We didn’t have kids, our shared memories would either fade or be forgotten and maybe we’d both learned something about ourselves that would help for the future, even if that was me knowing it was a bad idea to tell a woman she had too many shoes, and Bryony realising that the bins didn’t put themselves out.
New town. New job. New home. New start.
One that had a lot of surprising elements.
Like Romy.
“Is that house safe for Romy and the girls to stay in?” I was walking with Roe and Finn down towards the Puffin Inn, where I’d be enjoying a pint of lime and soda, and dinner, obviously. I was yet to cook anything in my own kitchen and there was every chance I was going to end up living like a student.
Finn looked at his brother, frowning, which Finn did a lot. “Is it?”
Roe pulled a face. “Do you really think I’d let her stay there if it wasn’t? It is now, anyway.” He listed a load of equipment that’d been installed.
I didn’t even pretend to understand. “What does that mean?”
“Motion sensors outside, the camera goes straight to the team I work with, so any movement and whoever’s on duty will be notified. Sensors on the windows and doors, any tampering will get picked up. We’ve installed panic buttons in most rooms and secured the windows in all the bedrooms. It bothers me that no one overlooks the house and the house next door is empty for the summer because Beryl and Albert have gone on a cruise.” Roe was obviously thinking what else he could do. “Empty houses aren’t great. They’re a target for OCG’s – move someone into the house, so ‘cuckoo’ it, and set up business from there. Often teenagers will live there who are being used to run county lines. I’ve asked Beryl whether she’d be happy for me to get someone to house sit for the summer, and she was thinking about it. I wish she’d think quicker.” Roe switched his kit bag to his other shoulder.
“When did you ask her?” Finn bent down to pick up a bag of dumped rubbish. “Why do people do this?”
“Because they’re wankers. There’s even a bin over there.” Roe pointed. “I asked Beryl at lunch time, She said she’d check with Albert and if he agreed, the back bedroom was out of bounds. I didn’t ask why.” Roe took the bag of rubbish off his brother and put it in the bin.
“Wise. I know one of their orders turned up at the pub once. It was from some online sex shop and it wasn’t discreetly packaged. How old are they?” Finn rubbed his hands against each other. He probably needed to disinfect them now.
“I think they’re late sixties. I think I want to be Albert when I’m that age.” Roe upped the pace we were walking at.
“I bet Freya doesn’t agree.” Finn checked his phone, sent something of a response to whatever and shoved it back in his pocket.
“Freya’s not speaking to me at the moment.”
“Why’s that?”
I was looking forward to this.
“I locked her out. Long story but she thinks I did it on purpose. I didn’t. Back to the house next door to Romy – even if Beryl says someone can stay, I don’t have anyone lined up. It needs to be someone I can trust, who doesn’t mind a short-term stay – a few months or so, and doesn’t have kids or a pet.” He looked perturbed. “I’ll sleep better knowing that someone’s not going to be in the house next door while all this is going on.”
I thought about the school house, which had been occupied by the longest servicing headteacher ever, or that was how it felt. He’d done nothing to it, even though there was a budget for bringing it up to date from an old trust that’d been set up when the school was founded and added to throughout the years. The kitchen was just about usable, the whole place needed decorating and new flooring, and there was definitely damp on one of the walls which I’d figured was from a faulty hopper. It needed workmen going in, and then it needed decorating, which I’d rather not live through.
“I can stay next door to Romy.” It would be a practical solution, plus I’d be closer to town than the schoolhouse which was slightly away from the main stretch, and felt a bit isolated.
Roe frowned at me, his usual expression. “What about being the headteacher in residence?”
“It needs modernising and I’d rather not live there while it’s being done. I really don’t like the place as it is.” It was the truth but the first time I’d said it. “I’ve not even properly unpacked.”
Roe studied me briefly and gave a short nod. “I think Beryl would be happy with the new head teacher staying there. Are you sure about that?”
“I wouldn’t have offered if I wasn’t.” It hadn’t taken me long to make my mind up, but I knew I was best to go with my gut most of the time. “When are they back?”
“October. It’s a six month round the world cruise. Sounds great if you like being cooped up in a cabin.” Roe had his phone out and was sending a message, I suspected it was to Beryl.
It rang straight afterwards and he stepped across the road to take it.
“How are you finding the town?” Finn rubbed at his stubble.
I’d figured he saw himself as being something of a guardian for the town. He’d seemed invested in it, keen to work with other businesses, believing that a rising tide floated all boats.
“I like it. It’s different to where I was before, and I can’t lie and say this was a planned move years in the making, but it feels right, being here.”
“You might feel different when our eldest starts at your school. You’ll probably want to run for the hills.” He rubbed his face, looking exhausted. “I should’ve known that Ruby’s kids would be wild.”
