I made the call to the out of hours emergency social care team, who took the details and mine, asking for Romy’s address and number, which I gave, sending her a quick text afterwards to let her know I’d passed on her information.
By the time I got back to the Puffin Inn, the duty social worker had already called her, Romy texting me back to let me know that the social worker would be round later to visit. The police also called me back, taking the same details and sending someone round to visit the aunt to see if Cara was there. She wasn’t classed as vulnerable, so it would be another couple of days before we could say she’d been missing for seventy-two hours, which was the time required for the police to take it seriously. I imagined that in another few hours, the town would be buzzing with the gossip – I just hoped it wouldn’t put Cara off coming home.
Apart from keeping Mia happy, there wasn’t much more we could do, which was what I said to Romy when I sat down next toher in the beer garden at the inn while Heidi and Mia played on the climbing frame there.
“I think what worries me most is that Cara forgot to leave the key. I know Mia can let herself in – the lock’s low so she could reach it apparently. That makes me think she left in a hurry.” Romy checked her phone for the second time since I’d sat down, a pint of lime and soda in front of me, just in case I needed to drive anywhere.
“I know. But if she’s not well, she may have just forgotten, or she’s left it somewhere else – or Mia might have gotten it wrong. Try not to overthink it.” Which would be easier said than done for both of us.
Romy nodded, smiling at me and looking brighter than she had done since she’d first come to the bar. “You’re right. Time to just focus on the now. How are you going to spend the rest of today – and the weekend? Do you still need to unpack?”
“Kind of. I don’t have any plans yet. I need to buy some furniture – I didn’t exactly bring much.” Barely anything. I was sleeping on the couch that had already been in the house and was approximately thirty years old.
“Is your partner joining you out here?” She looked at me curiously.
I was going to work on the assumption that she was genuinely interested rather than fishing for gossip.
“No partner. My wife is in the process of becoming my ex-wife.” I gave her a wry smile. “I’m literally in a place where I don’t know anyone or where anything is – apart from the Puffin Inn and the corner shop – and the school.”
She laughed, a sound that made me want to do everything I could to hear it again, even if it was at my expense.
“Give it another week and everyone will know you. Promise.” She glanced over at where the girls were playing. “Although there are some people who’ve lived here for a while, and we don’tknow them any better than when they first moved in. Cara’s one of them.”
“I’m sure she’s just taken a breather.” The words were empty and we both knew it.
“Maybe. I’m not sure it’s possible when you’ve got a kid though. Have you any – kids, I mean?”
“No. That’s a good thing, given how things ended.” I sounded too fucking sorry for myself. “Don’t get me wrong – it’s probably a good thing it’s over. It wasn’t working, it just didn’t need to end how it did.”
“How did it end? Sorry, I don’t mean to pry.”
I laughed, the sound hollow. “She was a teacher at the school where I was deputy – I found her and the head teacher together in the back of the car when I was walking the dog. We hadn’t been working out, arguing when we were together, which wasn’t often.” I shrugged. It hurt less now, the dent in my male pride had been smoothed out. “They’re together now – he’s moved into our old house and he’s taking the dog for a walk, which is the bit I hate the most. It was an interesting last half term working together.”
“I can imagine. How long were you married for?” A quick glance at the girls and her attention was back on me.
“Five years. We were together ten. How about you and your husband – that’s if you don’t mind talking about him.” It was a brazen question, I knew, but sometimes it was harder not to talk about things.
She swallowed and smiled at me. “Thank you for asking about him. People usually avoid it in case it upsets me. We were together nearly ten years. I met him when I came on holiday here when I was eighteen. I met him in a pub in Beaumaris where he was working behind the bar. After that, every weekend I drove here. As soon as I graduated, we moved in together. Wehad a good relationship and I know it ended too soon, but I can enjoy the happy memories.”
“How did you get to that point?”
“Heidi. She doesn’t remember Joel, but she asks about him, and we talk about him. I pass on all the good memories to her so the things that weren’t perfect – and there were many, like in most relationships – become less important.” Her smile was sunny and genuinely happy. “I’ve found peace with it.”
“Credit to you.” I meant it. “Will you let me know what the social worker says when they visit?”
“Sure. Will you call me if you hear anything about where Cara is?” She stood up, the early June breeze pushing the material of her shirt against her skin, making every curve stand out.
“Definitely. Are you off to the beach?”
“A good run-around and they’ll hopefully sleep in. I’m not sure if Mia will be okay, but I can try to help her as best I can. I’ll try Cara again later although I’ve sent about twenty text messages.”
There was a shout from Heidi about the beach, and Romy headed over to her, giving me one last wave before the three of them headed towards the sands, the tide out.
I finished my drink and headed back to the empty house with barely any useable furniture.
THREE
Romy
