Page 63 of Fe
Fen gaped at him.
“If you say yes.”
“That’s not pressure?”
“Incentive.”
15
Fen didn’t think he’d fall asleep easily but he was tired, the bed was warm and soft, the room smelt lovely and he felt safe. He’d not set his alarm and was shocked when he opened his eyes to see it was eight fifteen. Ripley had probably gone to work by now.Fen slid out of bed, pushed to his feet carefully and checked his balance before he went over to open the bedroom door.
“Are you still here?” he called.
When there was no answer, he sighed and limped back to check his phone. Voice messages from his mum and Ripley.
“Call me,” his mum said.
Fen took his tablets first. When he swallowed one of the new pills, he wondered if it was going to help or not? Even if it was the real deal, he knew better than to expect some miraculous improvement. As he sat on the bed and did his exercises, he called his mum.
“Hi, Mum.”
“How are you?”
“Fine. I’ve moved out of the flat and I’m staying with a friend.”
“Oh, that was quick. Are you with Seth and Morgan?”
“No, another friend. One you’ve not met.”
“Oh. Oh. Right.”
“Just for a little while.” Or maybe six months.Or longer. Shut up, idiot bit of me.
“Alistair wants to try and help you find work. What he suggested was he look for things you can repair and he’d pay you. You’d be doing what you did before, to a certain extent, but be self-employed.”
“That’s kind of him.”
“He agreed you can come and live with us until you get yourself sorted.”
“That’s kind too, but I’m fine.”
“You do sound… Well, not as upset as I thought you’d be.” She chuckled. “So when do I get to meet yourfriend?”
“Mum! Not yet.”Maybe never.
“Be careful, Fen.”
“I will. Love you lots. Bye.” He ended the call before she said something about condoms. It had been known.
Ripley’s message was longer. “Sorry to leave before you were awake. I’m on my way to Bristol. I’ll be back tomorrow. No throwing any parties. If you do, don’t let anyone use the coffee machine.”
Fen smiled.
“I’ve left a key to the house on the kitchen work surface. If you go out, press 1673 into the alarm and it sets. Enter the same code when you come back. This message will self-destruct…possibly. Help yourself to whatever you like. If you’d like to cook something for us to eat tomorrow night, that would be great. See you then. I can’t wait. Did that sound pushy?”
No, it sounded perfect. Except he had to go out to the police later.
Fen went through his Tai Chi programme before he had a shower. He could have spent hours in that bathroom. The hot water never stopped. The towels were the softest he’d ever felt. There was even a freestanding bath. He hadn’t had a bath for years. Not since he was a kid.Another day, maybe.
