A short while later Violet, Emmet and Rose arrived at the disused shop. Violet informed them that her plan was to turn it into a cafe and book shop. Hoping Daisy may want to be involved in the book side of the venture.
Emmet was impressed with the private entrance to the flat. It was wide and wasn't too steep so he could get his piano up the stairs easily. The apartment was spacious with three bedrooms and the best part was there were two balconies, leading out from the lounge and the master bedroom. Both overlooking the local park and town. It was perfect for Emmet as it was a ten minute walk to work in one direction and five minutes in the other to the church hall. The best part was he wouldn't have to worry about bumping into Hyacinth.
He agreed with Violet that he would take it subject to her getting the sole deeds and the rent being affordable.
The walk back to Emmet's was one in silence as Rose tried to formulate what she was going to say to her sister. Emmet could tell Rose was preoccupied so he didn't say anything he just held her hand. Once they arrived outside Emmet's he looked awkwardly at Rose.
"Well I best get it over with." She sighed as she nodded towards the house next door.
"I'd over to come with you for moral support but I don't want to." Emmet said bluntly.
Rose let out a nervous giggle, "It's fine, I have to do this on me own. Wish me luck."
"Good look." Emmet said before kissing the blonde very passionately, in hope Hyacinth would see and get riled. "Will you let me know how you get on?"
"Of course, I'll pop over when I'm done. See you later." She said embracing him.
Rose wasn't in the mood to hear the over the top Westminster chimes so she knocked aggressively on the door. She then kicked her heels off with force and left them neatly on the doorstep.
She was relived when a very dishevelled looking Richard answered the door.
"Hello Rose." Her brother-in-law said warmly as he let her inside.
"Where is she?" Rose asked abruptly, pushing her way through the hallway.
"She's in the dining room. She's been in there all night. She's not very good. Sheridan's home and she is refusing to speak to him. Please don't be too harsh on her, she's very upset." Richard Bucket whispered.
Rose nodded and made her way to her sister's dining room.
She walked straight in, finding her sister sat underneath the picture of Winston Churchill. She was still in the clothes she was wearing yesterday.
"Rose dear, how nice to see you." She said flatly. "What brings you here?"
"I need to talk to you, our Hyacinth."
"What about? Sit down dear, would you like a cup of tea?"
"I'm fine thanks." The youngest sister replied as she sat down at the opposite end of the table. "There's a few things I want to talk to you about our Hyacinth. I do need you to listen, promise me."
"I'll, I'll try." Hyacinth stuttered. "My head is all over the place at the moment Rose."
"We all feel the same way. But I do need you to understand that what you said to Daisy was very out of turn. She was very upset yesterday. You had no right blaming her for Father dying. She's very distraught about it."
Taken aback Hyacinth sobbed, "Did I say that dear, I don't remember. Well if I said that Rose, then I'm very sorry. I had no right to be so cruel and blame Daisy." Hyacinth delicately dabbed her eyes with her linen handkerchief.
"I had a word with Dais and she says if you apologise and you mean it, you would be welcome round ours this afternoon to talk with our Violet's undertaker friend about what happens next."
"We can't have the undertaker going there. Good heavens Rose, he must come here."
"No Hyacinth! The undertaker is coming to our house. It was Father's home. We are having the meeting there. Now you are welcome so long as you apologise to our Daisy."
"Yes, I'll apologise. Of course I will Rose. I shouldn't have said what I did. I'm just so upset about poor dear daddy." Hyacinth's voice was beginning to falter.
Rose ran around the dining table and flung an arm around her sister. "We are all upset about Father, Hyacinth. You've got to understand that." She said, sitting back down, this time next to her sister.
"I know, I'm sorry Rose." She said, delicately dabbing her eyes with a handkerchief. "Was there anything else you wanted to talk to me about?" She asked sensing her little sister wasn't finished yet.
"Yes, you know our Hyacinth, for as long as I can remember you've tried to keep this family together single handed. Then in the last month, one way or another you've managed to break it up all on your own. And I'm the only one that seems bothered in trying to pull us all back together. Why haven't you spoken to Sheridan?"
"I don't see what business of yours that is, Rose."
"Well I am his auntie."
"Exactly, you are his aunt. I'm his mummy."
"Well start acting like it then!" Her sister shouted.
"I don't know what you mean." Hyacinth said sternly.
Rose began to feel frustrated. "Oh, you know exactly what I mean, Hyacinth. Why won't you accept our Sheridan for who he is?"
Hyacinth looked at her sister and for the first time in her life, Rose could see her older sister felt vulnerable.
"If he choses to live his life in that way, society won't be kind to him and they won't be kind to me. They will think I've failed as a mother. I've worked hard Rose, to make something of my life. To have better than we had growing up. And I wanted that for Sheridan. And grandchildren I suppose, there is no chance of that now." She said sadly.
"Children and grandchildren aren't the be all and end all, our Hyacinth. You said you want better for him and how cruel the world can be, well even more so for him to have his mother in his corner. Not everyone is lucky to have a mother and not everyone in this world is kind, Hyacinth. But the boy should be able to rely on his mum. His happiness should come before how you think people will see you. If you don't put his happiness first then you will have failed. The majority of people won't give a damn. They are too bothered with their own lives. He does seem happy with Tarquin. And Tarquin seems like a good lad." Reasoned the blonde.
"I-I don't know."
"Talk to him, our Hyacinth. Anyway it can be quite trendy to have a gay son, in certain circles." Rose tried.
"Can it? I'm not sure. But I'll think about what you have had to say, Rose. Thank you. Now was there anything else?" She asked with dread.
"Speaking about happiness before status. You need to accept our Violet's marriage is over. The swine has been making her ill. She's been deeply unhappy and very depressed for a long time. No amount of financial security and social status will make her feel better. The court has granted her decree nisi and she couldn't be happier."
