‘No, but I know you’re busy and you two have a life and I don’t want to get in the way of that. And on that note...’ He stood up and Gazza trotted over to have a sniff of Cyril but thankfully Barry pulled him away before he had a chance to think about cocking his leg. ‘I’d best be getting back.’
They said their goodbyes and both Cameron and Ros were relieved when the door finally closed behind Barry.
‘Thank you,’ said Ros.
‘It’s all part of the service.’
‘I suppose it is,’ said Ros. It was an unwelcome reminder that she was paying for his support.
Ros and Darla decided to meet at the café in Mayflower Park for their usual Wednesday meet-up and take a stroll along the waterfront with their takeaway cups. This was the place Ros called Sunset Shore, it was simply the area along the waterfront with a funny little scrap of beach where she often came to watch the sun go down. There was a breeze but the weather was mild, and Ros always felt April was an unpredictable month so was happy to seize the opportunity to go out in an evening without getting rained on. She unburdened herself to Darla and instantly felt a sense of release. She was beginning to see the value in friendship.
‘He’s never mentioned this Gina to me,’ said Darla. ‘Or any relationship to think of it.’
‘But you’re work colleagues – why would he?’
‘I’m dead nice me,’ said Darla, looking affronted. ‘People like to tell me stuff.’
‘But still, who would discuss things of a personal nature with people they work with?’
‘Most people, Ros.’ Darla gave her one of her looks that made Ros feel like she lived on a different planet.
‘Really? It seems most unprofessional.’
‘It’s quite normal. I think I need to talk to him and get an absolute confirmation of what’s going on with this Gina.’
‘Goodness, no,’ said Ros, her words coming out as quite a high-pitched squeak. ‘He’ll know we’ve been talking. He’ll probably think I’ve asked you to interrogate him. That’s a very bad idea. And I think it’s quite unnecessary, as you only had to look at them to see their connection.’
‘We’ve got a connection,’ said Darla, waving her coffee cup in Ros’s direction.
‘Definitely not the same. Gina said they’d been dating for years and he had a special place in her heart. There was also kissing when she left but I only heard that as I obviously turned away.’
‘Blimey, sounds like they are a thing then.’
They walked in silence and sipped their drinks. Although the silence didn’t last long as Darla had quite a bit to update Ros on. Her download came with violent gesticulations and virtual re-enactment, which made Ros fear for Darla’s coffee. Darla appeared spent by the time she got to the end of her update. She was looking at Ros. ‘This is the bit where you give me the benefit of your insight and wisdom,’ she prompted. ‘Like I did for you.’
Ros supposed she must have missed that part of their earlier conversation but was keen to fulfil her side of the friendship. ‘Well, in summary. Winston is a cat and they are notoriously nomadic and fickle, so it’s likely he will use you and Elliott as he wants and still receive your undying devotion. The chicken coop needs some additional reinforcement to stop the weasel coming back and it probably needs a new latch if they were able to escape. I think there’s something called scree that Elliott might be able to put over the top of the chicken footprints to—’
Darla waved her hands and Ros stopped talking. ‘What about what happens when I go home to Oxford? When my fake year of travelling is done and I go back to normal life. What do I do then?’
‘You mean when you’ve paid off The Wanker’s debts?’
‘Exactly.’
‘I have no idea because you’ve not told me,’ said Ros.
‘Because I don’t know and I want you to help me work it out.’ Ros was sensing a level of irritation in Darla’s words.
‘Then I’m assuming that you would like to return home ready to accomplish something in addition to the debt repayment as your parents won’t be aware of that.’
‘Yes, but what?’ asked Darla.
‘These are two different things. Your primary aim is for a zero balance, which you are on track to achieve. Secondly you need a longer term goal to present to your parents and that will fulfil you as an individual.’
‘Exactly. I’ve been asked to clean a yacht in the marina on a weekly basis and it pays well so I should be able to build a small amount of savings.’
‘Would that be enough to secure a rental property in Oxford?’
‘Possibly not.’ Darla puffed out a breath. ‘I’m going back to square one. All this work and effort has just been to get me back to zero.’ She looked forlorn.
