Eastern District School

Chapter 28 - The Red Room

She awoke to the sound of her phone ringing, not even remembering at that time that she had even taken it off of silent mode. She reached for it, still have asleep, trying to force her eyes into focus. 

"Hello?" she called sleepily, blinking a few times to try to regain some kind of control over her eyes.

"Did I wake you?" came the reply the other end of the line. His voice was soft, very unlike her own deep husky voice.

"Er, yeah, but I had my alarm set."

As if that was even an excuse.

His low voice broke into laughter at her then. "I was sat here contemplating whether I should wake you and go together to Eastern District, or to let you sleep a little longer, and I could come back to get you before going the other side of town."

He wanted to leave her behind?

"Don't even think of leaving me behind Mr. Stork!" 

She was on her feet now, rummaging through her clothes, finding her last pair of jeans, and throwing them onto the bed. 

"I did think you would want to be there, but you know I've always been taught that you shouldn't wake a lady, and I seem to be making a habit out of it!"

Rose laughed. She felt like telling him that she wasn't no lady, but she let the thought slide. "I can be ready in twenty to thirty minutes, if that's okay?"

"Okay, brilliant. I'll meet you by the lift." He hung up.

She was frantic now, because not only did she need to get ready, she needed to round up all her belongings, because she had asked Bill to only hire the hotel room for during the week. So this morning she would be signing out. 

Rich was sat there waiting for her, like she knew he would be, despite her being ready in the time she had said she would be. But he didn't look phased. His briefcase by his side yet again. 

"Good morning," he said with a huge smile on his face, the smile that sat there every morning. He'd probably had his morning swim by now too. His face suddenly fell when he saw her bags. "You've packed?" he asked puzzled, and Rose was certain he had forgotten their conversation yesterday. Had he also forgotten her letters left on the dresser, that she had picked up this morning, briefly looking over that photo of her father and grandmother together.  

"Yes, after today, I'm heading back home for the weekend. I don't mind the drive, I'm used to it by now."

Rich nodded his head slowly. "I'm sure you are more than capable. So does that mean you only booked the week days for this hotel?"

She nodded. "Yes, Bill booked it for me, and he'll book again for next week. I expect it'll be a different room though, I don't expect them to hold it for me." She wanted to ask whether he was staying the weekend, but she didn't want to seem nosy, so she held her tongue.

"Of course!" came his reply. "Well you seem more than ready then. We'll head down."

Rose was waiting for him sat in the lobby area. She had already booked out and handed in her key. He was talking to the manager about something, and she hoped that he wasn't saving her room for her. She didn't want to flat out accuse him of doing so, when knowing her luck she would be wrong, so she waited patiently for him to return. The lobby was quiet, so early in the morning, but not completely deserted. The desk boy, hadn't been as helpful for Rich, hence needing the manager, and at least it wasn't too early to find him there.

So how could she sum up this week? It had literally flown by and the work that they had achieved with Eastern District was simply amazing. She was excited to see this completed, more so because she knew what it would all achieve. That was work wise. On top of that, she had found out about her paternal grandmother, a woman who looked identical to herself, or rather a woman whom she looked identical to, a woman, whom before this week, she had not even thought about.  She then found out about her grandfather, hints and glimpses of his life. Then that her grandmother and Rich's were the best of friends. Then she had met his grandmother in person, and being that she looked like her grandmother, had spoken to his frail grandmother more informally than she'd have liked.