Chapter 71
Chapter seventy-one
“Did you try Ma again?” Imogen asked as they sat at the gate, waiting to board. Judging by the number of people around them, it was going to be a busy flight.
“Yes, I’ve tried three times and think her phone is off.”
“Must be at the hospital, or she’s forgotten to charge it.”
Rosa chewed a nail. “Maybe. I’m just thinking, what do we do when we get there?”
Imogen’s eyes narrowed. She hadn’t considered that far ahead in her plan.
“Carl won’t be there to pick us up, which means we either pay for a very expensive cab—”
“Or hire a car?”
Rosa’s grip tightened on her bag strap. “I’ve never driven abroad, let alone in the snow.”
“I imagine they’ll have the roads clear now. It’s been a few weeks since we were there.” She pulled her phone from her pocket, found the weather app, and typed ‘Innsbruck’ into the search bar. “Clear skies, minus four.” Imogen locked her phone. “So—cold, not snowy.”
“Okay, it’s freezing but no snow,” Rosa repeated, reassuring herself.
The queue was moving to get onto the plane but they hadn’t joined it yet. Rosa stayed put. The queue could do its thing; their seats would wait. “Is there a car hire place open when we arrive?”
Imogen searched again and then smiled. “Yep. They have a small car available for €14 per day. We land after midnight. Two days’ hire, tops.”
“Can you book it now?” Rosa asked.
“With my emergency credit card that you took off of me?”
“No, with my debit card which I will give to you.” Rosa rummaged in her bag. “And don’t think that your mother and I won’t be having a very big discussion about that credit card.”
“I thought it was a pretty cool thing to do.” Imogen shrugged. “And I’ve never used it before, so it’s not like I take advantage of it. I understood what it was and why I was given it.”
“That isn’t the point. Joint parenting means we tell each other about things like that.”
“Try Ma again,” Imogen suggested. “They must be home soon, unless—” Her throat tightened and her eyes misted. “Do you think Schultz might die?”
Rosa put her arm around Imogen and kissed the side of her head. “Honestly, I don’t know. I hope not, but maybe we should prepare ourselves for all outcomes.”
Imogen sniffed. “I don’t want to. I’ve never had to really deal with death before and I’m not…I’m not ready for it.”
“We never are, sweetheart.” The queue was now down to a dozen people and Rosa gripped the handle on the case. “Come on, we might as well join the end now.”
They stood up and Rosa pulled Imogen in for a proper hug.
“Chin up, let’s get through this flight and then we’ll deal with the next stage.” She smiled, asking, “Got the passports?”
Imogen held them up, slinging her smaller bag over her shoulder and inching forward until it was their turn to board.
They went through without complication, following the others down the corridor and the flight of steps, the cold rush of wind blowing in from the open door at the bottom.
Rosa tilted the case and dragged it on its wheels across the tarmac, then she slid the handle back down and lifted it to climb the steps onto the airplane.
At the top, she stopped to speak to the steward, “I don’t suppose you might have two seats together? We booked last-minute and just took the ones offered, but I’d really rather sit with my daughter if that’s possible.”
“Once we’re all on board, I’ll have a look and see what we can do.”
“Thank you.” Rosa smiled and turned, but Imogen had already wandered down the plane to find her seat. She was in the middle of the plane, Rosa was closer to the front. They were the last but two to board.
Before she had her bag stowed, the same steward reappeared. “Hi. I’ve had a look. I can’t get you two together, but I can do two aisle seats. You’ll be able to talk to each other.”
“Perfect. Thank you.”
He pointed to a seat three rows back from her original. She waved at Imogen, who frowned and feigned not knowing her until Rosa curled her finger and mouthed, “Come here.”