The wrong choice

Alec was pacing up and down, waiting for Rose and John to get back and wishing he'd gone with them now. He jumped as there was a knock on the kitchen door. He saw Rose looked pale.

"Rose, what happened?" Alec was eager to know as he led her to sit down.

"I don't think her mother knows what she's got herself into," John replied for her. "Alec, make her a cup of tea eh?"

Alec went over to the counter and made sure there was water in the new electric kettle his dad had finally given in and bought. He then went to sit beside Rose, who was recovering slightly and managed to give him a weak smile.

"She doesn't think Bob will let me leave home."

"Rose, we already knew that," Alec replied, taking her hand. "Do you think she will take any notice of you?" he asked John, who thought he'd best get up and make Rose a drink.

"It's hard to say Alec," John told him. "Personally, I think he's got her too far under his thumb. Sorry Rose but I think she's scared of loosing him, if she says anything more."

"She was never like that back home," Rose managed to say. "She was always the one to stick up for anyone if they were in trouble. You've no idea how many times."

"I can imagine," John joked. "Who's on her side now though? We have to help her Rose, I think she's just as much a victim as you are in all this. It seems to me she's too far gone on him to think any ill of him. He's got her believing what he has planned is in your best interests Rose."

"We thought it was only you Rose," Alec told her as John put a mug of tea in front of her.

"I had a feeling it was her mother as well," John admitted. "I'll leave you two to talk but in my opinion, sorry Rose but your mother won't see anything wrong with what's been going on."

"How did she get like that?" Rose wanted to know, thinking making tea was not one of John's skills as she took a sip.

"Being on her own for so long?" John suggested. "It could be a combination of things, such as with thinking she'd never get anyone to replace her husband and when Bob showed an interest in her, she thought it was just in her, not the fact she had a then thirteen year old daughter."

"I know what you're suggesting," Alec told him, not liking where this was going.

"Yeah, so do I," Rose joined in, now not noticing about John's tea making skills.

"Sorry Rose, like we already know, he chose her on purpose. Maybe he tried with some of the other women first?"

"Knowing my mother, that's not likely," Rose tried to joke. "She'll have flirted with him but I don't remember seeing him turn around to her when I was with her. How did he get so friendly with her so fast?"

"Yeah, I was wondering that," John agreed. "Since it took you two a while."

"She saw a chance and grabbed it before anyone else did," Rose told them. "I should have seen it but she still wouldn't have taken any notice of me, why should she?"

"Well I'll be off now. Are you staying here until later?" John asked Rose.

Alec already knew that now, Rose needed him more than ever.

They went upstairs after John left and Rose just clung hold of him.

"You were hoping your mother would listen," Alec told her.

"Yeah but what then Alec? Say she said something to Bob? He wouldn't have listened to her, why would he?"

"He may have backed off Rose?"

"Why, if he wanted to join in with the others and she spoiled that? John's right, even if she said anything, the only thing she could do is break the agreement she has with him, then what?"

"Maybe we're wrong about it?" Alec suggested.

Rose let out a laugh.

"I wish we were Alec. Have we still got time for a snogging session?"

John had gone off disappointed at not being able to help Rose. He could only hope he'd somehow got through to her mother and she'd realize what was involved. This was one of the most difficult things he'd come across, both as a teacher and a friend but he couldn't let her down.

Even though it was the holidays, after tea, Alec made Rose go though some maths questions in the book she'd got from the library.

"You know we'll never even use this," Rose tried to tell him. "When will I need to know algebra?"

"You never know," Alec smiled as his dad smiled to himself as he watched the news.

"Will you need it when you join the police?" Rose asked as she pulled one of her faces.

"That's beside the point Rose," his dad told her.

"Sorry Mr Hardy but it's just one of those useless subjects."

"It won't be useless if you pass your maths exam," he replied.

Alec gave her a nudge.

"Come on Rose, back to work."

Rose gave him a look that said she would get him back for this.

