Jacob stood rooted to the spot on the jetty and stared up at ‘The Old Geezer’. Fred Bramley was sitting on a blue-check deckchair on the deck of his boat, his rod cast in the water while his hands were cupped tightly around a mug of tea.
Jacob’s watchful eyes followed Fred’s every move as he reeled in his line and leant forward to examine the hook.
‘Have you caught anything?’ Jacob shouted towards Fred, who spun round and locked eyes with the little boy.
He tweaked his cap from over his eyes, ‘Not this time,’ he grumbled, casting the line back in the water. ‘These fish must be still sleeping under those river banks.’
Jacob chuckled.
‘Shouldn’t you be at school, young lad?’
Jacob shook his head, ‘I’ve been poorly.’
‘You best get yourself inside then, lad, keep yourself warm.’
Fred noticed Nathan talking to Guy outside the boatyard and watched for a split second as Jacob clomped back towards his dad, who was now walking towards him. He grasped his hand and they pushed the door open to the deli and disappeared inside. Jacob hovered in the deli window and waved at Fred, who tipped his flat cap once more in acknowledgement.
‘What are you doing here?’ Bea was amazed to see Nathan and Jacob up and out so early. Immediately she pressed a hand to his forehead, ‘Oh, you do feel a little better.’
‘What’s up, little man?’ asked Nell.
Nathan and Jacob followed them into the kitchen.
‘I’m poorly, Aunty Nellie. I feel hot, but Daddy wanted an English breakfast muffin and promised me a doughnut for later.’
‘Oh, he did now, did he?’ Nell laughed, reaching for the grill pan, ‘I’ll get to work on that in a moment.’
‘Cup of tea too?’ asked Gilly, holding up the kettle.
‘You read my mind,’ he smiled.
‘Jacob, go and sit at the desk. Do you think you can manage some toast?’ asked Bea, retrieving the emergency colouring book and pencils from the desk drawer and putting them down in front of him. ‘Here, do some colouring.’ Jacob nodded and sat down quietly while Gilly, Nell and Bea congregated in the middle of the kitchen.
‘Are you okay? You look a little upset,’ Nathan narrowed his eyes towards his wife.
‘I was going to give you a quick ring mid-morning when it had quietened down.’
‘Why what’s up?’
She took a breath. ‘Fern rang.’
Immediately Bea could see the look on Nathan’s face change, ‘What does she want?’
Bea hesitated and shuffled Nathan to the other side of the kitchen away from Jacob, ‘It’s Mum,’ she took a deep breath, ‘She’s dying and wants to see me one last time.’
Nathan raised his eyebrows, ‘How are you feeling about that?’
‘I don’t actually know,’ she said, staring into Nathan’s eyes.
Nell tapped Bea on the arm, ‘I’ll go and help Gilly in the front.’
‘Thanks, Nell.’
Bea turned back towards Nathan.
‘I have to admit I wasn’t expecting that,’ he said.
‘Me neither.’
‘How did she sound?’
‘Very matter of fact and straight to the point. Mum’s at home.’
Bea wrapped her arms around Nathan’s waist and he hugged her tight, kissing the top of her head.
‘I remember that night like it was yesterday.’
‘I do too. I vowed I would never speak to her again.’
‘Is she still with Pete?’
‘I’ve no idea, I never asked. It took me by surprise just hearing her voice again.’
‘How long has your mum got? I’m assuming it’s cancer.’
Bea nodded and wiped away a tear.
‘Hey don’t cry, none of this is your fault.’ Nathan reached inside his pocket and handed Bea a tissue.
‘I know, I just wish it could have been different. I always thought Mum becoming a grandmother might have mellowed her a little. If Dad was still here I think he would have seen sense about this whole situation.’
‘But he’s not and we made the decision not to speak to either your mum or Fern again after that night. We made that choice together.’
‘I know,’ Bea sighed. ‘But she’s only got days left to live, Nathan. She’s deteriorating by the second, Fern said.’
‘Then you need to make a decision sooner rather than later, then if you want to see her one last time you’ve still got the chance. Whatever you decide, I’ll stand by you. You know that, don’t you?’
Bea gazed into her husband’s eyes, ‘I couldn’t imagine life without you.’ She kissed him tenderly on the lips.
