‘We’re trying to move on, Gil.’
Why is he always so defensive? Doesn’t he want her body found? Then we could all have closure.
‘Yes, I know, but—’
Frustratingly, his phone rings at that moment, and Joel pulls me into his room to show me what he’s packed in his rucksack for the holiday.
I hear Danny’s voice in the background. ‘Isn’t there anyone else who could go there? I haven’t visited the house since… Well, you know… since my wife was…’
Joel empties his rucksack proudly. It’s stuffed with toys. He pulls them out one by one.
Just then, Danny rushes in, face lit with excitement. He glances at the pile of toys on the floor and sighs.
‘Joel, we just packed those. Now put them all back.’
He turns to me and says quietly, ‘The head teacher at the play school wants to see me. They think he’s acting oddly for a kid who’s lost his mother. Doyouthink that?’
‘Odd in what way?’
‘Happy.’
I don’t want to admit that I’ve thought the same. ‘No, he seems fine.’
‘I’ve got to see her after the holiday. She thinks he needs professional help to come to terms with… Anyway, that’s when we return. That was the estate agent on the phone. It looks like we may have a buyer.’ His face lights up once more. ‘Someone from the States wants to view the house. They know nothing about the—’ He glances at Joel before continuing. ‘The situation, so they’re not time-wasters. The problem is, they can only view it this afternoon. They’re flying back to the US tomorrow. The estate agents close at midday, so I’ll have to do it. The viewers can only make it for three. Unless you…’
He hesitates.
He must be joking.
‘Oh no,’ I say quickly. ‘Besides, I hardly know the house.’
He looks disappointed and sighs. ‘I haven’t been there since—’
‘It’ll be good to lay some ghosts to rest,’ I say. ‘You should go before it’s sold, or you may never forgive yourself.’
He nods slowly. ‘Yeah,’ he says, sounding resigned.
‘Okay. I’ll take him to Julia and Donald’s for Sunday lunch, as planned.’
He nods but says nothing, eyeing Joel’s overstuffed rucksack.
‘It’s four days, mate, not four years.’
I laugh.
‘This trip will be good for both of you. And maybe you’ll come back to find the house has been sold.’
I think back to my evening with Josie. I can’t accept that Jo was fed to the pigs. That’s what they think, because that greasy bastard was found near the pig farm. But no, she’s out there somewhere. I know it.
‘I can feel her,’ I told Josie. ‘I know her body is close. We have to find it.’
Jo deserves a proper funeral. I need to say goodbye. Josie promised she wasn’t giving up on Jo, and I believe her.
‘Come on, kiddo,’ I say, grabbing Joel’s hand.
Chapter Fifty-Five
As always, Donald and Julia are happy to see us. Being together here brings us all closer to Jo. The minute we arrive, Joel heads straight for the kitchen table, where Julia always has a gift waiting for him. They’re never small or inexpensive, either. I’m not sure it’s good for him to be so spoiled, but I understand why they do it.