Just after Rose had left her mother, she noticed a letter on the table with a solicitor's stamp on it. Bob had mentioned he was going to make some arrangements they had concerning Rose formal, this must be it. She'd been surprised Rose's teacher had actually been there when she'd got home but now she knew he was Alec's cousin, she shouldn't have been that surprised.

She heard the door opening and wondered if Bob had seen Rose and her teacher leaving.

"Jackie, where are you love?" he called out.

"In the kitchen," she replied, thinking where else would she be when she expecting him home.

"Ah, good, my letter arrived," Bob greeted her with a kiss on the cheek and picked up the envelope.

Jackie tried to ignore him as she lit the oven to warm up what Rose had prepared earlier but there would be no Rose there in the morning to do that, she was on her own on that score, which was why she'd got some ready prepared meals from the supermarket and had convinced Bob it would save her time when she got home.

She'd also told him that unless he wanted to wait longer, the switch from their usual food they bought had to take place. She watched as Bob read through the mysterious letter. Bob read the part that they both had to sign and hoped he'd be able to convince Jackie since she'd been questioning it.

"Jackie, I want you to sign this love, to say you agree I take responsibility for Rose until she's eighteen," he told her.

"Isn't she old enough now?" Jackie questioned him.

Bob knew this wasn't going to be as easy as he thought now and wished he'd not left it so long.

"Jackie, she wants to leave love," he reminded her again.

"She's never here anyway," Jackie replied sadly.

"Well, she would be if you agree to this," Bob told her. "This says I can have the final word on what happens Jackie. Yes, she can go and stay the odd time where she plans on going but the rest of the time, she'll be here and have to do as I say until she reaches eighteen."

Jackie wondered why he'd changed it from sixteen to eighteen when he'd been going on about it for so long, like it was urgent though he'd put it off before. She was about to ask but changed her mind.

"You promise it will stop Rose from leaving?" Jackie asked as she sat opposite.

"Yes Jackie," he replied, wondering if he should mention the other thing but maybe she'd just sign it and not bother reading the rest.

If she didn't read the other part that said in the event of her being undecided, he had the last say, then if Jackie did her usual 'I don't know' he could make Rose do as he said. He'd put paid to Rose going off whenever she felt like it and please his friends who had waited this long that he'd also make Rose stay in on Saturday nights until she agreed on his arrangement with them.

He knew she'd been with Alec long enough and according to what he'd been told, sixteen year old girls were more mature than boys and she would surely get tired of being with him to want to try someone different. Just as long as his friends didn't find out Alec was more than Rose's boyfriend.

"Well Jackie, what's it going to be?" he asked her, getting a pen out of his pocket.

"Bob, promise me you won't try to split her up from Alec?"

Bob thought if everything went as he hoped, Rose would be the one to split from Alec when she found out the advantages of doing as she was asked and give Jimmy a chance. He'd been assured by the boy's parents he was more than ready though no-one would ever guess.

He smiled as Jackie signed where indicated and then taking the pen from her, signed his own name then took the envelope provided to send it back.

"Post this on your way to work love will you?" he asked her.

"Yeah, sure Bob. I have to go check on tea now."

After Alec consoled Rose a bit more, he walked her to his aunt's house and they were let in.

"I'm going to trust you with a kitchen door key," his aunt greeted them.

"Oh, thanks Mrs Smith," Rose replied, taking it from her as she got it out of the drawer.

"That's okay. Alec, see you tomorrow."

"See, she trusts you," Alec told her when his aunt had left. "We are going to have the rest of the week with no worries for you."

"Yeah, I hope so but how can I not worry about what my mum will do about John talking to her?"

"We'll worry about that later Rose. So do you want to go into town tomorrow or we could go to the woods and the riverbank?"

"Well, we can't do any kissing in town," Rose teased him.

They spent the rest of the week together, Alec finding it much easier to walk her to his aunt's house than where she'd been living. On the Friday night, Rose was getting excited as to what Alec had planned for her birthday and had not been able to get it out of him.

