Chapter Ten
Rosemary
Rosie had never been so confused and shocked in her life.
Impulsively, she had felt the need to run so she could get her thoughts and emotions under control.
Everything was happening so fast, and she just needed time to think things through.
Unfortunately, the first safe place she had thought of was Louis’s arms. She always felt protected and warm there, but she had just broken his heart.
Which meant running to him was not going to happen, so she was calling her sister.
They did not talk often, but she knew her sister was always there for her if she needed her.
Rosie really should have told the truth and explained why she was showing up, but she needed to go somewhere not tainted by this.
She needed to be with someone that knew nothing about it, so she didn’t have to talk about it.
Bursting into tears, she let herself have a moment to feel sorry for herself before she called her sister in the corridor.
Louisa answered quickly. “Hi, Ros!”
“Hi, Lou Lou.”
There was a pause. “Ros, you don’t sound good. Talk to me.”
“Just a lot going on. Can I please come and visit? It has been too long,” Rosie blurted out, keeping her tears under control.
“Of course!” Louisa had responded excitedly.
Meanwhile, Rosie couldn’t feel any more miserable.
Louisa continued, “You are always welcome, and I haven’t seen you in ages. What brings you to my door?”
“I have some time off, and I thought it would be good to travel. See you. Catch up.”
“When were you thinking of getting here?” Louisa asked.
Rosie bit her lip. “Would today be okay? It is absolutely fine if it isn’t. I was thinking of catching a flight in a few hours and can book a hotel if needed.”
“Today?” Her sister squealed. “Today is absolutely fine. I will get a room ready for you. How about I meet you at the airport when you get here?”
“Thanks, Lou Lou. That sounds amazing. I need to pack but I will let you know about my plans.”
“Any time. Love you, Ros. See you soon!”.
“Love you, too.”
With that, she hung up and went home to pack.
Time passed quickly and she found herself on the plane, heading to Paris.
That was where the shock and confusion had come in.
With a few minutes to spare before the door of the plane was closed, Louis appeared.
He was right there, on the same plane as her.
Why was he on the plane?
That man was truly handsome. She loved watching him move and talking to people. She watched his kindness as he helped those around him. Their eyes met and all she had wanted was to run to this man.
He looked so tired and defeated. She had done that to him, and she did not deserve his love. At the same time, she felt rage. He had followed her when she had asked for space. Why else would he be on a plane to Paris if he wasn’t there to force her to go home?
Calm down, Rosie. You are accusing him, when really, it wasn’t his fault.
True. So broken, she was looking for reasons to dislike him. It was just so hard, because she didn’t want to hurt him. She just needed to protect herself.
As soon as they were allowed out of their seats once they reached altitude, she stormed over to confront him. She had it all planned out to tell him off. Not only should he not have followed, but he was also missing training and potentially a game, letting the team down that he led.
It didn’t go as planned. He was just getting out of his seat when she reached him and bumped into his chest. Their eyes had met, his body towered over hers, and she wanted to cry.
His expression was so kind. So loving.
She didn’t remember much of their conversation since her emotions were at war with each other. She did remember trying to throw him off by asking if he would ever marry her. Her plan was to make him think it was moving too fast and back off a bit.
Then he had completely thrown her off by actually proposing.
Out of fear, she had rejected him. So much was going on, and she couldn’t keep up. She needed to think!
No. No. NO! He had been down on one knee, so determined to win her love. Why did she say no?
Because he deserved better. And she just couldn’t fight with her parents anymore.
After that, his expression went blank and he had refused to look at her. For most of the flight, she had stared at him, hoping to reconnect. That shattered her heart knowing she had done that to him. All she did was hurt him. He could find someone better.
Most of the passengers had enjoyed the drama and spent the flight tutting at her or staring. They had no idea what was happening or what the pair of them were going through. She didn’t like to be judged, but as least Louis had told them off for booing.
The plane landed, and again, she watched him help those around him. He was smiling and laughing, but it wasn’t as loud or as bright as it should be. Seeing that little boy’s face when he was handed the hoodie made Rosie smile wide. Even when hurt he thought of others.
Arthur made her jump, appearing beside her while she waited for her suitcase. The old man that had handed Louis that beautiful ring stared into her eyes intently.
