CHAPTER 6

Cole handed Rose a steaming cup of tea. She looked at him still in shock about Emmaline. She wanted to thank him from taking her away from the ugly scene across the road, but she couldn’t seem to structure a coherent sentence at that moment.

She looked at the cup of tea confused. Did he ask her if she wanted tea? How did he know she drank tea? She furrowed her brow, still not moving to take the cup.

“My mom always says tea is medicine for the soul, or something like that. Look I’m not good at this, but I know you can’t be alone right now. So until I figure out what to do next just drink the damn tea.” His voice held a slight hint of temper or desperation. Rose couldn’t be sure. She appreciated the gesture even more because she realized it didn’t come natural to him.

She smiled crookedly and took the warm cup from him. She held it with both her hands, warming them in the process. Ever since she had kneeled over Emmaline’s cold and lifeless body, all warmth had left her body. “Thank you.” The words were barely a whisper but all she could manage at the moment.

Silence hung over them with the heavy weight of murder and loss. Rose was too lost in her own thoughts and memories of her dear friend to think about breaking the silence.

It was Cole who spoke first. “I know how much she meant to you, I can’t imagine what you’re going through at the moment.”

Rose felt her eyes watering up again and smiled grimly at Cole as the heaviness in her chest threatened to steal her breath. “I don’t think it’s a reality for me yet. I was taking her cake.” Her voice trailed off as the heaviness in her chest became too much to bear.

Resting her head in her hands, she allowed the tears to come. Not the pretty dainty kind, the big fat sloppy kind. She didn’t even hear Cole move from across room but felt his arms embrace her almost instantly. Without saying a word he held on. Allowed her to cry for the friend she had just lost, for the horrible way she had lost her life. She briefly wiped her nose with her sleeve before the next wave of tears rushed over her.

What felt like hours later the sobs started to calm and her eyes started to dry up. Cole’s arms were still around her, one day she would thank him for holding onto her when she had no one else to.

She swallowed and wiped her face with her hands before pulling out of his embrace. “Can I use the bathroom?”

Cole’s green eyes looked at her concerned. “Of course. First door to your right.”

Rose sniffed before making her way down the hall. She closed the door behind her and moved to the wash basin. She splashed cold water on her face, hoping it would calm her puffy swollen eyes. A memory flashed back to her, so fast and so painful she gasped. The last time she had cried Emmaline had been the one to console her with a decent side serving of hard truths.

Looking at herself in the mirror she couldn’t help but smile, Emmaline was right. She wasn’t pretty with blotches on her face and red puffy eyes. Right now she didn’t care.

But Emmaline would’ve. A one night stand with the right man could be lots of fun.

Rose couldn’t believe she had just thought of that after finding her friend murdered. She shook the thought away before leaving the bathroom.

She found the living room empty but could hear Cole rustling in the kitchen.

“What are you doing?” She asked as he was crouching on the floor digging into the depths of a cupboard.

He straightened with a goofy smile. “I wanted to make you something to eat but it looks like I can only offer you tinned fish or cracker bread.”

Rose couldn’t help but smile at his sincerity, even though it felt forced and painful. “You don’t have to feed me. I’ve got perfectly good food across the road at my place.”

“I’m sure you do but I’m not letting you out of my sight, at least not until I know you’re all right.” His voice held the firm tone she imagined he used when doing business.

“Fine, then come home with me.” Rose said irritably.

As soon as the words fell between them, their eyes met. Any other time, any other situation and those words would’ve led to something else. Rose could feel a blush rising on her cheeks as Cole’s green gaze swept over her.

“I didn’t...I didn’t…” Rose fumbled.

Cole swallowed and an easy smile spread across his face. “It’s okay I know what you meant, I’ll go with you.”

Rose nodded feeling out of her depth as she led to way to the front door.

Cole placed a comforting arm around her as they made their way across the road. Even with his arm around her, he couldn’t protect her from the scene at Emmaline’s house.

A trolley was being pushed towards the ambulance with a black body bag on Emmaline’s body.

“Come on Rose, let’s get inside.”

At the sound of Cole’s voice, Rose realized she had come to standstill in the middle of the road; her body was starting to shiver again.

Must be the shock she thought as she took a deep breath and hurried towards her front door.

She left the door open behind her for Cole and walked straight into the kitchen. Opening the cupboard where she and Sam had always kept their good wine she felt Cole’s presence behind her.

“I need wine, more than just a glass. Red or white?” She asked over her shoulder.

“Red.” Cole said firmly.

“Red it is.”

Rose sat down in the living room on the same sofa she had woken from earlier that afternoon and had watched Cole’s driveway. A few hours ago she had never thought she would be sitting on the same sofa with Cole next to her and Emmaline being driven away in a body bag.

She took a big gulp of wine, loving the way it scorched its path down her throat. Hopefully soon she wouldn’t remember any of what happened today.

As she looked up she found Cole’s eyes on hers, his glass untouched.

“What?” She asked defensively.

“Nothing.”

Rose took another big gulp and guiltily placed her glass on the side table when she noticed Cole was still watching her.

“I don’t drink.” Rose said admitted. “One glass and I’m a lush.”

Cole smiled and took a sip of wine. “In that case I think we should eat something before we have another glass.” He said it casually but Rose knew he was only looking out for her.

She stood up and grabbed her glass before walking to the kitchen. “Right, food. Let’s go see what we can make.”