Whiskey Rose (Fallen) (8 page)

“Thank you. I would like to dedicate this next one. If we could clear some space on the floor. My friend Rose has found her long lost dance partner.” Matt heard Rose gasp beside him.  “Help me out with some encouragement for Rose.” The crowd began clapping again and he could see the color rising in her cheeks. He put his hand out and she looked at it then looked at him. He smiled what he hoped was a disarming smile. She stepped out from behind the bar and took off her apron. She put her hand in his and the crowd cheered. He led her to the very small space that they had deemed dance floor. He looked up at Katrina and she began to sing. He pulled her close and wrapped his arm around her waist. If he had bothered to ask for dancing rules he was certain she would have said a minimum of six inches between their bodies. But he hadn’t asked so he didn’t have to follow the rule. He held her tightly against him. She felt good in his arms. Her head tucked under his chin against his chest. He knew Katrina was singing but he couldn’t hear her. All he could hear was a loud rushing as the blood pulsed through his ears.

Rose couldn’t remember the last time anyone had held her. For any reason. She had forgotten how good it felt. How much humans needed contact with each other. She didn’t want to know, she didn’t want to be reminded and yet she couldn’t let go, she couldn’t pull away.  She only knew the song was over when everyone began clapping again. She looked up and smiled at Matt. Then she quickly pulled away and walked back toward the bar. He was right behind her she could feel him. Her heart was racing and her eyes were burning from the overwhelming urge to cry. She wasn’t going to cry. She would never be able to explain that. Not to Matt not to any of them.  When she reached the bar she pretended to sneeze just to have a moment to turn away.

It seemed like it took forever for the place to clear out even after Katrina had stopped singing. He wanted to talk to her. He needed to talk to her. She hadn’t met his eyes since she had walked off the dance floor. He needed to know what that meant. He needed to see it in her eyes. Finally when the last person was ushered out he drew a deep breath and… completely lost his nerve. She was cleaning up so he followed suit. He began putting up the chairs. He was just about finished when he heard the creak of one of the doors. He looked up and saw a man standing just inside the entrance.

“
Sorry buddy w
e’
r
e
…”

“
Matt
.
” She cut him off. He looked at her, she had her hand up to stop him from speaking but her eyes were on the man who had just entered. He was young they were about the same age. The man had dark brown hair and enough beard growth to indicate that he had
n’
t seen a razor in quite some time.

“
Come on in Jonathan
,
” she said quietly. He walked the rest of the way in but he did
n’
t walk to Rose, he walked to a table in front of the stage and sat down. Rose picked up a bottle of whiskey and a glass off the shelf and followed the man to the table. Matt told himself he should leave and give them some privacy. Bu
t‘
himsel
f
’ was
n’
t listening. He picked up the broom and began to sweep instead.

“
I
t’
s been a long time
.
” Rose spoke softly as she poured the brown liquid into the glass.

“
You look good Rosy. Ho
w’
ve you been
?
”

“
I am well
.
”

“
Did Trina sing
?
”

“
Yes. Would you like me to tell her yo
u’
re here
?
”

“
No
,
” he said quickly. He downed the whiskey in the glass
.“
How is she
?
”

“
Do you want the truth or are you here to ease your conscience
?
” Her words were soft and even but they even made Matt flinch and he had no idea what was going on.

“
What do want me to say Rose? That I am sorry? It wo
n’
t change anything, I ca
n’
t take it back
.
”

“
No Jonathan, I do
n’
t want you to say yo
u’
re sorry. I just want you to see that yo
u’
re not the only one who hurts. Yo
u’
re not the only one who lost her, not the only one who misses her
.
”
 
The man reached out and touched Ros
e’
s cheek and Matt felt his chest tighten.

“
Ros
y
… you look ridiculous as a blond
,
” he said softly and she laughed.
 “
Is Izzy still around
?
”

“
Yeah he is the same as always
.
”

“
How is the um
m
… Do you stil
l…?
”

“
Yes. Clay is good. Would you like to see him
?
”

“
No
,
” he said forcefully and Rose leaned back in her chair. They were quiet for a few moments. Then Rose stood and walked to the stage and picked up a guitar off its stand.

“
Will you play for me
?
”

“
I ca
n’
t play anymore. I lost the gift
.
”

“
You ca
n’
t lose a gift
.
” She sat down beside him again still holding the guitar.

