by Paul Kelly
Rosie followed Alison into the lounge where she threw her arms around her friend.
"Rosie ... what's wrong? Sit down and I'll make some coffee. You look terrible."
Rosie cried into her handkerchief as she sat on the sofa whilst Alison disappeared into the kitchen, but a few moments afterwards, Alison appeared again with a tray and two mugs.
"It's only instant, I'm afraid," said Alison apologetically, "Nothing as fresh and lovely as old bossyboots serves. Now tell me, what's the matter?"
Rosie dried her eyes and tried hard to speak, but the words didn't come easily from her lips.
"I can't ... I can't go into work today," she gasped. "I know I told old bossy boots that ... that I would work today as a favour, but ... Oh! Alison, I just can't."
"Is there anyone doing the Saturday shift then?"
Rosie rolled her eyes and looked about her.
"I thought you might help," she said between sobs and Alison knew or guessed that Mr. Humphries hadn't told Rosie that she had resigned.
"I can't, Rosie. I told old Humphries yesterday that I would have to give up the job as I was having too much time off to be with ..." she stopped suddenly, afraid to mention the name, but Rosie was too absorbed in her own trouble to have even remembered anyone like Daniel Roberts.
"I've been rather stupid, Alison. You know how I am with men ... and how careful I am at all times, even though I fancy the pants off most of them."
Alison touched Rosie's hand and tried to comfort her.
"Are you telling me that you've found the right one now, Rosie?
Rosie started to cry again.
"If only it was that simple. I thought this guy was different. I thought he was a gentleman, but ..." Alison waited for what was to come and she guessed it wasn't pleasant from the way Rosie kept crying.
"Are you telling me that ..."
"Yes, I'm telling you just that. I let him have his wicked way with me, as they say and I arranged to meet him again last night, but ... I should have bloody guessed, he never turned up."
"But Rosie, last night was last night and tonight is another night. He might turn up again, you never know and if you liked him as you say you did, well ... there's always a good chance that he liked you too."
Rosie shook her head.
"No Alison. You don't understand. This guy asked me to marry him and I agreed."
"What? You wanted to marry him, Rosie? How long have you known him?"
Rosie sighed and raised her eyes to the ceiling.
"A week," she replied in a weak voice, "No, I tell a lie. It was two weeks, but I've met him three times."
Alison could not believe what she was hearing and then she remembered that she had only met Daniel a few times before she knew that she loved him. Less than a few times actually. Alison knew that night when Daniel spilt his coffee on the cafe floor and she bent down to dry up the mess, that he was someone special when she looked at his face, so how could she lecture or remonstrate with her friend for what she had done?
"How did you meet him and where?" enquired Alison and Rosie hung her head and blushed.
"Do you remember coming into the cafe and asking me if I had ever met a guy that you thought might have fancied you?" she asked, but Alison scratched her forehead as she thought of the incident which had slipped her mind and then she remembered that it was the time when she asked Rosie if she had seen anyone resembling Daniel.
"Well, I seem to remember asking you if you remembered anyone, but you said you didn't, as I remember," said Alison getting confused with the number of 'rememberings' she had made.
"Yea," replied Rosie, still blushing, "A guy did come in asking for you and I thought that would be the one you spoke about and ..."
Rosie hadn't finished her sentence before Alison had fears that the person in Rosie's life might be none other than Daniel.
"But you said you didn't remember anyone resembling the person I spoke about, Rosie."
"Yea, I know that and I feel very guilty now, Alison. When the guy came into the cafe and asked if you were there, I decided I was gonna get him first. I know that's selfish Alison, but that's how I'm made, I'm afraid. I always want what somebody else has."
Alison didn't know how to react when she heard what Rosie had to say, but her heart was sore. The thought of Daniel being with Rosie, if it was him, made Alison feel sick. She had no dislike of Rosie ... she was her friend, but they had a different aspect on life and love and Alison didn't want to be involved in the thoughts that Rosie dwelt upon.
"When ... when this man asked you to marry him ... didn't you have any doubts when you'd only known him such a short while?"
"Well," replied Rosie perkily, coming out of her sombre mood, "It's not every day a guy proposes to you, is it? I mean, most of them only want one thing and that doesn't include marriage, so when this guy came out with this ... very passionate proposal, of course I jumped at the chance. Alison, I'm no chicken, you know and if I don't grab a chance now, I might reach ninety four and still have regrets."
Alison decided there and then she would phone Daniel to arrange a meet and then she would discuss this matter with him. At all costs she had to know what was happening, but she still felt sure that Daniel would never do such a thing to her ... or to any woman for that matter. He didn't want to get involved with anyone, he had told her that and so many times ... so why would he change his mind now ... and if he did, why did he chose Rosie, who nice though she was, could hardly be described as a 'debutante' ... and her heavy make-up would surely send someone like Daniel Roberts heading in the opposite direction ... unless, Rosie was just the type that Daniel was looking for. Maybe the 'proposal' was only so that he could find some 'relief' if he was frustrated in a sexual way and didn't want to commit to someone who might seem more serious than Rosie. The thoughts confused Alison, but she continued to talk to Rosie as if her mind was clear and she would listen to anything more her friend had to say.
