Chapter 28

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Phillip

Since I finish the list of jobs on Mrs Jeffries' list with plenty of time to spare before I need to go and pick up Toby, I decide to stop and grab coffee for Rose and me from Snug. It's not a long drive from the school back to my house so the drinks will still be hot by the time I get home and it seems like the least I can do given the effort Rose went to yesterday.

The coffee shop is a hive of activity this afternoon—the busiest I've ever seen it. Tables are filled with students and young professionals working on laptops and nursing mugs of coffee and tea. The line ahead of me is long but a glance at my phone tells me I still have plenty of time. The queue is mostly made up of students stopping in for an afternoon pick-me-up. Unfortunately, the guy in front of me dressed in a suit and tie is clearly the unlucky assistant tasked with providing coffee and treats for what is obviously going to be a very large afternoon meeting. Violet hastily boxes up two dozen treats for him then fills cardboard carriers with all manner of hot drinks.

Despite being run off her feet, Violet greets me warmly when I step up to the counter after the frazzled young man disappears, his speed impressive given how much he's carrying.

"Ah Phillip, lovely to see you." Thanks to Rose, I've become something of a regular here and Violet always has a friendly smile for me, although I don't doubt that will change if Rose and I can't work things out.

"You too." I smile back. "It's wild in here this afternoon."

"One of my baristas called in sick and there was nobody to cover, so it's just Timothy and me today. There's always a mid-afternoon rush but it's never as bad with a full team thank goodness. I'm too old to be run ragged every day," she tells me with a chuckle. Another glance around shows poor Timothy racing around like his arse is on fire. If there was an Olympic medal for clearing tables, that kid would be shooting for gold.

"Nonsense Violet, you'll be young forever. Though if it will help, I can clear off a few tables while I wait so Timothy can work the counter and give you a quick break, just in case there is any truth to that ageing thing?"

She just gives me a look , pursing her berry painted lips. "I appreciate the offer but we're fine here. It looks like you're the last of the rush anyway." A glance behind me shows there's nobody else in line.

"Alright, if you're sure."

"I am. Now you want your usual? For Rose as well?"

"Yes, please."

Violet turns her back to me and starts making the drinks but it doesn't take long for her to start fishing.

"You've been spending a lot of time with Rose." It's not a question but I answer anyway.

"I have."

"She didn't seem like herself when she came in yesterday morning. Reminded me of when she broke up with that idiot a few months ago but much worse. You know anything about that?" Violet skewers me with a pointed stare over her shoulder.

"I do. This is step one of me trying to fix it." Violet places the two coffees on the counter in front of me with a thud.

"Rose is a sweet girl. Grumpy as all get out at times, but she's tender-hearted underneath it all. She's been happier than I've ever seen her since meeting you. Whatever you did— fix it ," she tells me firmly.

"I plan to." Violet looks over my face, assessing my level of sincerity then nods.

"Good luck."

"Hey bud, how was school?" I ask, helping Toby clamber into the backseat of my car.

"Good, we got to paint today."

"Yeah? Can I see?"

"No. We had to leave them on the drying rack 'cause they're all wet still. Mrs Spencer says we can bring them home tomorrow but I wanted you to see mine today because we painted our families so you were in it." He sighs, disappointed, and my heart squeezes at being included in his family painting. It's not the first time, but I don't think I'll ever get used to how amazing it feels when Toby includes me in that kind of stuff.

"You can show me next time I come over—it'll be something extra to look forward to."

Once we're all buckled in I start the car, eager to get back home to Rose. Doubts clouded my mind all morning and I wondered if I'd made a mistake asking Rose to stay now that Toby would be joining us. What if she only agreed just to be polite? A night in with my nephew isn't exactly how I'd planned to plead my case for a second chance. After thinking it through, I was reminded that Rose isn't the sort of woman to agree to something she doesn't want to do. Plus, she's used to being around kids thanks to the parties she has done for Aria. Now, on the drive back home, I'm just looking forward to spending the evening with two of my favourite people even if things between Rose and me are still a bit rocky.

