Love, Rosie (260 page)

Are
you
mad?
Of
course
I
can’t
sleep.

I
helped
shop
for
the
dress,
helped
her
get
ready
with
her
makeup

and
hair,
took
photographs
of
her
being
so
excited
on
her
special

night.
The
night
when
she
will
see
friends
she
probably
won’t
see

again
for
years
or
never
again
despite
promises
of
keeping
in
touch.

It
was
me
and
Mum
twenty
years
ago.

I
know
she’s
not
me,
she’s
her
own
person
with
her
own
mind
but
I

couldn’t
help
but
see
myself
walking
out
that
door.
Arm
in
arm
with

a
man
in
a
tuxedo,
excited
about
the
night,
excited
about
the
future.

Excited,
excited,
excited.
I
was
so
bloody
young.
Of
course
I
didn’t

think
I
was
at
the
time.
I
had
a
million
plans.
I
knew
what
I
was

going
to
do.
I
had
the
next
few
years
of
my
life
all
figured
out.

382

Cecelia
Ahern

But
what
I
didn’t
know
was
that
within
a
few
hours
all
those
plans

would
change.
Ms.
Know-it-all
didn’t
quite
know
it
all
so
much

then.

I
just
hope
Katie
comes
home
tonight
when
she
should.

Alex:

Rosie:

She’s
wise
Rosie
and
if
you’ve
raised
her
the
way
I
think
you
have,

then
you
have
nothing
to
worry
about.

I
can’t
fool
myself,
she’s
been
with
her
boyfriend
for
nearly
4
years

now
so
I
don’t
exactly
think
they’ve
been
holding
hands
all
this

time.
But
for
tonight
at
least,
on
the
night
that
changed
my
life,
I

wish
her
home
early.

Alex:

Rosie:

Alex:

Rosie:

Alex:

Rosie:

Alex:

Rosie:

Alex:

Rosie:

Well
then
I’ll
just
have
to
distract
you
until
she
comes
home
then,

won’t
I?

If
you
wouldn’t
mind.

So
how
is
our
hotel
room
set
for
next
month?
I
certainly
hope
the

manager
can
arrange
the
very
best
for
us!

Well
I’m
actually
only
the
assistant
manager,
remember,
and
the

hotel
isn’t
exactly
.
.
.

Isn’t
exactly
what?

Well
it’s
not
as
snazzy
as
the
ones
you’re
used
to
when
you
travel.

Well
this
one
will
be
extra
special
because
my
best
friend
will
be

running
it.

I
wouldn’t
want
to
take
much
credit
for
the
general
running
of
the

hotel
.
.
.

Oh
don’t
be
silly,
you
never
give
yourself
enough
credit
for
what

you
do.

Oh
no
really
Alex,
I
wouldn’t
want
to
accept
any
responsibility
for

this
hotel
at
all
.
You
know,
I’m
only
there
a
few
months,
I
haven’t

had
a
chance
to
put
my
stamp
on
it
at
all.
I
only
follow
orders
.
.
.