"Well I disagree, Rose."
"Then I pity you Hyacinth, I really do. Anyway once the decree absolute comes through she will be independently wealthy from the sale of the houses. Plus she's getting three of the shops and three flats above. So you can say, 'it's my sister Violet, the high flying business woman, who has her own property portfolio'."
Hyacinth's eyes lit up at that. "Yes, I rather like the sound of that."
"Good, just think about what I've said." Rose said as she got up from the dining chair. She turned back to face her sister, "Just one last thing our Hyacinth, Emmet and I have decided to make a go of things. We are going to take it slowly but we love each other."
Hyacinth shook her head in disgust. "You silly girl. Mr Hawksworth and you cannot be compatible. He's only chasing you because he can't have me. Emmet has been a trifle in love with me for a while now."
Rose let out a loud hollow laugh.
Hyacinth continued, "and besides how can you deny me my chance for a successful life on the stage?" She cried over dramatically.
"Emmet isn't in love with you! What way aren't we compatible? We are rubbing along rather nicely, thank you very much. And what are you talking about a life on the stage?"
"Mr Hawksworth lives a better quality of life than the gentlemen you usually acquaint yourself with. Your behaviour is far too vulgar for someone like Emmet. And if you and Mr Hawksworth really are an item then he won't be able pick me for a lead role in his amateur dramatics because it will look like favouritism rather than casting me based on my talents."
Incensed, Rose snapped. "Oh really Hyacinth! You are so selfish. Do you know that?! Look I'm not bothered that you don't approve of Emmet and me and I'm sure he won't lose sleep over it. But you've always said to me I should settle down with a respectable and attainable man. And that's exactly what I intend to do, with Emmet."
Hyacinth didn't reply. Rose's tone of voice warmed a little as she pleaded with her sister. "Look forget about me but please make things right with everyone else. Especially Sheridan and Dais. If he knew what was going on it's what father would have wanted. He wouldn't like all this conflict. Hopefully I'll see you later. T'undertaker is coming at two." Rose tried.
Hyacinth remained seated as her sister left the room.
"I'll see you later this afternoon, Rose."
Rose feebly smiled back at her sister before almost bumping into Richard, who had been listening into their conversation.
"Thanks for trying, Rose. I wish she would speak to Sheridan. Do you want a lift home?"
"No problem Richard. I just hope some of what I said sinks in. No thanks. I said I'd pop next door and see Emmet. Is our Sheridan in his room? Can I see him?"
"Yes of course, go through." The weary looking man replied.
"Knock, knock." Rose said as she hedged her way into her nephew's childlike bedroom. Sheridan was sat on the edge of the bed looking at old photographs of him and his parents.
"Auntie Rose, what are you doing here?"
"Trying to talk some sense into your stubborn mother, can I come in?" She didn't wait for a reply, she simply made her way to the bed and sat next to her nephew.
"She's not speaking to me you know."
"She's not speaking to any of us at the moment." Rose said. "She will come round. She loves you very much. Just give her more time. I've told her how happy you are and I've told her to stop being so selfish and let all her family be happy."
"I hope she listens."
"She will have to if she wants to be a part of your life. I think she will come round to Violet getting divorced too. And she will apologise to our Daisy."
"I hope so."
Rose gave her nephew a hug. "Whatever happens you've always got me to talk to and your dad won't let you down. I best get going. I'll see you later."
Rose said a quiet goodbye to Richard and made her way next door.
She knocked on the door and Emmet answered.
"Is she speaking to you?" He asked, desperately hoping Hyacinth wasn't talking to her.
"Sort of." Rose replied as she made her way through to the sitting room.
Once sat down and Elizabeth had made the tea she filled them in with what happened next door.
"Well I think the next step is obvious, don't have anything else to do with her." Emmet said rather bluntly.
"Emmet you can't say that!" Protested his sister.
"I can't, we've me dad's funeral to sort and besides no matter how annoying or impossible she can be she's still me sister. I know you'd prefer it if I didn't speak to her again but I can't do that Emmet."
Emmet sighed, Rose was right he would have loved it if she never spoke to Hyacinth again purely from a selfish point of view.
"I'll see how she is later, I just hope she sorts out everything with the rest of t'family. Thank you for the tea Elizabeth but I best get back. See how our Daisy is."
"I'm going that way Rose, I want to try the new supermarket they've opened. I'll give you a lift." Smiled Liz.
Rose thanked her and followed Elizabeth to the white Metro. Both woman made the point of looking over the wall to see if there was any activity next door. Luckily it was quiet.
A few minutes into the journey Liz saw the opportunity to question Rose.
"Forgive me for asking my next question Rose, especially with everything that's happened with your father. But I need to know are you serious about Emmet and you won't mess him around, will you? He's been hurt before and I won't allow him to be hurt again."
Rose gave an awkward smile. "I thought when you offered me a lift, I would be getting a warning."
"No, no,not a warning," Liz stuttered. "I just need to make sure you are serious about my brother."
"I know I've got a reputation Elizabeth , I fully accept that. But please know all I've ever wanted was happiness and stability and I've finally found that in your brother. I love him and respect him. I really do. I can assure you I won't do anything to hurt him. I know how heartbroken he was about his marriage coming to an end."
Liz smiled. She believed Rose was being genuine. Up until now she had always thought Rose had pursued Emmet just to gain another notch on her bedpost.
"Thank you for the lift, Elizabeth." Rose smiled.
"Not at all Rose and please call me Liz. Everyone else does, well except Hyacinth."
"Do you want to come in for a cuppa?" Rose asked unbuckling her seatbelt.
"I best get going but thank you Rose. I hope everything goes well with the funeral arrangements."
"Thank you, tell Emmet I'll call him tonight."