shared a beer with under the pier. It was like he had retreated into a shell.
‘Come on, then.’ She held out her hand again and this time he took it. She felt the smoothness of his scars as she closed her fingers around them and gently led him out of the alleyway.
She settled Kevin and Elvis by the bins at the back of the café. She felt bad, but the tables at the front were all full and she wasn’t sure that he would be allowed inside anyway. It was awful that people like Kevin were treated like a subspecies, but that was a battle for another day. If she could bring them some drinks and maybe get Kevin talking, she could get him some proper help. ‘I’ll be two minutes.’ She held up two fingers for emphasis and Elvis tried to lick them. She dashed in the back of the café.
‘Well, hello. Now didn’t you used to work here?’ asked Penny, pushing her fringe out of her eyes.
‘I am so sorry,’ said Regan, realising how long she’d been gone.
‘How’d it go with Boadicea?’
‘Bernice.’ Regan said her name reverently. She was keen not to make the mistake of calling her Boadicea to her face, and now she liked her jam, Regan was warming to her. ‘Bernice loved the jam.’
‘Excellent.’ Penny looked genuinely thrilled, like a proud mum.
‘But I’ve found Kevin and he’s in a bad way and the man from the council called and I need to meet him later so he can inspect my kitchen. And I’m sorry you’ve been on your own, but I’m going to need to leave early.’ Regan scrunched up her shoulders; she knew she was taking the mick.
Penny’s lips made a thin line and Regan felt instantly guilty. ‘It’s fine,’ said Penny. Her tense expression said it wasn’t really, but she’d tolerate it. ‘I got you a present.’ She handed Regan a paper bag and she peeked inside.
‘A thermometer. Thanks.’
‘It’s a proper jam one. So you’ll know when you’ve burned stuff.’
‘Thanks, Penny. You’re brilliant.’ Regan popped the thermometer in her bag, put the bag in the back room and pulled on her apron.
‘Before you get stuck in,’ said Penny, ‘There’s a hot chocolate with cream on the side – customer error. Made in the last five minutes, so give that to Kevin. And then I could do with a hand with this queue.’ She nodded at the line of people snaking to the door.
‘You’re the best,’ said Regan, grabbing the hot chocolate and dashing back outside. But when she got there both Kevin and Elvis had gone.
Chapter Nineteen
Regan worked hard for the rest of the day. Both because she owed Penny, and to take her mind off Kevin. There was something wrong and she wanted to help him, but now he’d gone off again she was back to square one. She had also been trying not to think about her imminent kitchen inspection, which could pull the rug out from under all her plans. Mainly because she didn’t actually have a kitchen, and she didn’t really know her way around the one she was going to present to the council.
Regan finished early, rushed to the fire station and raced inside. She was slightly stunned for a moment at how big the station was; its huge doors were gaping open displaying three shiny fire engines. ‘Can I help?’ asked a stern-looking chap in uniform striding towards her.
‘Hi, I’m looking for Charlie.’ The stern man furrowed his brow at her. ‘Debbie McGee? I’m a friend. We go to mindfulness together.’ Why she’d volunteered that information, she had no idea; it wasn’t helping to unfurrow the stern man’s brow.
‘It’s okay, Eric,’ said Charlie, bounding into view. Eric grumbled something and disappeared.
‘Eric?’ she said with a smile. That must be another amusing nickname, she thought. ‘Let me guess. His surname is Morecambe? Or Clapton?’ Charlie was wearing the same furrowed brow Eric had had on a minute ago. ‘Ooh,’ she said as inspiration struck, ‘he’s a football fan. Ooh ah Cantona! Am I right?’
Charlie shook his head. ‘No. He’s just Eric Smith.’
‘Oh. Right.’ She couldn’t hide her disappointment.
‘Keys,’ said Charlie, handing them over. ‘Mum will have been in to clean this morning so your timing is pretty good.’
‘Thank you so much for this.’ She went up on her toes to kiss him and then, remembering their pact, stopped and hovered there like a trainee meerkat, unsure what to do next.
‘It’s fine. Although I’m not sure how much trouble