Page 38 of Close to You
We continue walking around the fair and David shows a little interest in one of the record stalls, though he doesn’t buy anything. It takes us around ninety minutes in total until we’re back where we started at the platform overlooking the hall. I assume we’re going to leave, but David stops and leans once more. I join him because I’m not sure what else to do.
‘Have you thought about it?’ he asks.
I stare sideways at him, wondering if I missed a sentence among the hubbub: ‘Thought about what?’
‘The seed money for the Slovakia thing…’
I don’t know how I missed it before, but it now seems obvious that he was asking for money when he brought it up earlier. I wait for him to look at me, though he is focused only on the floor below.
‘I can’t lend you what I don’t have,’ I say.
‘Butyoucould get a loan,’ David replies. ‘Say it’s for a car, or whatever. Once I’ve got the stock, I’ll be able to get your money back straight away. Like that Pooh Bear thing down there.’ He wafts a hand in the direction of the toy stall.
‘But that Pooh hadn’t sold,’ I reply. ‘You can put a price tag on anything – but if it’s unsold, then it doesn’t matter.’
David shakes his head. ‘You’re not seeing it.’
‘I can’t go and ask for a car loan and then give the money to you instead.’
He bites his lip and nods slowly before suddenly spinning on his heels. ‘Shall we go?’ he says.
‘Are you sure that’s all right?’ I ask.
He continues nodding, too quickly. ‘Of course,’ he replies. ‘Let’s go.’
Eighteen
THE NOW
I’ve pulled up the handbrake of Andy’s car when I spot Veronica hurrying along the pavement. She has a satchel over her shoulder and is wearing a pair of bright white trainers, with thick dark tights.
Mum’s bungalow is among a collection of thirty or so that are occupied by people who are of, ahem, ‘advancing years’. Mum doesn’t like the term ‘elderly’, let alone ‘old’. It’s a gated community, where cars have to either be buzzed in or stop to type a code into a metal speaker box. The security detail is slightly compromised by the fact that anyone can simply open the pedestrian gate and walk in, though it gives a veneer of sanctuary, which is probably the most important thing.
Veronica visits six days a week to make sure everyone is healthy and has what they need. She’s a mix of warden and companion, with a large aspect of babysitter thrown in. She is also the most patient person I’ve ever met and does a job for which there is not enough money in the world to tempt me.
As I get out of the car, she stops and offers an impressed smile.
‘Nice…’ she says.
‘It’s not mine,’ I reply. ‘I’m borrowing it for a few days.’
She hoists her satchel higher and smiles politely, ready to get back to whatever she was doing.
‘Were you here yesterday?’ I ask.
‘On and off.’
‘Did you see anyone new around?’
Veronica shakes her head. ‘I don’t think so. It’s pretty quiet around here in December.’
She pulls her cardigan tighter as if to emphasise her point. While she’s doing that, I unlock my phone and find the photo Jane took the other evening. I deleted all the old ones of David and I have no idea what happened to the wedding photos. I certainly don’t have them. I zoom in on the face of the man who looks like David and turn it around for Veronica to see.
‘I don’t suppose you’ve seen him around, have you?’
She squints and then slowly shakes her head. ‘I don’t think so… is there anything to worry about?’
I put the phone back in my bag. ‘Not at all.’
