Page 153 of The Man Upstairs

“Coming right up.”

She followed me into the kitchen, still scoping the place out. She grinned as she saw a note Rosie had written for me, fixed to the fridge with a magnet.Love youuuuuuuuuu.

“This is the real deal, then? How you feel about Rosie and how she feels about you?”

I didn’t hesitate to answer.

“Yes. Absolutely.”

“And what about the things they say at the pub? That you like fucking college girls, and you’re a cheating asshole? Is that true?”

I admired her bluntness, and I showed my honesty as I handed over her mug.

“It used to be. Yes. I could call itcomplicated, but there is no excuse for it. Everything in life can becomplicated. We all make our own choices, and our own mistakes.”

She tipped her head. “That’s true. I’ve made plenty.”

“I’m sure you have, but I don’t imagine you’ve been fucking college girls behind your wife’s back, only to be disgraced and caught out.”

“Banished, yeah? That’s why you ended up here.”

“Yes. It is.” I took a breath, determined for the full truth to be exposed. “Actually, I was planning on ending my life, before your daughter showed up. I have a lot to thank her for.”

“Ending your life? That’s a bit drastic.”

“It’s where I was at the time. Rosie made that better.”

“She’s a great girl.”

“She’s an angel. I’m sure you are very proud to be her mother.”

“Oh, I am.” She had the same kind of dimples as Rosie when she smiled. The same welling of tears in her eyes as the emotions caught her. “I missed her so bad.”

I noted the past tense.

Missed.

“As did she. A huge amount. She’s been desperate for you.”

Beverly putchapter onedown on the side and wiped her eyes. She cleared her throat, choking back more tears.

“So, tell me. Is Rosie really the miraculous girl who changed you? I’ve heard that kind of bullshit plenty of times.You’re the one and only, so different, blah blah blah.”

“I’m sure you have. But Rosie is a truly miraculous girl. She’s notblah blah blah. She couldn’t be.”

“Would you have really stabbed Scottie in the ribs for her?”

My heart was truly racing now.

My stare was right on hers as she carried on.

“You would have done it that morning? Honestly? You’d have killed the piece of shit to keep her safe, damned with the consequences?”

“To keep you both safe. Yes. I would. And he knew I was serious. Hence he upped and left like the true piece of cowardly shit he is.”

She sighed. “I didn’t have a clue about that, you know. I kidded myself that Scottie and me had our problems, but they were spats, and he got heated, and he’d always apologise. Said he’d get therapy. Said things would change, and they would for a bit.” Her brows tensed. “I fucking hate him. I’d stab him in the ribs myself for what he did to Rosie that night.”

“I’m sure you would.”