Chapter 10
Despite the setback that Hugh’s foot fungus was still a deal-breaker, Nora remained determined to complete her mission to double-check a number of key ex-boyfriends.
If anything, it was a good exercise in confirming her intuition was correct and that she and foot fungus would never be compatible.
She stayed up quite late tracking down the next ex, who proved particularly difficult to locate.
There had been many wild times with Benicio but he frequently didn’t have time for her and had let her down once too often.
Not turning up on her birthday had signalled his demise.
He’d not been easy to find online because he used a nickname.
His social media had been a flurry of nights out and holidays up until Christmas, after which point he seemed to disappear.
Now it became more than just ticking him off her list. She had grown quite concerned for his whereabouts and was determined to follow up the only lead she had.
A persistent knocking on her front door pulled her from her sleep just before seven on Saturday morning.
She dozily headed downstairs trying to work out what she’d ordered because it could only be an overly eager delivery guy at this hour of the morning.
She tied the cord on her dressing gown tight and with a large yawn she opened the front door to find an agitated Jay standing there.
‘Oh great, you’re up. Can we come in?’ he asked.
‘We?’ Nora rubbed her eyes.
At the sound of her voice Bruce barked, charged past Jay and almost knocked Nora over in his excitement to greet her.
‘Hiya, Bruce. You’ve got him already?’ said Nora, waving them both inside and shutting the door.
‘They seemed keen to get him out of the rescue centre,’ said Jay. ‘Which is probably a red flag.’
‘How’s it going?’ she asked as she gave Bruce a fuss and he lapped it up.
‘Not great,’ said Jay. ‘I’m sorry about the cryptic note I left you. I thought I should explain everything face to face. But then I figured you’d probably worked it all out anyway. Obviously you have. So all I can really say is—’
Nora wasn’t sure what Jay was going on about.
Her brain never kicked into gear until she’d had caffeine.
‘You’re a good boy, yes you are,’ said Nora to Bruce.
The dog wandered off into the living room and Nora followed him.
‘You just need to get used to each other, Jay. I think you’re worrying unnecessarily.
’ She opened the blinds and the room flooded with light.
Bruce went up to Oliver’s cage and barked at it, which drew everyone’s attention to the open door.
‘I’m so sorry,’ said Jay, rubbing his hand over his face.
‘Right,’ said Nora, glancing around the room.
‘You see, I couldn’t leave Bruce at home alone because I’ve not left him yet and the rescue said not to for the first few days and then build up the time that he’s alone because he might get stressed.
Although I’m not sure he does get stressed but he’s definitely a carrier because he’s done nothing but cause me stress since he moved in. Anyway I brought him with me and he—’
‘Oh, I see what he did,’ said Nora as she rummaged in the foliage of her large paradise palm.
‘He’s eaten some of the leaves,’ she added, turning around with Oliver on her forearm.
‘Don’t worry, they’re not poisonous and they’ll soon grow back.
Look at it sprouting in all directions, even I can’t kill it. ’
Jay was staring at her.
‘Oliver,’ he said at last.
‘Thanks for looking after him. And for letting him have a mooch about. Did you want a coffee?’ asked Nora. Jay looked like he needed something stronger, perhaps being a pet owner was more taxing for some people.
‘Have you checked Oliver over? No missing limbs?’
‘He’s fine. The plant is fine. Stop worrying.’
Nora put Oliver back in his enclosure and made the drinks. When she came back into the living room, Jay was sitting on the floor next to Bruce and they were both watching Oliver intensely. Oliver had an eye on each of them.
‘Are you OK?’ asked Nora, handing Jay a mug and taking a seat on the sofa.
‘Thanks. I’m really sorry. I’ve been a terrible pet-sitter. Maybe I’m just not cut out for looking after animals.’
Bruce gave a huff and, as if understanding Jay’s words and wanting to offer reassurance, he lay down with his head resting on Jay’s thigh.
‘It’s OK. He’s fine. It will take you both a while to settle. Don’t be too hasty. I think what you’re doing is amazing.’ Nora feared Jay was thinking about giving up on his new charge.
Jay spun around to look at her. ‘You do?’
‘Yeah. Straight up. A dog is a huge commitment and I said I’d share some of that responsibility and I’ve not been here. I’ll make sure I do more, I promise.’
‘That’s definitely made me feel better. It’s all a bit daunting. I’ve not been responsible for someone else before. I guess it’ll take a bit of getting used to.’ Jay tentatively patted Bruce. ‘Anyway, how did your work thing go?’
Nora fessed up to tracking down Hugh and Jay listened intently while sipping his drink and pulling suitably grossed-out expressions in the right places. ‘I’m not overreacting, am I?’ she asked at the end.
