Sounds Like Radio Episode 29
Kevin was chattier than Gerry had ever known him when he returned from his leave.
“We went to the Wye Valley,” he said.
“How lovely,” Gerry said, “a proper break.”
“I used the last day, though, to go back to audiology. I see that I over-reacted about my problem.”
“I’m sure you didn’t. It was a shock.”
“Have you seen the hearing aids they have now?” Kevin whistled.
“Unbelievable! Essentially I can carry on as before, but more safely.
“The woman said that my years of experience mean I’m a better engineer than a person starting out who has perfect hearing.”
“Of course you are. I’m hoping to reach your level when I’m eighty-five.”
Kevin raised a hand.
“No, no, I wasn’t implying that you’re not good. In fact, I agree with Cesca that you are the fastest learner we’ve ever had.
“You did a lovely job on that remix of ghost stories.”
An e-mail came into Gerry’s inbox an hour later to say that Daisy had tracked down Bronwen King, and that Bronwen was happy for Gerry to contact her.
Gerry tapped her fingers on the desk, wondering what to do.
Bronwen represented her old life, times of embarrassment and frustration in an office.
But it would be rude – not least to Daisy – to ignore the communication.
Kicking herself for mentioning it in the first place, she wrote a brief e-mail, casually suggesting that if Bronwen was nearby, she might have time for a coffee.
She was surprisingly nervous when they met. It turned out that Bronwen had driven half an hour to be there, and Gerry felt pressured.
Bronwen told Gerry how she was still working at the council but had moved department, while Gerry told her a bit about her work in a radio station.
“I remember your support, you know.” Bronwen said after a lull in conversation.
“My support?”
“I bet it annoyed you, having to delegate my work when I was off.”
“Well –”
“I felt bad, and I still do, but I really was struggling back then.” Bronwen smiled wistfully, stirring her coffee.
“I got myself into a great mental health support group. Now I rarely get ill.
“Gerry, you did good work in that office – professionally and personally.”
Gerry’s mind was turning as she thought of the final days of the council job, the feeling that she needed to get out, the negative spin she put on everything.
“D’you remember that bonding course they sent us on in Leamington Spa?” Bronwen said.
“The silly course leader who tried to get us to pretend we were on a desert island?”
Gerry burst out laughing.
“The bloke in pink corduroy!”
“Jason. None of us will ever forget Jason.
“It’s nice to meet someone who understands those days,” Bronwen said.
“Yes,” Gerry said, thinking that perhaps cutting off links with her old life so cleanly had been an eccentric response.
That portion of her life had produced its own lessons and its own joys.
The difficulties she’d had ought not to tarnish everything.
All memories had value; all experience should be woven into one’s future.
“Another coffee?” Bronwen asked.
“I think I will,” Gerry said.
“This is a nice place.” Bronwen looked shyly at Gerry. “Maybe we could meet again.”
“I’d like that. And I am thrilled you’re better.”
Cesca was both terrified and excited when she knocked on the basement entrance next door.
She had spent a whole night thinking about what Travis had told her, and then she had rung her sister in Glasgow.
Laura had shouted down the phone.
“Duh, Francesca. He’s single, gorgeous, employed in a lucrative industry, his best friend says he’s in love with you, and you’re asking what you should do?
“I’m no agony aunt but surely even you can see that this is a no-brainer?”
Cesca saw her sister’s point.
If Bill really did have an interest in her and Travis had been telling the truth, this would decide things.
He opened the door, wonderful in a grey marl T-shirt and denim shorts.
Cesca planted a hand on each of his shoulders, stood on the balls of her feet and kissed him.
Bill took two seconds to wrap his arms around her and kiss her back.
“Oh, wow,” he said, and his face opened in a smile. “I’ve been dreaming of that. You’ve no idea.”
“You might have mentioned it,” Cesca said.
He frowned.
“Yes, the mentioning part. That’s always been the issue for me.”
It was as simple as that – two people in love had finally acknowledged the facts.
Cesca tried not to think about the appalling parallel universe in which she hadn’t bumped into Travis again.
“They don’t want a soundproof basement now,” Bill said some time later.
Cesca’s face fell.
“You won’t be working here any more?”
“The teenager with the drumming obsession has got himself a girlfriend.
“Now he says drumming is ‘lame’. I’ve been paid, though. I’m taking you out for dinner.”
“I think I could cope with that,” Cesca said.