Wild Love

Rosie lives in Vancouver and works for Apex, a construction materials company. After she gives a presentation in the boardroom, she is alone with her boss, Stan. In response to her presentation, he says that she is “[s]uch a smart girl” and calls her “Rosie,” both of which she finds uncomfortable and inappropriate considering that she’s new at the company (13). Stan asks her to show him something on a map on his laptop, and when she’s close, he grabs her butt. Rosie slaps his hand away and says that she’s reporting him to Human Resources.

Rosie’s boyfriend Ryan works in the oil industry. She and Ryan met in graduate school and have been together for two years. Rosie admits that their relationship feels more like they are roommates these days and that she no longer loves him. Though she doesn’t show it outwardly, Stan’s actions deeply bother her, and she can’t stop thinking about the incident. Hoping for his support, she tells Ryan what happened. He offers little empathy and suggests that she keep the matter to herself since she’s a new employee and wouldn’t want to jeopardize her position. Ryan’s complete disregard for her feelings makes Rosie feel hurt and alone. When she gets to the office, Linda from Human Resources asks Rosie to come to her office, and Rosie already knows her fate.

Ford and Cora confirm that he’s her biological father using the Kindred website. Ford once donated sperm to get $100 for tickets to a Rage Against the Machine concert. Cora’s parents used donated sperm to conceive her. Cora ran away because her father recently died from complications from ALS and her mother, Marilyn, is struggling with depression. Marilyn needs in-patient treatment, but since they have no other relatives, Cora may have to go into foster care. She’s traveled three hours by bus from Calgary to find Ford and ask for his help. Though he knows it’s impulsive, Ford agrees to help and loads Cora into his car. They drive to Calgary, where he sees her disheveled house, meets Marilyn, and offers assistance.

Rosie drives to her family home in Rose Hill, where her older brother, West, lives, hoping that the fresh air and comfort of her childhood home will help her get clarity on losing her job and her relationship with Ryan. When Rosie knocks on the door, she’s shocked to see Ford, her brother’s best friend, answer the door. She hasn’t seen Ford in almost 10 years and recognizes that he is noticeably more handsome. Rosie has a distinct memory of Ford picking her up from a party after she discovered that her boyfriend Travis Lynch cheated on her. She wrote about it in her diary and then tossed it out the car window. Ford and Rosie playfully reintroduce themselves. West’s six-year-old daughter, Emmy, and son, Oliver, are there, and Rosie tearfully sweeps Emmy into an embrace as Ford notices her tears. West is single but maintains a great co-parenting relationship with his ex-wife, Mia. As they walk into the house, West catches Rosie staring at Ford and jokingly asks what Ryan would think. Rosie exchanges wordless glances that let West know that it’s over between her and Ryan. Rosie is happy to be home but is unsure how she feels about Ford being there.

Ford is now officially caring for Cora through a kinship placement. He mentally runs through the list of everything that must be done, but Rosie’s arrival distracts him. Ford once had feelings for Rosie, but after 10 years, he thinks, “I never expected every teenage feeling to come barreling back in full force the minute I laid eye on her again” (41). At dinner at West’s, Ford awkwardly introduces Cora to Rosie, and Cora explains that Ford is a sperm donor. Rosie launches them into a playful banter, reminding Ford of them as teenagers. At Ford’s house, he shows Cora the room he’s prepared for her. She requests black sheets, which he promises to find. Ford ponders how unprepared he is to be a parent to a teen and worries that he has taken on more than he can handle.

Ford sits on the lake dock, and Rosie joins him. She claims that the dock is hers, but it’s technically on Ford’s property. She curses and calls him “Junior,” which she knows he hates. Ford explains why he’s moved back to Rose Hill. In college, he created a music-streaming app called Gramophone, which became hugely profitable. He bought the bar he frequented in college to give new musicians a venue. However, Ford has found that success and wealth haven’t been as fulfilling as he planned, and he moved to Rose Hill to escape the chaos of city life and build a music studio to help new musicians get their music out into the world.

Ford’s parents are traveling but plan to spend the summer at Rose Hill. Rosie says that Ford should tell them about Cora before they arrive. Ford hasn’t told them about Cora because his father, a member of the famous band Full Stop, was once involved in a paternity dispute with a fan. Ford worries that his father will deploy his lawyers to diffuse the situation, and he’s already promised Cora’s mother that he will help them while she receives treatment. Rosie disagrees with Ford’s decision to withhold the information. Ford replies that since Rosie showed up unannounced, she has yet to explain to West what happened. Rosie defensively bites back that she doesn’t owe anyone an explanation. She threatens to walk away but reminds Ford that it’s her dock, so he leaves, but not before he yanks her ponytail and calls her “Rosie Posie,” something he did when they were teens.

Rosie awakens in the bunkhouse to a beautiful lake view, contemplating her hasty departure from the city and telling Ryan that she is visiting her family. She’s sure that he knows their relationship is over, but they are too good of friends to tell each other the truth. Though Rosie worked hard to get her Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree and a successful job in Vancouver, she can’t deny that being back in Rose Hill makes her feel content and free. Rosie’s parents are building a new house on the property, and she knows she must tell them the truth about her job. She’s always been “the good one,” and West was always the kid who got into trouble.

