Page 33 of The Spanish Daughter (The Lost Daughters #5)

32

PRESENT DAY

Rose sat cross-legged on the floor across from Jessica. They had takeaway coffee cups and the remnants of chocolate brownies between them, and they were surrounded by cardboard boxes.

‘You know when I said I’d come back and help you pack everything up, this wasn’t what I expected.’

They both laughed.

‘If someone had told me how my life would change even a few months ago, I would never have believed them.’ Rose had known there was little chance that her mum would beat her last round of cancer. She’d fought for so long, but they’d both known there was only so long she could keep going. But what Rose had never imagined was that there was happiness waiting for her after the darkness.

‘I feel like it’s been years since Mum passed,’ Rose said, as she reached for her coffee and took one last sip. ‘Sometimes it feels like I’ve only just lost her, and other times it almost feels like a lifetime ago.’

‘I know what you mean,’ Jessica said. ‘So much has happened in the last few months.’

‘I still can’t believe you came all the way here to help me pack,’ Rose said. ‘You didn’t need to.’

‘I came because I wanted to, not because I needed to,’ Jessica said. ‘And besides, I had another reason to come.’

Rose’s brow furrowed. ‘You did?’

Jessica grinned. ‘I wanted to meet Mr Tall, Dark and Handsome for myself.’

They both burst out laughing again, and Rose shook her head. ‘You’re coming to visit us in a few months in Argentina.’

‘You’re my best friend, Rose, I wasn’t just going to let you run away with a handsome stranger.’

‘What happened to following my heart and taking risks?’

Jessica waved her hand in the air. ‘I just said that to stop you overthinking everything. The truth is, I want to set eyes on the man myself before I let you go.’

‘I have this feeling that Mum would have loved him, you know?’ Rose said, seeing Jessica tear up at the same time as her own eyes prickled. ‘The way he looks at me, the way he treats me, it’s all she ever wanted for me. She used to say that the only man worth having was one who looked at you like you were the only person in the room.’

‘I remember her saying that,’ Jessica said. ‘In fact, I think she reminded me of that when I told her I was marrying Ryan.’

They sat a moment as Rose looked around the room, hardly able to believe that they’d almost packed up everything in the flat. Her personal belongings and some of her mother’s things were all being sent ahead to Argentina, but the rest was going into storage for now. She’d found someone fantastic to rent the flat for the next six months, and after that, she’d decide what she was going to do.

‘Knock, knock.’

Benjamin’s voice calling out as he opened the door made Jessica’s eyes widen.

‘Mr Tall, Dark and Handsome is here,’ Rose teased.

When Benjamin walked into the room, she stayed sitting while Jessica jumped to her feet, and Rose watched on nervously as the two most important people in her life met for the very first time.

‘You must be Jessica,’ Benjamin said, stepping closer and kissing her friend’s cheek. ‘I’ve heard so much about you.’

‘And I you,’ Jessica said, turning and giving Rose an arched brow as if to tell her just how much she approved. ‘It’s good to finally meet the man who swept my best friend off her feet.’

‘Rose told me that if I didn’t make a good impression on you, you might not let her move, so I’ve been a little nervous about meeting you.’

‘Oh, she did, did she?’ Jessica laughed. ‘I can’t say I approve of her moving countries, but I am looking forward to coming to visit. Advance warning, my girls are desperate to sit on an actual horse, so they may be expecting pony rides.’

Rose stood then, holding out her hand for Benjamin to help her to her feet. When she was standing, she slipped an arm around his waist, glancing up at him.

‘Jess, we actually have some news to share with you.’

Jessica looked as if she were about to faint. ‘Yes! I will be your matron of honour! I’ve waited years to be asked.’

Rose laughed, before placing both of her hands on her stomach and seeing the look on Jessica’s face change.

‘You will be, but we’ve decided to delay the wedding for a year or two.’

Jessica gasped. ‘You’re pregnant?’

‘It wasn’t exactly planned, and I wanted to wait until I’d actually seen a doctor?—’

‘But we’re over the moon about it,’ Benjamin interrupted, as Rose let go of him and embraced Jessica, who looked like she had no idea what to say.

‘You’re going to be a mum?’

Rose smiled through her tears as Jessica held her tight.

‘I am,’ she whispered back. ‘And if I can be half the mum you are, I’ll know I’m doing something right.’

‘You look after this girl,’ Jessica said when she finally let go of Rose. ‘She’s more special than you’ll ever know.’

‘How about I take you both out for lunch to celebrate?’ Benjamin said.

‘I’d love that,’ Jessica said. ‘I’m only here for two days, and I want to make the most of it.’

Benjamin excused himself then and Rose took hold of Jessica’s hand. ‘You like him?’

‘Like? How could I not?’ Jessica said, pulling her in for another hug. ‘He’s gorgeous, he’s charming and he’s the father of your child. Of course I love him.’

‘Do you think Mum would have liked him?’

‘I think your mum would have adored him. He’s everything she could have ever wished for in a man for her only daughter.’

Rose smiled, glimpsing Benjamin through the open door that led into her bedroom.

‘And you know what?’

‘What?’ Rose asked.

‘He looks at you like you’re the only person in the room,’ Jessica whispered. ‘I think the house could have fallen down around us, and he still wouldn’t have been able to take his eyes off you.’

Rose grinned at Benjamin when he caught her eye, and she knew that Jessica was right. It might not have happened when she was expecting it, but somehow everything was falling into place.

‘And you’re going to be the best mother to this little peanut,’ Jessica said, placing her hand over Rose’s stomach.

‘You think so?’

‘Oh honey, I know so.’