Page 18 of Sassy & Sixty

Rosie laughed. "Deal. Now, is anyone going to ask about my date, or are you all just going to pretend you're not dying to know?"

There was a moment of silence before the kitchen erupted into a cacophony of questions.

"Was he a gentleman?" "Did he use the right fork?" "How was the goodnight kiss?" "Is he as handsome up close as he is from afar?"

"Ladies, ladies," Emma interrupted, brandishing her spatula like a gavel. "Let the woman breathe. And more importantly, lether eat. We'll conduct this interrogation properly, over bacon sandwiches and coffee."

Soon, they were all settled around Rosie's kitchen table, plates piled high with Emma's "dancing bacon" sandwiches and mugs of steaming coffee at the ready.

"Right," Emma said, leaning forward with the air of a general planning a military campaign. "Start at the beginning and don't leave out a single detail."

Rosie took a sip of coffee to hide her smile. "Well, he arrived precisely on time..."

As Rosie recounted the events of the evening, her friends listened with rapt attention, interjecting with gasps, giggles, and the occasional sage nod.

"He got all your jokes?" Julie said, impressed. "Even the one about the vicar and the llama?"

Rosie nodded. "And he even added his own punchline!"

"Oh, he's a keeper," Lisa declared. "A man with a good sense of humour is worth his weight in gold."

"And how about his table manners?" Catherine inquired. "No unfortunate incidents with escargot or oversized mouthfuls?"

"Perfect gentleman," Rosie assured her. "Though I must admit, I was so nervous about using the wrong fork that I barely noticed what he was doing!"

"Forget the forks," Emma cut in impatiently. "Tell us about the kiss!"

Rosie felt herself blushing. "Emma! A lady doesn't kiss and tell."

"Nonsense," Emma scoffed. "That's exactly what ladies do. Now spill!"

Rosie sighed in mock exasperation, but her eyes were twinkling. "Well, if you must know... it was lovely. Sweet, a little awkward, but... nice. Very nice."

Her friends exchanged knowing glances.

"Our Rosie's got stars in her eyes," Lisa teased gently.

"Oh, hush," Rosie said, but she couldn't keep the smile from her face. "It was just one date."

"One date that's led to another," Emma pointed out. "You did agree to see him again, didn't you?"

Rosie nodded. "We're having lunch next week."

This announcement was met with a chorus of delighted squeals that would have put a group of teenage girls to shame.

"Right," Emma said, clapping her hands together. "We need to plan your outfit. Something casual but elegant. And we simply must do something about your hair."

"What's wrong with my hair?" Rosie asked, self-consciously patting her head.

"Nothing a good cut and colour won't fix," Lisa said diplomatically. "I know just the place. They work miracles."

As her friends began to plan her makeover with the enthusiasm of fairy godmothers preparing Cinderella for the ball, Rosie felt a warmth spread through her chest that had nothing to do with the coffee. A few months ago, she'd been feeling lost and alone. Now, she had a group of amazing friends, a potential new romance, and a sense of excitement about the future that she hadn't felt in years.

"Earth to Rosie," Julie's voice broke through her reverie. "You've got that dreamy look again. Thinking about Doctor Charming?"

Rosie shook her head, smiling. "No, actually. I was thinking about how lucky I am to have friends like you."

There was a moment of silence as her words sank in, and then Rosie found herself engulfed in another group hug, this one gentler but no less heartfelt.

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