Just Rose

Chapter 50

Despite the heartache and the torrential flood of tears she had finally drifted to sleep, curled on her bed, hugging fluffy cushions with Muffin laid across her hair. The last traces of alcohol finally dispersing into her bloodstream and sleeping away all the misery.

Her phone ringing had awoken her and disorientated she clambered up, looking for the shrill tone to shut it off. Her phone was still in her bag in the kitchen where she had left it and the walk through barefoot fully woke her up.

Dammit.

She had a ton of missed calls from her mother and several texts from Abby. It was getting late and checking the time on the phone she realised she should be getting dressed for the party. It was incredibly late already, but she no longer wanted to go.

Calling her mother back and hearing the slurring merry tones and background noise she realised that they had not left the fete to get ready but had simply followed the crowds into the manor straight from the activities as soon as the doors had opened. Abby had informed her, by yelling in the rear that most of the partygoers were still in shorts and sundresses and to hurry back just as she was. She was missing the time of her life. Abby also sounded suitably merry, her words slightly slurring.

She looked at her stained white dress and slid it off. Replacing it with a short black floaty dress that could be passed off as formal or casual with the change of shoes and make up. She fixed her hair into a messy up do and reapplied her makeup to look sultrier and more formal than her daily light touch. She looked better, less tired and frayed. Even the bags under her eyes were temporarily absent after a decent amount of shut eye.

She slipped on moderate heals but then thought better of the look, opting for flats and no jewellery. Didn’t want to overdo it if everyone else was still in their outdoor outfits. It was borderline casual/formal and gave her an air of sophistication. Garden party glam.

She really did not feel up to this. Although the mirror told her otherwise. The memory of his kiss still lingering on her lips, her heart still fragile. She pushed it all down deep into the pit of her stomach, closing off her mind and gave herself that mental shake she needed. She had been getting better at this. She couldn’t let her parents down. Or Abby!

Realising she could not drive, she managed to catch a lift from passing party goers heading to the party. They welcomed her into the car with bright smiles, complimenting how pretty she looked. All familiar faces scrubbed clean and sparkling for the night ahead. The fete, despite the growing darkness was still busy with teens and younger kids and the odd adult. Fairy lights illuminating the stands now and screams of delight still to be heard. It would carry on for a while out here. The fun and chaos still brewing between those too young to go to the dance.

A new large white tent had been erected on one of the cleared lawns and it seemed an underage disco was starting to get going. The DJ visible in the open doorway behind a large flashing podium, beats and thumps in time to his nodding head. Many suitable adults in yellow vests with various positions emblazoned across their backs overseeing the rabble of kids running in the flapping entranceway. She recognised no one and carried on past them.

Abby was waiting outside for her and broke into huge smiles at seeing Rose’s arrival.

‘Hey you, god you missed so much fun!’ Abby looped arms with her and started pulling her along towards the still busy gardens.

‘What exactly did I miss?’ Rose hoped it was something involving Morag and a disabling fall, then chastised herself for even thinking that way.

‘Your parents got so very drunk that I had to send them to the house to nap it off in the guest rooms. Think your mum was about ready to lay down in the middle of the garden.’ Abby grinned but Rose just groaned in embarrassment, even at this age, her parents still had that ability.

‘Then I’m glad I missed it.’ Abby was guiding Rose on through the remains of the fete which still looked in full swing.

‘Well, I doubt they are any more sober, last time I saw them my dad had cordoned them off in the lounge and was popping open his whiskey collection. Seems being your parents meant they’re his new best friends.’

‘Abby I’m scared to see the state of them, I thought parents calmed down by this age.’ Rose giggled at the thought of the three of them up to no good.

‘Mine certainly didn’t, he’s already been around the dancefloor twirling that god damn kilt and I can guarantee he will be up again soon.’ Despite the cringey way she was saying it, there was also a hint of pride in Abby’s voice.

Duncan looked smart and handsome in a shirt and navy trousers as they approached him in the hall and Abby was almost glowing with pride as she let go of Rose to give him a kiss on the lips softly. They made a gorgeous couple. Unconcealed infatuation was written across both of their young faces. Neither could stop looking at one another and the subtle touches between trailing hands were not overly concealed.

Rose couldn’t deny the look of uncomplicated love between them. Again, that tiny surge of envy tried to surface but she pushed it down, deep into the recess of her mind and pulled a smile back on her face. ‘I’ll catch you up laters, Rose needs a guided tour.’ Abby winked at him, before releasing him and returning to Rose’s arm.

‘You look very nice Duncan, very smart and handsome.’ Rose smiled at the boy, she didn’t know him well, but what she did know of him was all good. He seemed good for Abby and the affection was genuine.

‘Thank you Rose, you girls look lovely too and many a head will turn tonight.’ He smiled, a hint of red creeping up his cheeks and then he was turning to his friends and gone. Abby’s eyes following him out of sight with a satisfied sigh that just screamed ‘My boyfriend’s so dreamy.’

Rose was quickly dragged around and introduced to several members of the family Munro who had come for the party. After all, this was their annual event. A chance to get together and have a good old knees up. It was apparently one of the few times a year that so many of them gathered under the roof of this old house and she had already lost count of the number of Munro’s she had met.

Abby dragged her over to a group of men, all equally handsome in fitted shirts and casual jeans, beers in hand. All in their late twenties. They looked like a typical bunch of guys out for a drink any given weekend in any city.

‘This lot are my adopted brothers. Well except those two, who are actually my cousins.’ She gestured towards two black haired, well-built men, to the rear who raised their bottles of beer in unison. They bore a striking resemblance to Rob and Hamish and it was a little distracting. She took a moment to glance over the fact the Munro Gene was obviously very strong. Neither had those clear grey eyes, though.

They all shook her hand one after the other, as Abby graced her with names, smiling and kissing her cheek, introducing themselves by short nicknames instead, none of which were obvious, but she didn’t like to ask. They had the manners of the old fashioned, despite their youthfulness.

‘This is Rob’s crew!’ She laughed and waved an airy hand in a half circle at the men.

‘Talking of which, where is he?’ One of the tall dark-haired cousins piped in and nudged Ab’s in the shoulder with his bottle.

‘God knows! He was milling around somewhere in the hall earlier.’ She passed Rose a quick glance as though this little piece of information would upset her but strangely Rose felt okay. Earlier at the cottage had somehow helped her heart a little. Abby continued with her introductions.

‘They all went to school together and this one...’ She pulled the arm of a tall blonde. ‘Is Damien. Rob’s best mate and all round geekazoid. Watch him he’s a creep.’ she was grinning wildly, obviously in jest as he bopped her on the head with his beer and grinned. He was slim and athletic looking with baby blue eyes and a soft sort of gentleness to his face. His blonde hair flopping over his forehead lightly that reminded her of Duncan.

He looked much younger than his age and Rose felt an instant fondness for him. He reached forward taking her hand and placing a gentle mock kiss and bow upon her fingers, she laughed at the motion, enjoying the company of these good-humoured fellows.

‘I’m the better looking one.’ He winked; she smiled seeing that he was not serious.