Chapter 11 #3
‘Fenna said he hasn’t always been like this.’
Emma sipped her wine and thought. ‘No. I suppose he hasn’t. He was always focused but never so... mean.’
‘Do you think he’s determined to ruin me?’ Emma looked up, catching Rosie’s eye, and they both fell into fits of laughter. ‘Sorry, that sounded quite dramatic, didn’t it?’
‘Considering we’re on a stakeout, no, not really.’
‘I’ve been meaning to say,’ Rosie began nervously, ‘thank you for being there for me. The friendship you’ve shown me since the day I arrived– well– it’s meant a lot to me.
I don’t keep in touch with many of my friends.
They all seemed to move on with their lives while I’ve been sort of. .. stuck.’
‘I know exactly what you mean,’ Emma replied. ‘All the friends I’ve had have seemed to disappear lately. I get it– their lives are moving on as they get into long-term relationships, buy houses and have kids but I’m just—’
‘Not ready for that yet?’
Emma smiled softly as their eyes connected in mutual understanding. ‘I’d quite like the long-term relationship thing and maybe the house with someone, but I’m not ready to change my life so much just yet.’
‘I feel like I’m only just getting to live the life I was supposed to. Moving here and opening the flower stall, it’s the first time I’ve ever felt like my life was finally moving in the direction it should.’
Just then, Noah and his friend rose from their seats.
Rosie and Emma weren’t anywhere near finished with their wine.
They’d have to abandon their drinks to follow them, which would look overly suspicious to the other stallholders still enjoying theirs, or they’d have to glug them as quickly as possible.
Both looked at each other in panic, then Noah glanced shyly in their direction and Emma gasped.
‘He’s coming over.’
His friend confidently led the way, Noah following behind. Rosie couldn’t help but hold her breath. They stopped just in front of their table, the woman staring expectantly not at them, but at Noah. As his cheeks coloured and his eyes dropped, she gave a tiny shake of her head.
‘Hallo. It’s Emma and Rosie, right?’
They glanced at each other before Rosie answered, ‘Yes, that’s right.’
Noah received a sharp elbow from the woman, surprising Rosie. He adjusted his glasses, pushing them up the bridge of his nose with his forefinger. ‘Can we join you? This is my sister Brechtje.’
‘Your sister?’ Emma declared, her gaze flitting between them both. For a second, a strange silence descended, and Rosie quickly saved them.
‘I can see the resemblance now you say it.’
‘Can you?’ Brechtje asked with a worried expression. ‘Oh dear.’
‘Only in the eyes,’ Rosie added with a cheeky smile. ‘Sit down, please!’
Emma gestured to the two empty chairs at their table. ‘ Are you visiting, Brechtje? I don’t think I’ve seen you before.’
‘Yes. I live in Rotterdam. That’s where our family are. Noah’s always so busy he doesn’t make it home often. If I want to see him, I have to come here and kidnap him, but I was glad to hear he has friends.’
She was clearly referring to them, and Rosie glanced at Emma, who was unsure how to read the comment. Did that mean she was in the friend zone?
‘He’s so shy,’ Brechtje continued. ‘I always worry he’s doing nothing but staying at home.’
‘I promise you,’ Emma replied, ‘he does have friends. I’ve seen him out for a drink lots of times.’
‘Well that’s good to know.’
‘It’s hard to find the time, though,’ Noah suddenly said. ‘To go out. It is hard running a business yourself.’
Emma nodded her agreement. ‘We don’t often get days off.’
‘Especially in the summer. I have to take advantage of the tourists. Well—’ His cheeks began to turn pink. ‘You know what I mean.’
‘I do,’ Emma replied and for a moment, they caught each other’s eye before looking away self-consciously.
Rosie, who had been on plenty of dates, loved this part of a relationship: the flirting, the getting to know each other.
Her mind ran to Max and his grumpy, uncommunicative ways.
The way he’d taken her hand like Mr Darcy.
If only he was more her type. She drew her mind away from his thick hair and sturdy frame, swallowing heavily.
‘I didn’t realise how difficult it would be to get a day off,’ Rosie said. ‘I thought being my own boss would be fun– and it is– but—’
‘You feel guilty when you do,’ Noah added, and Rosie nodded her agreement.
‘But you should see the city.’ Emma took Rosie’s hand. ‘You’ve hardly had the chance to sight-see since you arrived. You started work within days.’
‘I could take a half-day Wednesday, couldn’t I? Then I don’t have to feel wholly guilty.’ Everyone around the table agreed with nods and smiles. ‘But how long are you here for, Brechtje?’
‘Only a few more days, then I have to get back to work.’
Conversation turned to Brechtje’s job and Rosie watched as Emma visibly relaxed.
It was clear to her that Noah fancied her friend.
Why else would he have introduced her to his sister?
He’d obviously wanted to join them for a drink and introducing her was the best way to sit with Emma.
They fell into discussion of their shared love of artisan products, Emma through her deli and Noah through his cheese.
Rosie spoke with Brechtje and she was just as charming as her brother, though clearly less shy.
The evening was a perfect end to a terrible day.
She felt surrounded by friends and allowed her eyes to wander to the canal, to the bikes tied to the railings that ran alongside it.
As the sky darkened and stomachs began to rumble, Brechtje and Noah excused themselves for dinner.
Noah had already booked them a table and though he asked Emma and Rosie to join them, both refused, realising that family time was so sacred to Brechtje and Noah it would be rude to interrupt it.
After they’d gone, Emma and Rosie finished their drinks and left. They walked a little way together, stopping by a lamppost, the Victorian-style light casting shadows around them. ‘See, I told you it would be all right.’ Rosie nudged her friend’s shoulder.
‘You did. Thank you.’
‘But you really should just ask him out. He’s clearly into you.’
‘I’ve tried, but every time I open my mouth, I just can’t get the words out.
I’m so scared of being rejected I just stand there like a fish, my mouth opening and closing.
It’s incredibly embarrassing for a thirty-year-old woman.
You know, when I was little, I thought I wouldn’t have any insecurities at all when I got older. Now I think I have more.’
Rosie laughed. ‘I know the feeling. But you’ll do it when the time’s right,’ she reassured her.
‘And you—’ Emma started, rubbing her friend’s arm. ‘The market will be all right, I promise. We’ll help keep Finn off your back.’
The disappointment she’d felt earlier came flooding back.
‘I need to come up with something special, something to make me stand out from everyone else. My pitch is so small I’ll be overlooked if I don’t keep doing something a little bit different.
The talks were doing that, but now I don’t know what to do.
I had thought about flower arranging, but I worry that’s been done. ’
‘You’ll think of something,’ Emma reassured her. ‘Now, we’ve both got an early start again tomorrow and I need some sleep. It’ll do you good to rest your brain too. Let the ideas come to you when they’re ready.’
Emma kissed her on the cheek, and they said their goodbyes.
Rosie wished she felt as confident as Emma that she’d think of something, but every time she tried, her mind went blank.
Perhaps some rest and relaxation were what she needed.
Tomorrow, she’d take that half-day and explore the city.
She hadn’t come all this way to only see the inside of the market and her houseboat.