‘Who does?’ his dad exclaims, and Eddie is about to reply when something splatters onto the back of his neck. He cringes and puts a hand there, tentatively.
‘Oh,shit.’ He takes his hand away and glares at it. ‘A seagull just crapped on me.’
His father’s expression softens and he gets up from the truck’s doorway and examines the back of Eddie’s neck. ‘Oh, Christ. That’s quite a splat there, son. God knows what it had for breakfast. We’d better get you cleaned up …’
Together, they head into the rank little bathroom in the garage where Eddie’s dad wipes away as much of the mess as he can with the few paper towels left in the dispenser. It reminds Eddie of his dad washing his hair when he was a little boy. Eddie hated hair washing time. He’d make a terrible fuss, pushing away his mum and wailing that the shampoo stung his eyes. He’d only let his dad do it. His kind and patient dad.
And now his father is trying to blot the water splashes from the back of Eddie’s sweatshirt with a grubby towel. He hangs it back on the hook, and they step back outside into the chilly morning. Eddie looks at his dad, wanting to hug him, but they’re not really the hugging types.
‘Thanks, Dad,’ is all he can say.
His father smiles. ‘That’s all right.’
They walk in silence across the rough, weedy groundtowards the truck, and then Eddie grabs at his father’s arm. And they do hug then, in a close, tight way that Eddie can never remember them doing before.
They stand there, holding each other in the weak September sunshine until Eddie pulls away and looks his father directly in the eye. ‘C’mon then,’ he says firmly. ‘Pack up your things, Dad. It’s time to come home.’
Chapter Forty-eight
Currently living in Lyla’s flat: Lyla, Eddie, Grace
Three days later and Eddie and Lyla and Grace are living in Lyla’s smart and spacious Edinburgh flat. The pale sofa was pristine, last time Eddie was here. Now it’s splattered in baby sick and God knows what else. And the flat smells kind of funny: of sour milk with an undertone of nappies and baby wipes. But neither of them care because this feels like home now, for their little family.
Eddie has gone out for provisions when he decides to detour along the bustling thoroughfare of Princes Street. He just wants to see a bit of life, to remind himself that a world exists outside of the flat. Briefly, a display of skateboards and skate wear catches his eye in a shop window. But that’s the last thing he’s going to spend his money on, because funds are critically low. When he bought his mum that replacement china cup at the new pottery place in Sandybanks, he baulked at the cost. But it was worth it to see her reaction.
‘Oh, Eddie, you needn’t have!’ she announced. Buthe could tell she was pleased, and although he has never confessed to the crime, it was his way of saying sorry, as well as thanks. Eddie reckoned his mum knew that too.
Now he walks on, figuring that he should get back to the flat soon. It doesn’t quite feel like home yet – not in the way that Kilmory Cottage always felt like home, even when he was desperate to leave the place. But he’s sure it will, once they’re properly settled.
Eddie is figuring out what he needs to pick up from the shops when he spots a tall, powerfully built figure with a swathe of dark hair striding towards him. It’s Marius from the restaurant. In shock and shame, Eddie swings around the corner and hurries up the street.
‘Eddie!’ comes the deep voice behind him. ‘Hey, Eddie!’
Pretending not to have heard, Eddie hurries on, then swerves into the nearest shop. It’s a perfume place, heady with scents that make his head swim. He freezes, afraid that any sudden movement will cause him to knock over one of these priceless bottles with what looks like real gold on their labels. In a terrible flashback, he remembers knocking over a full glass of wine in Suki’s club.
‘Can I help you?’ A smart young man has approached him.
‘No, no, I’m just looking …’ Eddie is sweating now, not knowing what to do next. The shop door opens and to his horror, Marius strides in. What is he going to do to him?
‘Young Eddie.’ Marius smirks, and glances around the shop with gleaming brown eyes. ‘Buying the girlfriend a present?’
‘Er, yeah. I just thought—’
‘Listen.’ Marius raises an arm, and for one bonkers moment Eddie thinks he’s going to slap him. But instead, a large, meaty hand rests heavily on his shoulder as he says, ‘Look, Eddie. I know things didn’t turn out too well but you had a lot on your mind back then. And I was probably a bit hasty …’
Eddie clears his sandpaper throat. ‘Were you?’
‘Yeah.’ Marius removes the hand and steps back and looks at him. ‘If you’re still interested, come over and see me tomorrow. We took on someone new but he’s been a bloody disaster. We need someone keen and hard-working who actually listens and wants to learn.’ He pauses. ‘D’you know what I’m saying?
Eddie nods mutely, sensing his cheeks glowing hot.
‘See you then, Eddie.’ Marius raises his bushy dark brows, then he saunters out of the shop.
Chapter Forty-nine
Currently living at Kilmory Cottage: Carly, Frank, Badger
Carly
