Page 95 of Tears of Glass

I blush a little and move on. I’ve never had that sort of reaction in front of the statue before.

Once I’m done, I head back out onto the busy pathway along the river and head to the cafe where Eli bought everything they owned. After grabbing a sandwich or two and ordering a latte and a double espresso, I go to find Stephen and pass him my small offerings. “Elijah’s girl, right?”

“Yep.” I grin widely. “Guess you haven’t seen The Sun today?”

He shakes his head with a slight smile. “The only thing that rag is good for is sleeping on.”

I quite agree. I settle down next to him and scratch the dog’s ears. “Will you help me with something?” The blankets are filthy, and I make a mental note to get some clean ones.

“What is it, darlin’?”

“I’ve been offered an installation and the chance for other people to participate to win a scholarship. I’ve got an idea for the theme. I thought it could explore the empty hole that is London. Will you walk me around the places you know so I can get some inspiration?”

Stephen’s eyes settle on my face. “You want to highlight homelessness?”

I nod and sip my coffee. I forgot to sweeten the coffee and it’s as bitter as anything. “Yes. And then I have another favour?”

“What’s that?” He pulls some ham from his sandwich and feeds it to the dog.

“Eli told me you were into art before you left home. He said you loved it.”

“Art is only for the rich, Faith.”

“Well that’s not true, look at Elijah. You guys knew each other at school and neither of you are creating anymore. Even though you live out here it must still be inside you the way it was when you were both young boys?” Elijah whispered his tales of school to me in the depth of night as he tangled his naked body around mine. I wanted to hug him tight and never let him go.

“You know what I mean. It’s an exclusive society and I gave up doodling when I couldn’t afford the paper it to do it on anymore. I reckon Elijah gave it up when he was told it wasn’t a suitable career.”

My cheeks warm a bit but I shrug. “Yeah, well not if I’ve got anything to do with it.”

Stephen shakes his head. “So Elijah is the rescuer of the poor and you are the saviour of art? What a pair.”

I snort. “Will you come for a walk with me?”

“Well my diary is packed today.”

“I can see that.”

“But I think I can squeeze you in.”

I grin and stand up from the cold floor. I can’t even imagine sleeping like that, sitting on it was bad enough. Maybe I can change that? Or maybe I can’t change anything at all. I don’t know.

But every opportunity has got to be worth something, and I’ve got to make this the best opportunity there is.

I head to the flat, my feet are killing me. Honestly, I don’t know what I’m going to find in the flat I don’t seem to sleep in anymore.

“Hey?” I call as I shut the door behind me and put my bags on the floor. “Anyone here?”

“Yep.” Tabs is on the sofa which is where I left her yesterday.

“How you doing?” I thought a lot about Tabitha and Lewis as Stephen and I walked around London.

I can’t imagine what she must be feeling. How are you supposed to feel when you lose a baby that was a surprise in the first place?

Yesterday she’d cried, and the ordeal had sounded traumatic.

“I’m okay, feeling kind of normal now.”

I nod and squeeze her hand. “I guess normal is good, right?”