‘Not at all. Some types of toenail fungus are highly contagious so you did right to avoid that. What now? Are you done with tracking down the exes?’
‘Goodness no. I’ve got quite a few to find as yet.’
For a moment Jay seemed a little surprised but he recovered quickly.
‘Actually I have a bit of a mystery and I was going to do some more detailed investigating this afternoon. Benicio has kind of disappeared,’ she said.
‘Gosh. As in kidnapped or some sort of permanent demise?’
‘More temporarily dropped off the radar because he’s not on social media any more.’
Jay looked a little disappointed.
‘But it’s still weird for someone who posted fairly regularly,’ she added.
‘Maybe he was kicked out of his account or got hacked. That happened to James Corden.’
Nora pondered this. ‘I don’t know, maybe. But I’ve found where he was last a gym member. They’re not likely to give me any info over the phone so I’m off to Peterborough this afternoon.’
‘On your own?’ asked Jay, spluttering into his coffee.
‘Yeah. It would look a bit weird if I rocked up with a few mates. And far less likely that he’d be up for a chat. No, it’s best I go on my own.’ She watched Jay blow on the surface of his drink. ‘Are you OK?’
‘Sorry, could I have a tad more milk? It’s a bit warm.’
‘Sure.’ Nora returned from the kitchen. She gave Bruce a carrot, which he chomped on happily while she sloshed some milk into Jay’s drink.
‘Thanks.’ He took a sip. ‘Much better.’ There was a brief pause. ‘Benicio is an unusual name.’
‘It’s from the Latin, meaning blessed. And he was, if you know what I mean.’ She felt her cheeks heat up at the memories.
Jay was staring intently at his mug. ‘And is it likely that Benicio is the one? I mean, statistically speaking?’
Nora moved the cushion and got herself comfortable. ‘Statistically he’s number six, which is definitely in the sweet spot if my projected calculations are correct.’
Bruce jumped up and ran barking to the front door, dragging Jay halfway with him.
Thankfully Jay had just returned his mug to the coaster.
‘Right,’ called Jay from the hallway, ‘I think I’ll be off now.
Take care. Again sorry about Oliver, and the plant.
Mainly the plant.’ The front door opened and Nora thought she heard him call ‘Bye’ but it was hard to tell over the sound of Bruce.
Nora hadn’t been to Peterborough for a while and it was nice to reacquaint herself with the place as she headed for the gym.
Though the people at the desk told her they couldn’t share any details with her, she was pleased to find a couple of members who were happy to tell her what they knew.
Women always liked to chat about pretty men and, when it came to looks, Benicio was right up there.
According to one lady he’d gone travelling, which didn’t ring true to Nora.
For one thing, he would have been likely to share that on his social media, and secondly he was thirty and didn’t like slumming it, so it was unlikely he’d have gone backpacking.
The second woman had a completely different take on things. ‘He’s homeless,’ she said.
‘What? Are you sure?’
‘We were meant to meet up. Not a date as such,’ she said, although the twist in her features said different.
‘He was a no-show. His mobile has been switched off ever since. I went to his place and it turns out he was only renting it. Then I was over in Corby visiting friends and he was on a park bench chatting to someone and I did a double-take. He was in these dark clothes and his hair had grown long and he looked like he hadn’t showered in a while. ’ She folded her arms.
‘And did you speak to him?’ asked Nora.
‘I tried. I called his name and waved but he put his hood up and jogged away. Which I personally think was very rude.’
‘Yeah,’ said Nora, while she pondered the vast amount of information. ‘Do you not think it might have been someone who looked a bit like him?’
‘Definitely not. Despite the clothes, I’d recognize that jawline anywhere.’
The woman had a point. ‘Thanks, you’ve been really helpful,’ said Nora, wondering what to do next.
*
Dixie and Renee hadn’t managed to fix the campervan but Renee said she still had a few tricks up her kaftan. Thankfully Dixie was filming when the little van finally spluttered into life.
‘Thank buggery for that,’ said Renee, looking relieved. ‘Definitely time for a gin and tonic.’
They sat in the campervan and sipped their drinks while Dixie uploaded her latest video and watched hopefully for any signs of engagement.
‘What’s the plan now?’ asked Renee, leaning her elbows on the ancient table and making the hinges creak.
‘I was going to do it up bit by bit. Rip out the old stuff and make it all modern.’
Renee gasped. ‘This is a classic. I thought you kids were into vintage these days?’
‘It’s not that so much, it’s more that it’s falling apart,’ said Dixie, pointing at where the curtains were sagging on a makeshift wire track.
‘What do all your people on the Interweb say about it?’
‘Ooh, good idea. I could do a poll and see what everyone thinks I should do. Excellent idea, Renee.’
‘I’m frigging well full of ’em, honey,’ said Renee raising her glass.