Just Rose

20

Her parents picked her up for the fete at ten am. Dressed in a long white summer dress, her hair piled on top of her head loosely and gold sandals. She felt fighting fit to take on Mr Munro should the need arise. She had spent the night tossing and turning in anger, adamant he wouldn't do this to her anymore. She was not going to be a victim and if he wanted to act like they never happened, and all were cosy friends then so be it! He did not have a problem with acting like they had never meant a thing to each other and it was time she followed suit.

Abby had been on the phone this morning after receiving her texts and fueling her rage with news that Morag had stayed at the manor last night. So now she knew what he had been out picking up and judging by the fact he had her stay indicated maybe he was sleeping with the red head after all.

It really was over. Done and dusted. She was not going to let this affect her anymore.

* * *

Arriving at the estate the view was magnificent. The large gardens full of stalls and tents, a miniature fun park and pony rides. Bright banners hung from trees, and flags, and bunting, draped from tent to tent. The place was so magical and whimsical that Rose almost forgot her rage for a moment. It was like being transported to a magical vintage fair.

It did not take long to get it back when she saw Rob and Morag casually walking together from one of the beer tents dressed in smart summer clothes. Steeling her heart against the thundering beat, she stuck out her chin defiantly and plastered a smile on her face.

Not today Munro!

Abby, seeing where her glare was focused, pulled Rose in the opposite direction quickly, to one of the shoot a duck stalls to vent her anger. Handing her the pink fluffy bear, the stall owner admired her ability to knock down every target she had aimed for and Rose fired back that having a black soul made of rage did the trick. He had waved her away laughing at the non-joke. Clueless to the fact she had envisioned every duck to be Rob's head.

'She was a world class sniper before she retired.' Abby grinned at him and got a hearty laugh in return.

'Yeah, I'm sure, Abby.' He handed her a lollipop for her wit and waved the girls off to try their luck at the next stall.

Abby was good medicine. Pulling her and her parents around, making them get involved in games and races. Plying them with beer and booze and generally making Rose's mood lift by the hour. Everyone needed a pick me up like Abby in their life.

'Ooh look, a wandering bit of eye candy to sweep Abby off her feet.' Rose nudged her in the back to point out the approaching tall blonde. Abby turned, turning a nice shade of blush and started fixing her hair enthusiastically.

'Eyes off Turner, he's my eye candy.' She winked Rose's way.

Duncan joined them and the fun, disappearing every now and then to catch his friends; Abby cuddling up to him at every opportunity and smothering him with affectionate kisses. Rose had felt a twinge of envy but could not feel happier for her. She liked to see Abby happy and Duncan seemed to do everything in his power to make her that way.

They rode a carousel and then hit the dodgems, acting like children again, before trying their hand at 'Hit the Vicar' on the cream cake throwing stall. The 'Vicar' was really one of the town farmers in a costume and Rose got a perfect bullseye. Screaming in laughter as her Dad proudly announced he taught her how to throw. Her mother was having an amazing time at trying her hand at every event and making it clear Rose actually took after her mother, both sporting winning teddy bears before long.