Page 48 of Coming Home
They all managed a chuckle at that, even Rosina. ‘Of course, just let me know when you want to start. There’ll be loads to do in the January sales. I’ll sort it and it will be nice having you there and here, too, like the old days.’
She could feel emotion swelling so was glad when Leonora interrupted to ask a serious question of her own. ‘How are we going to keep Caspar quiet though? I can’t bear the fact he works for the people who look after our accounts. I feel invaded, don’t you, Mum?’
All eyes were on their mum. ‘Because as Rosina so rightly said earlier, she knows how to stop him. He thought he held all the cards but now, we do. He has killed a man and left the scene of a crime. I’m not sure what the penalty is for that but he could be looking at prison, never mind the scandal and, he’s missed a very important factor in all this.’
‘What?’ Violetta frowned.
‘Well, for a start, who the hell gave him the right to threaten you in the first place? He should realise it works both ways. We could tell all his colleagues and clients a thing or two about how he gets his kicks between meetings. What a very professional, positive mental image they’ll have of the chap who’s come to audit their books. I’m sorry, girls, but I am absolutely livid that two of you have been held to ransom by men like these. How dare they make you feel low, and you, Leonora, having to put up with a slimy control freak! As far as I’m concerned they can all just piss off.’
Leonora was open-mouthed, so was Violetta and it took Rosina to speak on their behalf after listening in silence to the conversation. ‘Who the hell are you and what have you done with our mother?’
When they all convulsed into laughter, it took a moment or two to regain composure. Then Rosina noticed her mum’s gaze and serious expression. The room fell silent.
‘And now we have to sort out your problem, Rosina.’
Rosina’s stomach turned. She had no idea how the hell they could solve any of it, but rather than interrupt she listened and accepted Violetta’s hand when it reached across the table.
‘As far as I am aware, if you witness a crime, nobody is legally obliged to report it to the police. It’s more of a moral obligation to help bring someone to justice. Which means you won’t get into any trouble for not telling the police what you saw.’
Leonora chipped in. ‘But that also means Caspar is going to get away with what he did.’
‘Oh no. You mark my words, he is not going to get away with it and he will pay for what he’s done to that man and you and Violetta, with his silence. But I will deal with him so let’s focus on your sister for now.’
Rosina swallowed down nerves as she listened, feeling like a teenager again but not caring if she was grounded forever, as long as her mum sorted it all out.
‘Right, Rosina. First of all we’re going to clear your debts.’
‘But Mum–’ She found herself silenced by the simple raising of a palm and her mother’s glare.
‘We can do this today. It will take seconds. As soon as possible you and I will have a proper chat about what’s been going on in that head of yours to get you in this situation. From what I’ve read, it’s not always as simple as a cheeky game of bingo getting out of hand.’
Rosina couldn’t speak so when Violetta piped up, her gentle words prompted the tears she’d been holding back. ‘Mum’s right. It’s been a big day and we are all wiped out, but you do need to talk to Mum, and maybe think about getting some counselling, after New Year. I’ll come with you if you want but in the meantime if you struggle, tell one of us. It’s killing me knowing you’ve been going through all this alone, Rosie, so please, promise me you’ll ask for help.’
Rosina could only nod as she felt Violetta’s fingers twining around hers and being locked together that way reminded her of when they were little. Huddled in the bottom bunk, shivering in the cold as she’d tried to distract Violetta from the monster she thought lived in the wardrobe, when the real monster was downstairs, shouting at their mum.
Maybe it was time to let her little sister take care of her for a change because she was so tired of being mother hen. And then two thoughts occurred, like a thunderclap that made her wince. ‘What about what I owe Norman? The loan was between us, as far as I know. And Lou… Oh God, what am I going to tell him? I can’t keep a secret like this from my husband. Not for the rest of our lives but I feel so ashamed. I can’t tell you how low I feel about myself right now. This is why I’ve been going mad with worry. The thought of you all finding out.’
Suddenly two more sets of hands slid across the table, covering hers and Violetta’s. It was her mum who answered the question.
‘We’ll wait and see what happens with the loan. Maybe someone will come knocking, maybe they won’t. I suspect that little arrangement was designed to avoid the taxman and this agreement you signed was a way of extracting more money; but either way, unless someone turns up here with it, nobody will be getting paid. We can cross that bridge another time. As for Lou. That’s entirely your call. What has been discussed around this table is between us and us alone.’
Two nodding heads gave the signal for her mum to continue. ‘If Violetta is okay with Lou knowing her part, again, that’s her call. If not, you’ll have to keep her secret and just tell him your story. If I know your husband as I think I do, he will support you all the way. And you’re right, Rosina. Carrying a secret like this through a marriage won’t be easy so I suggest you tell him the truth.’
Leonora agreed. ‘There’s been enough secrecy to last us a lifetime and as Vi said, we’ll be here for you Rosie, like always.’
Violetta was next. ‘And I want you to tell Lou about me. As I said I’m not ashamed of my old job. This is my body and I’ll do what I want with it. I know Lou is a good man, and Bern too, and I don’t want either of you to have secrets from the men you love. It’s outsiders that scared me, people who would have a field day gossiping and making stuff up. So, Mum and Rosie, you have my permission to tell them, it’s fine.’
Rosina turned to her side and gave Violetta a hug. ‘Thank you, Vi.’
Their Mum then used her stern voice, the one none of them really took any notice of anyway. ‘Honestly, you three with your mysteries! I don’t know what’s got into you all. If you’d have just come to me and told me what was going on I’m sure all of this could have been avoided. So from now on,no more secrets! Or else.’
Violetta freed herself from Rosina’s embrace. ‘Well, if you must know, mother, I blame you for everything.’
‘Me! Why?’ She rested a hand on her chest and looked shocked.
‘It’s obvious. And I think I speak for Leo and Rosie too. You are perfect, always have been, so how could we tell you we’d messed up so badly?’
‘Don’t be daft. I’ve always been very understanding of your cock-ups, no matter what you did.’ Her mum looked affronted.
