Page 30 of Fe
Ripley took out his card.
“When did you last catch a bus?” Fen asked.
“I can’t remember.”
“Let’s sit upstairs.”
Ripley almost asked if Fen could manage the stairs. But he wouldn’t have said that if he couldn’t. He touched his card to the reader and followed Fen.
“Front seat is free.” Fen turned at the top and grinned.
The bus started off as they were still making their way forward and Fen toppled onto the seat.
“Couldn’t he have waited?” Ripley was ready to help but Fen righted himself and shifted over to make room for Ripley.
Fen shrugged. “They have a timetable so…”
Ripley pressed his leg against Fen’s.
Fen smiled at him. “I’ve always liked sitting upstairs. You get a different view of the world.”
Ripley’s view was perfect.
“Pretend you’re driving the bus. Pose for me.”
“No.”
“Spoilsport.” Fen took his picture anyway. “Once, I was sitting upstairs at the front and a boy from school held his phone up to the mirror in the corner so when the driver glanced at it, he saw a naked woman getting railed. The boy buggered off to the back and the driver came storming up and blamed me. I had to give him my name. Transport for London called my school and I got into trouble. I don’t know what my mum said when she went in, but school backed down. Force of nature, my mum.”
Ripley chuckled.
“She told me yesterday she’s getting married to Alistair Winn, one of the brothers who run the place where I work.”
“Are you pleased?”
“Yes. Alistair’s kind. They’re moving in together, so the little flat where I spent most of my life will be occupied by someone new.”
“My mother’s moving home too. She’s finally accepted she needs to downsize. Do you think Winn Brothers would like to value the house contents? Advise on how to dispose of them?”
“Definitely. Alistair is fair. Ask for him. I wouldn’t trust Charles as far as I could throw him. Or his son Scott.”
“I’ll give them a call. The box you repaired, thanks by the way, I can’t see where it was mended.”
“Well, that was the point.”
“I might need you to open it again.”
“I didn’t open the bottom. But I can have a go. We’re nearly there. Want to ring the bell?”
Ripley looked round.
“It’s on the post.”
He pressed the button.
“When you get to the bottom of the stairs, don’t let the driver take off before I’m down, please.”
When they were both safely on the pavement, Ripley turned to him. “Like to go for a drink?”
