Page 96 of Fe
“Not a lot then?” Fen asked.
“Two cracked mugs and a lumpy cushion.” Alistair patted his mum’s hand.
His mum huffed and Fen grinned. She found a use for everything. It wasn’t that she hoarded, she was just good at repurposing, making the ordinary look special.Making me feel special.Fen chewed his lip. He was lucky to have her.
“How long are you going to be able to live here?” She looked around.
“Ripley said I could stay for a few months. He felt bad I got sacked for stealing that ring. He believes I didn’t do it.”
“That’s not the only reason though, surely.” She frowned, then winced. “Sorry. It’s just… It’s very quick to move in with someone, Fen.”
“We like each other.”And he’s paying me.As if he could tell her that.
The coffee machine beeped and Fen pushed himself up.
“Let me do it,” Alistair said, so Fen sat again.
“I’m glad he believes you,” his mum said. “I’m looking forward to meeting him.”
Oh bloody hell.
“I had a word with Scott. He’s adamant he didn’t put the ring in your bag. I don’t know how he had the nerve to say that to me. I’d have stopped him coming to help me move but I didn’t want Alistair to struggle on his own.”
And I’d have been no use.Fen wanted to ask Alistair if he’d found out whether Scott had any gambling debts, but maybe it was better to let things be. Scott would cock up at some point. He took a tiny sip of the coffee. Not bad.
“You’re going to be here for Christmas then,” his mum said. “I’m relieved you’ll be with someone.”
Ah.So that was what she’d wanted to tell him.
“Yes.”
“It’s a weight off my mind because we’re going to Italy for a couple of weeks. Flying out on Christmas Eve.”
“Lovely.” Fen made himself smile.
“For a break and to look at wedding venues. I told Alistair I wouldn’t go if you were on your own.”
“Don’t be daft. I’m fine. We’ll have our Christmas when you come back. I can eat your Christmas dinner any time.”
She smiled. “You could come with us.”
“Mum! No way. Anyway, I don’t have my passport yet. I ticked to collect it from the post office but I’ve not heard from them.” He had but he needed to make time to go.
They stayed until they’d drunk their coffees. Fen was all smiles until he’d closed the door, then his heart sank.Where am I supposed to go for Christmas now?
He went back out to the summer house and unpacked the boxes. There were new bottles of all the stuff Fen usually used: oil, wax, polish, cleaning solution, glue… Alistair had been generous and Fen couldn’t help but wonder if it was through a sense of guilt about Fen losing his job, maybe because of Christmas too. Fen and his mum had never been apart at Christmas. Ever. Even after she’d started to go out with Alistair, she’d put Fen first. His heart clenched.Though wouldn’t I have been happy to stay with Ripley, if he’d wanted me to?Maybe not if she hadn’t had Alistair.
Fen called Seth, because of the two friends, he was the most likely to be able to answer.
“Hi,” Seth whispered. “I’m going to the loo,” he said loudly. Then a moment later, “I’m in the loo. I might as well go while I’m in here. Ignore the noise.”
Fen groaned. “Did I need to know that?”
“Honesty is my middle name. You okay? You broke Daniel’s heart, by the way.”
“Did I? On the basis of a drink in the pub?”
“He’s still going on about you. To be fair, he’s more pissed off that you said no, obviously doesn’t happen often to a catch like him—ha, but he still reckons he’s in with a chance.”
