Chapter Thirty-Nine
After Ros finally escaped the boat and had made sure Barry was home safely, she returned home to a silent apartment. Cyril was lying on the sofa and all was quiet so she assumed Cameron had gone to bed. Perhaps that was for the best. Another confrontation would likely not solve the problem.
After little sleep she stirred to the sound of a door closing. She dragged herself fully awake. How could she be wide-awake half the night and yet come morning she was in a deep sleep? She pulled on her dressing gown and left the bedroom. Straightaway she realised Cyril had gone from the sofa, as had the throw and Cameron’s cactus. His bedroom door was ajar. She took a deep breath and tapped on the door. There was no response.
‘Cameron. Do you want a coffee?’ she asked, stepping tentatively inside. The room was empty and anything of Cameron’s was missing. She walked over to the kitchen area where a sticky note was stuck on the worktop, which read: I’m sorry things ended the way they did. Having slept on it I think you’re probably right that a clean break is for the best. So I’ve cleared all my stuff out. Wishing you all the best for the future – Cameron. PTO
She picked up the note and turned it over. PS. For the record I don’t regret the relationship contract, only how it ended.
Ros went to check his room again. The bed was stripped, the cupboards empty apart from his Cookie Monster T-shirt abandoned on the topmost shelf. She pulled it down. She still didn’t understand why he wore T-shirts featuring children’s characters but it was oddly one of many things she was going to miss about him. In a bit of a daze she went to get washed and dressed.
Ros put the kettle on and had to stop herself from automatically getting two mugs out of the cupboard. He’d gone and it was going to take some getting used to. Despite what everyone seemed to have assumed she’d not confirmed that she was taking the new job. She looked around her apartment; with the plants and Cameron’s things gone it had a sparse feel to it that she’d not noticed before. Or maybe it had not bothered her until now. There was nothing else here for her apart from her dad. She had genuinely believed her taking the new job would be best for everyone, not just her.
She had been upfront about her father’s condition with her potential new boss so would have been able to return to the UK when needed and had planned to come back once a month. But now she was unsure if that was enough and not just from Barry’s perspective but also from her own. She had a dilemma and as she’d upset all her friends she had nobody to talk it over with.
She’d not realised how long she’d been staring into her drink until the entry door buzzed and she put the cold mug down and went to answer the door.
‘Hey, Cabbage, can I come up?’
‘Sure,’ she said and she buzzed Barry in.
When she opened the door, Gazza was first inside pulling the lead free from Barry’s hand. The little dog did a lap of the apartment, clearly looking for someone. He returned to Barry with his lead bumping along sadly behind him and he flopped down with an audible huff.
‘That yours?’ asked Barry, pointing at the Cookie Monster T-shirt she was wearing.
She scratched her neck self-consciously. ‘It’s Cameron’s.’
‘And he’s not here,’ said Barry, scanning the place.
‘No, he moved out first thing. I don’t know where he is.’ She’d been wondering most of the morning where he would have gone. ‘Can I get you a drink?’ she asked, tipping her cold coffee away.
‘Err, a cuppa would be nice thanks.’ Barry got out his mobile. ‘Cameron is in Matlock.’
Ros cocked her head at him. ‘What makes you think he’s gone home?’
‘Pete likes his social media and he’s not following many people so if someone posts he usually sees it.’
‘Who posted?’
‘Cameron posted a picture of the Heights of Abraham and said, “Home sooner than planned.”’
She was relieved to know where Cameron was, although that only lasted a moment. If he’d gone home, he’d likely be with Gina. She made the drinks. ‘Did you want a biscuit or anything?’
‘No, the tea is fine,’ said Barry.
Ros checked the cupboard. Cameron had left something behind: one last bag of Hula Hoops. She took them and the drinks over to the sofa. ‘Did you enjoy the party?’ she asked.
‘I had a terrific time. Don’t know why we haven’t done something sooner. We’re all hoping to meet up every couple of months either for a coffee or lunch or maybe even a barbecue.’
‘Nice.’ Ros stuck her hand in the crisp packet and pulled out her finger with a Hula Hoop on the end. She considered it briefly before eating it off her finger. It wasn’t a miracle cure but Cameron was right: it was more fun to eat them like that. She had a few more, then became aware that her dad was watching her. ‘Sorry, did you say something?’ she asked.
