When Summer Fades (4 page)

‘Not only that – do you realize she’s used up every last drop of my bath oil
and
all the hot water!’

‘I’m very sorry,’ Carlos replied, startled. ‘Perhaps it would be better if I spoke with your parents instead?’

‘For your information my parents are dead,’ Sophie said, becoming increasingly more angry with Celia, Rosa
and
Carlos. ‘And if I don’t get some clothes on I shall probably end up dying of pneumonia!’

Conscious of the soggy carpet beneath her feet, coupled with the unpleasant sensation of cold water trickling down her body, Sophie hung up the phone, pausing only briefly to consider what she’d just said.

*

Ringing Callie several hours later she was full of misgivings.

‘But I was
so
rude to him. It wasn’t Carlos’s fault there was no hot water and Rosa had used all my—’

‘Why worry about it,’ Callie broke in. ‘He probably deserved it anyway – if as you say he’d been annoying you all morning. Who did you say he was – Rosas fiancé?’

‘Sort of. Rosa mentioned something about her grandmother and an arranged marriage.’

‘Arranged marriages in Portugal? Jesus! You’ve got to be joking!’

‘Apparently not in Rosa’s case. She says Carlos is extremely kind and generous. It doesn’t seem to bother her that he’s quite old.’

‘Blimey! Then he must be loaded. Which means Rosa isn’t at all like you.’

‘Why do you say that?’

Callie hesitated. ‘Well, by all accounts Rosa isn’t madly in love with this Carlos wots-his-name.’

‘Actually it’s spelt C-A-R-L-O-S M-A-R-T-I-N-S but pronounced Carlosh Martins as in house martin.’

‘So – though not in love with him,’ Callie continued, ‘Rosa’s obviously prepared to marry him and—’

‘And?’

‘Gavin’s family had pots of money too. Despite that you didn’t let it influence you.’

Unable to think of a suitable reply, Sophie found herself thinking of Gavin’s parents’ holiday cottage with its gleaming red Aga and cosy surroundings. At least there she’d never had to pick up damp, soggy towels or remove someone else’s hair from the wash basin and bath.

‘Sophie? Are you still there?’

‘Yes.’

‘So how about it?’

‘How about what?’

‘Coming round tonight cloth ears! Haven’t you been listening to a word I said? I suggested going to a club or the cinema.’

‘Sorry Callie. I think I’d better give it a miss. Something tells me as tomorrow is Sunday, Rosa will be expecting the full Augustina treatment.’

‘Augustina? Who the hell’s Augustina?’

‘Her grandmother’s maid who, I’m led to believe, waits on them all hand and foot.’

‘Great! So at least you’ll know what to do next time Rosa comes to stay. Tell her to bring Augustina too.’

‘No way!’ Sophie gasped in alarm. ‘There definitely won’t be a next time! One day spent in Rosa’s company is more than enough. Once she’s been delivered safely to school on Monday morning I intend to forget all about her!’

Chapter 3

Pulling up outside the modern, red brick building with its Regency facade, Sophie hid the relief on her face. Monday morning had dawned at last. Responsibility for Rosa was at an end. To her surprise, she saw Rosa reach for a handkerchief and dab at her eyes.

‘Thank you Sophie. You have been very kind to me. Like seester I do not have.’

Embarrassed, Sophie brushed Rosa’s thanks aside. ‘I was – er – glad to help. Um  –perhaps if you—?’

‘Yes?’ Rosa looked up, eyes wide with expectation.

Warning bells rang in Sophie’s head.
Take
care
Sophie
, they cautioned,
Oh
,
do
take
care
! ‘I was going to say … if you’d like to come for tea one Sunday? Perhaps bring a friend?’

Rosa followed Sophie’s gaze to where it alighted on a group of fellow students. ‘Ah!
Sim
. That would be lovely! I do that.’ Without further ado, she leaned forward and kissed Sophie on both cheeks before hurrying to join a trio of doe-eyed, designer clad beauties waiting on the pavement.

Looking down at her own supposedly designer-inspired uniform, Sophie acknowledged their farewell with a wistful smile and drove away to Beckford General.

*

‘And you really don’t mind?’ Callie asked, tucking into her daily doughnuts.

   ‘Not at all,’ Sophie replied. ‘Your parents have been very good to me. Of course I’ll take them to Heathrow. It shouldn’t take more than twenty-five minutes, although, if I was Gavin,’ she grinned. ‘It would only take five.’

‘Sounds like a cue for a song,’ Callie said, reminded of Sophie’s parents’ extensive record collection. Dad-de-dahing the tune of
Take
Five
, while playing an imaginary piano with sugary fingers, she continued. ‘Anyway, Dad says if you could just drop them off outside the terminal? They’re only going to Dublin for the weekend, so won’t have piles of luggage.’

‘Hmph! Unlike Rosa! She only came for the weekend but her luggage practically filled the flat. Celia’s collecting it all this evening.’

‘Any idea where Celia’s taking her this time?’