"Aw, come on Alec, give me a clue," Rose was asking him.

"No way Rose, you will have to wait until tomorrow night. Don't try asking John either when you get inside."

Rose thought John was a better target. She soon found out the hard way when she tried after snogging poor Alec senseless before she let him go home.

"No Rose, I promised Alec I'd not tell you," John insisted as she tried asking him. "It won't be a surprise."

"John's right," his mother agreed. "At least you are staying there tomorrow night, we'll see you all for Sunday lunch then?"

Rose was looking forward to it, since she didn't have to get it ready and let her mother take the credit. Then there had been the waiting around for Alec to call for her that had seemed endless. She wanted to talk to him about that, even though it was only for a few more weeks.

After breakfast the next morning, everyone was amused how impatient Rose seemed for Alec to call for her.

"Are you like this every Saturday morning?" John teased her.

"Yeah, how can I not be when I'm tryin' to escape without Bob trying to stop me?" Rose replied.

"Sorry. Just concentrate on you getting away from that."

Rose thought that may take a miracle after she'd seen her mother's reaction at John talking to her. If Bob was going to do something, it would be this week while she was away and just before her birthday. Why was it so important to Bob though? Then she had an awful thought. She looked up as a knock came at the door.

"Someone's early today," John laughed as he went to answer it.

"Maybe it's not Alec?" Rose wondered out loud.

Alec's dad had told him it was a bit early to be setting off to get Rose.

"I just want to talk to John about tonight," Alec told him.

His dad decided to let him off then.

"Come in Alec," John laughed.

"Actually, can I talk to you?" Alec asked him.

"I'll go get ready to go out," Rose excused herself, thinking they were up to something.

"Is everything still on for tonight?" John asked him.

"I hope so, how's Rose been?"

"Excited," John smiled. "This is a big thing, going to a disco."

"They don't call them that now," Alec informed him, sitting where Rose had been and John looking at him. "What?"

"Alec, you have got it bad, Cous. Rose would go anywhere with you."

"I wanted to make it special, she likes dancing. Do you think it's too much, taking her to a club?"

"Well not exactly but you do know other males may watch her?"

Alec had been fully aware and had been surprised no other boys in their school had tried to tempt her away.

"I know John but Rose won't be tempted," Alec replied confidently.

"I'm not saying she will but don't leave her alone. Just enjoy yourselves."

"We will, she'll be surprised. You know she's staying at my house tonight?"

"Yes, don't let your dad catch you sneaking around," John grinned. "Tell me something. I called round once and you took your time answering the door. You said Rose had the music on loud. Want to change that excuse?"

Alec could feel himself turning red.

"Not really. Okay, maybe we got a little engrossed?"

"It's okay Alec, we've all been there," John laughed. "Just don't get too carried away eh?"

Alec wondered how he'd got away with that. He helped Rose with her overnight bag and they waited to go into town with his dad, since Rose had saved up to get a new dress for going out.

"Want some time on your own?" Alec asked her. "I mean to go get a dress?" he added.

"Well, you could come with me, if you want?" she teased him.

Alec's dad just smiled to himself. Alec had no idea what he was in for. As Alec sat outside the dressing room of a well known discount department store, he just hoped no-one from school was visiting at the same time. Rose was allowed to take three garments into the dressing room area, Alec was holding her shoulder bag since she'd told him she wanted him to help her choose.

After the second dress she'd tried on, Alec knew this was going to take some time.

"What about this one?" Rose asked after she'd looked at the sale price and wishing she could afford the full price dresses.

"You look great in that one," he told her, wishing he'd not agreed as they were on their way.

"Well, I'll just try the other one on, then I'll decide."

While Rose was trying dresses on, Jackie was on her way to the same department store, having told Bob she was going to treat herself to some new clothes and would meet him at the pub. It was just Alec's luck she spotted him.

"What are you doing here?" she asked him, seeing Rose's bag.

