Page 48 of Fe
“I should have kept my thoughts to myself about the things on the dining table,” Fen said quietly. “I know memories can hurt just as easily as bring comfort. I’m sorry if I upset you.”
“You didn’t. You made me see sense about the fossil. But the entire house brings me both pleasure and pain.” Ripley immediately developed a tight feeling in his throat. He’d never said that to anyone before.
“Good memories and bad. I get that. Pain never goes away. It might hurt less over time but there are still scars. There’s not much you can do except fill your life with things that make you happy.”
Was Fen talking about himself too?
“You don’t mind your mother wanting to sell up?”
“No.”
“I see a lot more in thatnothan you might think.” Fen walked over and wrapped his arms around him.
Ripley’s heart almost stopped. He found himself hugging Fen back and it felt as if for the first time in a long while, he could cope with someone showing him affection.
“Now I see a bit of the real you,” Fen whispered.
“I’m…trying.”
Ripley wasn’t sure how long they stood there, and there was no way he was letting go first, but the sound of someone coming up the stairs broke them apart.
Fen walked over to a blanket chest sitting under the window and Scott came into the room.
“Anything up here?” Scott asked Fen.
“This chest, the bed, bedside table and those paintings.”
Ripley was about halfway down the stairs when he heard Scott say, “He must be fucking loaded. What do you think he does for a living.”
“Lawyer,” Fen replied.
“No point you fancying him.”
Ripley froze.
“Why not?” Fen asked.
“Why the fuck would he want you?”
“Why shouldn’t he?”
Scott laughed and Ripley wanted to hit him.
13
Back at the shop, Fen started working on the valuations. He checked prices for similar items, made a judgement about condition, then came up with a total for everything. He wasn’t sure whether Alistair and Charles would suggest buying it all to sell on, or putting things through an auction, so he worked out costs for both. Once he’d printed everything off, he gave the pages to Alistair who never liked to work on the computer.
“This looks very thorough,” Alistair said.
“I’ve done it room by room so it will be easier to see if I’ve made some big mistake. Missed off the grand piano or something.”
“Was there—?” Alistair’s eyes widened.
“No.” Fen rolled his eyes.
“Very funny. When I get Scott’s list, I’ll do a comparison. By the way, we’re going to move your mum’s stuff from her place to mine this weekend.”
“Shall I come and give you a hand?”