He smiled. ‘No, I was remembering you doing that as a child.’
‘Did I?’ Ros was surprised. If she had eaten them like this, it was long forgotten.
‘Yep.’ He sipped his tea but he was still eyeing her closely. ‘I know it’s none of my business but I’m going to stick my oar in anyway. You and Cameron, you had the makings of a great relationship there. Surely you’re not going to leave things as they are?’
Ros’s shoulders sagged with the weight of her guilt. Now was the time to come clean. ‘Dad, please don’t judge me for what I’m about to tell you. But me and Cameron wasn’t the big love affair you thought it was. You see...’ It was so hard to tell him; she felt awful. The best thing she could do was spit it all out quickly and hope he didn’t have a heart attack with the shock. ‘I’m really sorry but I overheard you tell Uncle Pete that you wanted to see me settled in a relationship, so I paid Cameron to pretend to be my boyfriend.’ She waited.
Barry was nodding and took ages before he spoke. ‘I thought as much.’
‘What?’ Ros was instantly affronted that he’d seen through their intricately planned charade. ‘How?’
‘There were a few things that didn’t add up at the start. And your mother thought she overheard something.’
‘If you knew, why didn’t you challenge us?’
‘Because I guessed why you had done it. And thank you for that. It was an incredibly kind thing to do.’ He reached out to squeeze her hand and she had to pop the two Hula Hoops that were on her fingers into her mouth quickly.
‘At least you know the truth now. And everything is back to normal, so that’s a relief,’ she said.
‘Is it?’ He looked at her over his mug.
‘Yes. It was exhausting keeping up the pretence.’
Barry pursed his lips. ‘You see, I didn’t see it like that. What I saw was two people who cared for each other, had each other’s backs and enjoyed sharing time together. That was what I witnessed with my own eyes and I don’t think either of you are that good at acting or that it was all make-believe. There was genuine friendship between you. You both had a laugh together but everyone could see there was also so much love and care for each other. There is no more solid base for a relationship than that.’
Ros wanted what he was saying to be true but that would just be a fantasy and she didn’t need to torture herself with that. ‘It’s a lovely notion but I fear you are seeing things through rose-tinted spectacles.’ She finished the last Hula Hoop and scrunched up the packet. Gazza jumped to attention even though he’d seemed to be sound asleep.
‘They’re prescription varifocals and I can see perfectly well through them. Anyway, I’ll not dwell on it.’
‘Please don’t, Dad. Cameron is very likely about to propose to someone else so...’ The thought made her sadder than she cared to admit.
‘Oh.’ Barry seemed surprised. ‘Is that why you’ve decided to work abroad?’
‘It’s not definite yet. I’m still thinking it over. But a fresh start was appealing. Although I did want to talk it over with you. I’d never go if you needed me here.’
‘I understand.’ He nodded. ‘I think you should go. In life you usually only regret the things you don’t do. Everything comes into sharp focus, either with or without varifocals, when someone stamps an end date on things. You need to do what’s best for you now, nobody else.’ He gave her a hug.
‘Thanks, Dad. You’ll be first to know when I decide.’
***
The day after the party Darla was still smarting that Ros was leaving for a new life and hadn’t even told her. And she was having doubts about her ability to get a business off the ground without her friend to support and guide her. She swapped her livestock library books for business-related ones, which scared and bored her in equal measure. There was far more involved in setting up a new company and she didn’t know where to start. Darla was busying herself with trying to work out how best to make a slide for the goats when she heard a familiar sound. She turned around to see Winston sitting on the garden wall.
‘Winston, you’re alive!’ Emotion caught in her throat. She immediately called Elliott.
‘Hiya, I was just thinking about you. How was the party?’
‘Horrendous. Barry had a great time. Anyway, I have news. Winston has just rocked up. It’s like yin and yang. A bad thing happens and then a good thing happens to balance it out.’
‘Right. I’m not entirely sure I know what you’re talking about but I’ll be over in about half an hour. Please keep him occupied with tuna if necessary.’
