AllFreeNovel
Share Us
CHAPTER 16
Rosie pulled into the yard at Meadowsweet Farm, turned off her engine and checked her watch. Five to two – she was late, but at least her eyes weren’t so puffy and red. Stopping at Driftwood House on her way back from Morag’s to splash cold water on her face had helped, sort of.
She twisted the rear-view mirror towards her and winced. Her face was still a bit blotchy in places but it would have to do, and hopefully the dark-blue floaty dress she’d put on would tone down her colouring. Mum always said that navy could hide a multitude of sins. But then her mum had said a lot of things and not all of them were true.
Rosie traced her fingers across her high cheekbones and oval jawline. She looked a lot like her mum. Everyone said so. But did she bear any resemblance to her biological father who was, presumably, letter-writer J? Maybe he’d found out a child was on the way and had done a runner. And now she’d never know because her mother had taken those secrets to the grave.
‘Hello, there!’ Pam Satterley, in a green spotted apron, was waving at her from the front door. ‘The potatoes have this minute come out of the oven, so you’re just in time.’
You can do this,thought Rosie, plastering on a smile.Pretend your life hasn’t just been turned upside down, eat food and make polite conversation until you can escape back to Driftwood House.She got out of the car and waved back.
‘You’ve been inside Meadowsweet Farmhouse before, haven’t you?’ asked Pam, ushering her into a narrow tiled hallway.
‘No, never.’
‘Really? That’s surprising. Didn’t Liam invite you to the teenage parties he threw when his dad and I went to visit my parents in Ireland? The parties he thought we didn’t know about?’ Pam laughed and rolled her eyes.
‘I was never on his guest list.’
‘Never mind, it’s good to have you here now, although I’m sorry it’s in such sad circumstances, after what happened to your mum. Come on through to the kitchen.’
The large kitchen, at the back of the house, was just as Rosie had imagined. Steaming saucepans sat on a black Aga, close to a huge table that was covered in trays of golden potatoes and roast parsnips, and four large dinner plates, waiting to be filled. Shelves on one wall held a chaotic muddle of books and magazines, and there were muddy boot marks across the flagstone floor. A large joint was waiting to be carved on the wooden worktop and Rosie’s stomach growled as smells of rosemary and lamb wafted under her nose. It had been days since she’d cooked herself a decent meal.
Robert Satterley glanced up at her from his seat at the table. ‘You’re not one of those vegetarians, are you?’
‘For goodness’ sake, Bob, let the poor girl get through the door before you start quizzing her,’ scolded Pam, before turning to Rosie with a frown. ‘You’re not vegetarian, are you?’
‘No, I eat pretty much everything.’
‘Thank goodness for that.’ Pam brushed her fingers through her short grey hair. ‘Liam, do you want to take Rosie through to the dining room? Lunch will be ready in a couple of minutes.’
She hadn’t noticed him there, standing almost behind the open back door. He stepped forward, looking smarter than usual. He’d swapped his sweatshirt for a white open-necked shirt, and his jeans for black cord chinos. His dark hair, newly washed, flopped across his forehead.
Was this in her honour or did he always dress up for Sunday lunch? Rosie was glad she’d put on the dress that Matt said made her look sophisticated.
Matt! She’d meant to call him from Driftwood House but time had run away with her, and the clifftop signal was often dodgy anyway. She made a mental note to try and call him later, to tell him what she’d discovered. But for now, she had to pretend all was well.
Rosie smiled at Liam and followed him into a small room which overlooked the fields that led down to the sea. Light streaming in through the window bounced off glass ornaments grouped together on an oak dresser.
‘This is a lovely, bright room.’
Liam gestured for her to take a seat at a polished table laid with glasses and cutlery. ‘We don’t use it much. We usually eat in the kitchen but Mum’s rolling out the red carpet today. She thinks you’re very exotic because you live abroad.’ Was he mocking her? Liam shifted from foot to foot. He seemed to be on edge rather than taking the mickey. ‘Why don’t you take a seat and I’ll get your food.’
He reappeared a couple of minutes later with a plate piled high with lamb, potatoes and vegetables.
‘Thank you. It looks amazing, though I’m not sure I can eat so much.’
Liam gave an understanding nod. ‘Just do the best you can. Mum likes to feed people up.’
He went to collect his own plate and took the seat the farthest from her as his parents came in with their lunch.
‘Mint sauce?’ asked Pam, passing Rosie a small silver jug. ‘Do you know, you’re the first visitor we’ve had to Sunday lunch since… well…’
She glanced at Liam, who finished her sentence. ‘…since Dee.’
Thatwas why he was on edge, thought Rosie. This must be bringing up bad memories for him.
‘Do you have a boyfriend?’ asked Pam, spearing one of her roast potatoes with a fork and dropping it onto her husband’s plate.