"Rose is trying dresses on, Mrs Tyler," he admitted.

"Oh, well in that case, you'll be here all day," Jackie replied, feeling sorry for him. "She was bad enough just getting her school uniform."

Alec knew what she meant and could just imagine. So this was what it was going to be like?

Rose finally made her mind up after he told her he still liked the second dress she'd showed him and they made their way to the cash desk.

"Watch out Rose, your mother was in the store," he admitted.

"No! Well I hope she's gone. Did she speak to ya?" Rose wanted to know as they moved in the queue.

"Yes, she saw me waiting for you. She warned me you could take your time. She was right," he grinned, leaning towards her.

Rose gave him a dig as she approached the counter.

Now he was wishing someone from school would see them, they'd remained hidden for too long. He knew he should heed what John had told him, that some other boy may try and tempt her away from him but even though he was certain Rose wouldn't have her head turned, whoever tried would have a fight on their hands.

They got back to Alec's house and Rose said she was going to get ready to go out after asking Alec's dad if she could get a shower and wash her hair.

"Yes Rose, you don't need to ask," his dad had told her.

"Well I got some new shampoo while I was out, I thought I may as well try it," Rose admitted.

Alec thought if that was the case, he was done for. The shampoos she already used smelled nice enough but if she'd got something exotic he would be dancing close to her all night to smell it. He knew he was having stronger feelings for her and what they were already doing was tame. He was sure after her birthday they would both realize that.

When Jackie and Bob had got home, Jackie asked if their friends were coming round.

"No Jackie, they are coming tomorrow," Bob told her.

He had sent the agreement they had both signed off to his solicitor and had just got a reply that morning to say it had been documented to say if Jackie couldn't make her mind up over something, he had the last word and there was also something else he hoped Jackie hadn't seen since he'd pointed out the highlights and he didn't think she'd bother about.

"Oh, is that 'cos it's her birthday?" she wondered.

"She has one last chance Jackie, I mean it this time," Bob replied.

"What do ya mean?" Jackie wanted to know. "What aren't ya tellin' me? Was something else in that agreement I signed?"

"Relax Jackie, there was nothing you didn't know about," he answered. "When I get back from Aberdeen next weekend, there are going to be some changes around here."

"What sort of changes Bob?" Jackie asked.

"You'll see, Rose has to learn what being a family means, she's got away with too much since she's been going out with Alec. It's time she mixed with our friends and joined in with the other teenagers. When she accepts that, our other friends will start coming round again."

Jackie went off to the kitchen to make some drinks and sat at the table. She thought back to Rose's teacher paying a visit, wondering why he was so concerned about Rose and what she had told him. Had she been ignoring what Rose had been trying to say, about what was going on and why Bob insisted she stayed.

She had smiled to herself seeing Alec sitting waiting for Rose outside the dressing room, only a real boyfriend would do that. Then there was Rose saying she'd never leave him and Bob needed to stop insisting she made friends with Jimmy.

What else had she ignored? All the cryptic talk amongst their friends about their teenagers, that she'd hardly understood and the way everyone had excluded them because Rose wouldn't go. She put the kettle on to boil and began to wonder what it all meant.

Rose was finally ready and had put her new dress on plus the new shoes she'd bought a while back and went back downstairs.

"Wow, you look great," Alec told her as she stood in the doorway. "Let me take a photo of you, I'll go get my camera."

While he went upstairs, Rose stood nervously where she was.

"Getting excited as to where he's taking you?" his dad asked her.

"Yeah, I mean I know it will be somewhere nice. I wondered if it was the theatre or something," Rose replied.

After Alec took a photo of her and got his dad to take one of both of them, John arrived to take them into town, giving Alec instructions to phone him when they were ready to leave.

"Well, have a good time," John told them when he dropped them off.

"We will, thanks. I'll let you know where we are."

"Don't stay out too late eh," John grinned. "Are you going somewhere afterwards? Maybe the fast food place? You'd be better waiting for me there, then I can stop outside to pick you up."

