Dreams to Sell (35 page)

‘What sort of thing?'

‘I'm still thinking, but it won't involve selling dreams, I know that.'

Jamie stood up. ‘I've certainly given up
my
dreams, Roz.'

She sighed. ‘Look, you've made some terrible mistakes and I've had some hard thoughts about you, but maybe it's time now for you to move on. You can forget Ella and me – we're OK. Why don't you try to start again?'

He seemed unable to find anything to say and turned aside, then suddenly swung back and kissed her on the cheek. ‘Goodbye, then, and good luck. Don't come down – I'll see myself out.'

But she did come down and opened the door for him, ready to wish him good luck, too, then halted. Just locking his car and turning to greet her was Evan.

There were no smiles. Both men stood staring at each other, their eyes wary, their whole body language showing their deep mistrust. Roz, very pale, took a step towards Evan.

‘This is Jamie Shield, Evan. He called to see how I was.' She glanced at Jamie. ‘And this is Evan MacGarry, Jamie. He lives up the stair.'

Jamie nodded, and Roz could almost see the thought going through his head, as his eyes went over Evan's handsome face and his black hair from which he'd swept his hat, that this was not just a neighbour. Oh, no, he must have picked up instantly that this was the ‘someone else' and wished he were anywhere but on the doorstep.

‘How d'you do?' he said politely. ‘I was glad to see that Roz had made a good recovery. We worked together at Tarrel's.'

‘I know,' Evan said shortly, and that was true – he knew all about Jamie Shield and what had happened when he'd worked with Roz at Tarrel's. But he was taking his cue from Roz, who was evidently on friendly terms with Jamie, which meant that Evan would not be knocking him down, as he might have otherwise done.

‘Nice of you to look in. I'm just back early to see how Roz is myself.' His slate-blue eyes moved to Roz. ‘Such good weather, I thought we might go for a walk.'

‘Oh, yes, I'd like that,' she said at once, but the colour had risen to Jamie's face and he began to move away down the street.

‘Good to meet you, Mr MacGarry,' he said in a low voice. ‘Roz, take care. I'd better be getting back now.'

‘That your car?' asked Evan, looking at a handsome Rover parked a little down the street.

‘Yes, I got it last year.'

‘This is my Morris just here. Goodbye, Mr Shield.'

The two men, still unsmiling, nodded, then Evan moved to stand closer to Roz while Jamie opened his car door, took his seat, gave a long last look at Roz and drove fast away. In a moment, he was gone.

‘My God, the brass neck of that fellow!' Evan cried. ‘Coming here, asking how you were – why didn't you just show him the door?'

‘Let's go up the stair,' she said urgently, taking his hand. ‘I just want to be with you.'

In the flat she leaned against him, taking deep sighs as he carefully avoided her arm in plaster and held her close, looking into her face with wondering eyes.

‘What's wrong?' he murmured. ‘Has he upset you? I wanted to punch him, but you seemed to want to be friendly.'

‘It's best, Evan. Best to have no bitterness. And I'm just so glad to be with you, I don't mind feeling sorry for Jamie.'

‘Well, I don't want these fellows coming round you again. You've already had that Carmichael guy turning up at the hospital, and now there's been Jamie Shield. What do they think they can do? Just come back when they feel like it?'

Roz drew him to the sofa where they sat together, she still leaning against him, unable to let him go.

‘It did upset me a bit, seeing Jamie,' she admitted. ‘He seems so unhappy. People make such a mess of their lives, eh? I can't help feeling bad for him.'

‘Just remember he nearly made a mess of your life, never mind his own.'

But as he held her fast, Evan's eyes were tender, as though he'd passed from worrying over Jamie to thinking only about Roz. ‘Roz, darling, don't you think it's about time that we …'

‘What?'

‘Well … made it official.' He ran his hand down her face. ‘We both know what we want, don't we? To be together. And what's the best way of being together?'

‘Why don't you tell me?' she asked, breathing hard.

‘I'll have to get off this sofa, then. Can't go down on one knee if I'm sitting down.'

‘Evan, what are you saying?'

‘I'm asking, as a matter of fact.' Gently setting her aside, Evan slid from the sofa on to his knees, and smiled. ‘Mind if it's two knees? No? Well, here goes. Roz, will you marry me?'

She threw her arms around him, beaming with happiness. ‘Do I need to say? Oh, yes, Evan, of course I will!'

‘You won't mind if I keep going to work, at least at first?' she finally asked, when they'd spent some time kissing and gazing into each other's eyes. ‘So many women do these days, though some men don't like it.'

‘I want you to do just what you want to do. If you're happy with your house-selling, that's OK by me.'

‘I'm not really happy with that, Evan. Not now. I'd really like to do something else.'

‘Such as?'

‘I'm not sure. I want to get my priorities right. Maybe work with people. Women who need help. Or families.'

‘You'd be good at that. You have a sympathetic manner.'

‘Well, I thought I'd get some advice. See if my qualifications would be OK, and then if there are any courses I could do. Oh, it's all up in the air at the moment.' She kissed him again. ‘All I want is to be with you.'

‘We have to plan the wedding, you know. How about a double one, with Chrissie and Bob? And Dougal doing double duty as best man.'

‘Why, he might be planning to get married himself. Ma says he's keen on his nurse. She's such a lovely person, I hope it's true.'

‘If it is she won't want him back in the army. Maybe he doesn't want that himself?'

‘We'll have to see.' Roz looked seriously into Evan's eyes. ‘Do you think things are working out for us?'

‘Sure they are! Why would you think anything else?'

‘I don't know.' She laughed a little. ‘Suppose I'm not used to too much happiness. But Dougal's better and Chrissie's got Bob …'

‘And you've got me.'

They kissed long and deeply.

‘I've got you,' Roz agreed. ‘So there's only Ma to worry about. Never know when the black cloud will land.'

‘I'd say she was better now, but if any clouds do come, I'll be here to help, Roz. I always will. I'll be here for you.'

‘I know.'

They were silent, and would have gone into each other's arms, but Evan said, ‘Hey, isn't that the door?'

‘Ma!' cried Roz, leaping to her feet. ‘She's been shopping. Oh, wait till she hears our news!'

‘Are you there, Roz?' Flo cried, coming in with loaded bags. ‘Oh, Evan, how grand to see you! You must stay and have your tea. Everything all right while I was out, Roz?'

‘You could say that,' said Roz, then she and Evan laughed and told Flo their news, at which she burst into tears of happiness. And as they hugged and kissed and talked about family, the future for them all, they knew, could hold no fear.