As the door slid aside, Pete stepped into the chill of the little station – and was nearly knocked down when Kev leapt into his arms.
‘Oh, darling!’ Kev squealed. ‘What kept you? I’ve been absolutely beside myself waiting for you.’ He clung to Pete as though his life depended on it.
Kevin was still wearing the thigh-length silky robe he’d been wearing when they’d spoken a few hours earlier. And yet something furry tickled Pete’s neck. ‘I came as fast as I could.’ Pete pulled himself away from Kevin. ‘Why on Earth are you wearing a muff?’ Pete prodded the turquoise bell of fur Kevin clutched to his chest – only for it to grab onto his finger.
Pete would never claim to be the melodramatic one in the relationship, which is why he definitely didn’t scream. Not really. Maybe only a bit. ‘What the heck is that thing and is it… Did it…’ Pete raised his hand and held it up to the furry thing. ‘Please tell me it’s not suckling on my finger.’
Kevin clutched the creature to himself, protecting it with both hands. ‘Don’t listen to daddy. He’s just a big mean bear, sweetie. Well, not actually a bear. And not a that kind of bear either. But he looks a bit like a bear – don’t you think?’ He looked up at Pete, giving him one of his most accusatory looks. ‘This is a tribble. I’ve called her Trouble. She’s Elsie’s – or rather, she was Elsie’s. I don’t know who she belongs to now.’
‘A tribble,’ Pete repeated. ‘You found a tribble? And you called it Trouble?’
Kevin slapped a hand to a chest. ‘Not it, darling – she!’
Pete raised an eyebrow. ‘Sorry, I didn’t realise she was a person.’ He shook his head and addressed the ball of fur. ‘My apologies, Trouble. I meant no off—’
Kevin burst out laughing. ‘She doesn’t understand you, darling.’
‘What?’ Pete shook his head. ‘You were just talking to her?’
‘Well, of course, darling. But it’s the sound of my voice that soothes her, not the content of my speech.’
