afternoon in her politest voice. She’d spent all afternoon calling businesses in a twenty mile radius. She’d had a fair amount of success and had already secured spa treatments worth up to £50 at a local salon, a block of ten swimming lessons and secretly her favourite one; a steam train driver experience. But right now she was on the phone to Harris Hall. Eleanor had tipped her off that the owner’s mother had been good friends with one of the volunteers who helped with the hospital transport before he sadly passed away a few months ago. She thought he might be open to helping out.

‘Let me just go and check with Mr Harris,’ a friendly voice replied down the line.

Rose tapped a rhythm with her free hand as she waited for the woman to return.

‘Sorry to have kept you. Mr Harris would be happy to support the raffle and will provide a prize of dinner, bed and breakfast at Harris Hall.’

‘Oh that is wonderful!’ Rose gushed.

‘If you give me your address, I’ll get a gift voucher mailed out first class recorded delivery straight away.’

Rose gladly provided her details and did a happy clap once both hands were free and the phone was back in its cradle.

‘Went well I assume?’ Eleanor said as she came through from the annex with two cups of tea.