They said their goodbyes and Darla ended the call. The whole time not daring to take her eyes off the elusive Winston. ‘Goats, your play area will have to wait.’ Nibbles bleated her annoyance at the delay, or at least it sounded like she was. Darla exited the goat pen and went to make a fuss of Winston. He seemed pleased to see her and happy to have his head scratched. From the cursory check she gave him he seemed fine, which was a relief. Now all she had to do was to lure him inside. Or easier still she could just pick him up and carry him in.
He was purring flat out when Darla gently lifted him into her arms. ‘Good boy. You’re going to get some tuna while we wait for Elliott.’ The cat rubbed around her chin. It was all going well until she had to loosen her hold so that she could open the back door and that was when Winston took off. With a quick wriggle he was out of Darla’s one-arm hold and away. ‘Noooooo!’
Darla was inside waiting for the kettle to boil when Elliott let himself in. ‘Hiya. Where’s the wanderer?’ he asked, looking about the kitchen.
‘I’m really sorry. I had him in my arms but then I couldn’t hold him properly when I was opening the door and he just jumped down and ran off. I can’t find him. Even the tuna didn’t work.’ She pointed at the open tin on the table.
‘Oh, never mind. I’m sure he’ll come back,’ said Elliott, not looking convinced by his own words.
Darla’s phone rang. It was the house-sitting agency. ‘I’d better get this,’ she said to Elliott before answering the call.
Darla listened as the person on the other end made her already crappy day much worse. She thanked them – for what, she wasn’t sure – and ended the call.
‘Everything all right?’ asked Elliott, filling the waiting mugs now the kettle had boiled.
‘No,’ said Darla. ‘I can’t believe it. I’m being evicted. I knew this wasn’t forever but now someone is buying the place so they were telling me I’m not needed anymore, but they don’t know exactly when my last day here will be. I’m going to be homeless again,’ said Darla with a sob.
Elliott was quick to wrap her in a hug. ‘It’s okay. Everything is going to be fine because—’
‘No, it’s not! I love it here. I even love the goats and the chickens. Except for The Captain,’ she said as more tears dripped off her chin. ‘He’s still a vicious little bugger.’
‘Here,’ said Elliott, handing her a clean tissue.
She dried her eyes to see he was smiling. That wasn’t really the reaction she was expecting. Mutual dismay felt more appropriate. ‘This is serious you know. I’ll have to leave. I won’t be just up the road anymore.’
‘Slow down,’ said Elliott. ‘I was waiting to tell you something.’
‘Tell me what?’
‘I’m not going to be a farmer anymore.’ He looked very pleased when he said it. ‘It’s because of you and what you said about me having to do what makes me happy. I’m going to go back to being a civil engineer. I start in a few weeks.’
‘Right. Congratulations,’ said Darla, feeling that she probably didn’t sound as enthusiastic for his news as she should have, but it was hard when her world was imploding.
‘I’m keeping the farm. Lee is going to be a tenant farmer so I can dabble if I want to, but it won’t be my full-time job.’
‘Great.’ Darla tried hard to find a smile.
‘Oh, and I’ve missed the really important bit. I’m buying The Brambles.’
It took a moment for what he said to register. ‘It’s you who’s kicking me out?’
‘Or you could stay...’
Darla was very confused. ‘You want me to house-sit for you?’
‘No, I want you to move in with me.’ He wobbled his head. ‘I guess technically I’d be moving in with you but you get what I mean. Sorry I didn’t tell you before; it’s taken a while to work all the finances out and then it all happened quite fast and I hadn’t factored on word getting through to you so quickly.’
Darla blew her nose. ‘Then I’m not homeless. And you want us to live together?’
‘Beautifully summarised. Assuming you want to do that too?’ He suddenly looked unsure, which was odd because right at that moment Darla had never been more certain of anything in her life. She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him.
They were interrupted by mewing outside and the sound of paws on the back door. They sprung apart. ‘Winston!’ they both said together as they leapt to their feet. They dashed for the back door. Darla got there first but she was surprised by what she saw as she opened it.
Winston was there but he wasn’t alone. There was also a very pretty pale ginger striped cat and four kittens. Two with the same pretty pale ginger colouring as the new feline and two mini versions of Winston. Darla started to cry all over again.