A week on Thursday soon rolled round. Rose had carried on with her life as normal, drifting from married man to married man. With the occasional visit to Boris in between. As much as she had enjoyed her night and morning with Emmet, she had a feeling nothing more would come of it. However, she got herself and the house ready just in case Emmet came a calling. She could always invite Mr Chipchase over if not.
The day seemed to drag for Emmet Hawksworth. He seemed to be clock watching. Work was dull and his boss was insufferable. He needed some fun interjected into his drab life. For almost two weeks Emmet had been infatuated by the thought of Rose and more importantly how she had made him feel that night. Saying that, he was in two minds as to if he should call round. She had probably forgotten all about it. She probably had an appointment with another gentleman. One who could satisfy her more. One who knew which buttons to press. Someone who could keep up with her. Then of course there was the lovely Caroline, who was sitting across from his desk. She was shy, quiet and sensible and like Emmet enjoyed the finer things in life, arts and culture. Looks and personality wise she was the exact opposite of the brash Rose. For such a long time Emmet's admiration for Caroline had been unrequited. He'd longed for the courage to ask her out. To give her an evening to remember. To spoil her and treat her but he didn't want to embarrass himself with being so rusty when it came to intimacy.
Maybe he would call round to see Rose after work, after all she did say she was happy to help him get his mojo back.
A few hours later, Emmet found himself walking towards the house Rose shared with her family. As he walked along the drive he stepped over the broken gate and was greeted by the shaggy looking dog he met the last time. It was leaning out of the window of the dilapidated and rusted car sat in the front garden. Muffled, raised voices could be heard from inside the council house.
He heard Rose shout, "Oh! Will you bog off our Onslow! I told you I'm expecting a gentleman caller. I don't want you here!"
"I'm going, I'm going." The male voice replied.
"Good and make that twenty quid last you. I don't want you drinking it away in an hour. If there's any change I want it back. I owe our Daisy some money for the phone bill."
"You use t'phone more than any of us. By rights it is you who should pay the bill."
"Swine! Will you just go? Me dad's tea's burning!"
As Emmet went to knock on the door it opened. The man Emmet recognised to be Onslow emerged.
"She's all yours mate, best of luck." The scruffy looking male said, passing Emmet on the doorstep.
"Thank you" Emmet muttered, slightly anxious as he entered the house.
"Hello, Rose?" He called out as he made his way through to the living room.
It seemed more cluttered than the last time he was here. The daylight highlighted the fact the walls, door handles and light switches could do with a considerable wipe down. And the floor was carpeted with a thick layer of cigarette ash, especially by the phone and the armchair closest to the television.
"I'm in the kitchen." The blonde replied, trying not to sound too excited about her visitor. She was also anxious about Emmet seeing the state of the kitchen.
As Emmet entered the kitchen, he found Rose tipping baked beans out of a battered looking saucepan and onto a plate that already contained slightly burnt looking fish fingers and chips.
"Emmet! I didn't think you were coming," she spun round to face him and flashed a pearly white smile.
Rose was dressed in a short sleeved, cropped white blouse that had only had a couple of buttons fastened. It was matched with a pair of denim hot pants and red ankle boots. Her complexion was heavily made up with dark purple smoky eyes, lots of blusher and deep red lipstick.
"I'll just take Father his tea up and I'll be with you. Don't worry he will doze off once he's eaten. Please, make yourself at 'ome. If that's at all possible."
Emmet was reassured when he heard footsteps pounding the stairs a few minutes later. Rose flung the door open.
"That's Father sorted. Can I get you a drink? I've a couple of bottles of white wine in the fridge."
"Lovely thank you. I could do with a drink after the day I've had."
She made her way to the dingy kitchen. "Do you want normal wine or something fizzy?" She called out.
"What sort of wine have you got?" Emmet asked.
"Err, I don't know, I'm assuming it's French. It's definitely white, I know that much." Rose replied, bringing the bottles into the living room.
Emmet studied the labels and laughed. "They are French alright. Not bad either. Where did you get them?"
"France." She said bluntly. "I got the opportunity to go on a fag and booze cruise a few weeks ago. This is about all we've got left, wine wise. I've plenty of spirits left, vodka, gin, rum and there might be some brandy left."
"Well how about we try the Grenache Blanc and save the Crémant d'Alsace for later?"
Rose looked perplexed she had no idea what Emmet just said.
"Put the sparkling one back in the fridge and fetch a corkscrew."
"Ah. So you fancy yourself as a bit of a wine buff then?"
"Not really, I read up on wine a bit but I tend to stick with what I like."
"Did you ever try that rocket fuel our Hyacinth bought at some country estate sale?" She replied, placing two wine glasses on the coffee table, before wresting with the corkscrew.