"My friend Rose is going to have dinner with us today. You met her at the weekend," I remind Toby as we stop at a red light. Eric should have already told him but I want to make sure he remembers and isn't surprised to see her.

"Dad said this morning. Can we still make muffins?" I'd told him we could bake muffins next time he came to stay with me. The kid never forgets sugar related promises.

"Sure we can, but only after homework."

"Will your friend help?" Toby asks excitedly, wiggling in his seat. If his love for baking continues, I won't be surprised if he grows up to be a pastry chef or something in that vein.

"Maybe. We can ask her later."

Toby's excited chatter fills the car for the rest of the short drive. His babbling continues until we cross the threshold into my narrow front hallway. My usually confident nephew immediately curls in on himself now he's actually faced with a near-stranger. I'm not worried though. Rose has to be used to shy kids from her party work. Together we'll help Toby out of his shell in no time.

I lead the way through to the living room, a quiet Toby on my tail, pleased to find Rose curled up on the sofa still looking at home in my space despite everything that's happened recently. That has to be a good sign. I'm relieved to see it looks like she's been sleeping better than I have, once Toby's comfortable he will go back to being his usual bubbly self and that's enough to tire anyone out at the best of times.

"Hi, I'm Rose." She smiles, peering behind me. "We met on Sunday but didn't get to talk much. Your uncle has told me a lot about you though."

"Hi," Toby replies, still half-hidden behind my legs, gripping the handle of his lunchbox like his life depends on it.

"Cool lunchbox, did you decorate it yourself?" Rose asks softly, noticing the cake stickers that litter the lid of the sky-blue box. Toby perks up immediately, taking a step closer to Rose.

"Yeah, baking's my favourite."

"Nice. You've got so many different cakes on there I'm not sure I know all of the names. Would you mind telling me what they all are?"

Toby strides forward, confident now Rose is asking about his favourite subject. Hopping up next to Rose on the sofa and placing the box on his lap facing her he asks, "Which ones do you know already?"

"Well that one is obviously a chocolate muffin," Rose replies pointing at one of the stickers. "But I'm not sure about this green and white one."

"It's key-lime pie!" Toby exclaims proudly, making Rose smile.

"Inside voice, bud," I remind him.

"Sorry, I forgot," he replies sheepishly.

"That's alright, it's easy to get carried away when we're excited, just try and remember for next time. Come on over to the counter and start your homework."

"OK." He starts to follow me then whirls around back to Rose. "Wait, we're making muffins later. Do you want to help, Rose?"

"I'd love to." She returns his bright smile and I melt like a stick of butter as I watch. She seems genuinely happy to be included. It would have been easy enough to make an excuse to get out of it. Surely she'd only agree to join in if she's planning to give me another shot.

"Oh, this is for you." I offer Rose the coffee from Snug and she smiles.

"Thank you." Our fingers brush as the cup changes hands, sending my heart racing. It's only been a few days but for a moment there I thought I might never feel her touch again. Knowing we both care enough to talk out our problems is comforting but part of me wishes we could skip over all that so I can hold her in my arms again sooner. "Phillip, I…" She glances over at Toby and bites her lip.

"Later," I promise, daring to reach out and squeeze her hand, just for a moment. Cheeks flushed pink, Rose nods.

"Later," she agrees, that one word heavy with so much meaning. Breathing out a sigh of relief that we seem to be on the same page, I turn my attention back to my nephew.

"Alright bud, homework first then we can get baking." I steer Toby over to the kitchen counter where he clambers up onto one of the tall stools, setting his bookbag on the one next to him. "What have we got today?" I ask from the other side of the counter, my head buried in the fridge as I pull out the ingredients for dinner. I decided to go with pasta since it will be quick to put together once the muffins go in the oven, especially if I make the sauce now.

"Spelling," Toby answers my question, tugging his workbook and pencil from his bag.

"Alright, let me know if you need any help." He nods, already focused on the question sheet in front of him. Happy that he's settled, I go about dicing the vegetables that I'll add to a tin of tomatoes to make the pasta sauce, stealing glances over at Rose every chance I get.