CHAPTER 30
Rosa was surprised to see how busy the Lobster Pot was when she pushed the door open, all set for her Friday-night shift. Both Jacob and Raffaele were sitting on the wrong side of the bar.
‘Did I miss the memo?’ Rosa asked, and lifted Hot up for a stroke from the men.
Jacob leant forward on his stool and kissed her on both cheeks, explaining, ‘Raffa’s brother is staying with us this week. In fact, here he is now. He’s a singer. Said he’d do a night for us. I put one post on our Facebook page today and you know what it’s like down here.’
Raffaele chipped in. ‘Yes, news spread like a wildfire. Live music in the bay, and I think the photo helped. But he’s not as handsome as me.’
Jacob put his young husband’s hand to his lips. ‘Or course not, my darling. I do fear a woman-fest in here tonight though. Mary Cobb might even take her slippers off for this one.’
‘I doubt that,’ spoke up an old woman, with deep-set wrinkles and wearing a black headscarf. She looked directly at Rosa and said: ‘She doesn’t touch the drink any more, that one, not after what happened to her.’
Thinking that the old lady might be the same one who had helped her open the door on Christmas Eve, Rosa was about to question her, when the microphone Alyson was testing let out a deafening screech, setting Hot off barking. Amidst the kerfuffle and noise, the old woman downed her drink and quietly walked out of the bar.
When Rosa had settled Hot in with the pugs upstairs, she came down and asked Jacob, ‘Who was that?’
‘Who was who?’ Jacob was distracted by further punters coming in.
‘The old lady with the scarf.’
‘I’ve not seen her in here before. Can’t help, sorry. Right, where is Enrique Iglesias when you need him?’
Rosa laughed. ‘He’s Spanish, isn’t he?’
‘Who is Spanish?’ said a new voice. And with pretend indignation: ‘Sono italiano, io.’
Jacob greeted his brother-in-law, saying, ‘Angelo, meet Rosa. Rosa, Angelo.’
Angelo took Rosa’s hand. ‘Ciao, principessa.’ He was a lot louder than Raffaele, with a trimmed goatee beard and cheekbones to die for. He put a finger to her scar. ‘Ecco, a perfect little lightning flash. Bellissima.’ He lowered his voice. ‘You have been touched by angels - and now by an Angelo.’
Rosa smirked. Rosa never smirked.
‘Gorgeous, isn’t he?’ Jacob winked and whispered at the same time.
‘So, where you do want me?’ Rosa sprang into work mode.
‘In a completely different place from where you want Angelo,’ Jacob said smuttily and Rosa mock-tutted. ‘Start behind the bar, please. Looks like we are going to be busy, so you can help with serving food too, if that’s OK?’
‘It’s fine.’ The more tips the better, Rosa thought to herself, sticking her chest out and putting on a big smile for the punters.
By the time Rosa got back to the flat it was midnight. On quietly pushing open the door to Titch’s room, she could hear her snoring peacefully. She made herself a hot chocolate and gave Hot a snack then went into the lounge, needing to wind down after such a busy night. Thinking how nice it would be to watch some inane television, she made a note to look for one to buy second-hand tomorrow.
Rosa flicked through her phone. There were no messages and she wondered what Josh was up to. Too tired to be bothered to phone him and talk, she took herself to her room and started to undress. Putting her watch into her bedside table drawer, she stood on the bed and took out a couple more of the faded light blue envelopes and began to read.
10 June 1954
Dearest Ned
How can I possibly be happy when I cannot be with the man I love? But this is how it has to be. I cannot betray a friend. I can’t even recall how we got to this stage of affection. So, I am going to stay with my sister Kathleen in London, hoping that the less I look into your beautiful kind eyes, the more the fire in my heart will subside.
I read this quote today from Kahlil Gibran:
‘When love beckons to you, follow him, though his ways are hard and steep. And when his wings enfold you, yield to him, though the sword hidden among his pinions may wound you.’
This will not only wound us, but dear Dotty too.
Meet me where the sky touches the sea.
Your T XX
Rosa was open-mouthed. Oh my God, Ned was having some sort of an affair. She was desperate to keep reading, but sleep was overtaking her.
Hot stirred, wagged his tail and made his way over to the bed to lick Rosa’s face. ‘Hello, baby.’ She lifted him into bed with her, settled down, then drifted off into a restful slumber with his clean, leathery smell in her nostrils.