Chapter 12

Chapter Twelve

C harlie and Kiera were sat in the café attached to All Saints Church in Kings Heath. They had an information desk set up and tablets ready for community members to share their views on. It was early, so it was still quiet.

“Tell me the damage then,” said Charlie. “All I got from you last night was a text saying ‘don’t ask’.”

Kiera sighed. She’d sent the same text to Lou when her friend had asked her how the date had gone.

“Definitely not over her ex, is all I’ll say. I felt like an agony aunt, rather than her date. In the end I put her in a taxi home, while she sobbed into a tissue. I mean, I felt for her. She’s clearly a nice woman. But really not ready to date.”

“Was she hot, though?” asked Charlie.

“Did you hear anything I just said?” said Kiera, taking a bite from a custard cream.

“I just want the full picture, darling.”

“Hmm. Ok. She was pretty, sure. But I prefer my dates to be happy to be in my company,” said Kiera .

“Fair. Ooh, look smart, we’ve got customers.”

An elderly couple approached their desk, wanting to know what the hospital was doing about their car parking charges. Kiera found she spent an inordinate amount of her time with patients talking about the bus routes to the hospital and the car parking arrangements. In fairness, it had a real impact on their experiences, so she always took it seriously.

As the couple walked away, a familiar face appeared. “Fancy seeing you here,” said Lou, a linen shopping bag in her hand.

“Hello, how are you?” said Kiera.

“Oh, you know, I’ve got the afternoon off so I’m doing all the mundane chores. Treating myself to a cuppa and a Tunnocks Teacake here. So, spill, tell me about yesterday. Your text was very vague.”

Charlie laughed into his custard cream. Kiera sighed again. “Lou, meet Charlie. He’s just had the same story.”

Lou held out her hand to shake Charlie’s. “Enchanted,” he said, “and the TLDR of this one is that Kiera’s date was a snotty weeping mess who wasn’t over her ex.”

“Charlie, I’m not sure that is particularly charitable,” said Kiera.

“Is it not accurate?” said Charlie.

Lou laughed. “I like him,” she said to Kiera. “So, it’s onwards and upwards, then?”

“It sure is,” said Kiera. “Fancy telling me about how dreadful the new pay and display parking system in the hospital car park is?”