Sarah laughed. What did he think she’d be doing? She was unemployed and about to be made homeless.
‘I’ll take it you’re free. I’d rather not come to the house, too many memories. Can we meet by the duck pond at the park in town? Would eleven-ish be OK?’
‘Fine, I’ll see you then.’ Sarah hung up and handed the phone back to the police officer. ‘Satisfied?’ she asked, hands on her hips, trying not to sniff.
‘Yes, madam. We’re sorry to have troubled you, but hope you understand we have to investigate reported burglaries.’
‘I understand,’ said Sarah. ‘But maybe deal with it quicker in the future? I don’t think you’re going to catch many criminals if they have a ten-hour head-start, do you?’ She slammed the door before the police officers could answer. Unable to face the day, Sarah trudged up the stairs and climbed back in to her makeshift bed.
Chapter 40
Thedaywastoobright, in Sarah’s opinion. A cold, drizzly day would have been better suited to her mood. Instead, a jovial sun beat down, sending locals into summer frenzy. Sarah resented the bright outfits of those she passed, with too much flesh on display for her liking. She’d opted for a grey T-shirt and black jeans.
Sarah ignored the cheery smiles on strangers’ faces and kept her head down. That was the trouble with summer, it sent people mad. You weren’t supposed to smile at strangers in this country. Bring back the good old days of winter, thought Sarah, when everyone hurried along the streets, eyes down, heads bent against the weather. All this summer love only heightened her own feelings of despair.
Sarah arrived at the park half an hour early and found a bench to wait for her father. Despite the sunshine, the park looked jaded. The children’s play area had several rides cordoned off, waiting for repair. Bins spilled over, creating a feast for greedy gulls, and the duck pond emitted a stomach churning odour from its sludge-green water.
Sarah cast her mind back to the forest. The air had been fresh, the smell of pine and cut grass something she’d grown used to. Even the musty smell of leaves rotting in the rain held its own appeal. And the space, oh how she craved the space. Despite the visitors who flocked to the forest, Sarah could always find somewhere to be alone. Back in her hometown, there were people everywhere. She couldn't think with the noise of chatter and heavy traffic all around.
‘Sarah?’
Sarah turned to see her father walking towards her. For the first time since he’d left, she realised how much she’d missed him. He looked different from the picture in her mind. He’d lost weight, grown a beard, and his skin spoke of long days in the sun. In his hands were two cups of coffee. Sarah accepted the one he held out and took a sip. It wasn’t a patch on the coffee Felix made. Her stomach plummeted at the thought of Felix, followed by bubbling anger as she remembered how he had treated her.
‘It’s wonderful to see you,’ said Colin, leaning in for an awkward hug.
‘You look well.’
‘I feel well. I feel like a new man.’ Colin laughed, Sarah stayed silent. ‘I’d like to say you look well too, but…’
Sarah humphed. ‘I didn’t sleep well last night.’
‘Oh, I’m not talking about your physical appearance. You look sad. I can see it in your eyes.’
‘Yeah, well, things aren’t going great at the moment.’
‘What happened?’
‘Where do I start?’
‘I thought things were going well. What changed?’
‘It was OK down there for a while. Believe it or not, I rather enjoyed living in a tipi. Who’d have thought it, hey?’ Sarah allowed herself a small smile. ‘I enjoyed working in the kitchen, too. I was good at it.’
‘And your colleagues? What were they like?’
‘Nice at first. But one by one, they betrayed me. Once I realised they were faking friendship, I had to get out of there.’
‘Betrayed is a strong word. What did they do?’
‘Did I tell you about Fran, who I worked with in the kitchen?’ Colin nodded. ‘She was kind at first, taught me loads of different recipes, chatted to me on our breaks. Then she started withdrawing, acting weird. I went to her house one day, and it was obvious she didn’t want me there.’
‘And you did nothing to trigger a change in her?’
‘No! What do you take me for?’
‘Fine,’ said Colin, holding up his hands. ‘Then perhaps she had other things going on in her life?’
‘Like what?’
