Page 76 of Kissing Games
Charlie opened up his videos. ‘He’s daft as a brush and completely harmless. He’s only a danger to himself. Here, take a look.’ He handed her the phone. ‘They’re all taken in the park where he walks me.’
She watched, open-mouthed, as Dave ran around chaotically, his limp not slowing him down one bit. It looked like he was chasing a fly with no sense of direction. Valentina giggled. He flicked through to the next one. Dave was standing by the edge of the pond, barking at the ducks. Behind him, unseen, a fat pigeon pecked at a lump of bread. In the video, Charlie called for him. Dave turned his head, saw the pigeon and jumped back in shock, straight into the pond.
Valentina laughed. ‘Oh my god, Charlie, he’s amazing.’
Charlie’s heart swelled. ‘Oh, there’s so much more. Hang on.’ He flicked through the videos.
‘How many do you have of him?’
‘Tons. I’ve got no one else to film. After my mate, Mack, and Judy, who runs the shelter, Dave’s the only living soul in London who likes me.’ He stopped at a video. ‘This one’s awesome. I’m throwing snowballs and he doesn’t know what’s going on.’
He watched Valentina as she laughed at Dave catching the snowballs, then getting confused when they disintegrated in his mouth.
There was a knock at the door. ‘I’ll get it,’ he said. ‘You hang out with Dave.’
He opened the door a fraction. On the other side was a young woman wearing a headset. She looked worried.
‘Is everything okay?’ he whispered. ‘Valentina could do with being left alone, if at all possible.’
The woman shook her head. ‘There’s some kind of family emergency,’ she whispered back. ‘They can’t get hold of her so her agent rang us.’
Adrenaline shot through him. ‘What’s happened?’
‘I don’t know, but she needs to ring her parents immediately.’
‘I’ll get her to call them now. Can you tell people not to ask her what’s happened?’
She nodded. ‘Yes, of course.’
Charlie closed the door quietly.
Valentina was wiping tears from her eyes as she laughed at the screen. ‘Charlie, I love him. He’s too funny.’ She looked up. ‘What was that about?’
‘I don’t know. But you’ve got to ring your mum. Use my phone. Do you have the number?’
Her face turned white. She took his phone and dialled. ‘I’m ringing the house. It’s what, three in the morning? They’ll be there.’
They listened as the number rang out.
‘I’ll ring her mobile.’
Charlie could see her shaking as she dialled again.
The call was answered. ‘¡Mamá! ¿Qué está pasando?’
He stood back, giving her space, even though he couldn’t understand what was being said. Her mother was doing most of the talking as Valentina’s free hand clenched the sheet. There was a break in the conversation and she looked at him.
‘Isabella started bleeding and was taken to hospital.’ She took a big breath and held it. ‘They had to cut the baby out,’ she said in a rush. ‘He’s in the special baby unit and she’s in intensive care.’
Charlie sat down beside her. ‘Can I help at all?’
‘Can I use your phone now, and can we go and buy me a new one as soon as possible?’
‘Yes, of course. I can get the keys for the car. Do you want me to stay with you now?’
She hesitated. ‘No, you go. She’s just getting Papá.’
Charlie heard her mother speaking, then a man’s voice.
