CHAPTER 18
The first working day of the year had brought with it rain and wind. In fact, it was howling so loudly around the roof terrace that it had woken Rosa and was making Hot whine nervously. She could see white breakers on the waves way out at sea, and even the seagulls’ cries were muffled as they struggled to soar and plane their way through the grey skies.
Surprisingly, despite yet another hangover, Rosa had woken in a positive mood. She didn’t have one regret about sleeping with Luke. The sex had been good and there was no way anyone would find out about it. He was the one who was being unfaithful, not her. And no good would come of admitting it to Josh, especially as she had promised him she wouldn’t see Lucas again. Rosa put the entire incident to the back of her mind. If she did ever see him again, there would be absolutely no mention of hit-and-runs or random shenanigans.
She fed herself and Hot, then wrapped herself up ready for the elements. The poor sausage dog hadn’t had a decent walk for days. Rosa had always thought it was poncey to dress your pooch up in a little coat, but now she was thinking of becoming a pet-shop tycoon, maybe she should have a look and see what would suit him. Anyway, bless his tiny socks, it was bloody freezing outside today.
Rounding the corner to the beach, a big gust of wind almost knocked her sideways and she quickly whisked a whimpering Hot up in her arms.
‘It’s all right, darling,’ she told him. ‘Let’s get in the bay where it’s maybe a little more sheltered.’
The waves were crashing on the shore, bigger than she had seen since she’d come here. Rosa tipped her head back into the pouring rain and soaked up Mother Nature at her fiercest best. She needed to clear her head of everything that had happened over the past few days and this was just the tonic.
She put Hot down and laughed to watch him chase bits of wood and rubbish from the bin; the wind was strewing its contents everywhere. Every time Rosa tried to catch some and put it back, the wind flung it in the air again and away from her.
It was a relief to turn around and walk back up the beach without the wind blowing directly at them. The rain still stung Rosa’s eyes though, and she put her arm up to protect her face from what now felt like hailstones. Hot shivered at her feet and she hefted him up and tucked him inside her coat.
Through all this gloom, she could make out someone walking towards her, optimistically holding up an umbrella which promptly blew completely inside out, nearly taking the woman carrying it, Mary Poppins-style, along with it.
As the woman got closer, Rosa recognised the silver-white hair, now dripping like rat’s tails, of Sheila Hannafore. The landlady stopped and spoke, but she had to shout above the elements to be heard and even then, it was difficult to understand what she said.
‘I didn’t expect to see you anytime soon, so I took the chance to come out now. Here, take this.’ She handed Rosa an envelope. ‘Why don’t you come up and get dry by the fire?’
Although she was reluctant to make any sort of conversation with this woman, Rosa was by now so cold and wet, and could feel Hot shuddering against her chest, that she followed Sheila up to the pub. Before she went in, she stood in the porch and opened the envelope. In it was £120 in £10 notes.
‘There’s coffee on the bar, dear. Help yourself - and take a pig’s ear for the little man. There’s a drip mat under the coat rack, so get that coat off too or you’ll be chilled to the bone. Here’s a towel for Hot.’
‘Thanks, and thanks for the money back.’
‘I may be a nosy cow and do things in my own way, but I’m not a thief, Rosa. And you didn’t stay here those two nights you paid for.’
‘But I don’t expect you resold them, so . . .’
‘I never usually sell rooms over Christmas with the family here.’ She started taking her own wet things off, saying, ‘It’s fine, don’t you worry.’ Then: ‘Right, I’m in the middle of making bread, so I’d better go. Help yourself to more coffee if you want it.’
Rosa knew that was the nearest she would get to an apology from Sheila Hannafore, so she’d better accept it. Maybe it wasn’t ‘normal’, the way she had gone about things – but what was normal anyway?
Once Hot was dry and had finished growling with joy, guarding and demolishing his porky snack, Rosa put her damp coat back on and headed for the door, dreading the walk back home up the hill. Hot too, appeared reluctant to leave and was pulling on the lead, trying to take her in the direction of the fire. Just then, Sheila appeared at the bar.
‘What are you going to be selling in there anyway?’ she asked outright.
‘You’ll have to wait and see,’ Rosa told her with a smile, ‘but I’m sure whatever it is, you will be the first to know.’
Sheila smiled back – she knew when she’d met her match. ‘Have a good day, Rosa. It’s Quiz Night on a Tuesday down here, if you’re interested. Quite a young crowd too.’
‘I’ll see.’
With that, Rosa headed back out into the noisy weather and began to struggle up the hill towards home. Like son, like mother, she thought. Sheila Hannafore hadn’t really wanted to make amends with her. She knew her son was guilty as hell and that Rosa was his only alibi.