There were a few people waiting to pay and Rose wished they'd hurry up as she could do with paying a visit to the ladies room herself. She thought she'd have to hang on until Tess was safely out of the pub, she didn't fancy coming face to face with her on a Sunday, it was bad enough during the week at work.
"Well, I'm surprised to see you here," a Scottish voice behind her almost spoke in her ear and a hand tapped her shoulder.
Rose turned around as she stepped forward towards the desk.
"Sir?" Rose wasn't that surprised, she was sure Tess had seen her drive into the car park and told Alec to do the same.
"It's Sunday, you can call me Alec," he almost laughed. "So, that was your mother Tess met in the ladies room then?"
"She told ya?" Rose was sure Tess had just followed her mother again on purpose. "Geez, what can I say?"
"Nothing, you know what Tess is like?" Alec reminded her. "I hope you warned your mother if they met again?"
"She knew without me telling her," Rose smiled while the man in front got to the desk.
"Tess didn't want to go far but she then said I'd chosen this place on purpose when she realised that was your mother she met. Sorry."
"It's not your fault," Rose told him, really wishing the man in front would hurry but not wanting to be rude to her boss.
"That makes a change," Alec replied, being used to getting blamed for everything in the eyes of Tess.
"Was that your daughter with her?" Rose asked him, thinking what a stupid question, who else would it have been?
"Ah, yes, that's Daisy," Alec admitted, seeing the man in front of Rose move away and nodded to Rose.
Rose realised and stepped forward, handing the piece of paper over and waiting to pay.
While he waited, Alec mused that it had been less boring a visit due to the fact Rose's mother had annoyed Tess without her knowing it at the time. He bet the woman was giving Tess a hard time even now. He saw Rose getting her receipt and then she hurried off in the direction of the ladies room and hoped she didn't come face to face with Tess.
Tess had been insufferable throughout lunch, more than she normally was he thought as he handed over the check to pay. Tess had kept to the low prices but Daisy had outdone herself this time, going for the most expensive dessert.
In the ladies room, Jackie had been surprised at Tess following her in, since there had been a sudden rush and they had to wait.
"Oh, is that your daughter?" Jackie asked innocently. "I'm here with mine, did I say? She's in the police, just got promoted."
She didn't want to come right out and say who her daughter was.
"That would be Rose Tyler then?" Tess replied, looking at herself in the mirror.
"Is that the new officer you go on about Mum?" Daisy wanted to know.
"Daisy," Tess warned the girl.
"That's a nice name," Jackie remarked, moving aside to let a woman to the basins and moving forward one space. "Fancy that, you having a daughter with the name of a flower and working with one. Wish they'd hurry up in there," she added so everyone could hear.
Tess tried to ignore the woman, fussing over Daisy.
"Mum," the girl objected when Tess went for her hair, as if to warn her not to embarrass her in front of everyone.
Jackie was glad she was next in line as someone else came out of a cubicle.
"Ya'd think they'd have more than three," Jackie remarked. "In a place like this. Bet blokes don't have to queue up," she then laughed, getting a smile out of Daisy, who found it amusing that her mother was trying to ignore the fact that the officer she complained about constantly was in the same pub, let alone meet her mother.
"Are you from London?" Daisy asked innocently.
"Yeah, I just came for a visit but I might stay," Jackie replied, seeing Tess's face.
Tess hoped the woman wasn't being serious as Jackie disappeared.
"What?" Daisy asked as Tess scowled at her.
"Don't encourage her," Tess whispered back.
That just made Daisy worse as the girl tried not to laugh.
Just then, Rose tried to squeeze into the room as someone moved away from the door.
"Just what I needed," Rose complained as she saw three or four women in front of her.
"Yes, you would think there would be more cubicles," the woman who had moved replied. "They don't think about the lunchtime patrons."
Tess was trying to ignore Rose but Daisy turned around and saw a blonde.
"Is that her?" she whispered to Tess.
"Leave it, don't turn around," Tess whispered her reply.