‘No. But they’d better have plenty of wardrobes!’

*

One week later, returning from an unexpected nightmare journey to Heathrow, Sophie parked her ancient Mini in its allocated place, grateful that Lottie and Pearl had taken note of her request not to use her parking space. Locking the car she contemplated Declan Callaghan’s generous yet embarrassing contribution towards her petrol. “
You
and
Callie
have
a
meal
on
us
,” he’d insisted, thrusting the money in her hand, before hurrying towards the airport doors.

I suppose we could try that new Italian place she pondered, climbing the two flights of stairs to her flat. Tonight, however, it would be a hot bath, early night and bed with a good book. Which, in her current frame of mind, would definitely not be
Airport
!

Reaching the second-floor landing Sophie blinked in surprise. Why was Lottie peering so mysteriously from her doorway?

‘Sophie ducks. At last! You had Pearl and me quite worried.’ Lottie drew a purple satin kimono about her buxom frame and patted her pile of peroxide blonde curls.

‘It’s all right,’ Sophie said, watching the woman cast a furtive glance into the dimly lit interior of the flat she shared with Pearl ‘There isn’t a problem. Your – er – visitor hasn’t parked in my space.’

Lottie gave a throaty laugh and clutched at folds of purple satin with fuchsia pink finger nails. ‘It’s not one of our visitors I’m worried about ducks. It’s one of yours! Until she goes – not that we haven’t been happy to have her.’

Sophie registered the words worried and
she
and felt her blood run cold. ‘Do you mean my aunt’s here? Has there been an accident?’

‘Lord no! It’s not an accident,’ Lottie reassured, opening her door to reveal an extremely cluttered hallway and familiar piles of luggage. ‘It’s—’

‘You don’t mean Rosa is here?’

‘Got it in one, love,’ Lottie said, holding the door wide. ‘Seems young Rosa has had a nasty experience. You’d better come in. Pearl’s just made a nice pot of tea.’

Dazed and confused, Sophie walked into the gaudily decorated sitting room, hardly daring to think what she would find. Recognising the familiar voice, Rosa lifted a tear stained face in her direction. ‘Sophie! You have come for me at last!’

‘Come for you? I don't understand. Celia didn’t say...’

‘Celia not know! I come to you first. I
not
go back to those people! That horrid man! He...’

Sophie turned startled eyes in Lottie and Pearl’s direction. ‘He what?’

Lottie shrugged her shoulders and passed Sophie a cup of tea, while Pearl followed on with a plate of assorted iced fancies. Declining the cakes, Sophie sipped thoughtfully at the tea wondering what to say, hugely relieved when Rosa soon broke the awkward silence.

‘I call taxi and come here. Only you are not home. These very kind ladies,’ Rosa said, acknowledging the bemused Lottie and Pearl with a grateful smile, ‘look after me until you come. Now I stay with you.’

‘With me? You can’t possibly stay with me! My flat is far too small!’

Rosa’s eyes filled with fresh tears. ‘But I stay last weekend!’

‘I know. That was different. Celia said—’

Fully aware Celia would have to be informed of this latest fiasco, Sophie finished her tea and stood up.

‘Can you take her luggage too?’ Lottie enquired, in hushed tone. ‘We’ll give you a hand, of course. Only this place isn’t big enough to swing a cat.’

Nodding in reply, Sophie reached for the largest of the suitcases. When it came to cat-swinging her place was no better!

Walking in a convoy to Sophie’s flat, Lottie said chirpily. ‘It’s not that bad ducks. I expect Celia will soon find Rosa somewhere else. Third time lucky as they say. It’s only for the weekend.’

‘That’s what she said last week,’ Sophie replied, catching her ankle on the corner of a suitcase.

Sometime later, while Sophie was on the phone to Celia and Rosa was engrossed in a TV mini-series, there was a gentle tapping at the door. Opening it Sophie was surprised to find Lottie, now dressed in shocking pink mini-skirt and gold lurex top. In her hand she held the plate of iced fancies.

‘We thought Rosa might like these. Oh! Sorry Sophie, didn’t realise you were on the phone. Don’t worry about the plate. ’Bye.’

Taking the plate and mouthing goodbye, Sophie spied a smartly dressed, middle-aged man making his way towards Pearl and Lottie’s front door. ‘No doubt trying fancies of a different kind,’ she muttered into the mouthpiece of the phone.

‘I beg your pardon?’ Celia’s voice echoed. ‘Sophie, what were you saying about Rosa?’

*

‘But I
not
go!’ Rosa remonstrated, tearfully, when Celia eventually appeared. ‘I stay here with Sophie or I go home to Portugal!’

Filled with horror at the very thought, Celia tried to subdue the hysterical teenager. Last week’s incident, with the host family’s eldest son, hadn’t been too much to worry about. Today, however, with Rosa propositioned by the husband, it was quite a different matter.’

‘I
not
stay in house with men!’ Rosa cried, defiantly, reaching for a lemon fondant fancy.

