“Is Dee okay?” My mother had taught me that it was rude to interrupt, but the idea that social services might’ve taken Toby from her was tormenting me.
“Patience, but yes, she is. The social worker is really supportive and of course, they’re happy for Toby to stay with Dee. Toby was a bit wobbly afterwards, so Dee wanted to spend some time with him. They went to the beach.” Genevieve’s slight French accent came out as she was speaking, something that was usually well hidden behind her almost perfectly pronounced English.
I tapped my fingers on the desk. “Thank you. Dee told me what was going on with her sister. Which beach did they go to?”
“Just Llandudno. She sent me a selfie of them at the penny slots.” Ten seconds later and the picture was in front of me. “I think they’re home now. She was going to take Toby out for a burger for dinner. Then tomorrow he’s in holiday club.” Genny smiled. “He needs routine, and he can’t be spoiled every day.”
I wasn’t sure I agreed with that after his mum’s disappearing act.
“What’s Dee’s address? I want to send a shirt for Toby?” Truth, although the delivery guy was going to be me.
Genny’s eyes narrowed. “I can’t give it you. It would be a data breach.” She wrote something down on her pad and then stood up. “Would you mind just watching my office while I visit the bathroom? It’ll save me locking it up.”
“Sure.” She got my best smile.
And I got Dee’s address, perfectly written in elaborate script on Genny’s notepad.
Dee’s house was a small new building on a quiet estate twenty minutes from the training ground. The front lawn was tidy, the borders unfussy, and her five-year-old SUV was parked neatly on the driveway.
I wondered when Miss Dee got messy.
I heard laughter through an open window, pausing to listen before I rang the bell, one of those contraptions that showed who was at the door. They were both laughing, her and Toby; childish giggles and not so-childish ones that reminded me of my mam and how she’d been with us when we were growing up. We hadn’t had much, but we did have fun and we were loved. Still were.
I rang the bell, hearing muffled words about who it could be. Clearly, the security detail wasn’t paid much attention to.
The door swung open, and Dee stood there, still smiling. The smile faded when she saw me, surprise highlighting her face rather than annoyance, which I took as a win.
“Rowan.”
“Is Rowan here?” Toby ran past Dee and straight towards me, his arms out like he was about to take off. I squatted and grabbed him in a hug, because if anyone needed a hug it was him.
“How’s that left foot coming on? Have you been practicing?” I let go, keeping my hands on the top of his arms, keeping him still while checking that he looked okay. He did. Happy, excited, smiling – the same smile as his aunt.
“A bit. I want to join a football club.”
I nodded. “Maybe your aunt can make that happen.” I looked up at Dee. There was no way she hadn’t already scoped that out. “How was the beach?”
Dee shook her head. “How did you know where we’d been?”
I shrugged and stood back up. Toby zoomed back into the house, probably to find a football. “A little bird told me. I wanted to know how you’d gotten on.”
She nodded. The surprise had gone from her face, but the smile wasn’t quite there. “Fine. No word from Joanne though. I’ve reported her as missing to the police – the social worker advised it.”
“You okay?” Because no one would be asking that, not yet. She had gone from Toby’s auntie to his sole guardian in a few days, without support from her wider family. I knew that was hard: I’d seen my mam do it for years with the three of us.
She looked away from me, because there were tears in her eyes and she didn’t want anyone to see them.
“I’ve come to take you for dinner. You and Toby. The same little bird told me you wanted burgers.” I stuffed my hands in my pockets.
Toby shot back out with his football and an expectant look on his face. “Will you kick about with me?”
Dee laughed, staring at her nephew like she couldn’t believe what he’d just asked. “How about me? You didn’t want a kick-about on the beach!”
Toby had the sense to look guilty. “But Rowan…”
She tugged him closer to her. “It’s okay. I get it. He’s the hotshot footballer.”
“But you’re the best, it’s just…”
