‘Goodness, I wasn’t a Tamagotchi, Mother.’

‘Indeed. Perhaps I should have practised with one of those first. You see, your father said he would pick up the majority share of the parenting duties. However, when it came to it he didn’t keep his side of the deal.’

Ros was stunned for a moment. ‘You’re blaming Dad?’

‘Not entirely. I understand that it wasn’t feasible for him to undertake that amount of childcare and if he had, his business would have suffered significantly. I think he wrongly assumed my maternal instinct would kick in and I would become your main carer but that didn’t happen. And he didn’t want you in nursery and childcare all the time.’

‘But that’s where I ended up because he couldn’t manage me and the business.’

‘Ironic really,’ said Amanda. ‘I think some people are not natural parents. Barry was far more at ease with you than I was. We never connected. I don’t know why. I waited until you were settled in school then I turned to the role I knew I could do well and that was being an analyst. I spent less time at home and more time at work until the relationship broke down irretrievably.’

Ros shook her head. ‘I’m sorry but if this little chat was meant to make me feel better I need to report that it’s not.’

‘I was simply explaining what happened. How the decisions I made took me down a particular path.’

‘And our relationship was just collateral damage?’ Ros shook her head at her mother’s lack of tact.

‘I continued to pay towards your upkeep, and we spoke every week.’ Amanda turned around and watched the lights with Ros. ‘Then your father asked me to stop calling because it was too upsetting for you. So I did. That was when I understood how much my job had cost me, because for the first time I realised that I did care a great deal about you. But it was too late to turn back. It seemed like it would be best for everyone if I just kept away.’

Ros wasn’t sure how to respond so instead they carried on watching the dying sunset together. Tonight it wasn’t having quite the calming effect it usually had on Ros.

At last Amanda spoke. ‘There’s the last ferry,’ she said, pointing at the vessel a little way off and following a straight course.

Ros turned her head although she had no idea why, it wasn’t exactly something unusual.

‘You used to love watching the ferries come in and out when you were young,’ said Amanda.

‘Did I?’ Ros had no specific recollection of this.

‘Yes. We used to go to a tiny strip of beach near the ferry terminal and sit on the bench there. Sometimes we’d stay until the sun went down. I don’t expect you to remember. It was a very long time ago,’ said Amanda as they both watched the ferry go by.

***

Darla was hopping mad and trapped on a boat with no escape other than to jump overboard, but worse than that she was hurt. Ros’s announcement had been a shock but it had been the realisation that Ros could simply move to another country without mentioning it to her and without any thought of the impact it would have. Impact was the right word – Darla felt like she’d been barrelled into by an out-of-control St Bernard and she knew exactly what that felt like.

When she left Oxford she’d left family and friends behind and Ros had been a lifeline. Someone cool-headed and calm who had helped her plan her way out of the mess she was in. They’d grown close or at least that was what Darla had believed until tonight. She knew Ros had her quirky ways but she’d always felt that deep down Ros cared and wouldn’t let her down – how wrong she had been. When she really needed her she was buggering off somewhere hot and sunny with no return ticket. Darla felt adrift. She watched the fading sunlight sparkle on the surface of the water like phones at a concert when the slow song is played.

The older partygoers had gone inside and were lounging on the plush leather seating, sipping drinks as their laughter drifted outside. Darla didn’t feel much like partying anymore. She looked around and saw Cameron sitting on the sun pad at the bow of the yacht. She wandered down to join him.

‘Mind if I sit here?’

‘Be my guest,’ he said, staring out at the sunset’s burnished colours.

‘Can I just double-check that that wasn’t some big stunt upstairs?’ Darla knew she was grasping at flimsy straws but was still hoping it was a misunderstanding.

‘Not a stunt,’ he said. He snorted out a breath. ‘To think we spent ages trying to work out how best to split up and then we end up doing it in the absolutely worst way possible. I feel awful. Poor Barry.’ Cameron looked into the cabin behind him where Barry and Pete were roaring with laughter at something.

