Caro contemplated giving her own version of reality.
In a tapas restaurant. Alone. Can’t eat. Shit day. Might be about to find out my dad has lived a lifetime of lies. Oh and I may have a sister that looks like Gwen Stefani.
She picked up her phone, but not to boost her social network profile.
‘Am I mad?’ she said, before Todd even had a chance to say hello.
‘Absolutely,’ he answered, without hesitation.
‘Okay, so I was hoping for something a little more consoling than that. It was one of those instances that required you to humour me.’
‘Ah, right.’ He coughed, then went on, ‘No, you’re not mad at all. I completely understand, I’d do the same thing, as would any sane, rational, human being with a free day and a train ticket.’ He paused. ‘How was that?’
‘Perfect. I feel so much better now.’
‘Then my job is done.’
Caro could see him in her head, laughing as he prattled on, and felt a definite loosening of the vice that was gripping her shoulders. And actually, the smell of the food was making her stomach grumble now. Maybe she could manage a few bites.
‘So, you got a plan yet?’ he asked, not stopping for an answer. ‘I saw that woman’s update on Facebook. I’ve been keeping an eye on it too. She’s gorgeous. Looks nothing like you.’
Caro laughed, causing a few people at surrounding tables to stare. ‘Again, thank you. My ego would thank you too but it’s too busy being kicked to death by your kind words.’
‘You know I didn’t mean that,’ he said, laughing. ‘She is gorgeous though. Although, keeping tabs on her does make me feel slightly stalker-like.’
‘Don’t worry about it. Going by the number of posts she puts up of her perfect life, and the fact that she has no privacy settings, I’m thinking she enjoys the attention. God, was I just bitchy about a half-sister I may or may not have, on the basisof the fact that she is gorgeous, glamorous, and leads a far more exciting life than me?’
‘You were. It’s a whole new side of you, but I quite like it. Anyway, you didn’t answer me. Have you got a plan yet?’
‘I have…’
‘And it is?’
‘Two-pronged.’
‘Oh, get you – a double strategy, Nancy Drew.’
‘I’m going to look at the places she normally goes to, find out which ones are near here, and then go check them out in the hope that she’s there…’
‘Okay, I can see the sense in that.’
‘At the same time, I’ll keep an eye on her Facebook and see if she checks in anywhere. If she does, I’ll follow the trail.’
‘And if you find her?’
‘I have absolutely no idea… but I guess we’ll soon find out.’
10
Cammy
It wasn’t the money. Sure, he’d lost a grand, but in the big scheme of things, that wasn’t the end of the world. It was the fact that he had been sure that was the right ring and that Lila would love it and he could picture it on her finger until the end of time. Now, three shops later, he still hadn’t found another one that made him feel the same way.
‘I swear to God, Cammy, if you don’t pick one soon, I’m telling them to gift-wrap the biggest piece of tat they have and then we’re dragging you out of here,’ Josie warned.
‘And I’ll help her. Although, I lost the feeling in my feet ten minutes ago,’ Val added.
‘Sorry, it’s just…’ Cammy ran his fingers through his hair, a sure sign that he was stressing, ‘…which one?’
