‘Well, I’ll do that then. I’m sorry, I’m not thinking straight because I’m angry. There’s still a slim chance that once he’s got over being dumped he’ll calm down. Right now he’s hurt and kicking out. If you like I will ring him myself and tell him that we all know about what you do and it’s no big deal. That might do the trick.’
Leonora rolled her eyes at Violetta, then tried to get through to their mum. ‘You’re not getting it, are you? He will be so pissed off that he’s not going to wriggle his way into our family and, as Gran always said, the business, that he will want revenge. That’s what he’s like and if he enjoys getting his kicks the way Vi described, Lord only knows what his nasty mind is capable of. He will probably spread rumours for the fun of it. He’s still in control.’
Carmen slumped back in her chair. ‘Oh, yes, I see what you mean.’
Violetta could see the worry that was spreading across her mum’s face. It mirrored what was going on in her heart. This was exactly what she’d been dreading and had spent a whole week churning over and over in her head. At least now she could to talk it through with her family and the relief was immense.
‘Do you know what I’m scared of the most? If he starts spreading rumours at school. It’s so easy to do in anonymous messages like the ones he’s been sending me. He could tell the head. I’ll have parents whispering behind my back and all it takes is for one of the older kids to hear and say something to Darcy. Or that fucking smart-arse Kyra. How could I look my daughter in the eye if she asks me questions? I’ll die of shame, I know I will.’
Leonora still looked mad as hell. ‘What exactly do the texts say?’
Taking her phone from her back pocket, Violetta opened the app and turned the screen so they could all see. ‘This is his last one. It’s a screenshot of my online ad. Obviously it hasn’t got my real name on it and you can’t see my face, but the message below is clear.’
I think this should be your new Facebook profile, or I could do a review for the garden centre. Oops, sorry, looks like I posted a photo by mistake. I’ll be in touch.
‘See, he means business. Scroll through, they’re all there.’ Violetta passed over her phone and looked on as Leonora began reading the messages.
After a few seconds she offered it to Rosie who shook her head so instead, she leant over and gave it to her mum who frowned at the screen. ‘Blackmail is a crime. I think we should ring the police.’
Violetta knew that was a no-go. ‘But the texts aren’t from his phone – he’s obviously got a spare. I couldn’t prove it was him.’
‘So what are we going to do?’ asked Carmen. ‘It looks like we have two options. We either sit here and wait for him to strike or, I speak to him and see if I can persuade him to play nice. He’s greedy and money mad, so we might have to give him what he wants.’
The hairs on Violetta’s neck stood on end. ‘Mum,no!I can see what you’re thinking and you are not paying him off.’
Leonora agreed immediately. ‘Vi’s right. You can’t trust someone like him. It’s a terrible idea and asking for more trouble down the line. It could never end.’
Carmen was vehement. ‘But we have to protect Darcy. I don’t care about the bloody garden centre. So what if the customers hear a bit of tittle-tattle, or the vicar and half the village are shocked to the core. They can all sod off and mind their own business but what I won’t have is my granddaughter’s schooldays ruined by cruel kids and gossipy parents so somehow, we have to stop him.’
Then out of the blue came a tremulous voice. ‘I know how to stop him.’
You could have heard a pin drop when all heads turned towards Rosina who wasn’t actually looking at them, just staring straight ahead. Her face had gone from alabaster to rose pink and there was a sheen of perspiration on her forehead. Her body looked rigid, her hands were clasped tightly in front of her on the table. She looked serene, trance-like.
It was Violetta who spoke first and broke the spell. ‘What do you mean, Rosie? How can you stop him?’
Still not looking their way Rosina answered, her voice surer, and clear. ‘Because I saw him kill someone. He knocked them down in his car and then drove away… and could someone get me a glass of water because I think I’m going to fai…’
When Rosina’s body crumpled and her head hit the table, her mother screamed as Violetta and Leonora sprang from their chairs, all of them wearing horrified expressions. While Leonora gently called Rosina’s name and tried to revive her, Violetta held Carmen tight, both their bodies trembling.
Amidst the chaos and while she willed Rosina to wake up, Violetta felt the phone in her back pocket buzz and for the first time in what seemed like forever, she wasn’t scared of what the message would say.
24
Rosina
When she came round she was lying on the sofa. She had no idea how she’d got there or why everyone was staring at her. Then it hit. She’d told them about Caspar. It was as though she couldn’t hold it in. Any of it. She had felt so weary and heavy, and sick of people like Norman and Caspar, men who reminded her of her father. Ruining people’s lives with their bullying, controlling ways. She couldn’t let Vi suffer, or little Darcy. Enough was enough. That’s why she’d said it and actually it had been quite easy and for a moment she’d experienced immense relief, like a whoosh of everything pent-up leaving her body.
Then she woke up, on Mitzi’s sofa.
Leonora was seated on the floor by her side, holding her hand as Violetta stepped forward and passed her a glass of water. ‘Sip this, Rosie, it’ll make you feel better.’
Doing as she was told, Rosina took the glass, grateful for the cool liquid and a moment to compose herself.
Violetta pushed Rosina’s legs to the side and squashed onto the end of the sofa. ‘You gave us such a fright, Rosie. Have you been eating properly? I’d noticed you’d lost weight but you’re actually gaunt now. It was like lifting a feather when me and Leo brought you over here. You’re not poorly, are you?’
‘No, I promise I’m not.’ Rosina gave her sister a weak smile but still hadn’t found the courage to look in her mum’s direction so when she spoke, it was unavoidable. For the first time ever Rosina couldn’t read her mum’s face.
‘So what’s wrong, Rosina? Take your time but I’m worried. We all are and I’ve never seen you like this. You said you saw an accident. Was it the one on the road by the trail car park? Did you see what happened?’