"Did this man make any arrangements for the wedding, Rosie," Alison asked, "Or did he leave all that to you?"
"I don't know. Oh! I don't bloody well remember. I was just so happy when he spoke about marriage and I naturally thought, as anyone would, that he would see me again and soon ..."
"Isn't there anyway that you can get in touch with him again? I mean, did he take you to his flat or anything.?"
Rosie rubbed her left eye and stared at Alison.
"He didn't take me to his flat. He came to mine. We did everything at my place ... God, I never thought about that. Why wouldn't he give me his address, Alison, if he meant what he said he did?"
Alison did not answer, but by the look on her face, Rosie knew immediately what she was thinking.
"You think that bastard's been having me on, don't you Alison?" she barked and stood up to her full height of five foot two inches. "If ... or WHEN I see him in the cafe, I'll have his guts for bloody garters. I swear I will."
With that Rosie left Alison's flat, leaving Alison with a greater headache than she had known for a very long time.
Chapter Eleven
Alison sat quietly, looking out of the window of her flat and wondering what she should do next. She stared at the telephone with mixed feelings, but her mind was blank. She could not think clearly at all and gradually she broke into a fit of tears where she thought she might go mad if she didn't do something quick.
She picked up the phone and dialled Daniel's number, but there was no answer, then she dialled the hospital in desperation.
"Oh! I'm so sorry to trouble you, but I have a difficulty at home and I desperately need to speak to Mr. Roberts. His son Dillon is a patient with you. Can you contact him for me please.?"
"I'll see what I can do for you madam. Mr. Roberts, you say. Just hold for a moment please." Alison waited for what seemed an eterni
ty to her before the hospital receptionist came back. "Are you still there caller?"
"Yes, I was enquiring about Mr. Roberts."
"Yes dear, Mr. Roberts left the hospital about ten minutes ago."
"Thank you, you're very kind."
When Alison put the phone down, she had no idea what to do next. Should she go to Daniel's flat and confront him with what she knew? or should she wait until he got in touch with her and show him the cold shoulder? No, she knew she could never do that, but the more she reflected on the matter of Rosie and her predicament, the more convinced she was that Daniel had something to do with it, but that thought didn't make her any happier. Two agonising days later when she was out job hunting, she bumped into him.
"Nice to see you again, Alison," he said, "I hope you are keeping well?"
Alison stood in silence when he spoke and Daniel sensed there was something on her mind.
"You look tense," he said, "Is anything the matter?" Alison thought for a moment, but she could find nothing to say. "Something is worrying you." he said, "I can tell by the look in your eyes. Please tell me what it is and perhaps I can help you this time."
Alison shrugged her shoulders. How could she tell him what was on her mind?
"I have a friend who is in some kind of trouble and I am unable to help her," she said and Daniel stood a little way from her as if to assess the situation.
"A friend?" he asked and she nodded.
"Maternal trouble?" he asked, feeling that he may have hit the nail on the head, but Alison, shook her head.
"Not exactly," she replied, "But heading that way, I suppose." Daniel raised his eyebrows and waited.
"My friend is in love with someone ... Well, she thinks she is in love with this person and she feels that perhaps her feelings are not being reciprocated."
"History has a habit of repeating itself, or so I am told," he answered, " I don't suppose I could help as I am rather a novice in that field myself, don't you think? ... Do I know this person?"
Alison normally would never discuss the name of the person she would want to help in any circumstance, but in this case she thought it might be best to do so, as Daniel already knew Rosie and if he knew her as she thought he did, he would be better able to find a solution ... if there was one to be had.
"It's my friend from the cafe, Rosie. I think you have met?"
Alison watched Daniel's eyes as she spoke, but he looked steadily back at her without a flinch.
"Rosie from the cafe. Yes, I have met her. She seems a very nice lady and who may I ask is trifling with her heart?" Alison wet her lips and swallowed hard.
"We ... I mean SHE doesn't know his name," she replied and Daniel stifled a laugh with his fist to his mouth.
"Doesn't know who she is in love with? How can that be. It's not a ghost, is it?"
"No ... I think she has trusted someone too far and the person she trusted has let her down."
Daniel shook his head and frowned.
"History again, I am afraid," he said, “but how can I help?"
"There is nothing anyone can do at the moment. I just hope this person that she loves, will learn to appreciate her and respond accordingly because as you say, Rosie is a very nice lady."
Daniel nodded his agreement and was about to go on his way when Alison put her hand on his arm.
"If Rosie could perhaps speak to you herself, it might help better than me trying to explain," she said, "Perhaps if she could come to your flat to talk. That would be more private than talking at the cafe, don't you think?"
`Daniel paused for a little while before he spoke again.
"I hardly think that would help, Alison, since Rosie is YOUR friend, not mine and she may think I would have a cheek to be interfering, don't you think?"
"But if I told her that I had spoken to you and I think that you may be the right person to help her, could she come and see you then?" Daniel sighed and heaved a mighty groan.
