Chapter Forty
It was a couple of days after the party and Ros was feeling apprehensive. The paella was almost ready but her guests hadn’t arrived. When the entry buzzer sounded she was relieved and let them in. First to arrive was her dad and Gazza. As she hugged Barry, Gazza did his now usual lap of the apartment in search of Cameron. Ros put some water down for him and offered him a chew stick she’d bought specially. Gazza grabbed the treat and trotted off to eat it under the table. The buzzer went again and she let in her second guest. Darla tentatively put her head around the door before coming inside.
‘Darla, hello. I didn’t know you’d been summoned too,’ said Barry.
‘Hi, Barry.’ Darla gave him a hug.
Ros waited until they parted and both looked at her expectantly. ‘I asked you here because I thought it best to explain that—’
‘Is this a farewell dinner?’ asked Darla, putting her hands on her hips.
Barry’s expression was tense.
Ros shook her head. ‘No, I’m not taking the overseas job.’
‘Thank heavens for that!’ Darla wrapped her in a big hug and squeezed her tight. ‘I’m over the flipping moon. I’ve tried to stay mad at you but it’s really hard. And I proper missed you.’
‘It’s only been two days.’
‘Still two days too long,’ said Darla, giving her friend another hug. ‘And now you can help me with my business and it won’t fail. Hurray!’
‘I’ll do my best.’ Ros was already feeling that she’d definitely made the right choice.
Barry waited his turn. ‘I’m pleased you’re staying. But only if you’re sure it’s what you want to do.’ He watched closely for her response. The parallel to her mother’s life choices had not passed Ros by. The thought that she was about to repeat her mother’s mistake had been the cold hard reality check she’d needed.
‘I decided I wanted to be around both of you more than I wanted to get away from... everything else. You are the most important things in my life and I’m sorry it took all of this for me to see that.’
‘Don’t beat yourself up,’ said Barry.
‘The universe works in mysterious ways,’ added Darla with a wise nod.
‘I’ve already contacted the other company who were lovely about it and said if things change I should get in touch. And then my boss called me in, said he’d heard rumours that I’d been head-hunted. I confirmed that was true and he offered me a pay rise and a bigger remit.’
‘So it’s all worked out for the best,’ said Barry. ‘I am pleased.’
‘Yes,’ said Ros. Although it didn’t feel that way. She missed Cameron. There was a big Cameron-shaped hole in her life – he was going to take a lot to get over.
‘Brilliant, what’s for dinner?’ asked Darla.
‘I’m making paella. And there’s fizz chilling in the fridge.’
‘Lovely,’ said Barry.
‘Hang on. Is this Cameron’s famous recipe?’ asked Darla.
Ros nodded.
Darla smiled at her. ‘Then we’re in for a treat.’
***
Barry popped the cork of the champagne, which made Gazza bark and while Ros was serving up Darla tried to encourage Barry onto the balcony. ‘Come and look at the view,’ she said.
‘I know. I have been here before,’ he said with a laugh.
‘Barry,’ she hissed as she grabbed his arm. ‘Come outside.’ Sometimes men needed the unsubtle approach.
‘Oh, okay.’ Barry followed her onto the balcony and Darla pulled the door to. As soon as she had done that Gazza came to paw on the other side. ‘For goodness’ sake,’ she said, letting him join them.
‘Is everything all right?’ asked Barry.
‘I don’t think so but I don’t know how to fix it,’ she said in hushed tones. ‘I was hoping you could help.’
‘What’s wrong?’ he asked.
‘I think Ros and Cameron like each other for real but he’s gone home to ask some girl he’s not dated for years to marry him. And Ros is here, moping.’
‘I know,’ said Barry. ‘Those two were made for each other. They need their heads banging together.’ Darla and Barry both peered through the glass door to see Ros watching them with a furrowed brow. They both grinned at her and turned away quickly.
Darla pointed excitedly at the boats in the marina so that Ros wouldn’t be too suspicious. ‘I just think maybe there’s something we can do.’
‘Great. Then we should do it,’ said Barry.
‘Okay. What is it that we’re doing?’ asked Darla.
‘Getting those two together.’
‘Yes, but how? He’s in Matlock and she’s here.’ She bit her lip.
‘Hmm, that’s a good point. But I’m sure we can work something out.’
‘Are you gossiping?’ asked Ros, whipping open the patio doors and making them both jump.
‘Admiring the view, and the big boats,’ said Darla, pointing at them with her glass.
‘I expect you’re enjoying having the place back to yourself. Not having to share with a messy student,’ said Barry and out of sight Darla mimed: What the hell are you doing? Barry waved away her protest.
‘Er, not exactly,’ said Ros. ‘He wasn’t messy. And strangely I’d got used to having him around.’
‘Right.’ Barry pouted. ‘Would you say you’re missing him then?’
Ros swallowed hard. ‘It was a business arrangement that always had a finite duration.’
‘Admit it, you liked Cameron, didn’t you?’ said Darla.
‘It’s all academic now and not something I want to dwell on. And dinner’s ready,’ said Ros, going back inside.
‘Lovely,’ said Barry. As Darla went to walk inside, he caught her arm and held her back for a moment. ‘They’ve done so much for me, I think trying to get them to realise how good they are for each other is the least we can do. Failing that we’ll bang their heads together.’
‘Agreed,’ whispered Darla. Now all she had to do was come up with a foolproof plan that Ros wouldn’t see straight through. She had a feeling that wasn’t going to be easy.
A few days later Darla had invited Ros to meet her for dinner at the little Italian restaurant in town and was sipping her water while she waited. She and Barry had dreamed up a plan, but it was far from foolproof and certainly not up to Ros’s planning standard. As Darla sat there she went over all the things that could go wrong. She checked the time on her phone. Three minutes until Ros was due. Darla bit the inside of her lip and watched people go by out of the window. Her phone pinged with a text message and she almost leapt out of her chair; she was that jittery because there was a lot riding on this. The message was from Barry.
