“Newt said you bought a book…for him.”
“On Astons. Yeah, I did. I wanted it really but our dad would have mocked me… I knew Newt would let me read it.”
“So where are we going?” Newt asked.
“Her…Herne Bay?” River took off his mask. “I don’t need this. Ph…Phelan knows who I am. And if you’re wondering…why I’m not speaking…right…I had an accident.”
“It’s a secret,” Newt said.
“I won’t say anything,” Phelan whispered.
Newt shot River a glance through the mirror. “Okay.” He set the guidance. “Want some music?”
“Yes.” Phelan gave a shaky exhale.
Newt put on the playlist they’d listened to on the way to the wild animal park. He tapped the accelerator and the car growled.
Phelan gasped. “Sounds like a tiger.”
“I went with River to feed a tiger.” Newt headed down the drive.
“You fed a tiger?”
“And stroked it,” River said.
“Bloody hell. Though I’d rather be in a tiger like this… Fantastic car. Four litre V8 engine… 0-62 in 3.6 seconds… A top speed of 202 miles per hour. A real supercar.”
“Not much…room…in the back,” River added.
Newt chuckled.
The three of them listened to the music and chatted on the way to Herne Bay. River was thrilled he managed to contribute to the conversation without sounding too dorkish. Newt didn’t tell Phelan about the fall or what he was doing with him. River wouldn’t have minded if he had.
“You’re a good driver,” Phelan said.
“I had a good teacher.”
Phelan patted Newt’s shoulder.
They parked on the seafront at Herne Bay. It was a windless day and cold, though the sun was out. River wondered if Phelan could manage to walk down to the water. Maybe with help. They sat in the car and stared at the sea. Newt was holding his brother’s hand.
“Want to see if you can walk a little way?” Newt asked.
“I’d like to try.”
They got out of the car and River unfolded himself from the back seat. He had his mask in place before he got out.
“We’ll be either side of you,” Newt said. “Need to hang onto us?”
“Yes.”
The three of them slowly made their way down over the stones. Phelan was breathing heavily and River worried it was too much for him.
“Are you all right? Want to stop?” Newt asked.
“No.”
They kept going until they were close to the water.
