More worries
Rose wasn't so anxious as she set off to meet Alec the next morning. They had agreed to meet on the corner, since her mother would already be out but she was planning on getting back reasonably early so he would be there when her mother got home, since they'd talked about it on the way back the night before.
"I'm not sure that's a good idea," Alec complained as they stood outside.
"She's not gonna bite Alec," Rose had grinned. "Ya don't have to wait for Bob coming home."
Alec had shuddered at the thought. So now, he was waiting for her on the corner when he saw Jamie and his mother going to the bus stop, the one he and Rose used to use. Jamie's mother was nudging him.
"Why aren't you talking to Alec?" she wanted to know.
"Because he made friends with a girl called Rose," Jamie admitted, making his mother smile.
Alec was glad to be avoided but felt himself smiling when Rose came around the corner. What was she doing to him? Now, he wasn't that bothered Jamie was ignoring him and maybe Rose was right, he should at least stop and say hello to her mother. He still missed his own but Rose was beginning to fill the gap.
As the week went on, Rose had found it easy to get along with Alec's aunt, offering to help with lunch and then they would go venture further than the park and down the riverbank. By the end of the week, Rose had somehow got him to hold her hand when no-one was around and even if they'd been spotted, Alec didn't think Rose would bother too much.
It was Friday afternoon and they were walking back to Alec's house and he was trying to find out if the ban was still enforced on them meeting at the weekend.
"I'm working on it Alec," Rose tried to assure him. "I hinted to Bob that if he wanted to meet my friends, I had to work on it."
"So what did he say?" Alec wanted to know.
"He's still arguing I should spend time with them. I'll have to stay in tomorrow but I'm gonna try to get out on Sunday. The thing is though, I'll still have to say it's Sandra."
"I don't like you having to cover up who you're meeting Rose," Alec told her.
"Then I'll have to tell him and see how it goes, are ya ready for that?" she asked him as they reached his house. "Maybe we should talk to your dad or John about it? So, am I allowed in your room again?"
"Dad says we had better be downstairs when he gets home," Alec reminded her.
Rose just grinned as she took her jacket off once in the house.
"Well we can always dance down here?" she suggested, doing her sway in front of him.
"So we dance again and I read my story later? I have a surprise for you, it'll be ready soon."
"A new story! Why didn't ya say?" she asked flinging her arms around his neck. "Wow, that's great. So why not tell me?"
"Well it's a surprise, since you gave me the idea?"
"I did? Really? Is it about those green bog monsters, what was their name?"
"The Slitheen? I can't tell you Rose but you'll like it. I made up a new companion as well."
"Wow, you really kept that quiet," she teased him, ruffling his hair and Alec wondering when she'd started doing that.
He knew what she'd been doing all week – exactly what John had predicted and last night, her mother had actually not bothered he was in the kitchen as Rose started preparing the food. She'd asked him why he'd not stayed before.
"So, Alec, I hope you're not just gonna stay once?"
"No Mrs Tyler, Rose just wanted me to say hello to you the first few times. Is there any chance she can come to tea at my aunt's again on Sunday?"
"I'll have to ask but she was supposed to be staying in."
"It won't be until late afternoon," Alec had tried to tell her.
"We'll have to see how it goes then," Jackie had told him.
So when Alec had reminded Rose, she was still waiting for an answer after her mother had mentioned it to Bob, hoping her mother wouldn't slip up and say it wasn't with Sandra. She'd been talking to Rose in the kitchen and Rose had pleaded with her to go along it was Sandra she was going to see.
"I know that Rose but he'll find out," her mother had insisted. "How much longer can ya hold off not bringing her around?"
Rose had thought that was never going to happen, well not with Sandra anyway, Alec might stand more of a chance but Bob would probably scare him away, then she would lose him as a friend.
So now, they were in Alec's room, Rose dancing around him to a catchy tune and him watching her while holding her hand.
"Aw come on Alec, ya don't have to just stand there," she teased him.
"Well you are making all the moves," Alec had to laugh.
"Want me to slow down?"
"I never said that," Alec replied, knowing she was teasing him. "Don't forget to ask your mum tonight, about Sunday."
