Chapter 36
Every teenager has two versions of themselves.
There’s the version you know as a parent and the version their friends know.
That person is a stranger. A doppelg?nger.
They talk about stuff you don’t understand and laugh at jokes you don’t get.
They use words that make no sense, rave about people you’ve never heard of and play music you hate.
Oh, and every version of you is uncool and embarrassing to them.
It’s the circle of life and, yes, it kind of sucks.
Sadie informed me she was meeting up with Ellis and her friends (again) as she was on her way out of the door this morning. I try to tell myself I’m glad she’s found people to spend time with, and that she’s settling in here.
In truth, I feel annoyed. And worried. I don’t know these kids, and I’m concerned they’re not the sensible, trustworthy type of friends I hoped she would make.
I know every parent worries about who their child hangs out with.
But Sadie doesn’t need any more trouble, not after that fuck James Decker.
However, she’s fifteen, and I can hardly ground her for making friends, so I make another coffee and – a little guiltily – grab my cigarettes.
I will quit before the school term starts, I tell myself, not for the first time.
I check my phone notifications, even though I checked them as soon as I woke up.
No macabre cartoon characters in the back yard.
But there is a message from Lori: Thanks for a lovely time. x
I stare at it for a moment. Then I slip the phone in my pocket, pick up my coffee and cigarettes and walk outside.
I stare around. Everything looks normal, calm.
Beautiful, in fact. Another perfect sunny morning in perfect Serenity Falls.
I should be feeling good, rested and relaxed.
So why, once again, do I feel tired and on edge?
Maybe it’s the video of Harold Winsom. When I came downstairs this morning, my laptop was open on the kitchen worktop where I must have left it when I came in. I tapped the keypad and Harold’s smug, smiling face filled the screen again.
I snapped the lid closed, but now I find myself thinking about it.
Closing Time. The same card in Mum’s things.
I know that Winsom came over to the UK frequently.
At one point there was talk of a Winsom Wonderland being built in the north-west, although the plans never came to fruition.
But if Mum met Winsom, why did she never mention it?
Surely, if you knew one of the most famous men in the world, it might come up in conversation at some point?
And she bought the house here just after you were born and Dad left. Are you forgetting that part, Dan?
Maybe I’m putting two and two together and making a fucking camel (as one of my old colleagues, a maths teacher, used to say).
Maybe it’s all just a coincidence. I can feel another headache brewing behind my eyes.
I pocket the cigarettes, walk back inside and start to excavate the kitchen cupboards in search of painkillers.
When that turns up nothing, I head upstairs and rifle through my still half-unpacked case. No joy.
Well, that’s one task I can set myself for the day. Go out and buy more painkillers. While I’m at it, I could call in on Jerry, see if he’s got anywhere with our mystery balloon deliverer. And there’s something else I should really do – I should reply to Lori.
I stare at her message again. It was a good evening.
But it ended on a slightly off note. And that was probably my fault.
The nosebleed, the migraine, the weird stuff with the statue.
We had parted politely with a peck on the cheek, but I realize I would like Lori to think better of me.
Not to mention the fact that I don’t want her saying anything bad to Lockhart.
I could just drop her a text, but I feel I need to make more of a gesture.
I’m not good at gestures. I’ve always felt flowers and chocolates are kind of cheesy and, fortunately, Nat felt the same. ‘Just buy me booze,’ she’d always joke, ‘Better still, clean the toilets. Right under the rim. That’s a gesture.’
I’m not sure turning up with bleach and Marigolds will do it for Lori, but I still have the bottle of Cloudy Bay in the fridge. I also know where her house is, as we walked home via her road last night. So maybe I could take a chance and drop by with the bottle? It’s worth a try.
I grab the wine out of the fridge. Not wanting to arrive sweaty and bedraggled, I decide to drive. I lock up, climb into the yellow monstrosity and set off down the street, aircon blasting.
First stop, Jerry’s office. I don’t bother with niceties. I park the SUV and block Jerry in. Then I climb out and slam the door loudly, hopefully announcing my arrival.
I walk up the steps and tap briefly on the half-open door. Without waiting for a ‘come in’, I step inside. Jerry is sat at his desk, staring at his phone, probably playing Tetris or Animal Crossing. He looks up as I enter but doesn’t put the phone down right away.
‘Mr Barker? I feel like I’ve seen more of you than my wife these past days.’
‘Well, trust me, I’m sorry about that myself.’
He reluctantly lays the phone down on his desk and swivels in his oversized chair to face me.
‘So, what can I do for you today?’
‘Have you found out anything about who left the balloons?’
Jerry stares at me. He’s done nothing about those balloons, I think. He left our house and completely forgot about it.
‘Actually,’ he says, ‘I called into the gift shop first thing this morning. I took the balloons and asked Corrine if she could check and see who bought them.’
‘And?’
‘I’m waiting for her to get back to me.’
‘Well, surely it can’t take that long to check. This isn’t a big town.’
‘No, it’s not. But right now, Corrine is a little busy, what with the fiftieth-anniversary celebrations coming up.’
I’d forgotten about that. ‘Right.’
‘She’s looking into it, but she’s sold a lot of balloons recently, so I’m just waiting for her list.’
‘Okay.’ I sag, a bit like a deflated balloon myself.
‘Look, Mr Barker. You’ve had a bad start here, and I’m sympathetic.’
‘Really? Because you didn’t seem it when I first told you about the intruder.’
‘You had no evidence.’
‘And I told you yesterday, our cameras were hacked. That’s what the guy from home security said.’
Well, he didn’t in so many words. In fact, he worked very hard not to use that word, but I got the implication. Glitch, my arse.
‘Both nights I saw the intruder in our yard, footage is missing,’ I continue. ‘And yesterday when someone left those balloons.’
Jerry has the good grace to look a little sheepish.
‘Well, maybe someone is trying to make you feel unwelcome. I’m not ruling it out.
Even in a place like Serenity, you get people whose noses get put out of joint by newcomers or teenagers who think they’re being clever by playing pranks.
And if that’s the case, then we’ll come down hard. ’
I nod. ‘I’m worried about my daughter. She’s had a tough time. I want to know she’s safe here. You got kids?’
‘No.’ But I see him glance at the picture on his desk – the young, blonde-haired woman. ‘But leave it with me, Mr Barker. If someone is harassing you, I’ll find them.’
I think I believe him. But then I remember that note. Alert LH. Can I really trust Jerry? Do I have much choice?
‘Thank you.’ I pause. ‘One more thing.’
I see him tense.
‘The house across the road from us.’
‘Number 31? That’s been empty years.’
‘And it’s definitely empty? You’ve never had problems with people breaking in or squatting?’
He barks out a short laugh. ‘In Serenity Falls? No.’
‘It’s just … my daughter. She thought she saw lights on over there.’
Jerry stares at me. ‘What sort of time?’
‘Around two a.m.’
Jerry looks uneasy. ‘All the empty houses are well secured. I doubt anyone would be able to break in without us knowing. But I can take a look.’
‘Right. Well, thank you.’ I hold out my hand.
After a second, he shakes it.