Page 6 of The Perfect Gift

Poor Frankie?

‘Not exactly the welcome home I was hoping for,’ Ed said, trying to keep his voice light. He was cold and tired and – he was surprised to discover – quite close to tears. Though he’d enjoyed every minute of his months working away, he and Harry had never been apart for longer than a few nights. Seeing him now served only to crystallise how much Ed had missed him. ‘If you’re going to rip me a new one, can you at least let me inside where it’s warm?’

Harry’s eyes widened for a second before his expression turned horrified. ‘Christ, you’re frozen to the bone. Where’s your coat?’ He shook his head. ‘Never mind that. Here, give me your case and let’s get you upstairs.’ He ushered Ed through the gate then locked it behind them. Ed didn’t wait. The siren call of the open door and the warmth it promised was too much for his tired body to resist. He was halfway up the stairs before Harry called out to him. ‘Hey! What the hell is that all over the back of your jacket?’

In his state of exhaustion, Ed had almost forgotten the mess. He paused and turned to show his brother the stains all over his hands. ‘“Poor Frankie”, as you called her, wasn’t exactly defenceless. She covered me with some anti-attack-spray crap.’ Crap he’d end up spreading all over Harry’s flat if he wasn’t careful. Cold as he was, Ed unzipped his jacket and stripped it off, turning it inside out and rolling it into a ball to make sure all the dye was contained. ‘You’ll have to get a bin bag or something,’ he told Harry.

‘One sec.’

Ed shuffled to the side of the top step so Harry could get past him and enter the flat. Without his jacket – flimsy as it was – he was shivering uncontrollably.

Kat appeared in the doorway, her small frame all but hidden inside a navy dressing gown that Ed assumed must belong to Harry. She had her phone clamped to her ear. ‘Yes, he’s here now,’ she said into the handset. ‘No, no, you did the right thing calling. Are you sure you don’t want me to come over?’ She glared at Ed even as she gestured for him to come inside. When he didn’t move, she pulled the handset away from her mouth and snapped at him. ‘Get in here before you let all the heat out.’

‘C-can’t,’ Ed managed through his chattering teeth as he held up the balled-up jacket. He had no idea whether the rest of his clothing had taken a hit and he’d already screwed up enough tonight without smearing red paint all over Harry and Kat’s flat.

Thankfully Harry returned, shaking open a large black bin liner. ‘Stick it in here,’ he told Ed, holding the bag wide.

Ed did as instructed then turned his back. ‘I-it’s all in m-my hair t-too.’

‘Oh my God, is that blood?’ Kat cried out. ‘Come in, come in,’ she added, tugging at Ed’s hand to pull him over the threshold. ‘Harry, did you call an ambulance?’

Harry shook his head as he reached past Ed and finally – blessedly – closed the door. It was all Ed could do to stay on his feet and he closed his eyes for a moment as the heat of the flat settled over him like a blanket. As if from a distance, he heard his brother say, ‘He’s not hurt as far as I know but Frankie sprayed him with something. Ask her what it is, will you?’

Being out of the wind should’ve made him feel better but Ed couldn’t seem to stop shivering. He pried open one eye, then regretted it as Harry’s face swam in and out of focus before him. ‘D-don’t f-feel g-great.’

‘Bloody hell, grab him before he keels over!’

The next few minutes were a bit of a blur. Ed felt arms around him as they led him somewhere. When they stopped, Harry pushed him down and Ed was happy to collapse, even if the seat under him was hard and unforgiving. It was easier to keep his eyes closed and just let stuff happen around him. All he wanted to do was sleep. ‘I’m t-tired,’ he mumbled.

‘I know, bro. We’ll get you to bed in a minute.’ Something warm brushed his temple and the back of Ed’s eyes stung at the familiar touch of his brother’s kiss.

‘I’m sorry.’

‘Shh, it’s fine. We’ve got you now.’

A few moments later a hand was gently shaking his shoulder. ‘Ed, mate, open your eyes a sec. I need you to drink this.’

Ed jerked and blinked. It took him a couple of goes to focus on the glass Harry was holding out to him. He squinted at the dark brown liquid in it. ‘Whatisit?’

‘Brandy. Get it down you and you’ll feel better.’

Harry had to help him hold the glass and some of the brandy dribbled down his chin, but the bit he got in his mouth burned all the way down to his stomach in the best way. It was like drinking liquid fire and the shock of it cleared some of the foggy tiredness in Ed’s brain. ‘Jesus,’ he choked out with a shudder.

Harry chuckled. ‘Bit more?’

‘God, yes.’ He got the second shot down without spilling any and suddenly he was properly aware of his surroundings. They were in Harry’s small bathroom and the hardness under his bum was the closed lid of the toilet seat. With both of them in there, there wasn’t really room for Kat, so she was hovering in the doorway, a deep worry line etched between her pretty eyes. ‘You shouldn’t frown like that, you’ll get wrinkles,’ Ed said.

‘Idiot,’ Kat replied, but she was smiling at him now and Ed knew everything would be all right. He hated people being angry with him and he especially hated it when it was Harry and Kat, who he simply adored. Kat held up a small bundle. ‘There’s a clean T-shirt and boxers here for you so you don’t have to worry about trying to unpack tonight.’ She bent and placed them on the bathroom floor. ‘And now I’m going back to bed because I need to get up early.’

‘Sorry for waking you up, Kitty.’

Kat shook her head and sighed. ‘Welcome home, Ed.’

Ed glanced up at his twin. ‘I am really sorry.’

Harry echoed his girlfriend’s exasperated sigh. ‘Why on earth didn’t you let anyone know you were coming home?’

‘I, uh, I lost my phone.’