"I said I'd try Alec. You've no idea how things would be if she told him my friend wasn't a girl. So are ya gonna go see John then?"
"About staying more than five minutes when your mum gets home? It was bad enough last night Rose."
"Aw, ya survived," Rose reminded him.
"Yes, just. I think Bob may have been going up in the lift as I used the stairs."
"Ya had a narrow escape then?" Rose laughed.
"What would he do, if he found out?"
"I dread to think," Rose replied, letting go and sitting on the chair.
Alec sat on the edge of his bed.
"Don't think about it Rose. What has he been saying?"
"Nothing, it doesn't matter. We'd better go downstairs."
Alec got up suddenly, standing in front of her.
"Tell me Rose, I want to help you."
"I know you do Alec but you can't."
"Don't say that Rose. You've not said anything about him for a while."
"I didn't want to bother ya. I'll try and go to your aunt's on Sunday, honestly."
Alec still stood in her way. "Tell me what's wrong Rose."
"Nothing." She saw the look on his face. "Bob wanted me to bring Sandra round, which I'd never do."
"Why are you so scared of him? Is he so bad?"
"I got him to put a lock on my door Alec, remember? You want to know? I hate being there and the thought of my mum leaving me with him, okay?"
Alec put his hand on her shoulder.
"Rose, you need to speak to my dad. What if she were to leave you?"
"I don't know Alec, maybe it's just me?"
"Maybe it's not? Would he object to me being your friend?"
"Ya can bet on it Alec," Rose replied, trying to get up.
"I'm just worried at meeting him, maybe I should try?"
"Then let me talk to my mum first, she's trying to still make him think I'm meeting Sandra."
Alec saw she was trying to smile at the thought. They went downstairs and waited for Alec's dad coming home, then Alec told him.
"Alec, you should wait and introduce yourself to him, prove that Rose really does have a friend. Rose, can you not get your friend Sandra to visit?"
"No, she lives at the other side of town. Now Bob will know I lied about it."
"Well, why not ask John to pick her up and bring her over?" Alec's dad suggested.
"She'd know John was Alec's cousin then, no-one knows. I don't want either of them to get into trouble over it."
"Then I will go with you, maybe next Sunday, what do you think Alec?"
Alec would do anything to help his friend.
"Rose, that would be a good idea," Alec agreed.
"No, I have to tell him the truth or say we fell out. She won't be keen on the idea."
"That's very brave of you Rose," Alec's dad told her. "What will he say if Alec introduces himself?"
"I don't know, let me tell him first before Alec meets him."
After they had eaten, they went for a walk even though it was almost dark.
"We should start staying in now," Alec suggested.
"Yeah or go to my place? Want to go now?"
"How many records do you have left?" Alec teased her.
"This is your chance Alec, to talk to my mum."
Alec wished she wouldn't remind him. Jackie seemed better around him so before he left, Rose tried to explain to her she was going to admit Alec was her friend, not Sandra.
"Do ya think he'll be mad?" Rose dared asked her as Alec was about to leave.
"Well, ya can try, I dunno what he'll say. Let me talk to him tonight, yeah? You should stay in this Sunday Rose, the week after, he might let ya go out a bit later, if ya tell him where ya really going."
"That sounds like a good idea," Alec agreed. "I'd best go now, see you on Monday?"
Rose didn't like the idea of that, having to put up with Bob all weekend. Alec knew she was worried. His dad noticed when he got home.
"Did you talk to Rose's mum?"
"Yes Dad but I don't think Rose can go out this Sunday. Her mother thinks if Rose leaves it this week, she might be able to the week after."
"That's good then. Alec, try not to worry too much eh? It could be nothing but Rose getting used to having someone around who wants to act like her dad."
Alec hoped that's all it was but it had got Rose worried. If Rose was worried, then so was he. While Rose, her mother and Bob were eating, Rose decided to test the waters, so to speak.
"I wanted to ask ya if ya'd changed ya mind about me going out on Sunday," Rose spoke up.
"Leave it Rose," her mother asked her.
"It's okay Jackie, let her speak. I'm doing for your own good Rose."
"All my other friends go out when they want and I spend all evening with the both of ya."
"She has a point Bob," her mother agreed.
"Well her friends should have more respect for their parents. I told you Rose, you can invite your friends over here."
