Gone, and Good Riddance
What do you mean, not reachable? He was just on the phone with someone five minutes ago! Natalie stood in the hallway, pressing the handset to her ear.
She glanced over to the sideboard.
Her jewellery box was still there in its usual spot, but something felt off the lid wasnt quite shut.
Rob! she shouted deeper into the flat. Are you in the bathroom?
Natalie slowly walked to the sideboard. As her fingers brushed the polished wood, a cold chill ran down her spine inside, the jewellery box was completely empty.
Not even the shop receipt she used as a bookmark was there anymore.
The money was gone too, though to be fair, she had given that to him herself…
God she breathed, slumping down onto the floor. How could this happen? We were just arguing about wallpaper yesterday You promised wed go to the coast in August
It had all started so incredibly ordinarily. Last June, the piston on Natalies little Fiesta had seized up.
The garage wanted a fortune for the repairs, so in frustration, she posted in her local Auto Aid UK Facebook group.
Hi all, does anyone know if I can free up a stuck brake piston myself if its seized? Heres a photo of the wheel, she wrote.
The comments came thick and fast. Someone reckoned You shouldnt mess around if you dont know what youre doing, another said she should just buy a replacement part.
Then a message from someone called RobH85 popped up:
Dont listen to half those comments. Just get some WD-40 and a repair kit from Halfords, should be about thirty quid.
Take the wheel off, gently push the piston with the pedal, but only just.
Clean it all with brake cleaner, grease it up.
If the cylinders not pitted, youll be sorted in no time.
Natalie thought his advice sounded solid and straightforward no ego, just knowledge.
And if the cylinder is pitted? she asked.
In that case, youll need a replacement. But judging by the photo, you look after the car, I doubt its that bad. Any more questions, drop me a message happy to help.
And that was how it started.
Rob turned out to be properly clued up on all things cars.
Within a week, hed talked her through changing oil, choosing spark plugs, and even suggested what not to put in the radiator.
Natalie caught herself looking forward to his messages.
Youre a real lifesaver, Rob, she wrote one night in late July. I was thinking Could we meet up? Coffees on me. Or maybe something stronger, with what Ive saved.
He didnt reply straight away. Maybe three hours later, her phone finally lit up.
Natalie, Id love to. Honestly. But right now Im on a long work trip. Abroad, actually.
Wow, she replied, surprised. Far?
As far as you can get. Look, I dont want to lie. I really like you. But Im not away for work. Im well, Im serving time. HM Prison, if that means anything to you.
Natalie dropped her phone on the sofa. Something in her chest twisted with shock.
An inmate? Here she was, a well-put-together accountant at a big firm, and shed spent two solid weeks chatting away with a criminal.
What for? she typed with shaky hands.
Fraud section 2, I got myself into a mess. Part set-up, part my own fault. Not long left to serve now. If you want to delete this chat, I understand.
Natalie didnt reply. She just blocked him and spent the next three days not knowing whether to laugh or cry. Her colleagues kept asking if she was feeling unwell.
All Natalie could think was,
Why? Why is someone so clever, good with his hands, decent stuck in there?
A week later, among the spam in her inbox, she found a notification. Rob had messaged again; hed somehow asked for her email address before. She hadnt deleted him from her contacts, just closed the chat.
Natalie, he wrote. Im not upset. Really. I knew this would happen. Youre miles above me someone like you doesnt need someone like me.
I just wanted to say thank you for the company. Those were the best two weeks Ive had in three years. Wishing you all the best. Goodbye.
Natalie read it, sitting in her kitchen and suddenly she burst into tears. She felt so very sorry for him, and for herself, and for how bloody unfair life was.
Why does everyone else luck out and I get deadbeats, mummys lads, and when I meet someone halfway normal, hes behind bars? she asked herself.
And once again, she didnt reply
***
Natalie tried going on dates, but none of them were right.
One chap droned on about his stamp collection all evening; another turned up with grubby fingernails and insisted they split the bill at Caffè Nero.
By March, on her own thirty-fifth birthday, Natalie felt lonelier than ever.
That morning, she got an alert.
Happy birthday, dear Natalie! Rob wrote. I know Ive no right to message, but I couldnt resist. I hope you have a wonderful day.
You deserve to be treated like a queen.
I made something for you out of bread crust and wire If I could, Id give it to you.
Just know that somewhere in Staffordshire, someones toasting your health today with a mug of truly dreadful tea.
Thank you, Rob, she replied, finally giving in. Thats lovely.
You wrote back! he seemed over the moon. How are you? Hows the little Fiesta? Still behaving in the cold?
And just like that, things picked up again.
Now they messaged every day. Rob called whenever he could.
His voice was deep, with a gentle roughness to it.
He told her about his life: growing up with a brother, how his brother now had kids to look after, and how Rob dreamed of starting fresh.
I wont go back to my old city, Nat, he said one evening as she reheated her dinner. Too many old mates, too many temptations.
I want to go somewhere no one knows me. I can work with my hands, always work as a labourer or in a garage.
And where would you want to go? she asked with bated breath.
Id come to you. Find a room or a studio flat nearby. Just to know youre in the same city, breathing the same air.
After that who knows. I’m not trying to crowd you, I promise
By May, Natalie was head over heels.
She knew exactly when his cell inspections were, when he had laundry day, when he was working in the carpentry shop.
She sent him parcels: tea, biscuits, cosy socks, spare parts for his little crafty projects.
Rob, please, just stay out of trouble, she begged. Dont get into any fights.
For you, love, Ill be calm as a lamb, he laughed. Im out in April.
Ill be waiting for you.
***
April came, and Natalie drove to the prison gates. Shed bought him a new jacket, jeans, and trainers.
Her heart was pounding so loudly she thought it might leap out of her chest.
