1 Rosie – Day 1
Kill them with kindness, that’s Rosie’s plan. She needs to do everything she can to get Theo’s family to like her. Starting with chocolate. He insists she doesn’t need to bring a gift, but she can’t show up empty-handed. First impressions are everything.
Her plan was to pick up a box in duty-free, but time is running out. They will be boarding soon. The enthusiastic dance music blasting from a speaker above isn’t helping.
Make a decision.
But what do you buy for someone you’ve never met before?
Why didn’t she ask Theo to be more specific?
She needs something thoughtful but not too over-the-top.
Chocolate liqueurs or truffles? Dark, milk, or white?
With nuts or without? Triangle-shaped bars or individually wrapped shiny jewels?
Choice paralysis takes over. Their flight is announced over the tannoy. She’s stood here for long enough.
Pick something.
She grabs a box of Belgian chocolate balls, praying Theo’s mother doesn’t have any allergies – accidentally killing her would not be a good start – and tries to find her way through the fog of clashing perfume samples to the check-out.
Theo is waiting for her outside the shop, leaning against a concrete pillar, unaware of the stressful last ten minutes.
He glances up from his phone screen and the look of recognition as he spots her in the crowd melts her heart.
The laughter lines around his brown eyes crinkle under his floppy, sandy blonde fringe.
He steps forward with an enthusiastic spring in his step.
Five months in and the honeymoon stage shows no sign of fading.
Theo laces his fingers through hers. Instinctive. Protective. Leading her past the huddles of holidaymakers to check out the departures board. She wonders if he’s nervous, too; after all, this is a big deal for both of them.
‘Gate four,’ he says.
There’s nothing in his chilled demeanour to suggest he’s apprehensive about this trip. It’s their first official holiday, and also the first time she’ll meet his family.
Please let this go well.
Theo has done something no other boyfriend has been able to do; he’s made Rosie feel special.
In return, she has embraced his love of fitness – reluctantly at times, but it’s paying off as she’s the healthiest she’s been in years.
Her colleagues might tease her for bringing Tupperware filled with nutritious greens and grains to the staff room, but they also admit that it’s nice to see her happy again.
She remembers the look on her teaching assistant’s face when she told her about her summer plans; she found it unfathomable that Rosie was about to go on holiday with a family she hadn’t properly met.
‘It’ll be fine.’ She’d laughed. ‘How bad can they be?’
***
Rosie locates their seats on the plane. The stuffy cabin air is uncomfortable after the chill of the departure lounge.
She fiddles with the controls above their seats to allow more air flow, and quickly writes a text to her mum, telling her she’ll be in touch soon.
Her earlier messages remain unread. She knows her mum’s signal is patchy, but it’s frustrating not to hear from her more.
Perhaps it’s a good thing. She would interfere otherwise.
Theo offers to help an older lady struggling to lift her scuffed travel case into the overhead locker.
His arms flex to reveal toned biceps, the result of dedicated gym sessions.
Rosie tears her eyes from him and takes out a bottle of mineral water from her backpack, spotting the notebook she tucked behind a copy of Heat magazine.
She quickly zips the bag shut.
‘God, I think she’s packed a dead body judging by the weight of that bag.’ Theo laughs, slipping into the seat beside her. ‘Do you want me to put that up too? Give you more room?’ He nods at her backpack resting on her knees.
She gulps a mouthful of water.
‘No. I mean . . . no thanks,’ she adds quickly.
The words written inside the notebook zoom to the front of her mind. She should have left it at home.
She shoves the bag under the seat in front.
He keeps his eyes on her. ‘You ok, babe?’
‘A bit nervous,’ she admits, truthfully.
‘The flight will be fine.’ His bright smile helps calm her racing heart.
‘I wasn’t thinking about the flight . . .’ She wafts her boarding pass at her face.
‘Oh, I see. You don’t need to worry, they’re going to love you.’ He plants a reassuring kiss on her forehead. ‘Nothing’s going to go wrong. Trust me.’