“I don’t think that’s happened. I just have a feeling- that makes me sound nuts. I think there’s something Mia’s not telling us.” Something didn’t sit right at all the more I thought about it.
“Like what? She’s a quiet pupil from what I saw today, and quiet kids go unnoticed which is why they often see things.”
“That’s true. Heidi’s only quiet if she’s asleep.” If she didn’t say anything for more than five minutes I assumed I’d either gone deaf or she’d been kidnapped.
I shivered even though it wasn’t cold.
“Romy, you’re making me nervous. Have you locked the doors? I know people leave the doors round here unlocked all the time - ”
“They’re both locked and bolted. City girl. And I learned early on that neighbours would come walking in whenever they felt like it, so locking your door was the first line of defence.”
He was chuckling, a deep melodic sound that was far too pleasant.
“Do you sing?” It felt odd, asking him that, as if it was deeply personal given we’d only met today and he was my daughter’s head teacher.
“I have done when I was a kid. I’m pretty good on karaoke.”
“What’s your go to song?”
“That’s a tricky one. If it’s early in the evening then something by the Stereophonics. If it’s late on, Tom Jones.”
I laughed, somehow seeing how both of those performances would look. “I bet you have a few pairs of knickers thrown on stage.” I only realised what I’d said when the pause was too long. “Shit, that was totally inappropriate, I’m so sorry. That was really wrong - ”
His laughter shut me up.
“That’s probably the best compliment I’ve had since I found out my wife was sleeping with my boss.”
“Really? I’m glad I could be of help then.” Which seemed like a good time to end the conversation before I could say anything else to totally embarrass myself.
FOUR
Cassian
The small order from a large and well-known company came first thing. I’d expected that I’d have been sat in for most of the morning, probably the last delivery on the list, but as it turned out, the driver, who’d come from Chester, had a wedding to get to that afternoon, so he’d wrangled it so he left early.
It was great: I now had a bed, wardrobe, TV stand and TV, plus a small pile of bedding, towels, crockery and cutlery, the first time I’d made such purchases as a single man and not as a boyfriend being dragged round a big shopping centre.
I felt like an adult and it was unsurprisingly sobering.
By just after ten, I’d set the bed up, sorted out the TV and satellite, made the bed and ran the pots and stuff through the dishwasher, showered and sat down, staring at a blank TV screen because I wasn’t sure what the fuck to do with myself.
For the first time since it’d all happened with Bryony, I felt it.
My marriage was over. My job as deputy, working alongside my best mate, had gone. I was hundreds of miles away from myfriends and even further from my family, and worse, my dog had stayed with Bryony and Jason.
I was most gutted about the dog.
I also needed something to do for the day so I didn’t sit there being maudlin and feeling sorry for myself. Getting to know the town should be the top of my list, although I’d never been one for the wordshould. Applying for the job here had been a knee-jerk reaction, and possibly a bit dramatic, but I was going to make the most of it. I didn’t think anyone would comment if I had dinner at Puffin Inn again for a second night running, and I might find out if there was a local football team I could sign up for because I was probably too late for cricket, although you never knew.
And I might get a dog from the local rescue.
With something that felt like energy sent from the patron saint of new beginnings, I left the sofa and headed out, locking up just like I’d told Romy to last night.
Which made me think about Romy some more.
It’d been years since I’d spent so long on the phone to a woman, probably way before Bryony and I had moved in together and were in the early days when everything was exciting and new.
That felt like a different lifetime ago.