"Can I go first Mum?" Daisy then asked as another woman came out.
She didn't wait for a reply and dived in before Tess could stop her, who was glad someone else then came out and that Rose had not spoken to her. That left the woman who had talked to Rose as Jackie finally came out.
"Rose!" Jackie greeted her. "Have ya been waitin' long?"
"It's fine Mum, don't worry about it," Rose told her, hoping she'd get away before Tess came out. "Just wait in the doorway for me, unless ya want the car keys?"
"Blimey, no," Jackie laughed as she shook her hands to dry them as Rose moved so she could get to the hand dryer. "I'll probably set the alarm off."
"Yeah, knowing you," Rose laughed. "Typical there's no queue now."
"Well ya should have gone earlier," Jackie told her.
"I had to go pay Mum," Rose reminded her.
She thought it best not to say she had been talking to her boss while waiting. Jackie went off as Daisy came out and Rose dived in before Tess emerged. Daisy could only stare as Rose closed the cubicle door and locked it. Tess came out and told her to hurry up.
"Come on Daisy, stop playing with your hair," Tess warned her as Daisy had got her hairbrush out of the shoulder bag. "Your father will be getting tired of waiting."
"It wasn't my fault there was a queue Mum," Daisy replied, putting the brush away.
"If you had tied your hair back, you wouldn't have to brush it," Tess reminded her.
Rose could just about hear them as she was about to leave but it was too late to stay behind the door as she unlocked it without thinking. She prayed they would leave as she emerged but as Tess was turning to leave, she heard a door opening. Rose went to the wash basins and tried not to look at Tess, whom Daisy was trying to grab hold of to drag her out.
"Come on Mum," the girl urged her.
"Don't think I don't know," Tess said to Rose as Rose glanced through the mirror.
"Excuse me?" Rose replied, not wanting a confrontation.
"You know what I mean, you bringing your mother here," Tess replied, ignoring Daisy.
"Where I bring my mum has nothing to do with anyone," Rose told Tess bluntly. "You can't order me around outside work ya know?"
"Really," Tess huffed. "Don't deny it, you knew we were coming here today."
"No, I never," Rose defended herself. "How would I know that?"
"You told Alec your mother was visiting, I heard you talking as you passed me on Friday night. Alec ignored me because he was talking to you," Tess stood her ground as Daisy tried to move her again.
She stopped when the woman who had been in front of Rose finally came out of the cubicle.
"Sorry, can I get to the basins?" the woman looked at the two of them. "Trouble?" she then asked Rose.
"No, not on my part," Rose replied as she pushed the button for the dryer, hoping Tess would take the hint.
Daisy gave up and went out to find Alec, who was now talking to Jackie as she'd seen him watching the door to the ladies room.
"Are you Rose's boss?" she'd asked him as she'd gone out to wait for Rose.
"Ah, yes. You would be her mother? I hope you enjoy your visit Mrs Tyler."
"Oh, call me Jackie," she laughed. "I met your wife in there, I hope she's not caught poor Rose," Jackie told him. "I mean I bet Rose gets bossed around at work by her?"
"Rose works with me, not my wife," Alec replied. "She's a good officer, she's been taught well. Why what did Tess say?"
"Nothing about Rose, good thing as well," Jackie told him as Daisy joined them.
"This is my daughter, Daisy. Daisy, this is DC Tyler's mother," Alec introduced them.
"I saw her in there," Daisy nodded to the ladies room. "Dad, mum was starting an argument with Rose is it?"
"She what?" Alec wanted to know. "Tell me she's not."
"Something about choosing the same pub," Daisy admitted.
"I'd best go back in and rescue her," Jackie told them. "Hope they're not fighting."
Alec could only watch as Jackie went back towards the ladies room, as the other woman came out.
"Are you with that younger woman in there?" Jackie was asked. "I think she needs rescuing, that older woman's having a real go at her, she's blocking the door."
"She is, is she?" Jackie went all serious. "I'll see about that."
