Chapter 37
Chapter thirty-seven
They landed on time and fought their way through baggage claim and out through security with everyone else using the airport that day.
When they came out into arrivals, Janka’s mum and dad and Robbie’s family were all gathered together and rushed forward to greet their kids.
“Thank you so much,” Janka’s mum said. “We missed her so much.”
Georgia quietly wiped away a tear when Pippa pulled Robbie into a hug. “Happy birthday, Immy,” she said, sniffing away the emotions. “Thanks for taking good care of her,” she said to Billy, and then smiled at Rosa.
Max and Cassie both wrapped themselves around Robbie’s legs.
“You’d think we’d been gone a month.” Rosa chuckled, putting an arm around Imogen. “We’d best go and find a taxi.”
“I can drop you off,” Billy offered.
“In your sports car?”
Billy shrugged. “It’s bigger than it looks.”
Imogen’s eyes went wide. “Can we go with her? I can squeeze into the back seats, and we’ve only got two small cases and my big one.”
Rosa looked between the two of them and smiled. “Go on then, only because I want to see the magic happen as all of this, and us, get into that tiny bucket on wheels.”
They all said their goodbyes, but then realised they were all walking towards the car parks. At the point where Janka’s and Robbie’s families split to go to the short stay, Billy, Rosa, and Imogen headed for the bus that would take them to the long-stay car park Billy had paid for.
The two small cases squeezed in on either side of Imogen, who sat in the middle of the back seat with one leg behind each of the front seats, the seat belt fastened around her middle.
Her bigger case just about fit into the boot, but only after Billy took out the box of car cleaning equipment and oil cans.
Those were now shoved into the footwell in front of Rosa’s seat.
“There,” Billy said, brushing her hands together triumphantly. “Told you it would fit.”
Rosa raised a brow and smirked. “We haven’t got up Merchant hill yet.”
“One problem at a time, Rosa.” Billy grinned and jumped into the driver’s seat.
It was the first time Rosa had been in the little car. It smelled of cherry…and Billy.
Luckily, there was a space right outside Rosa’s home. Billy pulled into it and yanked the handbrake up. “Here we are—all home, safe and sound.”
“Thank you,” Rosa said with a smile before opening the door and climbing out. She pulled the lever and her seat moved forward. The small case nearest to her was handed up by Imogen, who clambered out after it.
“Okay, so yeah, that’s not the best way to travel,” Imogen said, brushing off her jeans.
Billy chuckled and opened the boot. “Maybe it’s time to upgrade to a bigger model.”
“And be a grown-up?” Rosa smirked, her eyes glinting with mischief. Billy blinked, caught off guard by the teasing look.
Imogen didn’t notice the playfulness between her parents, too busy pulling the case from the boot and rooting through her pocket for the key to the front door.
“This car is you, though. And it’s not like you need it to drive anyone but me around.” She shrugged. “It’s a cool car to be seen in.”
“Imogen, I’m shocked,” Rosa said. “I…” She stopped herself and glanced at Billy. “We didn’t bring you up to care what others think of you.”
“I don’t mean it like that, I’m just saying…it doesn’t hurt to be seen as one of the cool kids at school.”
Rosa moved out of the road and onto the pavement beside Billy. They both stared at Imogen.
“Are you being bullied?”
Imogen frowned. “What? No, of course not.”
“You’d tell me—”
“Mum, I’m not being bullied. You’ve met my friends. Do you really think anyone would get past Robbie?” She laughed at her mum’s absurd take on things.
Rosa considered that. “No, I don’t suppose so.”
“Anyway…this is…weird. I’m going in.” With that, Imogen dragged her case towards the gate, opened the latch, and continued. Rosa and Billy both turned to watch her go.
“Well, that was interesting,” Billy said, nudging Rosa with her hip.
“What?”
“You went from flirty to mama bear in a nanosecond, and I have to say—” She leaned a little to her right, as close to Rosa as she dared. “It was a little bit sexy.”
Rosa rolled her eyes, but a smile crept across her face anyway. “You’d better get going.”
“I will. And I’ll call you tonight?”
“After ten. And not for long. I need to be up early tomorrow for work.”
“Okay. You better go in before she starts nosing out of the window, and just so you know, in my head I’m kissing you goodbye.”
“You’re an idiot.” Rosa laughed and walked away.
“Maybe, but I think you kind of like it.” Billy stood there for a moment, biting her lip to stop herself from saying anything more that would feel too much, too soon, too loud.
When Rosa reached the door, she turned back and gave a small wave.
“We have no food,” Imogen complained, dumping her case in the middle of the kitchen and peering into the open fridge.
Rosa raised an eyebrow. “That would be because we’ve been at your grandma’s and now, I need to go shopping.”
“Can’t we just order pizza?”
“If that’s what you want to spend your birthday money on, then go ahead. I, on the other hand, have bills to pay and won’t be wasting money on a takeaway.” She closed the fridge door and looked at Imogen. “I can pick up a couple of pizzas and bring them home to cook.”
Imogen’s shoulders slumped as she let out a dramatic sigh. “It’s not the same.”
“Hm, well, the number is in the drawer, along with the menu should you wish for something more appealing.”
There was a knock at the door and the sound of Tanya calling through, “Cooee, it’s just me.” Something smelt nice as the aroma wafted in. “I thought you might be a bit tired and not in the mood for cooking, so batch-cooked you one of these.”
