And so I left old Lifeless Lottie at the garage and walked to the bus stop and waited for the next bus. And waited. And waited. Thirty minutes later, I decided that if my feet hurt that much from standing, maybe walking might help. I was wrong. Walking only made it worse, and soon I was limping, agonising at every single step of the way. A car full of yobbos slowed down to take a look at me, their dashboard covered in take-away food, and the bloke in the passenger seat was licking his fingers allusively.
‘Yorrite, luv? Want a ride?’
‘No thanks, I’m meeting someone,’ I lied and they guffawed and sped off with a screech. I supposed I was lucky they didn’t throw their leftovers at me.
In the end I called Emma, wondering if she might come and pick me up because I couldn’t take another step.
‘Of course, where are you?’
‘Uhm, not quite sure. Definitely on the outskirts of Truro.’
Silence. ‘What the hell are you doing down there?’
‘Long story,’ I said. ‘Oh, wait, there’s a pub, Smuggler’s Rest. I’ll wait for you in there, okay?’
‘Won’t be a mo,’ she promised.
‘Thanks, Em.’
Shoes in hand, I walked into the place, fitting in immediately with the misfits in there. Smuggler’s Rest was right. It looked as if every down-and-out in the whole of Cornwall had found its way out here. And then I realised I was in the middle of a movie set. Not shooting at the moment, but all the cameras and props were there.
The male lead, handsome but nowhere near Luke’s stature, was practising a scene with his co-star in which he was begging her over a ploughman’s to marry him. I wanted to cry. Go for it, I almost said. Somewhere, there’s someone for everyone. You just have to find him.
‘Nina?’ came a familiar voice, but not Emma’s.
I looked up. Jack…?
He slid into the booth opposite me. ‘Are you all right? Emma sounded concerned. She said you didn’t know where you were?’
‘Hmmm…’ I nodded absently.
‘What the hell are you doing here?’
‘I went to the mechanic’s.’
‘Stuart’s? You know he’s a thief. Why didn’t you call me?’
‘Because I’m always calling you, Jack. I can’t do anything on my own, and that’s not good. Ever since Luke disappeared it’s like I don’t know how to do anything anymore…’
His mouth tightened. ‘Nonsense. You don’t need him, Nina. Look at what a good job you’ve done raising your children on your own.’
‘Yeah,’ I half-snorted, half-bawled. ‘Look what a proper job indeed. My house is falling apart, my finances are practically null, my son is disabled, my daughter is running riot shoplifting, and there’s absolutely nothing I can do to fix it all! What a mess I am, Jack! Stay away from me before I screw you up, too!’
Jack put his hand on mine. ‘First of all, that was just an isolated incident of Chloe’s.’
‘No, you don’t understand, she did it to attract my attention. I’m so focused on survival that I’ve forgotten how to savour the good moments in life.’ I buried my head into my arms on the table. ‘One day when I’m old I’ll be looking out the window of an old folks’ home wondering why my kids don’t ever come and visit!’
He laughed. ‘Nina, stop. Your kids love you. And for the record, Ben is not disabled.’
‘He will be, because I can’t afford all his treatments. They’re so expensive that not even ten advances would cover it! I can barely afford the flights to the US, let alone the surgery!’
‘You don’t need any flights to the US. I’ve found someone in France.’
I lifted my head, barely able to focus through my tears. ‘What…?’
‘I’ve been reading wonders about him from all over the world. He’s in Normandy. But I wanted to talk to you first. Will you allow me to make an appointment so he can have a look at Ben? I’ll drive you to France.’
I almost rose from my seat, ready to go to Normandy in my bare feet. ‘He can help Ben?’
‘He made no promises, but I’ve explained Ben’s situation, and he said his condition is more common than you’d think, and that he’s helped loads of people.’
I clutched at my heart. ‘Really? He said there’s hope?’
Jack squeezed my hand. ‘There’s always hope, Nina.’
I accepted the tissue that magically appeared in his hands with a timid smile. If Ben could walk freely, without that bloody contraption around his leg, I would be the happiest woman on earth. I’d forgo anything just to give my kids the right tools to carve out a decent life for themselves. Ben wanted to be an explorer, climb mountains and jump out of planes. Not that I was happy with that last scenario, but, oh, I’d give my right arm if only he had the same opportunities as everyone else!
‘Will you let me take you home, now, Nina?’
I nodded, wiping my eyes and reaching for my bag as we left the pub to get into Jack’s SUV. ‘Of course, thank you.’
‘But first, I want to swing round to Stuart’s and make sure he knows who he’s dealing with,’ he said, driving up the steep hill again. No wonder my feet were killing me.
He parked across the street from the garage. ‘You stay here, I’ll talk to him,’ he said, and I sat back, grateful for once that I wouldn’t have to speak to that awful man again.
He was back in two minutes. ‘It’ll be ready tomorrow, free of charge.’
‘Free? How…?’
‘Well, let’s just say that it was a small problem, Nina.’
‘Oh my God, thank you, Jack. I don’t what I’d do without you.’
‘Of course you do.’
We drove home in a companionable silence, and I was reminded of when he had come to retrieve us at Heathrow and driven us all the way home. It was always Jack who stepped
