72
Walking Muffin for the fifth time that day had offered no comfort and she sighed with both relief and dread as she caught sight of Abby walking down the gravel road towards her. Dressed in black jeans, a floaty top and heavy cardigan with her silky black hair in a messy ponytail. Dragging a large portfolio folder in one hand and steadying her shoulder bag with the other. The girl flashed her a huge smile and closed the gap between them.
‘Afternoon lovely!’ it felt like an age since they had been alone.
‘Hey, Ab’s.’ Genuine happiness at her appearance. That immediate flow of warm affection.
‘No Rob lurking in the background then?’
Rose smiled at the cheekiness in her childlike tone and twinkling eyes, looking up in mock surprise as Abby gently sucker punched her.
‘No Duncan hiding in the bushes?’ She jibed back, pushing her shoulder playfully.
‘Touché!’
They both laughed and hugged briefly before stepping apart. Pulling back to look at one another, Abby halted, her face instantly dropping, a strange look of calculation followed by realisation as she reached again for Rose’s hand and grabbed it to her eye level.
‘Oh my god!’ The straight face suddenly illuminated with undeniable joy. ‘When?’
Rose laughed, glad to have had the task of announcing taken away from her, out of her control. No longer having to ponder or decide about what to do.
‘Last night.’ She couldn’t help but beam and admire the sparkling beauty nestled delicately on her hand.
‘I need details!’ Abby hauled Rose into another stronger hug and danced her around in a circle affectionately. Her hyper-ness infectious.
‘I’m pretty sure you don’t want the details Ab’s! But there’s a PG version for innocent ears.’ She laughed out loud, instantly breathless from Abby’s shenanigans.
‘You hussy!’ Abby giggled, leading her by the hand towards the door. Scooping for a second to ruffle Muffins fluffy head.
‘I’m sorry Ab’s but I can’t help myself. It’s those Munro genes, they’re irresistible to me.’ She jested
‘I guess that’s why he was texting me this morning, asking if he could take me to college!’ She reflected. ‘I was already on the bus. He said he’d see me tonight!’
‘Sorry!’ Rose looked remorseful, wondering if he had wanted to see Abby’s reaction first hand
‘Oh shoosh. I’m glad I found out this way. Means I can torture him later, acting dumb and drag it out. Like to see him tongue-tied and awkward when it comes to talking about his feelings pah!’
‘Really? I’ve never seen him that way.’ Rose grinned, disbelief on her pretty features.
‘You’re not his baby sister, whom he assumes is an innocent child minded, air head. He still acts like I should be in nappies. He also doesn’t like to appear anything but strong and capable in front of me! None of that gushy love chat!’ Abby rolled her eyes and immediately looked as young as she claimed she wasn’t.
Rose smiled to herself, never thinking he had different faces for different people. Realising with Abby he had taken over the role of protector and father figure when their lives had fallen apart, and their own father had recoiled in his own sadness. It made sense. With her, he was never afraid to tell her how he felt. Well, most of the time.
‘Does my dad know?’ Abby blinked up at her, pushing her bags onto the couch and kicking off her shoes.
‘I think so. He got up this morning to see him before leaving for work so I’m assuming he would have told him then.’ Although she thought back to Rob’s ‘we will tell the family later’ comment this morning.
‘He will be happy. He’s been rooting for you from day one apparently. He told me that Rob pretty much ended up there on a daily basis when you broke up. They have always had that male closeness thing. Turns to him when he’s got crap going on. Too alike!’ Abby threw herself on the couch and sprawled out.
‘Well that makes two of you then.’ Rose winked and tried to haul
Abby back to her feet by the arm. ‘Come eat with me.’
* * *
The girls sat at the kitchen table eating the remains of their sandwiches and sipping tea. Abby had immediately gone into excited ‘Maid of honour’ mode. Pulling out a pad and pens and trying to engage Rose in making a to do list.
Rose had declined at first, trying to tell her that her own family did not even know yet, but it was pointless. Her enthusiasm and flow of beautiful ideas and vision drawing Rose in. She had told her to take creative control if she was that impatient, that Rose and Rob would happily look over her ideas together. An excuse to not get caught up in table runners and floral arrangements via Google on Abby’s phone. ‘Oh, you would look beautiful in a vintage lace wedding dress Rose. You’re so effortlessly romantic looking, I think it would suit you.’
‘Ummm, thanks.’ She wasn’t sure what that meant, but laughed, feeling lighter than she had all day. Letting herself relax into the fact that this was actually real and enjoying it briefly when surrounded by the infectiousness that was Abby’s way.
Abby hauled out her tablet from her bag. Anxious for a bigger screen than her mobile afforded and began scrolling google for bridal websites and examples of elegant dresses. Rose had been right about one thing. Abby would have this wedding planned before the week ended.
Feeling that familiar flutter of dread, she got up to shake it free, pulling some cookies from the bread bin and sliding them on the table. Abby was engrossed on Pinterest, already creating her ‘inspiration board’ of fabulous garden weddings and rustic center pieces. Chatter bubbling forth of how amazing a wedding marquee would look on the south lawn behind the house. Rose smiled watching her. Wishing she could feel the same enthusiasm and dive right in, helping choose out the biggest day of her life. Yet all she could think about was Morag.
Her tumbling fiery red wild hair. Her darkening green eyes and smooth creamy freckle-spattered face. Like a looming serpent in her mind’s eye, devouring her in one easy strike. A growing presence, reaching up over her and shadowing everything else out of her mind like a thick black toxic smoke.
She knew one thing for sure... There had to be some sort of climax to come from all this build up and it only made her feel weak at the knees, shivers and goose bumps running uneasily up her spine. Her chest heavy with the foreboding and anticipation.