“You remind me a lot of me. Reserved. You overthink.” His hand went into his pocket as he pulled out the ring. The one with a diamond rose. Then he pulled out a second ring. It was gold with a silver band around the middle. A matching set. “You take on too much at once. You feel so much at once.”
Taking her hand, he placed the two rings in her palm and closed her fingers over them.
“I can’t take these,” she whispered. “They belong to you and your wife. Surely you would want to keep them.”
“My wife is gone.” Tears appeared in his eyes. “And all I have left are these rings. I would like to gift them to you. Maybe it will help you remember what is important.”
Rosie laughed at herself. “I don’t even know if marriage is what I want.”
Shrugging, Arthur replied, “Marriage isn’t always necessary to wear a ring. Think of eternity rings. They are a symbol of commitment. My wife would love for you to have them.
“Our relationship wasn’t easy. We had things get in the way and make it hard. We both needed time, and we still found our way back to each other. Consider this your beacon. You’ll find your way back to each other. I am sure of it.”
Rosie truly wished she had his optimism. “I said no to him. In front of all those people. I highly doubt he would want me back. I wouldn’t blame him.”
“Maybe you just need to think about why you said no. He is giving you that time,” he responded.
“You love him, so it isn’t love holding you back.
I can see that. How you look at him, that was how I looked at my wife.
Her name was Carrie, by the way.” He smiled at her.
“Maybe I am just a nosey old man, but I hope for the best for the both of you.”
With that, he was gone and dragging his suitcase behind him. She was still holding the rings.
Looking around, she searched for Louis. He was heading toward the ticket desk. She couldn’t let him come all this way and not say anything before he left. That truly would be cruel.
Running after him, she called out. “Louis?”
He stopped but didn’t turn. His back went stiff, and his hands tightened on his bags. “Yes, Rosemary?”
Not Rosie. He is protecting himself from me.
Her mouth moved for a moment while she tried to think of what to say. “Where are you going?”
Now, he turned around and raised an eyebrow. “Getting a ticket to head back home.”
“You won’t get a ticket to get back tonight,” she told him. Why was she not saying anything important? “Where are you going after this?”
She may need time to think, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t worried about him.
His smile was soft. “I booked a hotel room for tonight, just in case.”
“Good. That is good.” Her voice sounded so dead. “I am sorry it didn’t work out like you planned.”
He shrugged. “Sometimes it won’t. You just deal with the results as they come. But for now, I need to leave you alone. Enjoy your visit with your sister.”
She gently touched his sleeve. “I can’t promise the future. You are right, I let my parents win. But can you tell the team I will be back. I won’t leave them.”
In her own way she was giving Louis hope, asking him not to give up on her. They would still work together, and maybe they could try again. When she was brave enough to face her parents.
If. And that also depends on whether he wants you back. You don’t exactly deserve him right now.
Nodding slowly, he avoided her gaze. “I will do that.” With that, he walked away and left her staring after him.
***
For ten days, Rosie had tried to forget about Louis.
Not that she wanted to, but because she had to.
Her parents kept calling, and she ignored them.
They were the reason she was in this mess.
Wanting to please them, she had destroyed her own future.
She couldn’t even blame her parents. They may have driven her to act but her words and actions were her own.
Coward that she was, she needed time away from her problems. It was nice to explore and see new places, eat different food, and learn new things.
It felt refreshing. Paris was lovely, and she would happily come back and explore some more.
Too bad it wasn’t going to last forever.
And that moment of bliss came to an end when her sister knocked on her bedroom door.
“Come in,” Rosie called out.
Sat on the bed, she watched her sister enter. Louisa raised an eyebrow. That look told her they were going to talk.
They were so much alike. The main difference was that Louisa had longer hair. But that expression Rosie knew well as she used it often herself. Swallowing, Rosie waited.
“You going to tell me the truth of why you are here?” Louisa asked calmly.
“I came to visit.” Rosie tried to put excitement in her voice, but even she could hear that it was flat.
Rubbing Rosie’s arm, Louisa said, “And I love that you are here, don’t get me wrong. But you are sad. Quiet. You are not yourself.”