‘It’s a good job you don’t have to, then, isn’t it?’ he said warmly.
‘Come on, I’d best help the girls. I’ll mull it over and make a decision tonight.’
‘Okay, now keep that chin up.’
‘I will, I promise,’ said Bea, turning back towards Jacob.
‘Where’s he gone? Where’s Jacob?’
Bea’s eyes spun around the room but Jacob was nowhere to be seen.
‘He’ll be out the front with Nell and Gilly. Come on, let’s check. Oh and I never did get my breakfast muffin,’ he said, looking longingly towards the grill pan.
‘Always thinking of your stomach,’ she said grinning, swiping the tea towel in his direction.
They pushed open the kitchen door and saw Gilly and Nell standing behind the counter, ‘That was a mad five minutes, already the pasties and Danish pastries are dwindling.’
Nathan looked around the shop, ‘Where’s Jacob?’
‘In the back with you,’ Nell answered, chucking some money in the till.
Nathan met Bea’s worried stare, ‘He’s not wandered out here?’
‘I’ve not seen him,’ Gilly answered, ‘Is everything okay?’
‘I’m not sure, I’ll check the toilet,’ said Bea, hurrying towards them. ‘He’s not in here,’ Bea’s urgent tone rang out.
Everything seemed to stand still for a moment.
Gilly shot Nell a quizzical look, ‘Where is he?’
Nell shrugged but was determined not to panic, ‘He can’t have gone far,’ she said in a calm voice. As much as Nell sounded in control, nothing was going to calm Bea’s thumping heart.
‘I’ve not got a good feeling about this,’ said Bea, exhaling a shaky breath, her eyes brimmed with unshed tears, her mouth had gone bone dry, ‘Where is he?’
Nathan cleared his throat, ‘Like Nell said, he can’t have gone far.’ He moved towards the door and everyone followed him. ‘I’ll stay here in case he comes back,’ Gilly said, hovering by the counter.
Bea, Nathan and Nell spilled out of the deli on to the path. They all scanned the wharf in every direction but there was no sign of him. There were a few shoppers milling about and people cleaning the decks of their boats. ‘Hey, have you seen a boy – about this big?’ Nathan stopped a passer-by. They shook their head, ‘Sorry no.’
A huge dollop of fear descended all around them.
Nathan raked his hand through his hair, the anxious expression written all over his face.
‘Hey, where’s the fire?’ Guy shouted over, leaning against the doors of the boatyard.
‘It’s Jacob … he’s missing.’ Nell bellowed back.
Guy stared at her for a split second before quickly locking the doors to the yard and bounding towards them with Sam speedily following behind. ‘I’ll help you look. How long has he been gone?’ he asked, standing by Nell’s side.
‘Five minutes max, maybe?’
Tears were pricking Bea’s eyes, ‘He was here one minute and gone the next. It’s my stupid fault, I was so engrossed in talking to Nathan.’
‘It’s no one’s fault,’ replied Nell in a sympathetic tone, rubbing her arm, ‘He can’t have gone far.’ Thankfully she sounded a lot calmer than she felt and her voice didn’t falter.
‘What if he’s fallen into the water?’
They rushed towards the railings and each and every one of them scanned the water, but they couldn’t see anything. ‘Or worse, someone’s snatched him.’
‘Think rationally. He was in the kitchen, no one enticed him out,’ said Nathan. ‘Let’s split up.’
‘Good plan,’ Guy answered.
‘Guy can you check the shower block, mate? Nell, you check the laundry room, Bea …’ he grabbed both her arms, ‘I promise you, he’ll be okay.’
‘How can you promise me that? If anyone has hurt him,’ she pulled away from Nathan’s hold. The fear stabbing in the pit of her stomach.
‘You check up and down the jetty and knock on the boats, see if anyone’s spotted him.’
While Nathan was organising the party, Gilly had checked every inch of The Melting Pot. She popped her head out of the door, ‘He’s definitely not playing hide and seek in here.’
Bea’s knees began to tremble as she stumbled towards the furthest jetty and began to search. ‘Jacob,’ she wailed, her heart pounding.
They all hurried in different directions.
Nell heard Guy shouting in the shower block, but there was no sign of him. Nell darted towards the laundry room and frantically turned over every basket of washing and checked inside every washing machine, which she knew, deep down, was daft, but what if he was just playing hide and seek?