"No I didn't. Liz and I were at the auction and saw her buy the wine but she never gave us any. Here, let me open it."
"Ta," she said handing the bottle over. "It's probably just as well. She came over to give a bottle to me dad. She was absolutely sloshed by the time she got here. She ended up passing out in the hall. It was made by some old duchess or something. Oh, it was bloody awful."
Emmet took a wine glass from the table and poured a glass before handing it to Rose. "Well this should taste a lot better. I must say I didn't have you down as a wine drinker."
"I'm not really I prefer me spirits. But I don't mind the odd glass." She took a delicate sip of her wine. "Ooh this is alright isn't it."
"Yes it's not bad at all, cheers." They clinked their glasses together.
Emmet was surprised that Rose wasn't in any rush to 'get down to business', she was happy to chat about Emmet's work, his music commitments and learn a bit more about him.
A hour later they had nearly finished the bottle and engaged in passionate sex on sofa. They lay there for a while after, Rose was on top of Emmet and he enjoyed the closeness. He was completely lost in the moment, twirling his finger round her hair, while she gazed into his 'dreamy' eyes. Their embrace was interrupted when they heard banging coming from upstairs.
"I better check on Father." She said reaching for her blouse. Emmet watched attentively as she got dressed. Rose couldn't help but smile. Well aware Emmet was enjoying the view.
Rose returned to find Emmet dressed and had poured the remaining wine into their glasses.
"Is your father alright?"
"Yeah, he's fine. He dropped his bugle." Rose could see the amusement on Emmet's face. "Don't ask. It's still 1944 according to 'im."
"I don't suppose you fancy going out for dinner?" Emmet stuttered, he wasn't ready just yet to part Rose's company.
Rose's blue eyes light up, she hadn't accounted for this act of generosity. "Oh I would love to but I daren't leave Father in case he runs off again. I tell you what, there's a good Chinese that delivers. Why don't we get a takeaway and open that bottle of fizz? Hopefully Onslow uses some of the money I gave him to take our Daisy to the chippy."
"That sounds splendid. Do you want me to ring it through?"
"Great, I'll have a sweet and sour chicken and special fried rice, please. There should be a menu by the phone. I think it's The Green Lotus it's called. If you can't find it, don't worry the number's easy to remember it's one digit out from our Hyacinth's. Hers ends in five and the Chinese ends in six." Replied Rose.
Emmet freaked out hearing that name. He searched the messy unit for the menu and eventually found it under a makeup bag.
He was so focused on making sure he didn't dial the wrong number he shrieked when the call recipient answered , "The Bouquet residence, the lady of the house speaking" in a shrill manner. Emmet thrust the receiver into Rose.
"It's her, Hyacinth." He whispered in a panic. Rose tutted loudly and rolled her eyes before taking charge of the situation.
"Hello our Hyacinth. It's me Rose. I'm very well thank you and yourself? Good. Why am I calling? Oh well, I'm sorry our Hyacinth, I've a gentleman friend round and he was going to order us a Chinese but he must have dialled your number instead. I told him if he got the wrong number he would end up talking to you and he's very shy. Well, I'm very sorry Hyacinth for the mistake. I didn't realise you get so many calls for the Chinese and how much it bothered you. Maybe change your number? Anyway, if you don't mind my gentleman friend and I have worked up quite an appetite so I would like to order me tea. Daddy? He's fine. He dropped his bugle. Ooh before I forget, make sure you give my regards to that dishy divorced bloke next door." She winked at Emmet and he smiled in reply. "Goodbye our Hyacinth."
"You handled that well. I felt like Liz. She falls apart whenever she has to talk to her."
"Oh it's only Hyacinth. I know she can be overbearing but there's no need to be scared of her. You just have to show her who's boss."
"Hmmph, that's easy for you to say. She doesn't sing at you!"
"Oh never mind her, are we ordering this food or what?"
About and hour later the food had arrived and most of it had been eaten. As they picked at the remaining prawn crackers and polished off the wine they enjoyed each others company until it was rudely interrupted by the return of Onslow and Daisy. It didn't matter though as the pair agreed they would do it again the following Thursday.
For the next few weeks it became a regular arrangement. Each Thursday when Daisy went to her book group Onslow would go to the pub and Emmet would keep Rose company while she babysat her father. Rose was surprised with how interested Emmet was in getting to know her and she surprised herself with how much she enjoyed getting to know him too. Though they both would agree the sex was the best part.
Their weekly meetings were cut short when Emmet became heavily involved with the local amateur operatic society's annual production. Then they had to make do with the occasional hook up and the odd stolen moment when their paths crossed when Rose came to the avenue searching for her wayward father.