‘I give in,’ said Charlie, throwing up his hands. ‘He can sleep with you.’
‘Thank you,’ said Regan, but Charlie had already disappeared.
Regan had a spring in her step when she left for work the next morning. She had slept incredibly well despite having to share the bed with Elvis, who liked to stretch out but at the same time be right up against you. She guessed this was what he’d been used to – he and Kevin sleeping close to keep each other warm. She stopped at the café to unload her boxes and Penny popped out to take them from her.
‘Good morning,’ said Penny, taking the first box. ‘You look cheerful.’
‘I am,’ said Regan, following her in with another one.‘I slept well, had a hot shower and a chat over breakfast with my favourite fireman.’
Penny spun around so fast she nearly fell over. ‘A hot shower with a fireman?’
‘No. Hot shower on my own, worse luck. Then breakfast with the fireman.’
Penny pulled a commiserative face. ‘Have you got time for coffee when you’ve parked the car?’
‘Er, yeah, go on. Quick one,’ said Regan. They weren’t expecting Bernice back for a few days, but she didn’t want to take the mick.
When she returned from the car with Elvis, Penny was bringing the drinks to a table outside. The June day was starting to warm up around them and Elvis looked expectantly at Penny. She pointed to a water bowl. ‘It’s new and just for dogs,’ said Penny. Elvis huffed his disapproval and slunk under the table.
‘Thanks. How are you?’ asked Regan, taking the coffee.
‘Good.’ She had her shoulders hunched. ‘I met Cleo for a drink last night. Sort of a last-minute thing.’
‘Oh, good. Did you have a nice time?’
Penny’s shoulders relaxed. ‘Yeah, I had a great time. She’s lovely … I’m really sorry we didn’t invite you.’
Regan shrugged. ‘It’s fine. It’s kind of nice that you both get on.’ Often good friends fitted in to separate groups and didn’t mix, so it was lovely that they all got along.
‘We thought the three of us could have a girls’ night in at Cleo’s once she’s got her flat back,’ said Penny. ‘You know … takeaway, wine and film.’
Regan scanned Penny’s face; she seemed different somehow. She was certainly very excited about the prospect of a night in. ‘Sure.’ Regan gave a shrug.
‘Cleo’s incredibly glamorous, isn’t she?’
‘I guess,’ said Regan, knowing that she was; but she’d known Cleo long enough to know that wasn’t the real her. Underneath she would always be the anxious nail-biter who preferred woolly jumpers to party dresses.
‘It must be amazing to think of your works of art hanging on the walls of the rich and famous. It’s just paint and canvas, but because it’s been made by Cleo Marchant people pay thousands to have one of their own. Kids are going to be queuing up to join her mentoring programme,’ said Penny, checking her watch.
Regan was nodding without really listening, but now she tuned in fully. ‘What mentoring programme is this, then?’ She dismissed a brief prickle of hurt at not being the first person Cleo had discussed it with.
‘Oh, it’s just an idea she has.’ Penny seemed to realise her mistake. ‘She said she was going to talk to you about it once it’s finalised. She knows you’ve been dealing with a lot recently.’
It was true, but it hadn’t stopped Cleo sharing her ideas in the past. Perhaps them all being friends wasn’t going to work out quite as well as she’d thought.Three’s a crowd, thought Regan.
On the morning of Kevin’s funeral, Regan was woken by a tap on the bedroom door. Elvis sat up and almost fell off the bed. Charlie stuck his head around the door. ‘I’m off to work and I wanted to say I hope it all goes okay.’ He carried in a mug of coffee. ‘Are you sure you don’t want me to come with you?’
‘Thanks.’ She took the coffee. ‘And no, I don’t want you playing hooky from work for me.’
‘And you’re sure about taking Elvis?’ His tone of voice said he had reservations. Elvis was lying on his backwaiting for someone to scratch his tummy, and Charlie obliged.
‘Yes, I am. I know you all think it’s crazy, but Bernice has spoken to the vicar and they’ve all said he can come. And I know it’s a bit mad …’
‘Barking,’ said Charlie, with a grin, and she ignored him.
‘But to Kevin, Elvis was family, so I think he should be there.’
‘And if he cocks his leg on anything?’
