In her mind’s eye, Rosie kept seeing Amy with her face pressed into the pool table. It sure beat the sight and sound of Amy belting out a love song for Rosie’s benefit. What was Amy even thinking doing that?

“Are you all right?” Rosie asked. They’d left the pub and had started walking in the direction of Rosie’s home. “I’m so sorry about Amy. She’s not really over the break-up yet, but she shouldn’t have taken it out on you.”

“I’m fine,” Charlie said, squaring her shoulders.

“As you might have noticed, Amy can be very persistent,” Rosie said on a sigh.

“You don’t say.” Charlie inhaled deeply. “But I shouldn’t have stooped to her level.”

“Are you kidding?” Rosie glanced at Charlie, first from the corner of her eye, then turning herself fully towards her. “You’re my hero now.” Rosie couldn’t suppress a smile. Was she still drunk? The fight had sobered her up somewhat, yet she felt a little giddy.

Charlie chuckled. “Let’s not go overboard.”

“Clearly, Amy didn’t know who she was dealing with.” Rosie bumped her shoulder lightly into Charlie’s.

“That’s an army training for you. I’m so glad all the gruelling hours of boot camp finally paid off and I got to be your hero.” She slid her arm through Rosie’s.

Rosie had walked home from the Dog & Duck a little tipsy many a night, but never with an ex-army officer on her arm — let alone someone who had stood up for her like that.

“How long were you in the army for?” Rosie asked.

“Eight years.” Was that a hint of wistfulness in Charlie’s tone? “Until my parents made me join the family business.”

“From the army to PR,” Rosie said. “That’s quite the career switch.” She’d spent most of the evening talking about herself. It was about time she found out a little more about Charlie.

Charlie shrugged.

“Would you have liked to stay in the army?” Rosie held onto Charlie’s arm a little tighter.

“Let’s just say I wouldn’t have minded.”

They came to the end of the street. It was the end of May and it was a lovely spring evening. Rosie would have happily walked around the streets of Otter Bay with Charlie on her arm for a good while longer.

“Shall I walk you home?” Rosie asked.

“We must be much closer to yours,” Charlie was quick to say, her arm stiffening against Rosie’s body. “How about I walk you home instead? I was in the army, remember. I can get myself home safely.” She beamed Rosie a smile.

“I can get myself home safely as well. This is Otter Bay.” Rosie smiled back.

“And everyone here looks out for you,” Charlie said.

They were still standing on the corner of the street. Obviously, Charlie didn’t want Rosie to walk her home — either she didn’t want Rosie to see where she was staying or she didn’t want to feel obliged to invite Rosie in.

“It’s a small village. It must be very different from living in London.” Rosie started walking in the direction of her home again. Charlie followed, their arms still linked.

Charlie threw her head back. “You can see the stars here. That’s certainly very different.”

Rosie looked up at the sky. Clouds drifted by and, in between, she saw a few stars shining down on them. She hadn’t looked at the stars in a long time. It reminded her too much of her parents. They used to sit her down outside after dark and point out the stars and constellations. Rosie didn’t want to talk about her parents again, so she looked down and didn’t say anything for a while.

“It must be hard living in the same village as your ex,” Charlie said once they’d turned the corner into the next street.

They’d almost reached Rosie’s home, but Rosie wanted this walk to last a good while longer. Charlie didn’t know where she lived, so they could go another spin around the block if she felt like it.

“It’s not too bad. I’m used to it,” Rosie said.

“Maybe it’s a bit like being in the army. That’s basically like living in a small village.” Charlie fell into step with Rosie’s slower pace. “I loved someone,” Charlie continued. “A fellow officer. It didn’t work out.” She glanced sideways at Rosie. “Although, and I mean no offence, my ex seems much more… civil than yours.”

“None taken.” Rosie could hardly excuse Amy’s behaviour. “Must be that army discipline.” She pressed her upper arm against Charlie’s. She was wearing a thin overcoat over her jumper and Rosie could feel the hard outline of her biceps. “Is that the ex you mentioned the other day? The one your family’s so fond of?”

Charlie shook her head. “The two couldn’t be more different,” was all she said, her voice terse.

Rosie took the hint and didn’t inquire further.

“That’s a lot of exes.” Rosie joked. Maybe she was tipsier than she thought.

Charlie shrouded herself in silence.

Rosie must be saying all the wrong things, yet she didn’t seem to be able to stop herself. She knew so little about Charlie. Maybe if she changed the subject, she’d be willing to divulge a little more about herself. “Must be fun working in the family business, what with being able to take a few weeks off like this.” Rosie made her voice sound light. “What is it that you do exactly?”

“It’s so dull, I wouldn’t want to bore you with the details.” Charlie sounded chirpy again. She sighed. “God, I love it here.” She inhaled deeply, then exhaled slowly. “This is the life, Rosie.”

“What, being accosted by my ex every evening? I don’t think so.” Rosie slowed down even more. “Or, if you mean having a dashing army officer come to my rescue instead, then yes, I do tend to agree.”

They came to a full stop. Rosie could see the door of her home a few yards away. There was no one else in the street. She briefly glanced up at the stars. With Charlie by her side, she could do that now.