Entering the kitchen, Tanya carried a large glass oven dish, covered with tinfoil in one hand, and a carrier bag in the other.
“I’m starving.” Imogen grinned, staring at the food.
“It’s just a pasta and bolognese mishmash, but hopefully it will do.”
“You’re a lifesaver.” Rosa smiled at her friend and took the offering. It was still warm. She turned to Imogen. “It’s Italian, has tomato sauce… Use your imagination.”
“Thanks, Tan,” Imogen said, taking it from Rosa. She ripped the corner open, delved into the drawer for a spoon, found a bowl in the cupboard, and began to fill it.
“You’re welcome. Happy birthday, by the way.” She held out the carrier bag.
Imogen grinned. “Thanks for the present.”
Tanya smiled and handed the carrier bag to Rosa instead. “Did you all have a good time?”
With her bowl full, Imogen turned. “We had a blast…so much snow and skiing.” She looked at Rosa for permission to eat upstairs.
“Go on,” she handed her the bag, “but make sure you bring the bowl down when you’re finished.” When Imogen smirked at her as she skipped past, she added, “I mean it.”
“Yes, Mum.” Imogen laughed as she took the stairs two at a time.
Rosa turned to find Tanya looking at her, concern written all over her face. “And how was it for you?”
“Cup of tea?” She pulled the pint of milk from the bag.
“Oh, that bad…” Tanya laughed.
Rosa checked into the hall to make sure Imogen wasn’t in earshot, then she closed the kitchen door and pressed her lips together as she considered her words.
“Rosa? What happened?”
Taking a deep breath, Rosa said, “Billy and I… might have slept together.”
“Get the fuck out,” Tanya said. “Seriously?”
“Several times,” Rosa added just to compound the information. “And we’re investigating getting back together.”
Tanya’s mouth fell open. She didn’t say anything for a moment, just blinked.
“Okay, sod the tea, I need wine for this.”
Rosa nodded. There was a bottle of chardonnay in the fridge, left over from the last time they’d gotten together for a night in.
“So…” Tanya opened the cupboard and took two glasses from the shelf. “Billy and you…your ex-wife, just to clarify?”
“I don’t know any other Billys.” Rosa chuckled and twisted the cap. “Lounge?”
Tanya followed Rosa through. She took a seat while Rosa made sure the door was closed and Imogen was nowhere in sight, before she sat at the opposite end of the couch and turned towards her friend.
She relayed the story of how she’d ended up in the cabin and then found out she was sharing with Billy.
“I wasn’t too happy about it, I can tell you that much,” Rosa said. “But actually, I think it was what we both needed.”
“In what way? I’m trying to work out how you went from being unhappy about it to jumping her bones.”
“She admitted that she still loved me, that she’d never not loved me, and then she asked if we could maybe try again.” Rosa sipped her drink. “You can imagine my reaction to that.”
“And so…” Tanya left it hanging.
“We talked. A lot. Billy was right, there were things we’d ignored and brushed aside for far too long, and then the more we talked, the more the hurt lifted and I started to see her…who she is now, and not the woman who abandoned us.”
“I have to admit this is not what I was prepared for this afternoon.” Tanya laughed. “I am also…not against it.”
“Really? You don’t think it’s even a little bit crazy?”
“Oh, it’s completely crazy.” Tanya laughed again, then she became more serious.
“But not as crazy as a beautiful woman like you still single a decade after and not showing any signs of interest in changing that.” She put her glass down.
“And that tells me that maybe, Billy has always been, and will always be, the one for you.”
“You might be right, as ridiculous as that sounds. If I’m honest, I don’t think I ever got over her.”
“And I take it you haven’t said anything to Imogen?”
“God, no, she can’t know…not until we’ve worked it all out. It might not happen. We might find we’ve changed too much and we’re best off being friends, and I’m okay with that if that’s how it was to pan out.”
“I can understand that.” Tanya picked up her glass again and sipped as she considered her next question. “So, slept together?”
Rosa laughed and covered her face with her hand. “Yes.”
“And was it the same as those years ago?”
Rosa shook her head and watched as Tanya’s smile dropped.
“Actually, it was better,” Rosa admitted. “That side of things was never an issue until…well, towards the end when Billy lost interest, but now—” Rosa glanced up, eyes unfocused as she searched for the words. “I feel like something lifted in Billy that’s altered her presence.”
“What do you mean?”
“It’s like…” Rosa shuffled closer and lowered her voice.
“Sex was always fun, and we enjoyed it, a lot, but this was… It’s hard to describe how something that’s already such an intimate act can be more intimate, but it was.
She’s attentive in a way she wasn’t back then.
Something in the way she uses words and looks at me while her hands are all over me—but not in a…
It’s hard to explain.” She pointed to her head.
“It’s like she’s in here more—like she can read my thoughts and act on them before I even notice I’d thought anything. ”
“So, how are you going to do this?”
“No idea,” Rosa admitted. “I mean, there are a few evenings a week we can see each other when Imogen is busy, but it will be fleeting. She can’t stay over. We can’t be seen out together.”
“Well, consider me your wing woman. Anything you need me to do, to give you both an opportunity to work this out, I’m all for it.” She raised her glass and grinned, and Rosa tinked hers against it.