Alec agreed, seeing Rose was looking around to see where they were going. She'd seen the building that housed a bingo hall and dance hall and wondered if that was where he was taking her, hopefully to go dancing and not play bingo. There was a small queue of teenagers around their age and a billboard advertising special events then Alec joined her.

"You like dancing Rose, I thought you'd like to come here. There's an under 25's night tonight, from 7.30 until 11.00 so what do you say?"

Rose flung her arms around him and kissed his cheek.

"This is great. Yeah, I'd love to go dancing with ya."

Alec let out a sigh of relief that she'd agreed and they joined the queue of other teenagers waiting to be admitted, who were all talking amongst themselves. Then as Rose was looking at those waiting, she saw Sandra from school and waved to her.

"Hey, Rose," Sandra laughed as she joined them. "Why don't you come in with us?" she pointed to a boy Rose recognized from the year above them.

Alec was hoping for them to be on their own but Rose grabbed his arm.

"We'll see ya inside then?" Rose replied.

Once Alec paid to go in, Rose looked around for her friend and dragged Alec to their table. Everything was going well, Alec thankful Rose was just dancing with him and not with the other two and before they knew it, the dancing was winding down.

"Aw, that's been great," Rose told him as she collected her jacket from the cloakroom.

"I'm glad you enjoyed it. We've time to go get a drink and maybe something to eat?"

"Well just a drink, if ya gonna call John?"

Collecting a giddy Rose, John drove them home and asked if they'd enjoyed themselves. Rose didn't want the night to end when they got back and they stood outside what was Rose's room when she was staying over.

"That was really something, thanks Alec."

"I was hoping you would like it. Do you want your present now?"

"No, wait until tomorrow. Alec, these birthdays I've spent with you have been the best."

"So have mine Rose but those with my mum were special too. Before you came along, well that birthday wasn't so good, I was missing her."

Rose put her arms around him.

"I'm sorry Alec. I remember when we met, you were missing her a lot."

"You made me feel better about it Rose. I know you never wanted to come up here but I'm glad you did."

"I wish I didn't have to go back tomorrow night," she told him as she leaned on his shoulder.

"I know Rose, just a few more weeks, then you can leave there."

They kissed goodnight, Alec hoping they could have had some time together but it would have to wait until after school on Monday. Then he was going to see how she felt about taking things a bit more seriously and they could explore how far they really wanted to go because he as sure he wanted more with her.

The next day, Rose opened the present from Alec and showed how much she liked it, then after lunch at his aunt's, they went for a walk by the river.

"Rose, I have something to ask you tomorrow."

"Why tomorrow? Ask me now," she insisted as they stopped by a bench.

"Well, you might push me in the river if I ask you now," he teased her.

"What? Don't be daft Alec. Is it something bad then?"

"No, it's not bad love, it's just, well I wondered how you felt, about being more serious?"

"Serious about what? Oh you mean after school, we when, you know?" she smiled.

"Yes, that. Rose, you know there's more than what we ve already been doing?"

"Yes, I know Alec. I know what you're talking about, it's a big decision."

"I know it is Rose so I want you to think about it. I know I want that with you. We've talked about if I get in college and you don't, I'll be in a nearby one until I go to the police one and I don't want you to think I would go with someone else."

"I know ya won't Alec. I wouldn't either, when ya have to go away to join the police. I need to think about this but I don't want to stop what we already do."

"Oh, neither do I, I was not suggesting we did, it was just that I wanted to tell you, I think I'm ready. Rose, I think you know I want to make a commitment to you."

"Wow. Yeah, then so do I Alec, really. I don't think I ever want to be with anyone but you. I love you so much."

"I love you too Rose, I never thought I was interested in girls until you came along."

"Yeah, I noticed," Rose laughed. "When you were all mixed up over Jamie. I was never interested in him Alec, that time in the library, I was looking at you."