When he came out, not tall but stocky, with short greying hair, she froze at first.
He looked different in person.
But when he smiled and said, Alright, love? she flung her arms round him.
Youre alive, she whispered, holding his rough cheek.
Where else would I be? he said, hugging her tight. You smell gorgeous. Is that some flowery perfume?
They drove to hers.
The first week was like a fairy tale. Rob straightaway got busy: fixed the leaking tap, mended the front door lock that had stuck for months.
In the evenings, they sat round her little kitchen table, downed sweet rosé and he told funny stories from the old days, always steering clear of the dark stuff.
Rob, she said on the tenth day, you mentioned getting your own place.
Why bother? Ive got loads of space. Itll be more fun for both of us, and you can put your money toward tools and getting set up.
Hm, doesnt feel right, he frowned, stirring his tea. Im a bloke, should sort out my own living. Dont want to be a freeloader eating your food, sponging off you.
Oh, stop it! she put her hand over his. Were hardly strangers now. Youll get on your feet, find work, and everything will come together.
My brother rang last night, he said suddenly, eyes on the floor. My nephews really quite ill, needs a private op.
Hes asking for a loan, and honestly you can see for yourself, I havent got a penny to lend. Im mortified, Nat. Embarrassed about the family.
How much do you need? she ventured gently.
Its a fair whack about five grand. But he reckons hes almost got it all together.
Was wondering if I should do a stint up in London pays good on the sites, Id save up quickly.
Natalie went quiet. Shed been tucking away exactly that much five grand in her jewellery box for three years, scrimping to save for a new bathroom, maybe finally get that rain shower shed dreamed of…
Ive got the money, she whispered.
Robs head snapped up.
Dont even think about it! Thats yours, Nat. I couldnt.
Rob, its your nephew. Familys family. Take it, and pay me back when you can. Were in this together now.
He refused for almost two days. Barely spoke, stomped around, even started smoking out the kitchen window, despite promising to quit.
In the end, Natalie took the money out herself and set it on the table.
Go on. Take it. Go see your brother, get your nephew sorted. Or send it, however.
Ill take it myself, he said, hugging her. Might chat about work in their neck of the woods. Maybe theres a better offer up there.
Should be there and back in two days, Nat. Ill go in a few days
***
Natalie sat on the hall floor for over an hour, legs dead, but she didnt notice the ache.
She remembered the night before, watching some stupid comedy film together, him laughing, his arm around her, and she thought shed never been so happy.
Ill probably head early the day after tomorrow, hed said before bed.
Hed left a day early. Shed slept right through his leaving, never heard him get dressed.
She vaguely registered the front door slam in her sleep but assumed it was just the neighbours.
By two that afternoon, she finally rang his brother the number hed once given her just in case.
Hello? a gruff voice barked. Whos this?
Er, hi, its Natalie. Im Robs girlfriend. Is he with you today?
Silence. Then a drawn-out sigh.
Who? Rob? My brothers name isnt Rob, and hes still inside for another six months, love. Due out in October.
Natalies world spun.
What in October? I picked him up in April. From the prison gates with my own eyes.
Listen, the voice grew sharper. My brother, Alex, is inside HMP Chelmsford.
Rob Robs my old cellmate, he got out two months back.
He nicked my phone when I was on cleaning duty, took all my contacts down.
Youre not the first pen pal hes strung along. Hes a pro at this.
Techie degree, smooth talker.
Natalie slid her phone to the floor in a daze. She remembered him teaching her how to change spark plugs.
Dont overtighten, he said. Strip the threads and youre done for.
I stripped it alright, Natalie whispered. Ruined the threads completely. Made a total mess for myself.
Natalie suddenly realised shed known absolutely nothing about her beloved Rob. Shed never seen his passport or any proof of his release.
Come to think of it was he even really Rob?
***
Of course, Natalie went to the police and filed a report. She showed them a photo and learned quite a few surprising things about her former lodger.
His name really was Rob and that was about the only true detail hed shared.
Hed done time for a serious offence, spent half his life inside and met Natalie while serving his third sentence.
Natalie changed the locks, blessed her lucky stars, and decided shed actually got off lightly. Compared with his other exesThe first weeks after, she drifted between rage and humiliation, rewinding every conversation in her mind and scouring the flat for the faintest remaining mark of him. There wasnt one. She muttered a dry laugh, because for all his talk about being handy, hed left not a single fingerprint behind.
But little by little, life stitched itself back together. The cash was gone, but the world hadnt ended. The Fiesta still ran just fine, although she got the brakes checked at a real garage this time and asked for ID from every new tradesman, twice. And her jewellery? Well, shed learned that the only irreplaceable thing was her own good sense. That, and her sisters locketthank God, shed worn it to work that day and it never left her neck again.
Her friends were outraged; her mother wept; her sister delivered coffee and fierce hugs and they all said, Youll never fall for someone again, not after this. But Natalie surprised them. She bought floral wallpaper for the living room, the wild pattern Rob would have hated. She enrolled in a mechanics evening course, determined to fix her own car for good.
It took her almost a year before she could smile about any of it. Then, strolling by the coast one August, the salty air tangling her hair, she watched families fly kites and dogs dash through the tide. A thought struck her, sudden and brighthow could she ever have believed this was the ending? It wasnt. This was her life, after all, and even if it had nearly broken her heart, it hadnt broken her.
She realized she was free in a way she never had been when she was careful, cautious Natalie. Now, she could trust her own judgment and that felt, in its own small way, richer than anything stolen.
Natalie dug her toes into the sand and grinned. Shed get a new bathroom in her own sweet time. She still didnt have anyone to argue about wallpaper with, but that was just as well. By the time the sun slid behind the waves, she wasnt thinking about Rob or what shed lost. She was thinking of what, when August rolled around again, she just might do next.
