[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

engagement continued at Tara s declaration. She looked directly at Eddie s parents.  I m an
alcoholic, but I m going to get better. Fox has looked after the twins on his own long enough. It s time
I got involved.
He couldn t have been prouder of her even though he knew Eddie s parents were struggling with
all the news.  We ll wait till next year, okay, Eddie?
 Whatever you want, dear. He looked at Tara.  We ll be happy to wait. We just want you to be
there.
Fox threw his arms around his fiancé. His father was dead, his mum was on the mend, and he
was going to live with Eddie forever. He could scarcely take it all in.
Chapter Nineteen
February 14
It was months since Edward had been down to the Tisbury Court area. Yet it was always the
same, rife with interesting people, pedestrian traffic, noises, and less-than-appealing odors. Every
shop he had gone into looking for a valentine card for Fox was full of giggling young girls poring over
the offerings and impatient-looking men grabbing the first thing they saw that had wife on the front.
Fox deserved something special, so Edward had left work early to find the right one.
Beside the alley he had wandered down the first night he had met Fox was Gimme Gimme.
They d have something better than pink hearts and cupids everywhere. Inside he found as many men
and women looking for valentine cards as in the others shops, but here the women were less giggly,
and the men looked happier.
 Who s it for, mate? A tall, thin, butch young woman with a name tag declaring her to be
Brittany stood beside him.
Thrilled to be asked, Edward found his cheeks growing pink.  My husband, or he will be this
summer. We re just waiting for his mum to get out of rehab. She was supposed to go for four months,
but she needed a few more, so we re planning to tie the knot on June twenty-first, my birthday. He
was rambling like an idiot as usual.
But Brittany seemed patient and kind.  Right, then. You need something special.
 Very special. I ve never had anyone to buy a valentine card for before. We met last June.
 Oh yeah, where? With deft fingers the young woman leafed through cards, frowning at one
after the next before putting it back.
 In the alley right next to here. Edward pressed his fingertips into his forehead. Why couldn t
he just shut up and stop letting everyone know what an idiot he was?
 That ll be a story to tell your kids one day. Brittany smiled.  How about this? The card had a
rainbow on it, and underneath was a line drawing of two men holding hands. They looked as goofy as
him and Fox. The caption read My Funny Valentine.  That line s been done to death, but it s
timeless. Or did you want something more romantic? Is he the sensitive type?
 He s very sensitive, Edward said.  Very kind. Very loving. He s perfect, and so is this card.
 Great. Brittany looked thrilled to be of service.  Anything else?
 He s also expressed an interest in a black leather dog collar. Do you have one of those?
Brittany took a long, hard look at him.  You little devil. I would never have guessed.
Edward s face flooded pink again.  It s purely for fashion. He s an artist.
 Come with me. She led him to the more risqué side of the shop.  Spikes or studs?
 I assure you it s for decorative purposes only. Why he felt the need to say that was beyond
him.  He s a Goth.
 No need to explain, dude. She winked at him, which only compounded his embarrassment.
 You and a Goth. You must be quite a sight on the streets of London together. Him with black makeup
and you in an anorak.
 You should see us when we go out for meals with his autistic twin siblings who like to cross-
dress.
Brittany began to laugh, and seeing the funny side of it, Edward joined her. He was really
improving on the humor side of things, and with understanding everyday speech and nuance. When
someone was sarcastic, Fox would say, Windup. When they made a joke Edward took literally, it
was, Time to laugh, Eddie. If Fox said he was going to jump in the shower and Edward warned him
he could slip, or Fox was going to run out to the shops and Edward said, No hurry, Fox would say,
Figure of speech. Not even his family had ever had the kind of patience with him that Fox had. He
had learned so much over the last few months.
 So what s it to be? Spikes or studs?
 I think he d like the spikes. By the time he walked out of the shop, Edward felt a warm kinship
with Brittany.
It was nippy out, a windy, overcast winter day. The cold brought his thoughts back to the old
man Fox had befriended. Carrying his purchases, Edward walked down the alley, which was slick
with rain. He had never known the man s name, or he would have called out. A large cardboard box
with a tarpaulin over it caught his eyes twenty yards away.  Are you there? Fox s friend.
The tarp shifted, and a head stuck out of the top.  Haven t seen you in a long time.
 I was wondering if you were all right, Edward said.
 Why s that, then? the man asked with obvious suspicion.
 It s Valentine s Day. Everyone should have someone to care on Valentine s Day.
 I told you before. I don t get up to that sort of monkey business.
Unsure if it was a windup or time to laugh, Edward said,  I know that. I thought I d help you out
a bit, that s all. He pulled twenty pounds from his pocket and leaned down to give it to the man.
 Have dinner on me.
The man raised his eyebrows at the sum and took it quickly.  Very kind. He pushed the tarp off
and stood up. He was wearing a new overcoat, warm and heavy, and new boots. He wasn t much
cleaner but perhaps a little. Inside the box was a full bottle of whiskey.
 You look well, Edward said.
 Things are looking up. He invited me to the wedding, but I ll have to check my calendar, the
man said.
Confused, Edward shook his head.
 Fox. The bloke you re going to marry.
 Fox invited you to the wedding? With an inward groan, Edward pictured the scene. On his
side of the church, his mum and dad with Nik, respectably clad for the event. The grandparents,
aunties, uncles, work colleagues all the men in gray suits, the ladies in big hats. On Fox s side, his
mum, hopefully sober, the twins dressed as either girls or boys but definitely not one of each. Fox s
Goth friends from Wimbledon College of Art, and a tramp. It would look like the queen s garden
party versus Cirque du Soleil.
 He wanted to rent me a room nearby, but I said no. I like this alley. It s home. He got me this
coat and boots. The tramp did a twirl while still standing in the box.  And unlike most people, the
first thing he ever asked me was my name.
The warmth that ran through Edward s insides was like a stream of comforting water.  I love
Fox, Edward said.  He s an outstanding human being.
 That s exactly what he is. And my name is Alistair.
 A pleasure to meet you, Alistair. Now I m going to go home to spend a bit of time with Fox
before the twins get off the school bus. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]