Charlie slipped her arm from Rosie’s and faced her. She fidgeted with the hem of her coat sleeve. “I’m so glad I met you,” she said.

“Me too,” Rosie whispered. She locked her gaze on Charlie’s. Her green eyes glistened in the light of the street lamp beside them. “When and why are you leaving again?” she asked.

Charlie painted on a tormented grin. “I’m not sure about either.” She reached for Rosie’s hands and took them in hers.

The touch of their skin sent a jolt of something warm and long-forgotten up Rosie’s spine. For the first time ever, Rosie wished Paige was already at uni so she had the flat to herself and could ask Charlie to come up. But that was out of the question now.

“That’s me right there.” Rosie nodded in the direction of her front door.

“I’d best get home as well,” Charlie said, but didn’t let go of Rosie’s hands.

“I’ll see you in the cafe tomorrow?” Rosie asked.

“Try to keep me away.” Charlie smiled a real smile now. She tipped forward a fraction.

That warm sensation travelling up Rosie’s spine earlier was quickly transforming into an expanse of heat spreading over her entire body. She hoped Charlie didn’t feel how her hands were going clammy.

Rosie slanted her upper body in Charlie’s direction as well. Then Charlie planted a soft but quick kiss on Rosie’s cheek and withdrew.

“I had a lovely time today.” She sent Rosie another smile, retracted her hands from Rosie’s grip, and went on her way.

Rosie watched her go. She kept her eyes on Charlie’s back — upright gait, pert backside — while she headed for the front door. She waited to put the key in the lock until Charlie had rounded the corner.

Just before she did, Charlie turned around and waved.

For tonight, it was enough.

Before heading inside, Rosie looked at the stars one more time. She didn’t seem to remember any of the things her parents had taught her about them. Perhaps because it had been so long ago — Rosie hadn’t been ten and Paige hadn’t even been born — or, perhaps, because, after their death, it had been too painful to remember.

She went upstairs and found Paige asleep in front of the television. She switched off the TV and covered her sister with a blanket. Cher was snoozing at Paige’s feet.

While she looked at her sister’s sleeping face, Rosie regretted having wished her away for the night. Come September, she’d probably be wishing Paige had never left. It wasn’t as if Charlie would still be in Otter Bay to keep her company.

Nevertheless, the thought of Charlie made her break out into goose bumps. She touched her fingertips to the spot where Charlie’s lips had landed on her cheek.

They’d spent the better part of the day together — and what a day it had been — yet Rosie was none the wiser about Charlie. Every question she had asked was met with an evasive reply. All she really knew, because she’d witnessed it with her own eyes, was that Charlie could hold her own in a fight.

Rosie, on the contrary, had confided in Charlie quite a bit. What ever happened to quid pro quo? But it wasn’t as if they’d been on a date. They’d run into each other — again — and spent an enjoyable day together. Charlie didn’t owe Rosie anything.

Rosie’s fingertips still grazed the imprint of Charlie’s lips on her cheek. If Rosie’d had her way, she would have kissed Charlie on the lips. Christ, she really liked her. But Charlie was just passing through. Soon enough, she’d leave Otter Bay and it would just be Rosie again. And she would resume running into Amy, who might or might not pipe down after her run-in with Charlie. Rosie hoped for the former but feared the latter once Charlie was gone. Amy would probably seize the opportunity to exploit her vulnerability.

Rosie cast one last glance at Paige and switched off the living room light. She headed to her bedroom, which was really not the kind of room to invite a sophisticated woman like Charlie into, and pondered how sick she was of losing everything and everyone that mattered to her. First her parents. Soon Paige would be leaving. If she was honest about it, she was also on the verge of losing the cafe, the last tangible memory of her parents. And then Charlie swooped in, made her feel all warm and fuzzy inside, only to have to leave as quickly as she had arrived.

What kind of life was that for a twenty-eight-year-old? Something would have to change.

Rosie sank down on her bed. If only she could ask her parents for advice as to where she had gone wrong, because right then, it felt like nothing was going right in her life. Except for that peck on her cheek ten minutes ago. That had felt more than right.

Rosie stared at the picture of her parents on her bedside table. It had been taken only a few months before the crash. Her dad grinned, as usual. Her mum peered into the lens, trying a smile, and although she was the warmest woman Rosie had ever known — and the best mother she could have wished for — her gentle and good-hearted nature was impossible to capture in a photo.

Sometimes Rosie wondered if things like your parents dying well before their time happened for a reason. It would have been nice to cling to that kind of belief after it had happened, when she’d been so devastated. But Rosie had long since concluded that there was no deeper meaning to her parents dying. It was a tragic accident. All the passengers on the plane had died. So many people’s lives had been ripped to shreds, not just hers and Paige’s and Aunt Hilary’s.

She was glad she had told Charlie about her parents, even though Charlie had been less than forthcoming in return. And she was equally glad that they’d shared that kiss on the cheek.

If Rosie had learned one thing from her parents’ death, it was to enjoy a moment like that. Not many of them came around when you lived in Otter Bay.