The next morning Rose was tempted to cancel due to being worried about her father, he seemed to be rambling and more incoherent than usual. Violet assured her he would be fine with her and Daisy and this might be her last chance to work things out with Emmet.
They were both pleased to see one another when Rose collected Emmet. The journey was made in comfortable silence. Both of them wanting to save what they had to say for when they got there.
Rose made them both a cup of tea when they arrived. Sensibly she bought some milk enroute.
"How have you been Rose? Did you have a nice holiday?"
"It was good to get away, I've been okay thanks. How have you been?"
"Good" his lie was transparent to Rose. They drank their tea and chatted about the weather before they both declared how much they had missed one another. Just as Rose was about to ask where do they go from here the phone rang. Being closet Emmet answered.
"It's your sister Violet. The one with a Mercedes, sauna and room for a pony." He said impersonating Hyacinth. It made Rose laugh. Even though it highlighted the sadness she felt because Hyacinth still wasn't talking to her.
Rose took the receiver and Emmet watched as her eyes filled with tears. She didn't speak for a while. She just nodded as she took in what her sister had to say.
"I'm on my way. I'll meet you there."
Emmet sensed something serious must have happened to Rose's father.
"It's Father, he's had a funny turn. He's on the way to hospital. Oh Emmet, it doesn't look good." She sobbed. He pulled her into him and he stroked her hair as she burrowed her face in his cream jumper.
"Will you be okay to drive?"
"I'll have to be, you're not insured." She replied half joking. "Are you okay to make your own way back from the hospital I want to get there as soon as I can."
"Of course, let's get you there." He said giving her a reassuring smile.
The journey to the hospital seemed to take an eternity. Rose barely said a word just every now and again she said "I knew something was wrong. I shouldn't have come today."
Despite the occasional break in the speed laws, her driving was rather smooth despite wearing stilettos.
She forced herself to keep calm when they were stuck in traffic. She did this by breaking out into Yazoo's 'Only You.' For some reason just at that moment the lyrics made her think of her father.
"All I needed was the love you gave, all I needed for another day and all I ever knew, only you."
Emmet was taken aback, he would never have expected Rose to be the type of person to randomly break out in song. Highlighting, he still had a lot to learn about her. He also couldn't believe how good Rose's singing voice was. Rose was too caught up in worry to hear Emmet's compliment.
Looking at Rose, her eyes were filled with compassion, woe and tears. That was the exact moment when Emmet Hawksworth realised that he was in love with her.
When they finally got the hospital they had to drive round twice in order to find a parking space. Rose aggressively told a snooty woman to shut up. The lady complained about the car back firing, which had apparently 'nearly given her a heart attack and brought on her asthma with the appalling black smoke.'
"Well at least you are in the right place." Rose shouted as she headed toward the main entrance. Emmet followed, struggling to keep up with Rose who was tottering rather quickly to the Accident and Emergency department.
"Emmet I'm fine you don't need to come with me. My sisters are there. I'll be alright." She said as the frustration and panic grew in her voice.
"I don't doubt it Rose, but I want to be here for you." He cried, annoyed she wasn't slowing down as she made her way through the rabbit warren of corridors.
"You don't need to, Emmet." She shouted back, finally reaching the waiting room where her family were all sat. Hyacinth was appalled Emmet had followed Rose.
"But don't you see Rose, I want to be here because I am in love you!" He shouted unaware all her immediate family were watching.
Rose spun round to face him, "you what?!"
"I love you Rose, god knows why because you can be impossible not to mention over dramatic. You are reckless, you drink too much. Your smoking habit is quite frankly disgusting. Your morals are questionable but despite all that you are one of the kindest, most compassionate, funny and loving souls I know. I can't stop thinking about you. I just want to be with you every second of every day."
Suddenly realising everyone was gawping Emmet felt like the biggest fool.
As much as Rose had wanted to hear Emmet's declaration, she didn't want to hear it in this moment. "Emmet this isn't the place or the time." She said sternly. She sat herself down before her legs gave way. "Just go home and we will talk about this later. We shouldn't have gone to the blasted cottage. Maybe you shouldn't have rung me."
A voice suddenly interjected, "at last. My sister speaks sense."
"Shut up Hyacinth!" Emmet and Rose both shouted in unison.
"I mean it Rose, I do love you. I'll see you later. I hope your father gets better." He said sincerely, placing his hand on her shoulder.
Rose mouthed 'sorry' at him before he turned to leave the waiting room and headed for the cafeteria. Once he was out of sight, Rose's face fell into her perfectly manicured hands.
Emmet ordered himself a strong coffee and sat cursing himself. What idiot tells someone they are in love with them as their father is rushed to AE? He didn't know whether to laugh or cry when 'Only You' came on the radio. All his headspace was taken up with Rose.
Emmet jumped when Richard tapped him on the shoulder a short while later.
"Good I'm glad you are still here, I've been sent home, so I can give you a lift. There's no point in us all waiting for news. So Onslow and I are going to both head home as Violet has her car here. Besides I need to let Sheridan know about his Grandfather as his mother won't. Come on Emmet, I'll take you home. Anyway, you are the only one who knows where Rose has left Onslow's car."
Emmet was touched by Richards kind gesture, though he just wanted to be with Rose but he knew it was best for her if he went home.