Chapter 46
As it turned out, the evening hadn’t been a complete disaster, Jenni reflected.
Even though Ben had been a no-show, they’d found Lenny and he had let them have another look at the second floor and had been open to the idea of letting the space out.
They’d left it that she’d be in touch to arrange a follow-up meeting with Clive.
After reading Ben’s message saying he wouldn’t be able to make it, she’d been disappointed, but Tim had persuaded her – after a couple more G&Ts – to reply, suggesting a breezy ‘no worries, another time’.
But as the minutes turned to hours, her disappointment turned to anger as he failed to respond.
The bastard.
‘Are you dwelling?’ Tim walked into the kitchen resplendent in a bright yellow and purple tie-dye T-shirt with matching shorts.
He’d missed the last train home and had stayed over at Jenni’s.
Refusing to put yesterday’s clothes back on, declaring the linen shirt far too rumpled – ‘I look like a rhinoceros’s arse’, were his exact words – Jenni had dug out some of her samples for him to wear instead.
‘I just think it’s bloody rude that he couldn’t even be bothered to reply, that’s all.
’ Jenni banged two mugs down on the counter and flicked the kettle on.
‘And he’s not even messaged this morning to say sorry about last night,’ she continued.
‘It’s just plain, old bad-manners. Oh God, I sound like my mother. ’
‘Here, eat a croissant. Carbs make everything better,’ said Tim sympathetically.
Jenni tore a corner off the pastry, shoving it in her mouth, chewing crossly. ‘You’re right, it does. I feel a bit sad now, though,’ she added glumly.
‘Maybe he isn’t the one, but that doesn’t mean the one isn’t still out there waiting for you to find them.’
Jenni sighed. ‘I suppose so. But I think, from now on, I’ll just dedicate my time to the one man who is in my life: Oscar. Although, speaking of the devil, I haven’t seen him yet this morning.’
‘Perhaps he’s with the mysterious Sixty-six,’ said Tim, spreading jam and more butter on his croissant. ‘I think that last note suggested someone younger than I’d imagined,’ he mumbled. ‘Perhaps you should find out and call them now you’ve got their number.’
‘I’m not going to call a complete stranger, and besides, I told you, I’m never dating again.’
‘So dramatic, but I love it.’
Jenni rolled her eyes. ‘What time are you going home? Maybe we could see if Amy’s around for a coffee in the park before you have to go?’
‘Paul’s out, so that sounds perfect. You can show me your current dunking headquarters, in the meantime.’
‘I’ve told you before, I don’t just dunk. It’s a highly scientific process. But fine, let me find Oscar first. He’s normally here when I get up, and never misses breakfast…’
Jenni gave the Dreamies another rattle and called for Oscar even louder than last time.
She’d been standing in the garden for half an hour, shaking treats and shouting his name, but so far, no luck.
He hadn’t come home before she and Tim had left to meet Amy after breakfast, there’d been no sign of him when she’d got back from the park or at bedtime, and even though she was convinced he’d finally come home overnight, the kitchen was empty when she’d got up the next morning.
She thought back to the last time she’d seen him, on Friday morning.
She remembered the noise from the builders working on the house up the road had already started, even though it had just turned eight.
He’d been his normal self, demanding more food even though she’d just put down a fresh bowl of biscuits, curling around her ankles until she caved in and poured out more.
He’d reluctantly allowed her ten minutes of tummy rubs before heading to the sofa for a nap.
She’d given him a final stroke behind the ears, then she’d left for work.
That meant she hadn’t seen him for over forty-eight hours, and now she was worried something might have actually happened to him.
Picking up her phone, she called her mum, letting it ring for several seconds.
She was about to hang up when a man answered, taking her by surprise before she realised it was Alan.
‘Hi… it’s Jenni, is Mum there?’
‘She’s out in the garden, she’ll be back in a sec. Are you okay? You sound a bit flustered.’
Alan answering the phone had thrown her. Her dad had always picked up the landline, and even after all this time, she still expected his to be the voice she heard first when she rang home. The memory of his comforting tone, combined with the worry about Oscar, bought tears to her eyes.
‘Jenni, are you still there?’ Alan’s anxious voice cut through the silence.
‘Sorry, yes. I’m worried about Oscar, my cat. He’s been missing for two days and I’m not sure what to do.’ Jenni’s voice broke, saying the word ‘missing’ out loud made her realise how scared she was that something terrible might have happened to him.
‘I’m sure he’s fine, probably hiding somewhere, but I understand why you’re worried,’ Alan said soothingly. ‘Did he have a tag on his collar or anything like that?’
‘No, I’ve been meaning to get it done, but just didn’t get around to it.’
‘Listen, here’s your mum. I’m sure he’ll be home soon.’
‘Hello, darling, when did you last see him?’ Her mum got straight to the point.
‘Friday morning. It’s been nearly forty-eight hours now, Mum, it’s just not like him.’ Jenni bit her lip.
‘Have you tried calling him?’
‘Of course I have! I’ve been outside shaking a box of bloody biscuits for hours. Upstairs must think I’ve gone mad!’
‘Well, have you asked the neighbours if they’ve seen him?’ asked her mum. ‘You remember when Helly, our old cat, went missing? She’d got locked in Jon’s tool shed.’
Jenni did remember. It had been a wet Sunday evening, but she’d been so frantic that eventually her dad had agreed to knock on the door of every house in the village with a picture of Helly, asking if anyone had seen her.
She remembered the relief she’d felt when they’d finally got a call saying Helly had been found safe and well, curled up under the potting table in an open bag of peat-free compost, snoring like she didn’t have a care in the world.
‘I haven’t, but that’s a good idea.’ She would post a photo of Oscar on the street WhatsApp, asking if people could check their sheds as well.
‘And is there anywhere else he might go?’ asked her mum. ‘Has he been making a nuisance of himself in anyone’s garden or anything?’
Jenni paused. Why hadn’t she thought of that? He was probably just at 66’s house.
‘Actually, there is somewhere he’s been going – they’ve even built him his own little house in their garden. We’ve been writing notes to each other attached to Oscar’s collar, but I’ve got their number as well, now. I could send them a text to see if he’s there.’
‘I think that would be a good place to start, darling. I’m sure he’s absolutely fine.’
‘Thanks, Mum. I really hope so.’
‘Let me know how you get on. I’ll call you later. Bye, love.’
Jenni ended the call, her worry turning to annoyance. If Sixty-six thought they could just keep Oscar, they had another think coming!
She was sure she had kept the note with their phone number on it, but it wasn’t in the drawer where all the other random things like rubber bands and bits of string ended up, and it wasn’t hiding in the pile of takeaway menus.
Then she remembered: she’d pinned it to the corkboard next to the fridge to keep it safe.
Grabbing her phone she quickly typed, Hi, it’s 38, I can’t find Oscar, is he with you?, entered 66’s number and pressed send.