Chapter 25
‘So what are you going to do?’ Amy asked as she and Jenni took another lap of the park. George and Tilly were asleep in the double pushchair and, knowing they’d both wake if Amy dared to stop, Jenni had run ahead and grabbed them a coffee from the café.
‘I did wonder about sending a message on the street WhatsApp group.’
‘Hmm, yes, that would work. Or how about following him?’
‘Well, I’d have to be on twenty-four-hour alert, and he’d only need to hop over the fence and I’d lose sight of him. I can’t start clambering through the neighbours’ gardens.’
It was ten-thirty on bank holiday Monday and, although Jenni hadn’t planned to meet Amy, when she’d texted to say she was heading out for a walk, Jenni decided the exercise would make up for spending Sunday eating chocolate and lying on the sofa.
The sun was still shining, much to Jenni’s surprise given that bank holidays usually spelled rain, and as they did another circle of the park, she enjoyed the promise of summer days to come.
She turned her attention back to Amy, who was still suggesting ways to keep an eye on Oscar.
He’d been disappearing for even longer periods of time, much to Jenni’s alarm, and when he’d been so late home last night, despite her calling for him from the back door for over an hour, she’d begun to panic.
‘Why don’t you pretend he’s lost and call the fire brigade? You can get that Ben guy out looking for him.’
‘Will you stop going on about Ben. And besides, I don’t think the fire brigade search for lost cats, just rescue them from trees.’
‘You have to admit he’s very good looking.’
‘He is, but unless you want to set fire to your house again, I’m never going to see him. Sorry,’ Jenni added, seeing Amy’s face. ‘That was a terrible thing to say.’
‘It’s okay, but yeah, I’m not ready to find it funny yet,’ said Amy.
Seeing her stricken face, Jenni changed the subject. ‘Anyway, the thought of going on a date fills me with horror – I don’t trust anything anyone says on their profile anymore.’
‘Doesn’t Tim have good-looking mates?’ Amy expertly manoeuvred the buggy around a small dog.
‘Absolutely not. Unless I want to date Janice, a freedom-pass-carrying OAP, and spend my weekends stomping around with walking poles.’
‘Well, we’ll keep her in mind if things get desperate,’ laughed Amy, ‘Maybe Lucy has some eligible single friends?’
Jenni promised to ask Lucy at work tomorrow, and Amy started reminiscing about a disastrous date she’d gone on before she’d met Simon. Hearing Amy describe how her date kept flossing his teeth between courses was all Jenni needed to swear off ever dating again.
They paused by the railings, watching the red-headed moorhens and white-legged coots peck busily at the water, while pigeons swooped in circles hoping to steal a crust of bread.
Jenni’s attention was caught by a kerfuffle in the centre of the pond, and she watched in horror as several drakes surrounded a hen, chasing her as she tried to escape across the water.
Inappropriate, mid-course flossing suddenly doesn’t seem so bad, Jenni thought with a shudder.