Eastern District School

Chapter 81 - Something's missing!

Rose didn't push her mother and managed their lunch and an additional coffee without much discussion of her father at all. In fact, once again Rich took the lead in answering any questions that her Nan felt like asking. Thankfully no questions of their 'relationship' were uttered from either her Nan or her mother. Rose thought that this may possibly be something to do with the fact that they perhaps hadn't pulled the wool over their eyes. On the other hand, the occasional wink from her Nan said otherwise and gave her question to trust her previous judgement.

Rich rather gentleman-like held the door open for the three women to go before him. Rose tried to linger back, hoping that she might have a few moments alone with Rich before talking once again to her mother, or rather hounding another batch of questions at her. Although it was more likely to believe that her Nan would linger back just to talk to ask him further questions, relating to his work. Her Nan could very well have been doing this on purpose, knowing that Shirley and her daughter needed time together, or at least time to talk. Rose wasn't sure there were enough days left of this year alone to speak with her mother and ask all the questions that formed in her mind. Well she might have time to ask them, expecting an answer was another matter.  However if this was the main reason her Nan had taken a liking to Rich, then all Rose had to do was ask her for a moment alone. If her Nan still believed...at the moment, then she would most likely not think anything of it.

She gave a little nod to Rich as he held the door open for her and quickly grabbed her Nan's arm. Her mother Shirley was a few steps ahead of them both already, seemingly keen to get back to Eastern District. 

"Erm Nan, would you walk with ma for a moment...you know so I could have a word with Rich."

She watched her Nan's soft smile creep across her face.

"Of course my dear, you take your time!" She patted Rose's arm which was hovering above her own, and turned to join her daughter.

Rose's mind kept jumping back and forth, but quickly settled the question of 'Did she know the truth" by reminding herself that they would very soon come clean about their deceit. 

"What up?" Rich's voice finally joined her. He had been caught holding the door for another customer who had just caught Rich on his way in. 

Rose took a deep sigh, as if she had been holding her breath this whole time. 

"I feel bad that we're tricking them."

Rich cocked his head to the side. "Oh?" He looked puzzled at her statement. He offered his arm to her as they walked but she declined by a quick shake of her head before continuing. 

"You know, telling them that we are a couple. One moment I think that they can see straight through it, and the next moment I feel guilty because they've made some comment about our 'relationship'!" She made speech quotation gestures with her fingers. "You've spoken to Nan, quite a lot it seems." she added under her breath.

"I have. She's quite the chatter isn't she?" He smiled but it was brief as he noticed the more serious expression on Rose's face. "It's okay," he said gently now, his hand slipping to her back as he gently rubbed her small of her back. "We'll sort it.  She doesn't ask about...us. Actually she mostly likes to talk about your grandfather and her. As how they met, and how she stopped using her Christian name because he would tease her."

Rose smiled at this, she knew the story to well, and to some it might sound silly, but it was part of her Nan's history. Her grandfather would quite often poke her arm gently in a teasing manner and say 'Ere Nan, see....that log over there?' or 'Ere Nan, see....how good I am at....' It possibly sounded immature to some, as a few had voiced over the years, but it was part of her cheeky grandfather. So Nancy Fleet became Sylvie.