Rosie drives into town to her favorite spot, the Bighorn Bistro, owned by her high school acquaintance Tabitha. Tabitha is happy to see Rosie and asks how long she’s in town. Without thinking, Rosie says, “Indefinitely.” They make plans to meet another time for drinks and to catch up. Rosie walks through town, sees Ford opening the door to his office, and approaches him nervously. Rosie asks Ford to hire her as an assistant, citing that her MBA credentials would help set up his new venture. Ford agrees, and Rosie is surprised at his lack of resistance, but Ford reminds her, “[W]hen have I ever said no to you?” (67). Rosie recalls all the times when he was there for her in the past, especially when Travis broke her heart.

Rosie suggests that Ford hire someone to clean the barn, but he disdains her ordering him around. Rosie leaves to pick up Cora from middle school to escape their tension. Ryan calls and asks when Rosie is coming home. She reveals that she got a job in Rose Hill and plans to stay there, claiming that she needs “space.” Ryan wants to talk to her in person and see if they can work things out but says that he doesn’t have room in his schedule until next month. Rosie is reminded of how he didn’t come to her defense when Stan sexually assaulted her or when she unjustly lost her job as a result. Though she longs to tell him how much he’s letting her down and end the relationship, Rosie feels shameful that her life is in shambles and agrees.

Cora isn’t thrilled that Rosie is her ride, but it doesn’t take long for them to bond over poking fun at Ford. Cora can tell that Rosie is stressed, and Rosie shares that she’s anxious about revealing to her parents that she’s lost her job and is ending her relationship. Rosie invites Cora to accompany her to her parent’s house to ease the tension of what she knows is coming. Cora goes into the barn to tell Ford, but he insists on coming with them.

Rosie’s parents, Andy and Greta West, are surprised to see her, and Ford can tell that Andy suspects that something is afoot. Greta prepares tea while they all awkwardly gather, and Rosie tries to explain the reason for her visit. Andy wonders why Ford is with them and blurts out that he always asked if Rosie and Ford would end up together. Rosie nearly chokes on a biscuit and recovers, explaining that Ford has hired her as his assistant. Andy is confused since Rosie has an MBA, and Ford steps in, saying that Rosie will be his business manager, an essential part of helping him get Rose Hill Records started. Greta asks what will happen when she returns to Vancouver, and Ford’s heart sinks at the idea because Rosie broke his heart the first time she left Rose Hill; now that she’s back, he can’t bear the thought of losing her again.

Ford is swimming in the lake, trying to clear his mind from the stress of starting the new business. Rosie is watching from the dock while she eats her favorite chips. They exchange flirtatious banter, and seeing her on the dock reminds Ford of the carefree summers at Rose Hill spent with Rosie. Ford climbs out of the water and confesses that he’s struggling to connect with Cora. Rosie encourages him not to try to be her father but instead to be a supportive friend. She tosses a chip at him, which starts a playful food fight. Rosie’s hand accidentally lands on Ford’s chest, which silences them both. She stares at him and licks her lips. West interrupts them, and Rosie shoves Ford into the water to break the tension.

Rosie arrives at the barn the next day for work, still thinking about her intense exchange with Ford the night before. He’s sitting at his desk on the phone and has put a desk for her right next to him. Rosie’s teenage journal is on the desk, which she threw out the car window many years ago. Ford returned and searched for it twice before rescuing it from the ditch. He never read it and didn’t give it to West to protect Rosie’s privacy. The gesture touches Rosie deeply, but Ford plays it off and quickly switches the discussion to finding a contractor to fix the barn.

Rosie picks up Cora from school. Cora says that Rosie’s goofiness reminds her of her father. She likes Ford, but he is awkward around her, and she can tell he’s trying too hard. Cora uses the word “relationship” to describe Rosie and Ford, and Rosie quickly corrects her, saying that she and Ford are “[j]ust childhood frenemies turned boss and employee” (98-99). Cora side-eyes her. Cora loves using the Gramophone app and raves about the new artist whom Ford signed. Rosie realizes that Cora idolizes Ford, even though he fears her. Cora says that she tries to stay out of his way so that she isn’t a bother. Her confession reminds Rosie of her childhood and how she acted the same way to avoid causing her parents any more anxiety since West gave them plenty.

Ford begs Cora to tell him something he can cook for her, and she asks if they have the ingredients for s’mores, but Ford doesn’t have them. He calls Rosie, and she offers to go to the store. Meanwhile, Ford and Cora work on getting a campfire started. Cora has never been camping because of her father’s illness, and Ford silently decides that he’s going to give Cora all the childhood experiences she’s missed. Rosie arrives, and Ford is surprised by his emotional and physical response to seeing her. His heart leaps when he sees how excited Cora is to see Rosie. Ford teaches Cora how to start the fire, and he gets emotional after seeing how much joy it brings her. When he looks up, Rosie is watching him.