Scrap 16

SCRAP 16
As ever more mourners cram into the house to pay their respects the real drinking gets under way. Despite the crush, Rosa finds it impossible to escape from Danny and eventually loses her patience with him. ‘Will you leave me be for a while?’ She snaps ‘I’ve not had a chance to speak with anyone else all day.’ Danny gives her an exaggeratedly hurt look before skulking away in the direction of the bar.
Rosa’s head is buzzing but at least now she can breathe. Exchanging pleasantries with those she passes she heads for the French doors and steps out onto the patio. The sun is low in the sky and the air cool and clear with a hint of the sea a mile or so away.
Finding a quiet place near the pond she settles on a bench and watches the spray from the fountain as it fights to escape from a rose choked with blanket weed. She reaches out to clear the jets and almost falls in the water. Frank catches hold of her dress and pulls her upright. ‘I can do that for you.’ But there is no need, the water is sprouting freely and dropping onto water lilies all around the pond.
‘I looked out for you,’ says Rosa as they sit together on the bench. ‘Sorry, I got back late from the markets. I only just got here.’ Rosa seems not to have heard. ‘Thanks for coming,’ she says as she leans on his shoulder. ‘It’s been a long day.’ She looks up at him. ‘Have you had a drink? Where are my manners?’
People are drifting into the garden, away from the tobacco smoke and noise. Someone has brought out a fiddle and strikes up a tune. ‘What are we going to do without him, Frank?’ He puts his arm around her shoulder and kisses the top of her head. ‘You’ll be alright.’
Orla is calling Rosa’s name. ‘I’d better go,’ she says. Frank follows her back into the house. Orla gives him a cold look. ‘Oh, hello Frank,’ she manages, ‘Thank you for coming.’ Frank says ‘He was a good friend.’
Orla steers her daughter away. ‘Danny’s been looking for you.’ Rosa bristles, ‘Mam, he’s been hanging around me like a shadow ever since he arrived. It’s too much.’ Orla pats her on the shoulder. ‘He feels for you, that’s all,’ she says, pointedly. ‘Your father was very fond of him.’
Rosa pours herself a large glass of whiskey and takes a mouthful. ‘Don’t try to push him on to me,’ she warns. She finds Frank, takes his hand and leads him back to the bar. ‘Let’s get drunk.’ She pours a tumbler full of whiskey for him and tops up her own glass. The liquid sears her throat and hits her stomach like a burning torrent. They both drain their glasses and top them up again. Soon they have emptied the bottle and the room seems to sway around as Rosa leans on Frank for support.
Orla has been calling out for Jason, but he is nowhere to be found. ‘Shall I look for him?’ asks Frank. ‘No,’ says Rosa, ‘I’ll ask Danny. It will give him something to do.’ Danny is only too happy to help and disappears to look for the boy.
Frank is concerned that in her attempt to block out the pain, Rosa is making herself ill. ‘I think you’ve had enough of that,’ he says, taking yet another glass of whiskey from her hand. She makes no objection as he helps her up the stairs. She just about remembers where her bedroom is and he lays her gently down, removes her shoes and places a cover over her. ‘Don’t go,’ she pleads.
Frank looks about the room, as if expecting someone to jump out at him. ‘You’ve had too much to drink. Get some sleep and I’ll see you in the morning.’
Rosa clings to him even tighter. ‘Don’t leave me, Frank. Lock the door. I want you to stay.’
With a house full of volatile relatives and one in particular to be avoided, Frank is keen to play the chivalry card, but he too has had more than enough to drink and it is all too easy to do as Rosa asks.