‘There are enough solar panels on the roof to provide power, even in the winter.’ Alistair concentrated on his role as tour guide. ‘Food is sourced from local farmers where possible, and the woodlands over to the left are being maintained to encourage wildlife and rare species of plants.’
‘So it’s not as high-tech as it looks.’ She smiled up at him.
‘Oh, it’s high-tech all right. Wait until you get into the shower. But the technology is all about making as little impact on the environment as possible, and nurturing the things we want to save for future generations.’
‘For Anya.’ As usual, Raina managed to bring a lofty idea right back down to the personal.
‘Yep.’ As far as the new generation was concerned, Alistair was happy to keep it a lofty idea. Thinking too much about how he felt about the personal was a road he shouldn’t take with Raina.
They wandered through the large, open-plan spaces, filled with smaller-scale seating areas to encourage people to circulate and form groups. The lecture theatres, and the restaurant, the folding doors opening out onto the paved garde
n that was at the heart of the building. She commented on the underfloor streams, walking along one as if it were a tightrope, one foot in front of the other. So many people took this building the wrong way. It was supposed to be enjoyed, with the same child-like pleasure that Raina showed.
‘How does all this sound to you?’ As they walked past a sheet of water flowing over contoured stone, she turned to him suddenly.
‘Um... A bit crackly.’ Alistair didn’t put his hearing aid in until after he’d washed and shaved in the morning. With it, the water in the basin sounded as if it could be heard halfway down the street. No one else had considered that a place surrounded by water might be a little unnerving.
‘But if you look at it, it helps normalise the sound?’
‘Yes, it does. I’ve been using that technique and it helps.’ Maybe if he stared at Raina for long enough he might normalise the way he felt about her, but Alistair doubted it.
‘So...this conference. It’s a big challenge for you. Groups of people all talking at once.’
She would help him if he asked. It was one thing to have her soothe a blackened eye, though, and quite another to start relying on her to help him with his more permanent needs. ‘I can adjust my hearing aid. Hopefully that’s all under control.’
He turned away from the water and the rushing sound subsided. ‘It’s half an hour before the delegates’ check-in opens and I’m back on duty. Would you like some coffee?’ He gestured towards the drinks counter, which was already open and being stocked with supplies.
‘Yes, thank you. It would be nice to sit here for a while. You can tell me a little more about what to expect over the next few days.’ She retreated to the exact place in the garden where the activity in the restaurant and the sound of the water was easiest to ignore, and sat down.
Alistair turned towards the drinks counter, quirking the corners of his mouth down. He’d been telling himself that Raina was just another parent, and this was just another conference, but if he’d been honest with himself he should have expected just this. There was no escaping her small kindnesses, the way that she smoothed his path for him, and it was yet another reason for him to fall in love with her all over again.
CHAPTER TEN
RAINA HADN’T HAD much time to think. New people, new ideas. The conference was one of the better ones she’d been to, and there wasn’t a moment that hadn’t been filled with the urgent need to ask and answer questions.
Each of the charities that were represented were offered a place in one of the large, bright communal areas to exhibit their work, and today would be spent exchanging ideas and learning from each other. A group of parents from The Watchlight Trust’s project were attending for the day, and Raina could see them standing in a tight group, talking only to each other. She looked around for Alistair and Gabriel, but they were busy talking animatedly to the representatives of one of the other charities.
Then she caught sight of Ben, sitting alone in a corner, staring into a cup of coffee, his cheeks red. Raina walked over to him.
‘Okay, Ben?’
‘Yes. Thanks.’ The coffee cup seemed to have replaced his computer monitor as a focus for his attention. Raina sat down, and waited.
‘There are some nice ideas here.’ If Ben wasn’t going to take the hint, she could at least prod him in the right direction.
The mention of ideas always seemed to animate Ben. ‘Did you see the one from the group in Norwich?’
‘Yes, I did. I think we have a few things to learn from them. I saw you and Alistair talking to them for quite a while.’
Ben nodded. ‘That was good. They liked my idea about silicone...’
Raina decided not to enquire about the silicone. Ben was liable to tell her, and the question of what was bothering him would be lost in a flurry of details.
‘So what’s up, then?’
‘The woman over in the corner. She said that I had things all wrong.’ Ben flushed again.
Raina looked in the direction he’d indicated. She’d seen the prototype limb and had personally thought it was one of the less imaginative offerings.