Page 83 of Fe
“A good one.” He passed it to Fen. “You can keep it.”
“Thank you.” Fen brushed his fingers over the fossil and smiled at Ripley.
“We’re going to search over there. If you’re interested in sea glass, you can look for that too. There are some lovely stones and gems around.”
“It’s like looking for treasure.” Fen’s eyes were shining.
Ripley’s heart clenched.I think I’ve already found it.
The three of them walked along the beach with their heads down. Moments later, Fen called out, “I found something!”
Gordo went to look. “A rock. A nice one but just a rock.”
“What are those marks, then?” Fen asked.
“Not fossils. Mineral deposits.”
“What about this?” Ripley showed Gordo what he’d picked up.
“An ammonite. Well done.”
Fen gasped. “I didn’t think we’d find anything.”
“I’ve never walked on this beach and come back empty-handed,” Gordo told them. “There’s always something to pick up.”
“Can I take a big rock with me?” Fen asked.
“If you can carry it.”
“I brought my donkey.”
Ripley growled. “Watch it.”
18
Fen couldn’t remember when he’d had such a good time—not counting last night or earlier this morning. The thought made him smile. He’d filled his pockets with two hundred-million-years-old fossils, along with far younger fragments of blue, green and white sea glass, plus he’d taken loads of pictures of Ripley. Gordo had taken several of the two of them and Fen thought he could make a memory book, only for the idea to crush his good mood. A memory of six months during which he’d continually hoped there could be more, even though Ripley had told him that wouldn’t happen?
Bloody stop it!He knew better than to let himself get upset about things over which he had no control. Maybe this was the only relationship he’d ever have. So he was going to enjoy it and stop thinking about it ending.
Ripley was fun. Fen didn’t know if he was always like this when he got to know someone but he was nothing like the arsehole who’d splashed him with his car.
Lunch was perfect. Set up in a pop-up shelter by one of Gordo’s team, and he and Ripley were able to sit in comfort and look out at the sea, watching as the tide started to turn.
“Hurry up so we can look for more fossils on the way back,” Fen said.
“How much more can we carry?”
“I can’t carry any more but you could.”
Ripley glowered. “I’ve still not forgiven you for calling me a donkey.”
Fen snuggled against him. “I’ll make it up to you.”
“Yes, you will, but no more rocks.”
“Concretions. Only one more, I promise. Will you carry just one more? Please?”
“One.”