"If she wants to come and see me, I will do what I can for her, but I can't promise anything, you understand. My address is ..." Alison wanted to tell Daniel that she knew his address because of her enquiries at the hospital, but she put her hand to her lips, knowing that she should not let him know that she had that information.
"Can you write it down for me," she asked and Daniel gave another heavy sigh as he reached into the inside pocket of his jacket to produce a small notebook. "and perhaps I could come to visit you and Dillon sometime myself," she added hopefully with a glint in her eye.
"That could be arranged," he said, "but not yet, as I don't expect Dillon to be out of hospital before the end of the week."
Alison returned to her flat full of jubilation, even if there was a note of sorrow somewhere at the bottom of her heart. This would prove the mystery for both she and Rosie, but if Rosie found that Daniel was her unrequited love, the fat was in the fire ...
after all, Rosie had told Alison that her 'lover' hadn't told her where he lived, had he?
Chapter Twelve
Alison battled with her thoughts, not knowing if she should tell Rosie about her find or not. After all, it was quite a gamble and if Daniel turned out to be Rosie's lover, that would be the end of herself and Daniel ... nevertheless she had to be sure. She felt ashamed that she should think as she did about Daniel. Nothing seemed to fit, but when she reflected again on Rosie's grief, she decided she would give her the address but that she would wait for another few weeks before she did so.
Later that day, after she had again been job hunting, she went to the cafe to see Rosie.
Old bossyboots was on duty that morning and she had forgotten how he always did the early shift. Apparently his wife didn't like him to be out late in the evenings and he never could find a waitress who liked to start work at 6.30 in the morning when they had to open the shop and arrange the chairs and tables that had been left unattended the night before.
"Hello Sir," she said as she saw that Mr. Humphries was laying some table cloths out for the start of the days work. "I wanted to see Rosie, can you tell me which shift she will be on?" she asked and Mr. Humphries turned towards her with a wide smile on his face.
"Why Alison ... how lovely to see you again. Yes, Rosie will be in about twelve today. She's been doing a double shift since you left. You wouldn't ... No, I don't suppose you would ... would you?"
"Would I what?" asked Alison with a wry smile on her face.
"Come back and work for me, dear. I can't get a good waitress for love nor money. Not that I could offer any woman love or my wife wouldn't be very pleased, would she, but I can offer you a rise, if you come back."
Alison was happy that Mr. Humphries had asked her to come back to the cafe but she suddenly remembered how she would still like to have time off if she was allowed to visit Dillon at his home.
"I still have the same difficulties in my personal life," she said, without elaborating, "and it may mean that I would have to have time off occasionally, but I could always change shifts with Rosie, if that's alright with you."
"That would be fine, Alison. When can you start? Now?"
Alison laughed as she went into the familiar dressing room where the staff kept their aprons and other working clothes. She was indeed happy to be working again and even happier to realize that she knew the job so well, that there was no difficulty in learning a new trade.
It took no time at all for Rosie to come on duty, surprised and happy that her friend was with her again.
"I'm glad old bossyboots has taken you on again, Alison. he hasn't stopped moaning since you left. I hope you are O.K.?"
"I'm fine, but you. How are you? that's the burning question. Have you got over that problem we discussed when we last met?"
Rosie's smile left her face when Alison spoke.
"I hope I'm O.K," she
said in a quiet voice as she looked around her, "But I haven't had a 'you-know-what' since that bastard left me."
Alison was about to ask what Rosie meant by her reference to 'you-know-what,' when the penny dropped.
"You mean?"
"Yes, of course that's what I mean and I'm worried about it too."
"How long has it been since ...?"
"Just over six weeks now ... What do you think?"
"Well, I have heard of some folk who miss one for a few months and then find they are O.K. after it." said Alison, but she was more than a little worried for her friend and she quickly tried to change the subject.
“Old bossyboots has told me that you might be able to change shifts with me if I need to be off as I was before I left. Is that O.K?" said Alison and Rosie grinned her agreement.
"No need to ask," she said, "It's great to have you back and just let me know if you need to go for anything. I'm not in any hurry and I don't have a fella waiting round the corner for me ... At least I didn't have the last time I looked."
Alison left the cafe and made her way back to her flat, where she found the telephone ringing just as she got through the front door.
"Hi Alison?"
"Yes, is that you Daniel?," she murmured joyfully into the phone, having recognised the voice immediately.
"Yes, it's me and I've just brought Dillon home with me from the hospital. He is a lot better, but looking a little pale."
"That's wonderful. When can I come and see him?"
Alison waited for an answer, but the phone was suddenly disconnected and all she was left listening to was a purring noise.
"Daniel, Daniel are you there?" she screamed and after a few seconds before she could dial Daniel's number, his voice came through again.
"Sorry, we were disconnected there. What was it you were saying?" he asked and Alison grinned with joy as she made her request again to see Dillon at the flat.
"Give us a week and that should do it. He's talking and eating alright, so there's a great improvement to what he was when you last saw him, but he's still a little weak and I'd rather he built himself up a little more before he has any visitors. Is that alright?"
