‘So, Reg,’ Charlie appeared at her shoulder, ‘what did you think?’
‘Hmm.’ She wanted a moment to consider her thoughts.
‘Actually, let’s get a drink and you can update me. Okay?’ He was already walking for the door.
She had nothing else planned. ‘Why not?’ she said, with a lazy shrug. She didn’t want to look too keen.
She suggested her usual coffee shop and they walked through the bustle of the Saturday market. The market always had a vibrancy that buoyed Regan. Whether it was the sights, smells or banter of the stallholders she wasn’t sure, but there was something about it that brought her to life. When they neared the coffee shop, she spotted Kevin hunched in a doorway. He was hugging his knees and rocking. Elvis was leaning against him as if trying to comfort him.
‘I’ll get the coffees,’ said Regan, when they went inside and joined the short queue.
‘Sorry. The rule is that whoever suggests it pays. So I have to pay.’ Charlie nodded sagely.
‘Thanks, but I want to get a couple of extra drinks for my friends.’ She nodded towards the doorway.
‘That’s cool, I’ll get theirs too. It’s near payday so I’m flush. Order away.’
Regan thought about standing her ground, but with only a few quid in her pocket she wasn’t in a position to be stubborn. ‘Cheers, that’s kind of you.’ And generous, she thought.
Penny wasn’t about so another woman took her order. When the drinks arrived on the end of the counter, Charlie took his and Regan’s. ‘Shall I get us some seats? I’m assuming you’re not going to run out on me.’ He gave a pout, which made him look rather sexy.
‘I’ll come back, I promise,’ said Regan, giving him an equally flirty look. This was fun.
She almost bounced over to Kevin and crouched down next to him. Elvis towered over her and was very excited that she was within licking distance. She scratched his head to try to keep him occupied, although his focus was on the paper cups. Kevin’s eyes were tight shut and he was muttering something inaudible. ‘Kevin, you okay?’
His eyes popped wide open in an alarming fashion, making Regan almost topple backwards. ‘Birds,’ he said, in a whisper.
‘Birds?’ She looked about her. There was a pair of wood pigeons pecking about nearby.
‘They get in my head.’
His hunted expression was bothering her. ‘Here, have a coffee. I got milk for Elvis.’
Kevin blinked a few times and seemed to almost come to. ‘Thanks … I bet you think I’m mad, don’t you?’
‘No, but you had me a bit worried there.’
He smiled at her. And then he froze. ‘Listen.’ There was a buzz of background noise from the hubbub of the nearby market.
‘Yeah, always noisy on a Saturday.’
‘No. Listen to the birds.’ His eyes were wide and he was worrying her again.
Regan closed her eyes and concentrated. Could she hear birds? ‘I can hear a pigeon.’ Its rhythmic coo of ‘da-dah-da-da-dah-dahhh’ was easy to pick out.
‘Yes, yes, that’s it.’ They listened together. ‘Can you hear what they’re saying?’ Regan gave a slow and slightly bewildered shake of her head. Kevin spoke along to the pigeon’s tune. ‘Youcan’tdo it, Kevin. Youcan’tdo it, Kevin!’
Regan would have laughed if Kevin’s face hadn’t been etched with horror. ‘Come on,’ said Regan, helping him up. She needed to find him somewhere away from the wood pigeons; all the scraps from the market must have drawn them in from The Level, so they’d be there for a while.
They walked until she found him a wall to sit on. ‘There are no birds here.’ She gave him the drinks. ‘Here.’ The dog was now slathering wildly and had not left her side.
Kevin’s eyes darted anxiously about and then he seemed to relax a little. She sat next to him while he sipped his drink.
‘Not seen you this week. You been on holiday?’ asked Kevin, now seemingly almost back to normal.
‘No, I quit my job.’
‘For a better one?’ Kevin tilted the milk cup for Elvis and he wolfed down the contents.
