Page 21 of Whispers from the Past

‘Just trying it out. Holly mentioned that you’re a fan of Jane Austen. I’ve been reading Mansfield Park, I guess it’s been rubbing off on me.’

‘Well I don’t like it. I like you calling me Rose. I mean I like anyone calling me Rose,’ she could feel herself blushing. ‘But wait, you’re reading Mansfield Park? What bit are you at?’

‘Fanny Price has just met Henry Crawford. I don’t think I like him. Do we like him?’

‘I don’t want to unfairly influence your natural response to the story to respond to that question.’

‘Fair enough. Did I hear Holly correctly that you two are going out for her birthday?’

‘Yes, she seems quite excited about it.’

‘She hasn’t celebrated her birthday properly for years. Thank you for giving her something to look forward to like that.’

‘Well I’m not really suffering, I’m looking forward to it too. Although something tells me that I’ll need to keep my wits about me with her.’

‘Oh god, definitely. I vowed never to go drinking with her again after what happened on her 21st birthday. It was the kind of night that you never speak of again’. Luke shuddered at the memory.

‘Ok, but you need to tell me more about that. What if history repeats itself?’

‘Not possible. Seb won’t be there.’

‘Who is Seb?’

‘Quiet guy who helps out at the pub sometimes. Although he’s often in the kitchen so you’d probably not notice him.’

‘And why is Seb integral to this night that is never spoken about?’

Luke smiled and shook his head. ‘Sibling rules. I’m forbidden to talk about it.’

Rose smacked him on his arm, remembering too late that less than 24 hours ago she’d caused a laceration to said limb. ‘Oh god, I’m so sorry!’ Rose shivered at the fact she’d forgotten her awful excuse for a Yorkshire appropriate coat back at home.

Luke winced and breathed tightly through gritted teeth. ‘It’s ok.’

‘It’s really not. Is it feeling any better yet?’

‘When people aren’t punching me, yes it’s feeling quite a bit better.’ He stopped abruptly, quickly shrugging his good arm out of his jacket and then carefully easing out his right arm. Silently, he slipped it over Rose’s shoulders. It was so warm that Rose couldn’t stop the sigh as she pushed her arms into the borg lined denim jacket.

‘Thank you, I’ve been meaning to go buy a more suitable coat, but never got round to it.’ She relaxed into the warmth of the jacket, not realising how tense she’d been to fend off the frigid evening air.

Luke smiled at her tightly. ‘Keep it. I’ve got another one at home. That one looks better on you than me anyway. And if it means that you’re never seen in that shearling monstrosity then I’m happy to sacrifice this coat to the cause.’

His focused attention was just a little too much for her, so she did what she did best and switched the narrative; ‘Did you know Lucy well?’

‘Tony’s Lucy?’ Luke looked a little bewildered at the change in the trajectory of their conversation.

‘He talked about her a lot this evening. I think he’s finding it harder than he makes out that she left him.’

‘I knew her to say hello, but that was about it. You’re the first person in a long time that I’ve spoken more than three words to, other than Holly and Natalie.’

‘And Eleanor.’

‘And Eleanor. She is a persistent woman. Even if I wanted to shut her out, she wouldn’t let me.’

‘Did you know her husband?’

‘No he died around the time I was born I think. She doesn’t talk about her family much. She didn’t really speak to me that much until after Hannah died really. It was as if her death sparked something in her and she has made it her mission to make sure I’m ok. Same with Holly; she’s been there for all of us without us ever needing to ask. I think also knowing how closed off she can be, having her in your corner makes you feel special; important even. Does that make sense?’

‘Total sense. You should ask Tony out for a drink, he needs a friend,’ Rose announced, changing the subject yet again.