How’s it going ?
Darla replied:
Nothing to report. Will update when or if anything happens.
Barry replied:
OK. On tenterhooks here.
Darla:
You and me both.
Darla took a deep breath and tried to calm herself down. She was pleased to see Ros walking towards the restaurant. Darla could mentally tick off one thing that was going to plan. But that was only a small part of what needed to happen if this was going to work. Ros came inside although she was frowning hard as she approached.
‘Hiya,’ said Darla, trying possibly too hard to sound breezy. ‘You okay?’ she asked as they hugged. ‘You look well.’
Ros pursed her lips. ‘Do you remember the last time we came here?’
Darla was instantly delighted. She had picked this restaurant for a very specific reason. ‘Err, I’m not sure. We came here a few months back. I liked the linguine. The wine was chilled. Am I missing something?’ Darla retook her seat and pretended to peruse the menu.
‘I was coming here when I got a pie in the face from a bunch of students. And one of them was Cameron.’ Ros was staring out of the window as if rewatching the scene.
‘Oh yeah. Bloody students,’ said Darla, hiding behind the menu.
‘Anyway. How are you?’ asked Ros, sitting down.
‘Good. Elliott has already started handing over responsibility at the farm. Before he starts his new job as a civil engineer we’re having a bit of a staycation with some added decorating. I’ve invited my parents down, which is both terrifying and exciting, and Nibbles might be pregnant.’
‘That’s quite a lot going on,’ said Ros, although she was distracted by something outside. ‘What on earth?’
Darla turned around and saw her cue to leave. ‘I wonder what that’s all about,’ she said before grabbing her bag and dashing off.
***
It took Ros a moment to realise she had been set up. Cameron was standing outside the restaurant window wearing a tutu. He waved tentatively and pointed at Darla’s now vacated seat. Ros nodded and Cameron grinned back at her. Oh how she’d missed that smile.
All heads turned as he walked confidently through the restaurant. ‘Hiya,’ he said, seeming shy as he reached the table. ‘Can I join you?’
‘If you want to, I’d like that.’ He slid into the seat opposite. Ros tried to ignore the bright orange tutu that was sticking up above the table. ‘It’s lovely to see you but I’m wondering what’s going on.’
‘I heard you’re not taking the job and that you’re sticking around,’ he said.
‘And that warranted dashing back to Southampton in a tutu?’
He laughed. ‘Not exactly. I think I might have been a bit hasty and I’m sorry for the way I reacted on the boat. I’d just heard that message on the answerphone and I felt you were making decisions for both of us. Ending things. It felt like a real break-up and I guess I was more invested in us than I wanted to admit.’
‘I think we both were. So how have you been?’ she asked.
‘Miserable.’
‘Oh.’ That wasn’t what she’d expected him to say. ‘Why?’
‘I missed you.’
Ros’s stomach clenched. Did that mean what she hoped it did? ‘What about Gina?’
Cameron pulled a face. ‘Turns out she was also very drunk the night I promised to marry her and has absolutely no recollection of it whatsoever. She thought it was hilarious that I felt I had to honour that commitment. She laughed so hard I feared she was going to rupture something. She’ll be dining out on this forever.’
‘That was a little hurtful,’ said Ros, feeling for Cameron’s ego at being rejected and laughed at.
‘No, she’s cool. We’ll always be the best of mates, but there’s nothing else there.’
Ros swallowed. ‘I see. That’s a shame.’ She felt that was probably the right thing to say.
‘Is it?’ He leaned forward. ‘I was hoping you and I could start again.’
As if Ros wasn’t confused enough a waiter appeared and placed a paper plate piled high with shaving foam in between them.
‘I didn’t order that?’ she said.
‘I did,’ said Cameron. ‘I think that day I met you – and you took a pie to the face for me – was a key moment. And I’d like to even things up. So if you want to get your revenge...’ He tilted his head at the custard pie.
‘I don’t think so,’ said Ros. She didn’t like mess.
‘Please.’ Cameron was giving her one of his looks that made her insides feel like they were full of jelly.
‘You want me to squish this in your face. And make us quits?’
‘Exactly.’ He closed his eyes and leaned forward.
‘Okay.’ She picked up the plate and stuck it in his face. The other diners in the restaurant broke into a mix of laughter, gasps and a round of applause. As Cameron wiped foam from his face Ros noticed there was something written on the bottom of the paper plate. She put it down so she could read it properly. You took a risk. Congratulations – you have won a date with Cameron DeFelice.
‘What is this?’ asked Ros, laughing.
‘You won a prize!’ he said. ‘A proper for real date with me.’
‘Will you be wearing the tutu?’ she asked.
‘Only if you want me to,’ he said with a grin.
‘I think perhaps we can lose that.’
‘Is that a yes to going on a date?’ he asked, seeming unsure.
‘It is.’
‘That’s good, because otherwise I’d feel like a fool when you saw the other side of the plate.’
Ros picked it up, turned it over and wiped off the remaining foam. Underneath it said – Ros Foster, I love you , signed Cameron DeFelice.
‘I know you like things to be official,’ he said. ‘Can I kiss you?’
Ros didn’t have to do a risk assessment for that one. ‘Definitely.’
He leaned across the table and their lips met. The restaurant diners burst into applause. When they pulled apart, Ros was distracted by someone tapping on the glass window behind them. There was Darla and Barry both giving her the thumbs up, while Gazza pawed at the glass in a desperate attempt to get to Cameron.
‘I’m guessing you had help with this,’ she said.
‘Yeah, just a bit,’ said Cameron as he waved them away and went in for another kiss.