Page 32 of Whispers from the Past

Rose smiled to herself. Talking like this with Luke reminded her of when they had chatted like this in the car on the way back from Holly’s birthday drinks. She’d missed chatting with him like this, and not for the first time, she tried to figure him out. Friendly one minute, guarded the next.

Mrs Gibson said she is free at the weekend. She seemed quite keen to try the llamas out on us.

Sunday afternoon with a couple of llamas.

Who could ask for more?

Pick you up at 1pm?

It’s a date

She realised her mistake as soon as she pressed send. Texting Luke was so much easier than talking to him recently. It reminded her of when she was 18 and online chat rooms had exploded into teenagers’ lives and when text messaging had become affordable for the masses. She remembered how much she’d loved sending and then waiting to receive a message back; she still did. The dopamine release desiring more interaction was addictive. She’d been joking when she’d said date - it was just a turn of phrase. But seeing it staring back at her in black and white, it didn’t look like a joke. For damage limitation she added a laughing emoji and hoped she hadn’t freaked him out. Just as she set her phone down on the bedside table it pinged again.

I need you to come over STAT. It’s an emergency! 🚒 🚓 🚑

Had Holly not added the emoji for a fire engine, a police car and an ambulance at the end of her message, Rose might have actually thought that there was an emergency at the pub. Regardless, there was clearly something that she needed to see her about.

I’m on my way. Do I need to bring a first aid kit?

No. But if I didn’t live above a pub, I’d tell you to bring a litre of vodka with you.

Rose threw on her dressing gown and slipped her feet into her fleece lined crocs and made her way out of the book shop as quietly as possible. Holly was waiting for her at the door of the pub and pulled her inside.

‘What the hell are you wearing on your feet?’

‘Seriously Holly. You drag me out of bed for an emergency and criticise my choice in footwear?’

‘Point taken. But you know they are terrible right? First the coat, now these?’

‘Holly.’ Rose glared at her impatiently.

‘Ok. Yes. Right. The emergency!’ She pulled Rose into one of the armchairs in front of the, thankfully still lit, fire. ‘So you saw that I won the swimming lessons?’

‘Please tell me I’m not to discuss that you won a prize. I know it’s exciting…but it’s the kind of excitement that can wait for the sun to rise.’ Rose’s palms worked their way into her face to try and keep herself awake.

‘It’s not about the prize per se. I hate the water, can’t swim, and the lessons are with O-w-e-n,’ Holly had dragged out saying his name for dramatic effect.

‘Should I know who Owen is?’

‘We went to school together and I had the biggest crush on him imaginable. He moved away when we were 18 and has clearly been off somewhere growing muscles and being amazing, because he is just gorgeous.’

‘I’m not seeing where the emergency is here Holly. I figured the lessons were for a child. Natalie can have the lessons? You can stand at the side and look gorgeous whilst your daughter is taught by the hunky swim instructor. Sounds pretty perfect to me.’

‘But Natalie can already swim. Luke has been taking her since she was a baby. So I plucked up the courage to message Owen to decline the prize and he remembered me from school. Remembered that I can’t swim and has taken this as a sign to use the lessons to teach me. I can’t get in the water with him Rose! I feel sick at the thought of getting in the water. I might vomit on him. Vomit. On. Him. Rose.’

Despite her exhaustion and the warmth of the fire that was clearly enticing her to drift off to sleep in the comfy armchair, Rose laughed.

‘It’s not funny Rose!’

‘It is a little bit funny.’

‘Ro-oo-ss-ee,’ Holly dragged out her name whilst gently hitting herself in the face with a fist at each cheek. ‘What am I going to do?’

Huffing out a breath and sitting herself up a little straighter, she reached over to hold both on Holly’s fists in her tired hands. ‘First you’re going to breathe out and relax. I’ve got this great calming app that talks you through breathing exercises that honestly, really and truly help. I’ll message you the name of it. Then you’re going to go to bed and we’ll talk about this like rational people in the morning when we’ve both had breakfast and at least one cup of tea. This is a good problem Holly. We’ll solve it and you’ll have fun in the water with Owen in a revealing swimsuit.’

‘I don’t own a swimsuit,’ Holly gulped at the thought.

‘That can easily be rectified with a bit of retail therapy, Holly. We can find you something you’ll look so hot in’