‘People tend to think so, but the reality is a little different. I do love it though. I’ve been to a lot of places I wouldn’t otherwise have seen.’
‘I’d love to travel one day, but it’s the money for me.’
‘Where would you like to go?’
‘Aspen is top of my list, always wanted to go there, but for now I have to make do with holidays in the UK.’
‘They can be just as special.’
‘Some friends and I rented lodges in Center Parcs last year, that was awesome. This year I’ve booked a cabin with a friend up the coast in a really pretty village called Leafbourne. We’ve got a whole week, a good pub nearby, access to beach walks, a barbecue and a spa. I can’t wait.’
‘I’ll bet,’ Melissa smiled as Harvey returned with Winnie’s lead and handed it to Gracie, who waved them goodbye and set off with an enthusiastic canine.
‘That’s it,’ said Harvey from where he was standing next to Melissa, who still sat on the step of Tumbleweed House.
‘What is?’ She covered her eyes with her hand to avoid the sun and looked up to find him grinning like a loony.
‘Leafbourne. That’s the village where Barney grew up.’
‘No way, too much of a coincidence. And why didn’t we find it on the maps when we looked?’
He took out his phone and began searching for it. ‘Because it’s not actually in North Norfolk, not officially. It’s right on the cusp so it didn’t come up when we looked.’
‘I don’t remember the name,’ she said. ‘I mean, I remember him talking about what was there – a duck pond, a fish and chip shop he went to every Friday, the local school with its huge playing field. I remember him recounting the time he and his best friend had taken a small boat out without permission and the rollicking they got for doing it,’ she laughed. ‘That story always amused me. Check if there’s a marina there.’ Maybe they were onto something after all.
Harvey searched again on his phone. ‘Yes, there’s a marina. It has to be the place.’ He turned the screen so Melissa could see it too.
‘It’s been a long time though, years since he was there.’
‘You never know, a lot of these places are family-owned, there might be someone at the marina who knows of Barney and anything that may have happened.’
Her hopes faded. ‘I’ll bet there are a few marinas in Norfolk. I promise you, I’m not trying my best to be pessimistic, just realistic.’
‘You wait here, I’m going to Barney’s to find out whether we’re right about this village.’
‘You’re just going to come out with it and ask him?’
‘Trust me, I’ll handle it just fine. Then if it’s the right place, we’ll take it from there.’
‘Good luck!’ she called after him and although neither of them said anything, they both knew she’d be waiting for him right in this very spot, relaxing in the sunshine, until he came back.
*
Melissa climbed into the front of the truck next to Harvey. ‘How did you get Barney to confirm the name of the village without him asking why you wanted to know?’
‘Easy, as soon as I got there I spotted a chew toy Winnie had left behind so I picked it up, pretending I’d come to the house for that. I said Winnie was with Gracie for a few hours because she’d be off on her holidays soon, and when I said she was going to Leafbourne, I saw him flinch. So I added, “Isn’t that where you grew up?”.’
‘And he answered, just like that?’
‘No reason not to, he has no reason to think we might charge up there in search of scraps of information about him. The words “wild goose chase” spring to mind but before I talk myself out of this, put your seat belt on and we’ll get going.’
‘Can we make a stop at White Clover first?’ She clicked her belt into place. ‘I’m wondering whether they might know something. Barney’s donated to them for years, ever since the Wedding Dress Ball began – they must have some answers. I never thought to ask before. It’s worth a try,’ she added when he looked doubtful.
Driven on by the prospect of finding something, they detoured to White Clover before they did anything else. ‘Don’t tell me they’ve no idea either,’ Harvey said when she climbed back into the truck fifteen minutes later. ‘Or are they keeping schtum?’
‘The latter. I got a feeling when I spoke to Ashley that she knows more, she just won’t say. She launched into a whole speech about how they had donors who have been supporting them for decades – once they start they don’t stop – then she was on to telling me they had international donors, so I got out while I could.’
‘She’s a talker,’ Harvey smiled.
