Chapter 48
Jenni looked around the tidy room, with its white walls and Ikea furniture, and felt sad that Ben lived in such a bland home, without the colour and clutter she loved to surround herself with.
She glanced at the makeshift desk in the corner, paper scattered over its surface, and wondered if he’d written the notes to her there, imagining him hunched over, considering every word.
It had been obvious from his reaction that he had had no idea she was number thirty-eight while they’d been corresponding via Oscar, but that wouldn’t stop her picking over the bones of their more recent, more personal letters with a fresh perspective.
And she definitely had a few things to say about him no-showing and then ghosting her again. But right now her focus was on Oscar.
After the shock of discovering who each other was, Ben had invited her in so they could search for Oscar together.
‘So, have you seen him?’ she asked as soon as Ben closed the door behind them.
‘No. I don’t think I’ve seen him since Thursday.’
He saw the hope disappear from Jenni’s eyes and quickly added, ‘But he might be in the house I made for him. I haven’t checked in there yet.’
‘Does he use it?’ she asked, as Ben unlocked the back door and they stepped out into the communal garden together.
‘I’ve never seen him go in,’ Ben confessed. ‘But he does sit on top of it, and that was where he was hiding all those toys I mentioned.’
Jenni crouched down to look inside the box. ‘Empty.’ She looked up at Ben. ‘Where is he, if he isn’t here?’
‘We’ll find him,’ Ben said, gently. ‘Let’s go back in and come up with a plan.’
Jenni blinked back tears.
‘Come on,’ he repeated, touching her arm fleetingly. ‘It will be okay. We’ll find him.’
Jenni could only nod mutely and pray he was right.