Tim: Yes, but don’t worry. I know you, and you’re feeling shitty because you feel like everyone else knew something you didn’t. Refocus on the issue at hand. Above and beyond anything else, how are you feeling about all this?
Tim never holds a grudge, and is always solution focused. It’s the IT developer in him, assessing and troubleshooting.
I’ve always been the storm to his calm. The yang to his yin.
Sadie: Confused. He’s the same, and he’s different. Maybe I’M different.
Tim: Maybe you are. Or maybe you’re more yourself than you’ve been in years.
Maybe he’s right.
But I don’t think I can get my head around this now. So, once again, and in spite of feeling irritated with myself about it, I bug out once more.
Sadie: Chat later. Love you x
Tim: Love you x
I can hear Liaden’s voice in reception. Sometimes, when her schedule allows, she walks to Wishbone from the university andjoins us for lunch. I’m both grateful for the distraction and wondering if I’m equal to it. Dean’s soulmate is nothing if not a dynamo of pure energy, and you have to be on the ball to keep up with her.
Em and Eli have the rest of the week off so they can enjoy being Mr and Mrs alone together for a few days before returning to the real world, so it’s just going to be me, and Liaden, and Dean…
…and Leo.
It’s not that I want to avoid him, it’s that I no longer know what to expect, and that’s unnerving.
And, though it’s hard to admit, it’s also more than a little exciting. I can’t pretend I don’t feel butterflies in my stomach when I think of being around him.
When I get out there, they’re all sitting on the squashy leather sofa. The closed sign is up, and lunch is getting spread out on the table. Leo looks up like he was listening out for me while he gives Dean’s therapy dog a thorough scritching. Click is gazing up at Leo like he’s the doggie messiah, leaning heavily against his legs and making cute wuffling noises of appreciation. He's the cutest pupper ever, and does so well on three legs. We're all devoted to him, not least because of how he makes Dean so happy and comfortable. Click loves to fetch things for him, and will also jump into Dean’s lap if he senses an anxiety spike. They’re rare now, but when they do happen, Click’s got it handled like a champ.
Speaking of Dean, he has his arm around Liaden, grinning at whatever she was saying, kissing her shoulder now and then as she sorts out some plates of sushi for us all.
“Ah,” she says in her bright, ringing voice, “there you are. Got some extra spider rolls just for you.” She holds up my plate, and indeed, while there’s a good selection, there’s more of my favourite type than any other on there.
I manage a smile, but I’m so aware of Leo in my peripheral vision. “You angel, thank you.”
Dean gives me a curious look as I sit down on the arm of the sofa next to him, and Liaden’s eyes dart between me and Leo. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Leo subtly shake his head at them. I pretend not to have noticed, but I cringe inwardly.
“So, have I told you all about Gary?” Liaden pipes up, clearly taking the hint. I’m pretty sure she’s said the first thing she can think of. She’s not the best at picking up social cues, but she can always be relied upon to fill an uncomfortable silence.
“No?” I say, biting back a smile as Leo lies down on the floor and lets Click climb all over him while he mutters affectionate nonsense to the delighted dog.
“OK, so one of the students doing animal behaviour and psychology is doing their thesis on talking birds and whether they can develop regional accents, and I’ve been providing some information on the linguistic side of things. And one of the birds she was looking at is called Gary, and…” She starts to giggle, which makes Dean’s eyes light up like it’s his favourite sound in the world.God, those two are so sickeningly adorable. “Gary has a…rather limited vocabulary… Basically, he can’t stop swearing, and the videos areso funny.” She shakes her head. “I know it’s childish, but hearing a parrot say ‘wankwaffles’ utterly ruined me!” She sighs. “It’s a pity, really, because Gary’s owner has had enough, and wants to rehome him. So in the unlikely event that you know anyone who wants a foul mouthed bird to love and cherish, hit me up.”
“I’ll take him,” I say impulsively, surprising even myself. I don’t know the first thing about caring for birds. But I haven’t had a pet in a long time, and the idea of having this unwanted misfit bird, annoying his owner enough for them to reject him and give him away, through no fault of his own because he can only say what he was taught to say… Something about it touchesmy heart. “I mean…I’ll definitely go and see him, maybe? See if this is something I can…” I trail off, starting to second guess myself. Can I really take care of an exotic bird? I mean, I know people do, so it’s certainly possible, but canIgive him what he really needs?
“Oh! Great, sure. I’ll put you and Jess in touch, she’ll pass on your information to Gary’s owner.” Liaden smiles at me, taking my snap decision in stride.
Leo lifts his head from the floor, and the smile he gives me makes my heart skip a beat. “I’ll take you to see him, if you want. I want to meet Gary myself.”
“Oh - did you want him?”
“You called it fair and square, but I’d like to see him anyway. And I can definitely see you with a parrot on your shoulder, having him curse out everyone that pisses you off.” He grins, and Click licks his face, wanting his attention back again. “Oh, dude, have I been ignoring you? I’m sorry, boy,” he coos, ruffling his ears, and Click lets out some cute mini-woofs, his tail wagging like mad.
“It’s probably a crazy idea,” I admit.
“Nah,” he says, “you’ll learn what he needs. You’re caring and responsible enough to give him a good home and be a great bird mum, and it sounds like he really needs one. We’ll all help out if you need it. And what a cool pet to have. Different, just like you.”
I blink. This is so starkly different to what I’ve had over the past few years. Peter would have sneered, told me not to be so ridiculous, pointed out the hassle and expense, and not let up haranguing me until he’d made damn sure I let the matter drop.
