Page 48 of Whispers from the Past

‘I thought DEFCON 5 was the really bad emergency level?’

‘No DEFCON 5 is when we’re just chilling normally, and everything is fine.’

‘Are you sure?’

‘Yes I’m sure. Wait, what are you doing?’ Rose was confused as Holly stood up and grabbed her phone from her pocket.

‘I’m checking.’

‘You’re checking? Ok I retract what I said, if you’re able to pause your breakdown to fact check DEFCON levels, we aren’t at level 1. We’re more like level 3.’

‘Hmm’

‘What now?’

‘No it’s just you’re right. I could have sworn the numerical system went the other way. I’ve been using it wrong all this time.’ Holly sat back down as she shoved her phone back into her pocket.

‘Right well now we’ve got that sorted. Why is Owen asking you out a problem?’

‘Because he is gorgeous, completely out of my league and I’m all flustered whenever I’m near him and there is no way I’d be able to get through a date with him without looking like a colossal idiot and then I’d have to go through with the other nine swimming lessons feeling more awkward than usual.’

‘There are a few things there we need to unpack. But first off, you are in no way out of his league. I hate that analogy. Who puts together this ‘league’, who dictates which one you’re in? And second you would 100% get through a date being totally awesome.’

‘I really don’t think I would. You didn’t see me out there today with him. It was painful.’

‘No, I didn’t. But whatever you did out there also made him ask you out. So that has to count for something?’ Rose offered, hoping to finally get through to her spiralling friend.

‘I guess.’

‘But…’

‘But?’

‘Well you do have a minor point about getting through the rest of the lessons.’

Holly hid her face in her hands again. ‘See, I knew you thought I’d mess things up!’

‘That’s not what I meant. It’s just that dating him could well make the lessons a bit awkward. I’m guessing he has professional standards he should probably try to meet when he’s giving people lessons. So why not suggest you go on your date after your tenth lesson?’

‘Give him time to change his mind, you mean?’

‘No you idiot. It gives you time to calm your raging hormones so you can enjoy the date and not freak out about it.’

‘So I’ll just have the next nine weeks to freak out instead?’

‘Holly. I say this from a place of love and affection.’ Rose paused and waited for Holly to look at her. ‘You’re being a little crazy about this. You’re a grown woman, with two businesses and a beautiful daughter. Who is pretty amazing by the way. We’re now cinema buddies - I’ll be taking her every Sunday to the special showing at Whitby Pavillion. You’ve got this. This is good. This will be good.’

‘Do you promise?’

‘I promise. Now can we get the hell off this beach. It’s freezing!’

Chapter 18

🎵 You Got It All by The Jets 🎵

‘What’s with all the boxes?’ Luke called through the bathroom door to Rose whilst she showered.

Turning off the faucet, she explained ‘That’s all of Eleanor’s old stuff from years ago. She’s not been able to sort it out. I offered. Just haven’t gotten round to it yet. Don’t worry about them for now, just see if there are any frames suitable for the painting.’ She quickly dried herself and dressed before slipping out of the bathroom. A few minutes later she was climbing up the worn ladder to find Luke rummaging through the nearest box.