‘Are you in here, Jacob?’ But there was no answer.
‘Nothing,’ said Nell grimly, looking at Guy as they met back up on the towpath. ‘There’s no sign of him anywhere.’
‘We need to phone the police,’ Guy said with authority, ‘We can’t leave it any longer.’
Nell sobbed, she knew Guy was right and took her mobile phone from her pocket.
‘I wouldn’t wish this on my worst enemy,’ she wept.
‘Is everything okay?’
Guy and Nell spun round and locked eyes with a wizened face which was staring back at them both. His face was a map of wrinkles, his blue eyes framed by thick white busy eyebrows and his stubble chin sprouted white whiskers. The old man was dressed in a flamboyant purple suit, sporting a bright-red checked cravat and was leaning on a cane.
‘My apologies, I recognise you … but I’m not sure where from?’ Guy racked his brains, but nothing.
‘I believe, young man, you saved my life,’ his tone was soft and friendly, ‘I can’t thank you both enough.’ He stretched out his hand, ‘Lloyd.’
Guy hurriedly shook his hand, ‘Lloyd, please, forgive us, I don’t mean to be rude but I’m just about to ring the police, a child has gone missing.’
‘Would that be a little boy in a pair of bright-yellow wellies?’
All eyes locked on Lloyd.
‘Yes, yes, it would. I’m Nell,’ she said, shaking his hand, ‘I was there with Guy, on your boat, when the paramedics arrived. Have you seen him … Jacob?’
‘I saw a little boy about this high,’ he gestured with his cane, ‘jumped on to that boat about five minutes ago.’
Nell and Guy swung towards ‘The Old Geezer,’ and there were Jacob’s wellies strewn on the mat on the deck of Fred Bramley’s boat.
‘Look! Are they Jacob’s?’
‘Yes,’ Nell’s heart thumped, ‘Bea, here, Nathan,’ she yelled as loudly as she could.
Nathan and Bea’s footsteps came thundering up the wharf. ‘You got him?’
‘Thank you so much,’ Nell enthused, relief flowing through her body as she smiled up at Lloyd.
‘No problem at all, young lady. You go and get the boy.’ With that Lloyd waggled his cane in the air, turned and walked away.
‘Thanks again,’ Guy shouted after him.
Just at that moment the deli swung open, Gilly was clutching the phone, ‘It’s Fred. He’s with him, on his boat. He’s just phoned me.’
‘Yes, Lloyd spotted him,’ shouted Nell as Bea and Nathan pounded the jetty and jumped on to the narrowboat, quickly followed by Nell and Guy, leaving Gilly staring at the man who’d walked off up the wharf and disappeared around the side of the boatyard. Fred opened the door and there was Jacob beaming back at them, wearing Fred’s fishing cap and holding his rod.
Bea’s heart soared with love for her little boy, the relief was written all over her face as she scooped him up and pressed her lips against his cheek, then hugged him so tight he could barely breathe. ‘Don’t you ever do that to me again,’ she sobbed, her voice wobbly.
‘What’s the matter, Mummy?’
Bea swallowed and brushed away her tears.
‘You disappeared without a word. I’ve never been so scared.’
‘I saw Mr Bramley fishing and wanted to know if he’d caught anything. He thinks I’d make a very good fisherman, especially with my bright-yellow wellies.’
‘That you would, without a doubt,’ she said smiling at her little boy.
‘I telephoned the moment he stepped foot on the boat.’
Nathan touched his arm, ‘Thanks Fred.’
Nell crouched down in front of Jacob, ‘You had Aunty Nellie worried there for a moment. Promise me you’ll always tell someone where you’re going.’
‘I promise, Aunty Nellie.’
She cupped her hands around his face and kissed him on his forehand.
‘Here lad, you take these,’ Fred handed him a pile of fishing magazines, ‘You have a look through the pictures and learn all about the fish in our waters.’
‘Yes, Mr Bramley. Will you show me how to fish one day?’
‘I know a better man for the job,’ Fred tipped a wink towards Nathan. ‘I think you need to take your son fishing,’ Fred said, slapping Nathan on his back.
‘Can we, Daddy? Please.’ Jacob’s eyes were wide with excitement.
‘We sure can, son, we sure can.’