Page 19 of One More Day
‘For the night? What do you mean, for the night?’
He looks at me like we’re not on the same page.
‘It’s your car alternator, just like we thought it was.’
‘Yes,’ I nod, loving that Rusty and I are talking car parts just like the olden days, but not loving the way he’s not going to be able to fix it as soon as I need him to.
‘Well, there’s no way I’m going to get car parts at this time of the day,’ he says, ‘so with that in mind, it looks like young Charlie up the road is going to have to move over in the cottage for at least tonight, OK?’
‘No.’
My eyes widen and my head involuntarily shakes from side to side.
‘Yes.’
‘No, Rusty, honestly that’s not fair,’ I say, putting my hands up in defiance. ‘There’s no way I want to disturb that man again. He doesn’t need any of my nonsense piled upon him when he’s here to get away from whatever his own drama is.’
‘But—’
‘And what would Marion say if she knew I was staying after her total refusal to even discuss it?’ I continue. ‘She’ll crucify you. No. Honestly. I’d rather sleep on the street in the snow than cause you any trouble, and that’s no exaggeration.’
Rusty leans back and lets out a raucous laugh.
‘You know what, Rose, I believe you when you say that,’ he says. ‘You’re a Quinn, just like me. Stubborn as a mule. But it’s my cottage at the end of the day, and you are my family. If I say you’re staying for the night until I get you back on the road, then there’s no one – not Charlie, not evenMarion– who will argue against me. Now drink up and let’s get you warmed up and settled in for the night.’
Marion has never forgiven my family since there was a big row about who should get the holiday cottage after Granny Molly died. My dad told her that for an outsider, she’d far too much to say on the matter.
My dad didn’t hold back and Marion went hell for leather in return. I wasn’t even in the room, but from Marion’s reaction to my surprise arrival earlier, I can tell that she still holds a grudge against me for it.
‘I’m really not sure about this,’ I mutter.
But Rusty just shrugs.
‘Well, I’m afraid we don’t have much choice, cousin dear. So just get some food, a good night’s sleep and I’ll have you back on the road as soon as I can tomorrow.’
I try to think of another option but for once I don’t have a Plan B. I’m sorry to hear that Rusty and Marion are having problems, but from what I witnessed earlier at the cottage, I’m not overly surprised.
‘It’s just for one night, I suppose …’
‘It’s just for one night,’ Rusty agrees. ‘Now, we need to make a move before the snow gets any heavier. Looks like we’re in for a stormy night ahead.’
‘You will be in for more than a storm if Marion finds out about this,’ I say as we cross the road to Rusty’s pick-up truck.
He just chuckles and shakes his head.
‘Ain’t that the truth, Rosebud. You know us all far, far too well.’
Chapter Four
Charlie
I have my phone on silent.
I know that’s cruel, but she keeps calling me, every few minutes.
We discussed how she’s not having turkey this Christmas because her friend Mary is vegetarian. She thinks she is going to turn vegetarian as of today – though might have a tiny bit of ham with her dinner.
Then we discussed her new shower gel. She loves berries and so naturally needed to call me to tell me she got some dewberry shower gel today, which apparently smells just as good. I promised that if I see any dewberry-scented stuff in Donegal, I would get it for her.