“
I disagree, I lost several at once
.
”
 
He stood up he reached out and touched her face one more time
.“
Take care of yourself kid
.
” Rose closed her eyes she heard him walk away as the tears slipped out from under her lids.

“
You need another handkerchief
?
” She opened her eyes and smiled up at him.

“
No
.
”

“
Are you sure? I have a dozen
.
” She laughed at that. She pulled the one he had already given her from her sleeve and waved it at him. He smiled and sat down in the recently vacated chair.

“
You want to talk about it
?
”

“
You do
n’
t want to hear it. I
t’
s a long sad story
.
”

“
Most of them are
.
” He encouraged but she just sat there.  Finally she took a deep breath and stared at the vacant stage.

“There used to be three of them. Katrina and Pamela would sing and Jonathan played for them. They were good, so good it made your chest ache just to listen to them. Pam and I were friends the moment I met her it was… preordained.” She half laughed and wiped away a tear. Jonathan is or was Pam’s brother. They were… the only family I had.” She dabbed her eyes with the handkerchief as more tears escaped. Jonathan and Katrina were in love, as in love as two people could be. Then…” She hesitated and he saw her swallow as the memory played in her eyes. “Jonathan and Pam had a fight, a falling out I guess you could say. Then she died.” More tears ran out of her eyes but she didn’t bother to wipe them away. “He wouldn’t have stayed mad and she wasn’t mad at him… but they never had a chance to make up. She died and everything
fell apart. It was like a three legged stool missing a leg. Jonathan was so guilt ridden he blamed himself for Pam’s death and he left. He broke Katrina’s heart. She has never been the same. None of us have ever been the same.” Her voice faded to a whisper and Matt ached for her. He ached for the pain she was feeling because he knew it all too well. He reached out and picked up the guitar she had left against the table. He began to strum the strings with his thumb. After a moment his fingers found the chords and began to form the sound of a recognizable tune. Rose leaned on the table and propped her head up with her hand.  When he finished the song he looked up and found her eyes on him.

“
That was beautiful. I did
n’
t know you played
.
”

“
I
t’
s been a long time, another life
.
”

“
Yeah another life
,
” she sighed. She stood up and picked up the bottle and glass and carried them back to the bar.

“
Rose
.
” She turned and was surprised to find him right behind her. He held his hand out to her. She looked at it and put hers in his. He pulled her close and wrapped his arms around her. She wrapped her arms up and gripped his shoulders tightly.

Matt could hear her coughing in the darkness. He could tell she was trying to muffle it but she was coughing. He smirked to himself and wondered if she would admit that she was sick now. He doubted it.

When dawn came she still looked exhausted. He did
n’
t say anything this time. Not after the way she had misconstrued it the last time he said she looked tired. Dixie however did
n’
t have the same fear.

“
You look terrible Darlin. Did
n’
t you get any sleep last night
?
”

“
Not much
,
” Rose responded and then coughed as a punctuation.

“
Oh Darlin, you are sick. You should be in bed
.
”

“
I already told her that
.
” Matt said into his coffee cup.

“
Oh honey, I meant that she needs to sleep. Not what you have in mind
.
” Matt laughed at that but Rose did
n’
t appear to appreciate the reference.

“
Dixie
!
”

“
You know what you need is a shot of Kentucky Whiskey
.
” She said ignoring Ros
e’
s outrage.

“
How is that going to help
?
”

“
It will kill that cough
.
”

“
It will
?
”

“
Well it always works for me
.
” Dixie said as she walked out of the room.

He had to admire her determination even if he did
n’
t see the need for it. She continued with her routine as if she was as right as rain. Even when she was interrupted with bouts of coughing. He was just about to make another attempt to talk her into going back to bed when someone came in from outside.

“
Rose
.
”

“
Hi Marvin
.
”

“
Have you been outside
?
”

“
No why
?
”

“
You better come and take a look
.
” Rose followed the man outside and Matt followed her. Rose gasped when she saw it. It was the word Whore scrawled across the front of the building in red paint. 

Rose stood there feeling a little dumbfounded. She could
n’
t imagine who would do such a thing. Matt grasped her shoulder and turned her marching her back inside.

“
What are you doing
?
” she demanded.

“
I will take care of this. You just do what you normally do
.
” She looked up at him prepared to argue but simply nodded instead.

Matt was angry as he attempted to scrub the paint off the front of the building. It was
n’
t going to come off. Not all of it.

“
Good morningMr. Anderson
.
”

“
Good morning Mr. McGregor. Do you happen to have any paint
?
”