Page 85 of Fe
“Right. Well, good luck with that. It’s been a great day. Thanks for being such good company.”
“Hold this,” Ripley said to Fen and stuck the rock in his arms.
Fen nearly buckled under the weight. He wasn’t supposed to…Shit!He had to let it go and it only just missed his toes.
Ripley gave Gordo a twenty-pound note. “Thanks for putting up with us.”
“I’ve had fun. Come and see us again. I’ll let you know what I find next low tide.”
Gordo headed off and Ripley turned to Fen. Fen looked down at the rock.
“It’ll be a great paperweight,” Fen said.
Ripley groaned. “The desk will collapse.”
“Door stop?”
“The doors don’t swing open.”
“Garden ornament?”
“Promise never to call me a donkey again?”
“I promise.”
Ripley picked up the rock and carried it back to the car.
I really like him.
Fen’s body was seizing up by the time they walked into the house. He gritted his teeth so he didn’t cry out and felt a sense of triumph he’d managed for so long without his crutch. Once he’d taken off his jacket, he made straight for the sofa.
Ripley dropped down next to him. “You look pale. Are you okay? Cup of tea?”
Fen nodded. He didn’t trust himself to speak. When Ripley bent down to take off Fen’s boots, then his own, Fen’s throat closed up.
“Lie down,” Ripley said. “I’ll get a blanket. I’ll keep it in place on top of you using that rock.”
Fen laughed. He didn’t usually like being taken care of, but he was exhausted. He pulled his feet up onto the couch and closed his eyes.
When he woke, Ripley was next to him working on his iPad. He closed it when he realised Fen was awake.
“Tell me it’s not Sunday.” Fen sat up.
“Not quite.”
“Really? What time is it?”
“Nearly five.”
“I’m going to have to find something that will really exhaust me if I’m going to sleep tonight. Something that doesn’t requiretoomuch effort from me. Basically, an activity where I can lie there and expend the perfect amount of energy. Damn it, I can’t think of anything.”
Ripley raised his eyebrows. “I’ve booked us in for a meal at six at a place we can walk to. I was going to stuff you in the car and drive there if you were still asleep.”
“I knew you cared.” Fen pushed to his feet. “I need to warn you I’m going to strip down to my T-shirt and shorts but it’s not a come-on. I have to do a few exercises before I can manage the stairs. Tai Chi—if you want to join in.”
Fen wondered if he would, but Ripley stripped to his shorts and T-shirt too and stood next to him.
“Hand positions, movements, and gestures are extremely important,” Fen said.“Your hands need to be held in a relaxed way. No tension.”
