Peri treated every moment like it was something precious and new. Something Echo was trying hard to learn how to do too. God, he really wanted to give him something special to remember this year.
Last year, Peri had spent Christmas in hospital, hooked up to machines and in pain as he recovered from a bullet wound to his chest. He’d tried so hard not to let how much pain he was in show, but anyone who knew and loved him could see it. And, although Echo and Peri’s friends had filled his cubicle with twinkly fairy lights and wound gold tinsel around the frame of his bed, it was still hospital. Echo couldn’t stay and cuddle him all night like he’d wanted to. And he couldn’t take Peri’s pain away.
This would be their first Christmas together in their little flat, too, and Echo wanted it to be perfect for Peri.
“I think he’ll love it!” Lucky’s enthusiasm just about vibrated down the phone line. “Gah every time I call you it tears me up, you know. You’re so good for one another and he loves you so, so much. I’m so happy for you both.” She sniffed. “See? Bloody tears again. I really can’t wait to see you in a few weeks.”
“We can’t wait to see you either. I think we’ve probably travelled down every Sri Lankan road that’s on google maps.”
They’d tentatively started talking about going to Sri Lanka months ago and finally decided to go early in the new year. Lucky was travelling to meet them there.
Sri Lanka was where Peri had been born and where he had lived until he was five. He’d been in an orphanage in the hills when Paul and Jane, his adoptive parents, had first met him, and, though he had no family that he knew of, the country was his heritage and if they were going anywhere, Echo had suggested it be Sri Lanka they travelled to first.
Lucky laughed. “Google maps is such a great idea. Peri’s going to feel like he never left the place.”
Sometimes he and Peri listened to voices speaking in Tamil and Sinhala, too. Not so much to learn the languages as to re-familiarise Peri with the sounds of them. Peri couldn’t remember speaking either language, but it was likely he’d understood at least one of them when he was small. Echo knew it’d be unrealistic to try and relearn a language in such a short amount of time—plus processing words in any language was hard for Peri—but he was determined to do everything he could to make travelling to Sri Lanka less daunting. Sometimes people were ignorant, and helping Peri to feel as confident as possible seemed the best way of dealing with that ignorance. Other people’s problems were just that, their problems, and they shouldn’t ever be a reason for not to doing things you wanted to do.
“Did you find the orphanage?” Lucky asked.
“It looked abandoned.”
“That’s a shame. We can still drive up there though.”
“Yeah, we definitely will.”
“Once you start travelling, you’ll see how hard it is to stop,” Lucky said, then added gently, “There’s other places you could visit…”
“I know.”
Echo knew she meant visiting Iran. It wasn’t only Peri’s heritage that spanned across the seas. He could contact his mother, Marsha’s, family in Tehran. But he’d never met or spoken to them and, though he wished it wasn’t, his fear of rejection was still something he struggled with.
And besides, he and Peri only had enough money saved for this one short trip. Echo didn’t earn much working part time at the tiny café in the bus station—the rest of his time was spent keeping on top of any repairs Orchard House needed. And because he and Peri lived in the flat there rent free, he refused to take any sort of payment for that work. Orchard House didn’t make a lot of money as a Day Centre. Thankfully it did now make enough to at least pay Peri something for his fundraising. Peri worked hard on figuring out and organising new events to put on and, though Echo knew he’d do it for free, he deserved to be paid for it.
But all of that meant their earnings were small and they had to be thoughtful about what they spent their money on. Not that Echo minded, every day he couldn’t have been more grateful for everything he had. Sometimes he still had to pinch himself. Fifteen/sixteen months ago, all he’d had was a whole lot of trouble.
“Everything still quiet on the estate?” Lucky asked tentatively. Echo wasn’t the only one who’d been in trouble all those months ago and desperate to find a way out. But they had found a way, the both of them.
“Yeah. I mean, as far as I know. I’m happy keeping far away from all that stuff.”
“Good. You still helping out at that café?”
Echo smiled. “Yeah. I know it’s only a small thing but I actually feel like I’m doing something worthwhile, you know.” Even if all he was doing was taking a hot drink or a couple of slices of toast to someone who looked like they needed it after spending the night in the bus station, or just sitting down on one of the sloped, unwelcoming seats beside someone who looked like the day was going to be a struggle to get through. Sometimes when he asked if they were okay, they’d want to talk and he’d listen. Sometimes he’d just let them know there was a cup of tea and a friendly ear in the café if they ever needed one.
“You are. Sometimes a little kindness makes all the difference in the world.”
They talked a little more, then Lucky announced she needed to get some sleep before Annouska woke. “Keep me updated with your surprise dance plans, yeah?”
“I will do.”
“Take care.”
“You too.”
Not long after Echo had ended the call, Peri returned with two mugs in his hands.
Whatever that is, it smells fantastic, Echo signed.
Barely blinking his beautiful eyes, Peri watched Echo carefully as he took a sip. Echo groaned dramatically. “This is one of the best things I’ve ever put in my mouth. Not the best thing obviously, but it’s close.”
And Peri smiled like the sun.
Three
Echo
The next day, at twelve, Echo was just finishing cleaning the tables in the bus station café when Milly and Etienne walked in. Four people had saved his life over the last couple of years—Peri, Lucky and these two. Echo loved them all so much that sometimes it took his breath away a bit.
He grinned. “Give me two minutes.”
Milly winked at him as she sat down. “You look hot in an apron and a hairnet, you know.”
Echo stuck his middle finger up at her and carried on wiping.
“Tea and a coffee, yeah? Do you want some lunch, too? Ted’ll be in soon.”
Echo managed the café on his own in the mornings, Ted worked the afternoon, and Jacob, the owner, did the night shift.
“Etienne needs something sweet to cheer him up.”
Rolling his eyes, Etienne shook his head and slumped deeper into his seat. He did indeed look pretty miserable.
Cloth in hand, Echo paused. “What’s up?”
But Etienne just sighed.
“Boy trouble,” Milly answered for him.
Etienne mock glowered at Milly. “We can’t all fall in love with long-haired sexy paramedics we meet at work.”
“Nick would love to hear you call him that. And if I meet any more, I’ll be sure to send them your way.”