"Do you want me to get the manager, in case of any real trouble?" the woman asked, seeing Alec approaching.
"What is going on in there?" Alec wanted to know, Daisy holding onto him.
"Do something Dad," Daisy urged him. "You know what mum's like, especially lately."
"Are you that woman's husband?" he was asked. "I'd go get the manager or something if I were you."
"I'm with the police," Alec admitted, going for his ID. "Jackie, will you check on them for me?"
"Yes Sir," Jackie obeyed him without questioning him as he seemed to have taken over.
Jackie shook her head, wondering what had just come over her as she tried to push the door open, getting some resistance.
"Admit it Tyler," Tess was going on at Rose. "You told him you were coming here. He ignored me because he was arranging it with you."
"That's rubbish," Rose was arguing. "Why would I do that? I was bringing my mum out as a treat, I've not seen her since I moved here."
"Yes and when you got here, you got yourself partnered with my husband. The chief did it just to spite me," Tess argued back.
"I was told I was being partnered with him to get the experience I need so I can put in for my sergeant's exam, that's all. What's wrong with you? You've been against me since I got here. What have ya been sayin' about me anyway? I saw ya talking to someone in the corridor a while ago.
"I wasn't talking about you," Tess hissed back.
Now Rose knew the things her friends had been coming out with were true.
"Good, I hope ya don't. Excuse me, my mum's waitin' for me," Rose tried to get past Tess, who was rooted to the floor and determined to have it out with the young officer while she had caught her.
"You can deny it all you want, I know you're up to something," Tess accused her.
"I'm not up to anything," Rose insisted. "I never arranged anything, he was asking about my mum, maybe he never even saw ya as we passed your car? Did ya ask him about it?"
"He'll just deny everything," Tess replied as Rose tried to dodge her again and grab the door handle.
Rose saw someone was trying to push the door open but Tess never moved.
"I'll get proof, I'll be watching the two of you," Tess told Rose. "Don't think you'll get away with it."
Rose laughed. "Get away with what?" she asked. "Say it all ya want, it won't make it true."
"Won't it?" Tess was determined to have the last word as Jackie pushed even harder, making Tess move this time.
Alec had been about to knock on the door himself and call Tess to come out.
"Why are they in there arguing Dad?" Daisy wanted to know as she saw Jackie trying to get in the ladies room. "What's going on?"
"That's what I want to know," Jackie agreed. "Why is your wife having a go in there at my daughter?"
"I would like to know that myself," Alec told her as the door gave way and Jackie gave one final push. "Tess," he shouted through the gap.
"Mum," Daisy also called out.
Tess had turned around to leave but came face to face with an angry Jackie Tyler.
"Oi you, what ya arguing with Rose about?" Jackie wanted to know as Tess tried to get past.
"Leave it Mum," Rose insisted.
"Tess? What was all that about?" Alec asked Tess as she joined him.
"You know what it's about Alec," Tess pushed past him, leaving him baffled.
He shook his head and was about to turn around as Rose came out.
"Are you okay?" he asked her, seeing she looked a bit shaken.
"I'm fine, thanks. Come on Mum, let's go home," Rose replied.
"I'm sorry, I have no idea what all that was about," Alec apologised.
Rose wanted to say it was about him but he might take it the wrong way. She thought he must have some idea anyway.
"Well I want to know," Jackie told them as they stared at each other.
"Forget it Mum," Rose insisted. "See ya in the morning Sir."
Alec thought she was being cautious not calling him Alec outside work and given the circumstances. He was going to get answers from Tess when they got home. He followed Rose and her mother out, Daisy taking his arm.
"What's wrong with Mum?" Daisy was confused. "I've never seen her as bad as that. Is it all over Rose?"
"I don't know Daisy. Your mum has never liked her since she arrived and I have no idea why," Alec replied, seeing a furious Tess standing by the car.
Tess was furious because Rose had gone to the other side of the car park, she knew Alec had been able to see into it from where they were sitting. So he had planned it then, she thought as she saw him and Daisy approaching.