Leaving Rosa to her mini-series and cake, Celia motioned Sophie towards the kitchen. ‘Surely you can see I’m at my wit’s end?’

‘Of course I can,’ came the weary response. ‘But you can’t seriously expect me to keep Rosa here on a permanent basis? Why not take her home with you? At least you don’t live in a flat.
And
you’ve got three bedrooms.’

‘Sophie! My spare room's minute!’

‘Then take a look at mine. OK, so it was all right for Rosa last weekend – only because I knew you’d be taking her elsewhere on Monday.’

In desperation, Celia changed tack. ‘Rosa’s very fond of you, you know. She’s adamant she won’t stay with anyone else.’

‘That’s because she doesn’t
know
anyone else! Come on, Celia. There has to be at least one house in Beckford Heath without testosterone charged males in the family!’

‘I’m hardly likely to find one tonight, am I? Believe me I’ve been through all my lists and—’

‘And?’ Sophie asked warily, knowing she wasn’t going to like the reply

‘At the end of the day it makes no difference. Rosa is determined to stay with you. Of course if you’re wondering about the expense, this time it will of course be a proper business arrangement.’

Sophie wasn’t interested in a
proper
business arrangement. Under pressure however, even she had to admit a few extra pounds wouldn’t come amiss. On the way to Heathrow the Mini’s exhaust had sounded decidedly unhealthy. She sighed, reminded of the previous weekend. Would there be any spare cash left though, once she’d fed Rosa and done her laundry, not to mention all that hot water and endless phone calls to Carlos in Portugal.

‘
Please
I go to bed?’ A sleepy voice begged. ‘I very tired.’

Hearing the closing strains of the news, Sophie sat slumped on a kitchen stool.

‘You go to bed too Sophie?’ Rosa said in wide-eyed innocence. ‘I think you very tired also.’

Nodding in defeat, Sophie watched Rosa head in the direction of the now-familiar bathroom and ushered Celia to the front door.

‘No! Don’t say anything,’ Celia urged. ‘Get a decent night’s sleep – you look absolutely exhausted – and I’ll be round first thing in the morning. If you agree to have Rosa…’

‘
If
I agree to have Rosa,’ Sophie remonstrated. ‘She’ll jolly well have to abide by my rules. Which means helping in the flat and no hogging the bathroom for hours on end. And then – only until you find her somewhere more suitable to stay.’

‘Of course,’ Celia grinned, hugely relieved.

Next morning when Celia arrived, her arms filled with flowers, Sophie found herself cunningly coerced into taking Rosa as a paying guest.

‘Just think how nice it will be for you to have company until Christmas,’ Celia cooed, filling vases of every description. ‘Rosa will then go back to her family; you’ll have some extra cash for Christmas goodies
and
she has promised to help you in the flat.’

Not bothering to tell Celia that she would be working over Christmas and consequently not in need of
company
or
Christmas
goodies
, Sophie broached the other topic of concern; Rosa’s studies.

‘Surely the whole point of Rosa being here is to learn the language? She won’t find much in the way of dialogue at Victoria Villas. Half the time I’m working and the other half I shall be asleep. As for what she’ll learn from Lottie and Pearl…’ Listening in trepidation from behind the kitchen door, Rosa stepped forward and reached for Sophie’s hand.

‘When you not here, Sophie, I study
real
hard. I make
special
promise to you and Miss Sheffield. By Christmas I speak the
Eenglish
perfect.’

‘By Christmas I shall be speaking perfect English,’ Celia corrected with a satisfied smile.

To Sophie’s complete and utter surprise not only did Rosa’s English improve in leaps and bounds, but also the flat remained incredibly tidy.

‘I have to confess I’m amazed,’ she remarked, unloading shiny cartons of Chinese take-away onto her kitchen work surface.

‘Me too,’ Callie mumbled, popping a king prawn ball into her mouth. I’ve even stuck my nose round her bedroom door to see if she’s been true to her word. Her bedroom’s immaculate.’

‘I wish mine was, it’s so cramped in there.’

‘What do you expect? When you foolishly decided to give Rosa your bedroom, you should have realised you’d never get all your things into that poky little spare room. Why don’t I ask Colleen’s boyfriend to bring his van round tomorrow? Rosa’s only here until Christmas, isn’t she?’

Sophie nodded and carried on serving fried rice and pancake rolls.

‘Good. Then that’s settled.’

‘What is?’

‘You pack all your summer gear and surplus bits into suitcases and we’ll store it at the Nag’s Head. That way you’ll have heaps more room.’

‘I don’t know about heaps,’ said Sophie, wondering if Christmas and Rosa’s departure would ever come. At least the shops were full of Hallowe’en paraphernalia, which meant next stop Bonfire Night and after that Christmas.

Watching Sophie pour bowls of sweetly scented jasmine tea, Callie sighed. ‘Pity about the wine.’

‘I know but I can’t go on duty reeking of both Chinese and alcohol. Which reminds me I’d better get some Polos on my way to the hospital.’