Love, Rosie (156 page)

And
even
though
I
can
see
you
and
know
that
you’re
there,
you’re
just

beyond
my
reach.
I
don’t
know
how
unrealistic
the
promise
we
made
to
each

other
as
children
was,
to
stay
together
side
by
side
forever,
but
we
sure
have

remained
friends
from
across
the
seas
for
over
twenty
years,
and
that
I’m

sure
is
some
feat.

I’ve
been
job
hunting
all
week.
My
aim
was
to
try
and
get
a
job
in
a

hotel
surprise,
surprise
but
it
seems
that
as
the
summer
has
already
begun,

students
and
immigrants
only
too
willing
to
be
underpaid
have
already

taken
everything
for
the
next
few
months.
The
money
they’re
offering
really

isn’t
enough
to
help
me
and
Katie
get
back
on
our
feet
anyway.
I
will
join
in

with
the
insufferable
moans
of
twenty-first-century
Ireland
in
a
chorus
of

“Everything
is
so
expensive
these
days.”
I’m
waiting
to
hear
from
the
coun-

cil
about
getting
a
house
but
I’ve
been
here
before
and
the
waiting
list
is
so

long.

Unfortunately
my
position
at
the
Two
Lakes
Hotel
has
been
filled,
other-

wise
I
would
have
left
my
pride
at
the
entrance
lobby
and
asked
for
it
back.

Brian
has
offered
to
pay
child
support
but
I
don’t
want
his
money.
I
man-

aged
before
without
him,
I
certainly
don’t
need
his
help
now.
He
can
give

Katie
whatever
pocket
money
his
heart
desires
but
his
money
is
neither

requested
nor
required.

There
hasn’t
been
a
peep
out
of
what’s-his-name
lately.
That
man
is
too

afraid
of
his
own
shadow,
never
mind
of
me.
I
filed
for
a
divorce
last
week;
I

need
him
out
of
my
life
for
good.
I
gave
him
enough
love
and
enough

chances
but
he
threw
it
all
back
in
my
face,
I
would
be
a
fool
to
stay
around

pinning
hopes
on
him
again.
It’s
not
healthy
for
me
or
Katie.
I’ll
dance

around
the
streets
naked
when
the
divorce
is
final.

Did
you
hear
that
Stephanie
is
pregnant?
She’s
due
in
November
so
all

240

Cecelia
Ahern

the
family
are
naturally
thrilled.
Mum
and
Dad
are
in
great
form,
always

asking
for
you
and
Josh
and
they’re
very
much
enjoying
their
retirement

together.
They’re
actually
talking
about
selling
their
house
and
moving
down

to
the
country
where
it’s
cheaper
so
they
can
use
the
extra
money
to
travel

the
world
together
for
the
rest
of
their
years.
I
think
it’s
a
great
idea,
they

don’t
need
all
these
empty
rooms
in
the
house
(apart
from
when
I
come