Chapter 7 Rosie #2
She didn’t know what she was supposed to say to that. “Oh.”
“You’re so transparent.” But there was warmth in his voice. “You’re worried because this is your favourite time of year and you’re afraid I’m going to ruin it. You can relax. I know you love it, and I promise not to spoil it for you.”
It wasn’t only about her. She wanted him to enjoy it too, but maybe that was asking too much.
She stopped at a junction. “We’re only twenty minutes from home now. Could you message my mother and give her a twenty-minute warning?”
“You want me to message your mother?”
“Yes. Why not? You’re her son-in-law.”
“I know, but—fine.” He picked up her phone and sent a message. “I made it clear it was from you.”
It hadn’t occurred to her that he might feel uncomfortable with her family.
Her friends had always loved sleepovers with Rosie and Becky because their parents were so warm and welcoming.
There was always cake and milkshakes and no one ever cared if they built forts in the living room or covered the kitchen table with their artwork.
“Did you never have a family Christmas? Not once?”
He put her phone back in her bag. “Define ‘family Christmas.’”
“The whole family together. Doing traditional stuff.”
“No. From the age of seven it was just Dad and me, and he wasn’t cooking a turkey.” He gave a short laugh. “He couldn’t even boil an egg, so we ate whatever tins he had in the cupboard.”
“Oh.” And now she felt extra grateful for all the wonderful Christmases she’d had in her life. “Sorry. I probably shouldn’t have asked.”
“It’s okay to ask.” He paused. “I suppose there’s a lot we still don’t know about each other.”
That was becoming clear to her. And she had questions. Questions she was afraid to ask in case she didn’t like the answers.
Did we rush this?
Do you wish you’d never married me?
She kept her focus on the road. Of course he didn’t wish that (did he?).
Becky always said that she overthought things and she was definitely overthinking this.
It was true that they were still discovering things about each other, but that was fine.
She needed to adjust to that reality, that was all.
When they’d met their connection had been so powerful she’d felt as if he’d always been in her life.
As if she knew him instinctively, and as if he knew her.
But that was her romantic side taking over.
She saw now that there were a million tiny details that they hadn’t shared.
“If you find our family Christmas too much you are allowed to escape to your room at any point. Or to the pub down the road. Jamie will go with you. And no one will mind.” Everyone would probably ask where he was and if he was all right, and her grandmother would probably ask him directly because she wasn’t known for her tact, but he didn’t need to know that in advance.
“Stop worrying. I know you’re close to your family, Rosie. You don’t have to apologise for it.”
“I don’t want you to feel overwhelmed, that’s all.”
“I won’t. There are plenty of things I’m looking forward to.”
“You are?”
“Yes. Work has been hard so I’m ready for a rest. And I’m looking forward to walks on the beach and seeing more of the area. We didn’t have much time for that last time we were here. I want to do a tour of ruined castles.”
“There are plenty of those around here.”
“And I’m looking forward to seeing Becky.” He glanced at her and smiled. “It has been a while.”
He was looking forward to seeing her twin.
That was good, wasn’t it? It was good that the two of them got on well. It would have been awkward if a sibling didn’t like your partner, even more so when that sibling was a twin and her closest friend.
“I’m looking forward to seeing her properly too. It feels like ages since we had a proper chat. But I suppose a new job is always tough and time-consuming.”
“Yes, although it shouldn’t be for Becky. She’s a genius. To be honest I was surprised she chose that particular company. She would have been snapped up by any number of places. It seemed like a strange choice.”
“Maybe they paid more.”
“That wouldn’t be it. Becky doesn’t care that much about money. She’s more interested in intellectual challenge.”
She swallowed. “You know my sister as well as I do.”
“Well, I’ve known her for a long time. More than five years.”
“Yes.” She kept her attention fixed on the road and told herself not to overthink things. “So if it’s not a better job, why did she move?”
“That’s what I don’t understand. You move jobs for one of three reasons. One, you’ve been fired or there are no prospects where you are—that’s not Becky. Two, someone makes you an offer you can’t refuse, but that’s not Becky either. Three, you want a bigger challenge.”
“Well, there you go. It’s obviously number three on your list.”
“But that job really wouldn’t challenge Becky. She could do it in her sleep.”
It was like being back at school again. Your sister is a genius.
“Well, she must have had a reason for leaving, and no doubt she’ll tell you about it.”
“Yeah, it will be good to catch up. Everyone at the party was saying how much they missed her. We were disappointed that she didn’t join us.”
“You invited Becky?” Why didn’t she know that? “But she didn’t go?”
“No, she said she was busy.”
Rosie was gripping the wheel so tightly her hands had started to hurt. “You didn’t mention that you’d invited her.”
“I didn’t think of it. I assumed she might have mentioned it as you’re in touch all the time.”
“Not all the time. Not since she started the job.” The road conditions were worsening and Rosie slowed her pace. “I’ve seen her a lot less since we were married.”
He shifted in his seat, his long legs cramped by luggage and limited space. “She’s probably been giving us time to ourselves. She’s thoughtful like that.”
Every time he opened his mouth, he seemed to be praising her sister, which would have been nice had it not been for the fact that he didn’t seem to be similarly impressed by Rosie.
All she needed was for him to say you’re nothing like your sister.
“It sounds as if you miss her.”
“Yes. She’s good fun. And brilliant, obviously.”
“Obviously.” Rosie stared straight ahead, her creative mind spinning scenarios that hadn’t occurred to her before.
Fun. Brilliant. Friends for years.
She was so distracted by her own thoughts she almost missed the final turn, but at the last moment she registered where she was and turned the wheel sharply.
“We’re here.”
She drove along the lane that led to the house, thinking about Becky and Declan.
Becky had talked about him for years before Rosie had finally met him, and it was usually when she was laughing about something.
It had been Declan this and Declan that.
Rosie had been so used to hearing his name that by the time she met him she felt as if she’d known him forever.
Becky and Declan.
No. No way. They liked each other and they’d been colleagues, but it was nothing more than that. She was definitely letting her imagination run away with her.
Trying to clear her head, she pulled into the driveaway of the house and blinked, dazzled.
For a brief moment she wondered if she’d taken the wrong road because her family home didn’t usually look like this.
The whole house glowed and twinkled against the snowy landscape, its roof and windows highlighted by a profusion of tiny lights.
A large wreath hung on the front door, which was framed by lanterns and two sparkling Christmas trees.
The path leading up to the house had been cleared of snow, but the trees that surrounded the house shimmered white and silver in the darkness.
The place radiated Christmas warmth and Rosie gazed at it in wonder, momentarily distracted from her less-than-comfortable thoughts.
“Okay, that’s—unexpected.”
“What is?”
“Lights on the house. My dad was always too busy to do the outside and my mother gets dizzy on ladders. Usually we have a wreath and that’s it.”
“It looks good. Welcoming.” Even Declan stared. “Your house looks like something out of a Christmas movie.”
“I know. And I love it.”
She did love it, but it didn’t erase the niggling worry that had taken hold in her head.
Declan and Becky. Declan and Becky.
Was Declan wishing he’d married her sister?