Rose thought that was rather defeating the object.
"Well I don't think Sandra will want to but I've got another friend who's already met mum, haven't I Mum?"
Jackie thought she was supposed to be keeping that quiet.
"So, who's this friend, another girl?" Bob wanted to know.
"No, he's called Alec, he helped me settle in my new school."
"What are you doing hanging around with a boy?" Bob asked angrily. "Jackie, did you know about this?"
"Well yeah, I met him but Rose didn't say much," Jackie defended herself.
"Well I don't want you hanging around with a boy, understand? Jackie, I want you to make sure. Is that where you intend going this week?"
Rose started to get up.
"Answer me Rose. Was this Sandra just an excuse?"
"No, I do have a friend called Sandra. What's wrong with having a boy as a friend?"
"I don't want to hear any more Rose and no sneaking out at weekends."
Now Rose knew it was him and not her mother who had her grounded. She had hoped it was just her mother but the look on Bob's face told her differently.
"Jackie, we need to talk. Rose, go to your room if you don't want to hear," Bob advised her.
Rose was glad of the choice, she didn't want to hear their discussion.
"So Jackie, you knew about this boy?" Bob asked her.
"Well he had the manners to introduce himself," Jackie replied, not wanting to say exactly when. "She had friends at her old school, she just misses them."
"That's no excuse Jackie, we talked about Rose and boys," he reminded her. "You know I only agreed for one reason, why we waited."
Jackie didn't want to be reminded but she had gone along to a certain extent, having thought that at last, she'd found a man who was interested in her daughter's welfare but some of what they had discussed seemed a little odd. She had no idea what things would have turned out like if Pete hadn't been knocked down by a car that day at a friends' wedding.
None of the other men she'd dated wanted to take responsibility for Rose, not that she had wanted them to anyway but Bob was so different and Rose would just have to accept it. She had wondered if he was ever going to get around to mentioning marriage but it hadn't been that long really, maybe it was a bit soon? She had to still pretend Rose was keen on the idea, even though she'd just shown otherwise.
All she could do was try to keep Rose away from Alec outside school and weekends, she could do nothing about after school though and holidays, since it had saved her some money Rose going out for lunch every day. At least Alec had made the effort to introduce himself though but she couldn't be seen agreeing Rose could spend time with him.
"Yeah Bob, I know I agreed and I still do but she needs time and friends."
"I know she needs friends but she can see them at school and you talk to her, I want to hear no more about this boy, understood?"
"I'll try talking to her Bob, she didn't want anything to do with boys before, maybe she doesn't even realize?"
"I hope that's the case Jackie or I may have to have a re-think about what we talked about, you don't want that, do you?"
Jackie shook her head. She'd had no choice, Bob was giving them a new life away from the rough council estate Rose had grown up on. Rose had got into a better school, well barely and it would look better on her records than the comprehensive school she was already at, that didn't exactly hold any awards. No, life here was definitely an improvement and she had gained employment although it was hard work.
Jackie shook her head. "There's no need Bob, honestly. Rose will see we're doing it for her own good. So we still agree we wait until she turns fourteen?"
She saw the smile on his face.
"If that's what you think love and no excuses, right?" he asked her, going up to her.
Rose knew she'd made the right choice going to her room, Bob was far too smug for her liking and it showed when she emerged to go to the bathroom as she heard him saying her mother had agreed to something, though she dreaded to think what that actually was.
Now, she regretted admitting to Alec she was still worried because he wouldn't let it go and probably tell John over the weekend and he'd say something on Monday morning. Maybe if she told her mother she didn't need the bus fare, she might get Bob to go easy on her but if John failed to turn up or they somehow missed him, it was a long way to walk home.
Sandra was catching on though that they were getting a ride and it wouldn't take much for the others to do the same, especially Billy or Jamie and Jamie was in that frame of mind he may even report it. Things wouldn't have gone so well had John not got the job there, he was the best teacher in the school and she'd never paid much attention at her last one.
The weekend seemed endless to both of them, Alec going to the library and hoping to see Rose or even Jamie but saw neither and he'd sat in his aunt's kitchen all Sunday afternoon hoping Rose would knock on the door.
