19. The Morning After
THE MORNING AFTER
LARS
I grabbed coffee in the small nook off the dining room—something my mother demanded we have on this ship. It confused the builders, but what Alessandra wanted, Alessandra got. There, I found Mother looking annoyed. In other words, Mother wore her default expression. She sipped coffee and read something on her phone, scrolling every once in a while. She barely looked up at me as I slipped by to grab a mug.
Annoyed, I said, “Jack made it home fine. Her friend is fine.”
“Oh, I assumed as much,” Mother said.
“I will never understand why you agreed to take them out.”
“She won her race. I wanted her to feel special. Every kid deserves that—especially after working so hard, Mor.”
“Well, I am glad her friend is fine. I don’t worry—and I sense you’re annoyed with me—because giving epi is standard procedure. You did all the right things with her.”
Mother was a retired physician. She’d been a hot-shot surgeon in her past life.
“I didn’t. Rose sprung into action like a fucking boss,” I chuckled. “She did it all.”
“You did go with her?” Mother raised her eyebrow.
“Yes,” I answered. “She’s a good friend to have.”
A friend who was now naked and asleep in my bed. My mobile buzzed in my shorts pocket.
Rose
Can I steal clothes? My dress isn’t all that comfortable. I will feel silly, but it’s better than nothing.
Me
Grab whatever suits you. You have my full permission to raid my closet.
Knowing Rose was awake, I made a choice. I had to fess up.
Clearing my throat, I said, “So, yes. Rose helped me get the kid back here. She was passed out and it was quite dark. I needed help navigating out of the dock, you know? So, Rose stayed here tonight.”
Mother raised another eyebrow.
“I don’t want to talk about it. I’ll take her to breakfast with me. Either way, She will go out to the docks to cheer on her brothers. They’re taking the family yacht out to watch our race.”
“And you didn’t plan this?”
“Yes, Mother, I poisoned Katie to bring Rose back here. How mad are you that this is what you concoct? Do you think it requires much work for me to have a social connection with someone?”
“You’re thirty-three with no prospects. By the time your father and I were your age, you were already here, and we contemplated having another. Too bad your father never saw fit to deliver on that. It is a shame you grew up an only child.”
“I didn’t,” I said. “I had brothers—have brothers—and a sister.”
“They don’t count.”
“Mother, do you not understand how offensive that is? How hurtful?”
“To them? To your father?”
“To me.”
“Morning.” Rose entered, wearing one of my old t-shirts and shorts, barely staying on her bum. Rose was adorable as ever. I hated to admit I was a sucker for a woman in my clothes.
“Morning,” I said.
“Morning,” Mum said. “What an eventful evening! Did Lars not offer you a guest stateroom?”
Rose set her jaw, resembling her stubborn older brother, Niall. “I didn’t need one, thanks. No need for the staff to make up another room.”
Mother looked at me as if scandalised by the mere assumption I’d slept with Rose. Despite the days when she embraced her singlehood post-divorce quite openly, such a roll in the hay was too much even to discuss.
“When are we going to your Dad’s and Sanne’s?” Rose asked, changing the subject.
“Soon. Let me shower and change clothes, and we can head over,” I answered.
“I will hop in the shower, too,” Rose said. “If that’s fine?”
I wanted to jump in the shower with her to conserve water, merely nodding and contemplating how much of a middle finger I wanted to give my mother. I was sore about the night before, salty that no one cared about Katie and Jack enough to show up for the kid. Now, her disdain for Rose only irked me more.
Rose passed Tomas, saying a quick hello before ducking back into my room.
“How’s Tricia?” I asked of the girlfriend.
“I don’t know. You’d have to ask her, given we were woken up rudely at one AM,” he glared. “Now, I know why.”
I smirked. I’m not sorry; I decided to throw gasoline on the fire. “Well, I’ll shower to conserve the hot water and let Tomas in there sooner.”
I left, insinuating that I would be sharing that shower with Rose.