‘I think he’s okay,’ said Darla.

‘Thank goodness he is. That man has been through enough.’

‘You’re fond of him aren’t you?’

‘Yep.’ He leaned back and puffed out a deep sigh. ‘This whole thing hasn’t been anything like I thought it would be. It was meant to be just an additional gig to earn me some extra money. But it’s turned into . . .’ He looked up to where Ros was standing on the flybridge gazing into the night. ‘It’s ended up becoming such a mess.’

‘If it’s any consolation, I feel shat on too,’ she said.

Cameron laughed. ‘I’m not sure it is, but thanks anyway.’

‘At least I’ve got Elliott and you’ve got Gina,’ said Darla.

‘I guess,’ said Cameron as a chorus of ‘For he’s a jolly good fellow’ broke out inside.

Chapter Thirty-Nine

After Ros finally escaped the boat and had made sure Barry was home safely, she returned home to a silent apartment. Cyril was lying on the sofa and all was quiet so she assumed Cameron had gone to bed. Perhaps that was for the best. Another confrontation would likely not solve the problem.

After little sleep she stirred to the sound of a door closing. She dragged herself fully awake. How could she be wide-awake half the night and yet come morning she was in a deep sleep? She pulled on her dressing gown and left the bedroom. Straightaway she realised Cyril had gone from the sofa, as had the throw and Cameron’s cactus. His bedroom door was ajar. She took a deep breath and tapped on the door. There was no response.

‘Cameron. Do you want a coffee?’ she asked, stepping tentatively inside. The room was empty and anything of Cameron’s was missing. She walked over to the kitchen area where a sticky note was stuck on the worktop, which read: I’m sorry things ended the way they did. Having slept on it I think you’re probably right that a clean break is for the best. So I’ve cleared all my stuff out. Wishing you all the best for the future – Cameron. PTO

She picked up the note and turned it over. PS. For the record I don’t regret the relationship contract, only how it ended.

Ros went to check his room again. The bed was stripped, the cupboards empty apart from his Cookie Monster T-shirt abandoned on the topmost shelf. She pulled it down. She still didn’t understand why he wore T-shirts featuring children’s characters but it was oddly one of many things she was going to miss about him. In a bit of a daze she went to get washed and dressed.

Ros put the kettle on and had to stop herself from automatically getting two mugs out of the cupboard. He’d gone and it was going to take some getting used to. Despite what everyone seemed to have assumed she’d not confirmed that she was taking the new job. She looked around her apartment; with the plants and Cameron’s things gone it had a sparse feel to it that she’d not noticed before. Or maybe it had not bothered her until now. There was nothing else here for her apart from her dad. She had genuinely believed her taking the new job would be best for everyone, not just her.

She had been upfront about her father’s condition with her potential new boss so would have been able to return to the UK when needed and had planned to come back once a month. But now she was unsure if that was enough and not just from Barry’s perspective but also from her own. She had a dilemma and as she’d upset all her friends she had nobody to talk it over with.

She’d not realised how long she’d been staring into her drink until the entry door buzzed and she put the cold mug down and went to answer the door.

‘Hey, Cabbage, can I come up?’

‘Sure,’ she said and she buzzed Barry in.

When she opened the door, Gazza was first inside pulling the lead free from Barry’s hand. The little dog did a lap of the apartment, clearly looking for someone. He returned to Barry with his lead bumping along sadly behind him and he flopped down with an audible huff.

‘That yours?’ asked Barry, pointing at the Cookie Monster T-shirt she was wearing.

She scratched her neck self-consciously. ‘It’s Cameron’s.’

‘And he’s not here,’ said Barry, scanning the place.

‘No, he moved out first thing. I don’t know where he is.’ She’d been wondering most of the morning where he would have gone. ‘Can I get you a drink?’ she asked, tipping her cold coffee away.

‘Err, a cuppa would be nice thanks.’ Barry got out his mobile. ‘Cameron is in Matlock.’

Ros cocked her head at him. ‘What makes you think he’s gone home?’