John saw how his young cousin was acting and went to join him.
"Want some company?"
"Not really, thanks. She might still call."
"Aw, come on Alec, why don't you call for her?" John suggested.
"I don't think so John. She was going to try telling him about me, I don't know how it went. It could make things even worse for her."
"Alec, it could also help her, if you're willing to show your face, think about it. Look, I know you're worried about her so instead of always going straight to your house, maybe call in at her apartment a few times?"
"I sometimes do John, she still kept some records, she likes to dance," Alec admitted.
John gave him a big grin. "Find out what else she likes doing Alec, it'll be getting dark early soon."
"I know that. I stayed behind the other night to meet her mother again."
"Really? Good for you. She didn't bite your head off then?" John teased him.
"I didn't stay long enough," Alec tried to smile, wishing Rose would knock on the door. "I'm still worried about her."
"We know you are and you're a good friend to her," John told him. "So, more dancing after school eh or are you both going to find some other after school activities to replace going to the park?"
"Join the chess club?" Alec tried to joke.
John just let out a loud laugh, his mother noticing.
"I'm glad John finally stopped travelling around," she told Alec's dad.
"He's been a big help to Alec and to Rose. I wonder what made him do so?"
"I don't think we'll ever know," John's dad replied.
"Well he's made a big difference to the both of them. So, what's happened to my other nephew?" Alec's dad wanted to know.
Rose had spent the afternoon watching yet another boring film and trying to stay out of Bob's glare, not daring to mention going out and hoping if she didn't, he may relent for an hour or so next Sunday. Back in London, she would have defied him and made him look a fool in front of her friends but she was hundreds of miles away and if he threw them out, her mother would never forgive her and where would they go?
Her mother had taken a big risk coming here, she wouldn't thank her for spoiling it all, would she? Rose made her excuses and went to her room, wishing she could sneak out but he'd hear then how would she get back in? Even if she wanted to go to the local shop, it wouldn't take her that long and how would she let Alec know? Maybe she should save some of her bus fare and get his aunt's number next week?
If she was only out half an hour, Bob wouldn't suspect anything but what would she say she was going for? Maybe she could purposely forget something next Saturday in the supermarket when her mother asked if there was anything else they needed? It may work once but what then? She could always say she fancied something different for her packed lunches she supposed.
She had wondered why Bob had never offered her any pocket money, what with helping keep the place clean and tidy plus cook all his meals that he didn't have a clue about. She heard her mother in the kitchen and went to join her.
"Mum, can ya ask Bob why I get nothing for helping around the place?"
"You never bothered before," her mother replied.
"Well yeah but I wasn't doing as much then. Do ya think he'll agree?" Rose asked hopefully.
"Agree to what?" Bob overheard.
"That Rose gets paid for helping me with the housework," her mother replied, Rose thinking she had a cheek.
"Planning on spending it on what?" Bob asked her.
"Well I can get some snacks for school," Rose replied, not that she didn't already. "Maybe I can save some for Christmas and birthdays, then I can get some presents?"
That was something, she thought. She had to start planning to get at least Alec something and his aunt for being so nice to her last week and accepting her.
"Yeah, I can give her some," her mother offered.
"Well that's up to you," Bob told Jackie. "You know she takes some keeping with her bus fares and school lunches."
"Yeah, I know that. Rose, I'll give ya extra money every Friday then?"
"Thanks Mum, I'll make sure I earn it," Rose replied, trying to hint she already deserved it, stopping her mother being found out she couldn't cook fancy meals to save her life.
Goodness knew what her mother would make of the ingredients she and Bob chose in the new larger supermarket in town. If only he knew or did he and chose not to say anything? Now she had that to look forward to, she would hide the money away and make sure her mother didn't find out she wasn't getting the bus to and from school but she was sure that wouldn't be a problem with Alec still calling for her every morning.
Once Bob left the kitchen, Rose turned to her mother.
"I was thinking of coming straight back here every night, with Alec now it's getting dark early. I mean I'd still go to his house later."
"Well you'd best not let Bob find out Rose, you heard him. I dread to think how he'll react if he finds out," her mother warned her.
So did Rose.
A/N: Reminder, there may or may not be something sinister about what is going on in Rose's home life!