"I know that now. Rose, when you are ready, we'll both know so we don't have to rush into it. I'll wait as long as you want."

"I know ya will Alec. Maybe, you know, we can do other things?"

"Yes, I know you enjoy kissing your way across my chest Rose," he teased her.

"Well it's only fair when you do it to me. Anyway, I wasn't talking about that, I was thinking maybe a bit further down."

"Your tummy," Alec teased her, sneaking a kiss.

"Maybe I should just show ya on Monday after school?"

"I look forward to it. So, what do you think your mother bought you?"

"Something useless, probably. Are ya coming in with me tonight, in case their friends are there?"

"Just go to your room Rose, just ignore them."

"I'll try. Mum usually sneaks into the kitchen, maybe I'll go in when I've put my things away?"

Alec agreed and they went back to his aunt's for the little birthday party but all too soon, Alec was walking her back.

"I don't want to go back Alec," she told him as they stopped outside.

"I know. Talk to my aunt again, maybe after the next holiday, you won't have to wait?"

"Yeah, I'll see what she says. I've been so happy this last week."

"I know you have. Rose, promise me you will stay away from those friends of Bob?"

"I try Alec, really I do. I'm worried Alec, last week, there was a letter for Bob, with a solicitor's name on."

"Why did you never say anything Rose? You should have told my dad. Tell him tomorrow when he gets home."

"Well I was waiting for my mum getting home, I didn't think anything of it. Geez, what if he's actually doing something about what he said? I mean him taking responsibility for me? It scares me Alec."

"Don't worry about it yet Rose, talk to my dad tomorrow. I'll see you in the morning."

They kissed goodnight and Rose went inside, straight to her room. Her mother heard her coming in and a few minutes later, went into the kitchen. She'd been doing a lot of thinking, now Bob had made it official he was taking an active role in being responsible for Rose. Now, she had her own decision to make after trying to understand what Bob was talking about to his friends.

Bob had been in a good mood as their friends had arrived and he'd been talking to Jimmy's father in the corner.

"Yes, it's all arranged, Bob had told the man. "Rose has to do as I say now, she won't get away with being absent after I come back from working away."

Jackie had caught some of it and wasn't liking where it was going. Had she made the wrong choice in not leaving things as they were? She'd been happy with the arrangement, why wasn't Bob? What if Rose was right? What was Bob trying to get her involved with?

She'd noticed Bob was looking pleased with himself and she'd heard something about they'd be accepted back to their other friends' houses soon if all went well. What did he mean by that? Then there had been Rose's teacher saying he was concerned for her, what had Rose told him? Did her daughter know more than she did?

So she waited for Rose in the kitchen and looked up from her drink when the door opened.

"Rose, sit down. When your teacher came round last week, what had you been telling him?"

"Really Mum?" Rose asked. "What you wouldn't listen about, about Bob trying to split up me and Alec up and make me go out with that gross Jimmy and goodness knows what other plans they had."

"What do ya mean by that?" Jackie asked.

"You already know Mum, think about it," Rose replied, just as the door opened again.

"Have you two finished your little chat?" Bob asked them. "Rose, no sneaking off to your room, get in the lounge, now. You as well Jackie."

They let him leave and Jackie got up.

"Go to your room Rose and lock the door until they've gone."

"Mum? You know something, don't you?"

"Just do as I say, I'll tell Bob."

"Tell him what Mum?"

"That you're having nothing to do with what he's got planned. Don't ask questions Rose, just hurry up before he comes looking for ya."

"Mum, I think I should just get my school uniform and go to Alec's aunts," Rose told her.

"Don't do that just yet Rose, please. Just let me go talk to him, he goes away tomorrow, remember?"

Rose nodded, not believing what her mother was saying.

"Well okay, just tell him I have to unpack and get ready for school tomorrow."

Jackie nodded and went to put her arms around Rose.

"Go on Rose, before he comes out."

Rose did as she was asked, going to sit on the bed. Had her mother finally worked out what she and Alec already knew?