Catching Up
At Rose’s Cafe Part 3
If you missed Parts one and two the links are at the end of the story.
Maeve rushed into the house all out of breath.
“Hello sis,” said Rose. “Where are Simon and the kids?”
Maeve held up a hand as she gasped for breath.
“What did you do? Run over here at full speed?”
Maeve nodded vigorously, her hand over her heart.
“Just to see me?”
Maeve nodded again as her breathing slowed to a more normal flow. “Tell me you didn’t!” she gasped.
“You got me. I didn’t do what?” Rose replied as a smile crossed her face.
“That,” Maeve said, annoyed. “That,” she repeated as she thrust her finger at Rose.
“My smile? Nothing strange about that.”
“You met with him. You had dinner with him.”
Rose looked at her sister. “I didn’t see your face outside the restaurant window.”
“I would have but I had to get the kids to bed. Why would you do that after all he put you through? Why?”
‘Word does spread fast in this town. All right. Come on into the kitchen. Take your shoes off. I’ll make tea. The usual?”
“Yeah. Sure,” replied Maeve as she slipped off her shoes and followed her older sister down the hall. “The pain. The agony,” started Maeve.
“Oh it wasn’t that bad,” replied Rose with a laugh.
“Maybe for you. But for me it was dreadful. I tossed and turned all night. I couldn’t sleep.”
“Why was it tormenting you?”
“I lived through all the pain you went through again. I felt the agony, the tears, the harsh words. They all came flooding back.” Maeve swiped at her eyes. “I felt it deeply.”
Rose turned with the tea cup and set it down in front of Maeve at the counter. “Maeve, you really need to learn to let things go. It’s not your issue.”
“But.”
“No buts. You have your own life but reliving mine is not good for you. Your husband and kids need you at your best. Not reliving my drama.”
“You’re right. You’re right. So tell me, how was it?”
Rose looked at her sister with a touch of frustration. “I was a bit upset when he came into the cafe.”
“He came into the cafe?”
Rose smiled. “He did. He is the same old Ross. Thoughtful and kind. He explained why he stood me up at the prom.”
“Why did he do that?”
Rose smiled. “Maeve, it is his story not mine. Let’s just say it was his actions but not his choice.”
“Interesting. And?”
“And we talked a fair amount at the Cafe. He ate. I served customers and sat down in between. It was like old times.”
“And you were satisfied with his explanation?”
“Let’s say I took it with a grain of salt at first. The more we talked the more I felt comfortable.”
“And dinner?”
Rose sighed. She knew this was coming but it had to happen. “More talk. Some discomfort.”
Maeve sat up alert. “There was discomfort? Did he say something? Do something? Oh my god.”
Rose smiled. “Maeve. I need you to know that nothing happened or will happen unless everyone comes to some sort of agreement.”
“An agreement?”
“An agreement. We will keep talking as long as you respect what I have to say. No more judgments. No more reactions.”
“Does mom have to agree to this too?”
Rose replied. “Mom is a different story. You on the other hand will not get one more word out of me unless you agree.”
“No more reactions?”
“No,” Rose said firmly.
“Okay,” Maeve said reluctantly.
“The discomfort was because half the town showed up outside the restaurant and those who didn’t show up outside had phone side seats.”
“Oh,” Maeve looked distressed as she controlled her reactions. “That bad?”
“Phones out. Pictures taken. I’m sure there is one of me chewing with my mouth open out there somewhere,” she said with a laugh.
“Ew.” said Maeve as she immediately clamped her hand over her mouth much to Rose’s amusement. “Sorry. The date?”
“It wasn’t a date,” Rose reflected as she tried to find the words she had used last night. “It was a get reacquainted session for two old friends.”
“And will there be more ‘get reacquainted’ sessions?”
“Quite possibly.”
The phone rang. “That’s mom,” Rose said as she walked over and picked up the receiver.
She listened carefully to the voice of her mother. When the voice died down she spoke. “Mom, big girl here. My decisions.” She listened some more. “Thank you. I will take that under advisement.” Rose glanced over at Maeve. “I will give that some thought and get back to you if and when that would be needed. Bye mom.
“Let me guess,” said Maeve. “She doesn’t think it’s a good idea. Consult a lawyer if you are getting back together. Dinner is on the table if you are seeing each other seriously.” Maeve looked up. “How’d I do?”
“You do know our mother.”
Maeve smiled. “Nailed it.”
Rose laughed.
“No seriously,” began Maeve, “if you are going down this path please take care,’ she said as she gathered her things. “I don’t want to see you hurt again.”
“Maeve. Stop and listen, replied Rose. “Like I said to mom. Big girl here. I’m not 18 anymore. I am not the person I was nor is he. We have both lived a life up until now. He still is interesting. I will explore what I can but…” she paused as she looked around the room and then back at her sister, “we shall see. I never expected this in a million years. Those old feelings really are hard to get rid of. I thought they were gone, vanquished, vamoosed. And then he walked in the door and called me Moonie. I both hated it and loved it.”
“Rose, keep me updated. I really do have to go. Simon is a good father but leaving him alone with the kids too long and things start to happen.”
Rose laughed. “You don’t have to remind me. The science experiment was quite funny. Dangerous but funny.”
“Who knew he would be blowing up things in our kitchen.”
“At least the kids were amused,” Rose said with a laugh.
They hugged. “Please be careful,” said Maeve as she opened the door and was gone.
“I will,” replied Rose quietly to her sister’s back as the phone rang. “Hello?” Rose listened. “Ingrid, slow down. What’s going on?”
At Rose’s Cafe: Part 1
At Rose’s Cafe: Part 2
