The Lost Man(95)

‘Yeah.’

‘He misses you too.’

‘Does he?’

‘Of course. You’re his dad.’

Nathan felt a flicker of warmth between them and for a moment he could remember what he’d once loved about that golden-haired girl on the other side of the fence.

‘Seeing Xander’s the best part of my year. He’s really great, you should be proud.’

‘Well. As should you, Nathan.’

Nathan heard movement and saw their son in the hallway. He waved him over. ‘He’s here now. I’ll put him on. Happy Christmas, Jacqui.’

Xander took the phone, mouth agape in a way that made Nathan feel both a bit better and a bit guilty. He should have tried to do this years ago.

As he turned away, his eye caught once more on the key rack and he reached out and unhooked Cameron’s keys. He wandered down the hall, running the lanyard through his fingers. It still had a little red dust on it, and he couldn’t help picturing it, dumped on the front seat of Cam’s car on that terrible day when they’d found him. Not dumped, a small voice whispered in his head. Neatly coiled, in a way he had never seen from his brother.

Nathan’s thoughts were scattered by shrieks as Sophie and Lo careered out of the living room and ran past him. Ilse followed with a smile and a rubbish bag full of torn wrapping paper. Nathan slipped the keys into his pocket and smiled back. Liz came out, looking better than she had the day before, Nathan was relieved to see. She headed towards the kitchen and squeezed his arm as she passed. She seemed to have forgiven him at least.

‘I’d better get lunch on. I’ve given the backpackers the day off, so feel free to help.’ She turned and called out: ‘Sophie!’

‘Yeah?’ a voice shouted back.

‘Can you please run out and tell Simon and Katy that lunch is at twelve?’

‘Okay.’ More pounding of feet. Sophie appeared and drew to a brief halt. ‘Can I whip the cream for the pav?’

‘No! I want to!’ Lo shouted.

‘You both can.’ Liz rolled her eyes. ‘We’re not there yet, anyway.’

She headed into the kitchen as Sophie ran outside. There was a silence, then the verandah boards rumbled again. Sophie reappeared at the door, and Nathan could see by her face that something was wrong.

‘It’s gone.’ She sounded confused.

Harry appeared at Nathan’s shoulder. ‘What has?’ he said.

‘The backpackers’ car.’

‘They’ve gone?’

‘The caravan’s still there. But their car is gone!’

Harry frowned and Nathan followed him outside.

Sure enough, the backpackers’ battered car – their own private vehicle that they’d driven into town – was no longer there. It had been parked last night, and every night before, right next to the caravan. Now there was just an empty patch of ground in its place. Sophie ran up to it and spread her arms wide.

‘See?’ she shouted. ‘I told you.’

The caravan door opened and Simon poked his head out, surprised to see Nathan and Harry and the girls staring at him. Over his shoulder, Nathan saw Ilse and Bub wander out onto the verandah to see what the fuss was about.

Simon blinked in the sunlight. He looked like he’d just woken up.

‘Is Katy already in the house?’ he said. It took him another moment to realise what they were all looking at. His eyes widened, any last traces of sleep gone. ‘Where’s the bloody car?’

He ran out, hitching up his shorts. He stood on the bare patch of land and circled around one way, and then the other. The car did not reappear.

‘Where were the keys, mate?’ Harry said.

Simon stopped turning and dashed back into the caravan. He re-emerged looking, if possible, even more perplexed.

‘They were right there in the cupboard, but now they’re gone!’

He ran down to the empty space again.

‘And no sign of Katy in there with you?’ Harry said quickly, before Simon could start circling once more.

‘No! She’s gone too! And her bag!’ Simon stopped dead still and stared at them. ‘Wait. Katy took my car?’

‘I would say, mate, that’s the way it’s looking.’

‘But – why?’ Simon’s eyes widened, then with a speed that surprised Nathan, his expression darkened. ‘It was my car. How could she do this to me?’

Nathan cleared his throat. ‘She did mention she was quite keen to head off,’ he said, neutrally.

‘So, what? She just gets to make the decisions, does she?’ Simon’s eyes flashed and he paced up and down the empty space. ‘Shit. Shit. I can’t believe this.’

‘Did you not hear her leave?’ Harry said. He looked mildly entertained.

‘I take sleeping tablets at night,’ Simon snapped back. ‘I’ve been very stressed lately. Shit.’ More pacing. ‘No-one else heard her go?’

Nathan resisted the urge to glance around at Ilse. Now Simon mentioned it, he had vaguely registered the faint thrum of an engine at one point. He’d been dozing and dreamed it was the generator. By the time he’d opened his eyes, he’d looked at Ilse sleeping next to him and instantly forgotten all about it.

He watched Simon pacing and mumble something that sounded suspiciously like ‘stupid bitch’ and felt a certain warm glow at the idea of Katy buggering off under the cover of darkness. She deserved better, all things considered, but it was a start.