"So why did you park here?" Tess wanted to know as he unlocked the car doors with the remote. "Couldn't find her car?" she hissed as Daisy got in the back. "Thought she'd backed out of your little arrangement?"
He saw the smirk on her face.
"Stop it Tess, I am not arguing with you, I am surprised you would confront Rose like that, in a public place. What is wrong with you?"
"You really want to know?" Tess snapped back at him as he reversed the car to get out.
Of course, he just had to be behind Rose's car as she waited to exit.
"So, does she live near us then?" Tess continued as Rose happened to turn the same way they were going.
"How would I know where she lives?" Alec wanted to know.
"You probably accessed her file when she became your DC," Tess replied sarcastically.
Alec glanced in the mirror to see Daisy had put her headphones on and was messing with her phone, thankfully. At least she seemed to have taken his side in all this, Tess had really shown them up today, in fact he thought she had excelled herself.
"Give it a rest Tess," he told her as they turned off from where Rose was going.
"Not following her then?" Tess continued her sarcasm.
Alec was determined he wasn't going to take the bait. Now, he had to apologise properly to Rose and her mother for Tess's behaviour. She really had gone too far this time.
Jackie had been quiet until they were nearly back at Rose's apartment.
"Well, she was a real piece of work," Jackie laughed. "What did she say to ya?"
"I don't want to talk about it," Rose insisted.
"Don't give me that," her mother told her. "I can tell she upset ya, even ya boss was concerned for ya, which means he knew what it would be about. So come on, tell me."
Once back at the apartment, Jackie made some tea and insisted Rose told her what had been going on.
"Well how bloomin' stupid is that?" Jackie had to laugh when Rose had told her. "Is she paranoid everyone's after her husband? Mind you, he's a bit of a charmer if ya ask me."
"Mum!" Rose had to laugh.
"Well he is and a good looker if ya ask me. She's a bit insecure then?" Jackie wondered.
"Seems like only where I'm concerned," Rose admitted. "I get on really well with him and well, she was working with him but the chief said he was always getting complaints they were arguing all the time and split them up. I just arrived at the wrong time."
"Well maybe that's it then?" Jackie wondered. "What's got her all riled up today then?"
"I told ya, she thought we'd arranged to go to the same pub for lunch but we did no such thing," Rose admitted.
"Well ya did nothing wrong then," Jackie decided. "That's her problem."
"If only," Rose sighed as she drank the remains of her tea.
"He'll tell her to back off, won't he?" Jackie asked.
"He's tried Mum. Well if she thinks she's gonna get rid of me, she can think again," Rose replied. "I'm gonna finish my training whether she likes it or not."
"That's my Rose," her mother laughed.
When Tess and Alec got home, Daisy went straight to her room, knowing her parents would start arguing. She had been embarrassed when her mother had shown them up in the ladies room. Alec had gone into the lounge and put the TV on the find the news channel.
"Stop ignoring me Alec," Tess complained as she stood in the doorway. "Why did you ignore me on Friday night? I'll tell you why."
"Whatever you think Tess, it had nothing to do with Rose, so leave her out of it," he warned her. "I was only asking about her mother's visit. What did you want me to say to you?"
"I can think of a few things," Tess replied. "Like asking if I was going to pick Daisy up or if I was going out with friends."
"Such as Dave Harris?" Alec turned around to face her.
"I told you who I was with Alec," Tess denied it.
"You should have said you were not going to get Daisy," he reminded her.
"Would you have taken any notice Alec?" Tess scoffed. "You were too busy talking with her, remember?"
Alec ignored her remark and went back to watching the news. He had no doubts that Tess was covering up the fact she was meeting Dave Harris, that was why she was trying to make it out that he was spending time with Rose and why she'd started accusing him of following her to a pub.
So, that was her little game? Was she having an affair with Harris or was the man just stringing her along? It was a well known fact the man was a womaniser, Tess was just his latest victim, only she didn't know it yet. The man would string her along until he got tired of her and dumped her.