Page 54 of Starting Over at Halesmere House
Back at the cottage, the children rushed to get changed for the hospital and Ella’s mum pointed to the gifts Stan had made. He’d wanted to keep Lily and Arlo firmly in the centre of all the excitement now they were three. There was no marching band, flypast or dressing up, as Sandy had wondered the other day.
Instead, he’d brought over three wooden boxes for Ella and Max to give to the children once Isaac was home, and Alice had to cling on very firmly to tears when she saw them. Each was a tiny wooden trunk in miniature, with thin strips of wood carved to represent straps, and a beautifully crafted and clever lock. The boxes were big enough for keepsakes and small enough to hold in two little hands. But it was the decoration that had her gulping.
Lily, Arlo and Isaac’s names were carved and varnished into the wood, along with an oak leaf and their dates of birth. Underneath the leaf Stan had inscribed:Fill with dreams to take you travelling and memories to bring you home. They were so simple, beautiful and heartfelt, and Alice guessed he must have been waiting for the baby’s name to be revealed so he could carve it the minute he found out.
Ella’s mum was desperate to meet the baby later, and Alice slipped away with Zac. Stan was in the courtyard and on impulse she ran over and gave him a hug. He told her he had better things to do than stand around being popular all day, and Christmas trees didn’t tend to decorate themselves, he’d found. But she’d seen the glint in his eye as she turned away and he coughed.
‘Did you pick this route on purpose?’ Alice halted to stare warily at the hill rising in front of them. ‘I do not like that look of that.’
‘You’d better get used to it because it’s part of the triathlon course.’ Zac was sitting on his own bike, one foot on the ground. ‘Don’t forget there might be cake at the end.’
‘Might?’ She raised a hopeful brow. ‘It had better be a good one. Victoria sponge or a scone with jam and proper clotted cream, not that airy stuff that dissolves before you can eat it.’
‘Alice, there’s only one café for miles; you’ll have to take what you can get.’ He adjusted the strap on his helmet and swallowed some water.
‘That’s very bad planning on your part,’ she grumbled. ‘I’m going to need some kind of incentive to get me up that bloody hill on two wheels.’
‘Will this do, for starters?’ He leaned over, bending his head so their helmets didn’t bump together, touching his lips to hers in a brief kiss.
‘I was thinking more like a long hot bath afterwards but seeing as I currently don’t have one, that will definitely do. As a starter.’ Alice caught hold of his jacket, keeping him close.
‘You can have a long hot bath later. At the flat, before I make you dinner.’
‘You have a bath in that tiny space?’
‘A very big one. In my bedroom.’
‘I like the sound of it even more now. Will you run my bath for me?’ She lowered her voice on purpose and he laughed.
‘Don’t push it, Harvey; this hill’s not that steep.’
They’d parked in a hamlet and had already ridden a couple of miles before the ground started to climb, stopping for a drink. Alice was trying to distract herself with the view. Woodland on their right rose to meet a high fell, clouds skidding over the top, trees bare and bony without their leaves.
A lake lay below them, glistening blue, and a group of hardy paddle boarders in wetsuits were braving the chill of the water. She shuddered, thinking of swimming in there next year. But her resolve to complete the triathlon came straight back the moment she thought of why she was entering this race, and for whom.
At the top of the hill, she yelled in triumph when Zac told her it was the highest climb in the triathlon cycle. Her thighs might be screaming and shaky, and her face scarlet, but she’d done it. After a quick breather, they carried on until they arrived in a small village and sat outside the local pub to enjoy a drink.
‘I’ve decided that triathlons would be an awful lot more fun if there were café stops along the way.’ Alice produced a couple of energy bars from her rucksack and passed one to Zac. ‘I bet there’d be loads of takers.’
‘You think?’ He unwrapped the bar and chucked the paper in a bin. ‘That’s a whole other race.’
‘Exactly. Every time I set foot in a café, there’s always a group of cyclists tucking into cake so there must be something in it.’
‘Nice try but we’re not finished for today. Let’s go.’
‘I’m not bothered about cake; I’m looking forward to my bath. It’s been weeks and I’ve missed them.’
It wasn’t even really that keeping her going; it was the thought of spending more time with Zac, in his flat, his home for now. They left the village to follow a track that would eventually lead them back to their starting point and the van. Alice was focussed on her own path as they cycled, only vaguely aware of him in front, so when his bike suddenly jerked and sent him crashing to the ground, she fought to control her own, managing to rebalance as she shot past and hauled on the brakes.
‘Zac!’ She flung her bike aside to run back. He was already sitting up, a trickle of blood running from his cheek. ‘Don’t move; are you all right? I’m going to need the first aid kit from your rucksack. I’ll be careful, I promise.’
‘I’m fine.’ He groaned as he gingerly touched each shoulder in turn. ‘It’s just a scratch.’
‘Maybe it is, and you are, but there’s blood and it needs cleaning up.’ She was working hard to keep her voice steady and not betray her shock that he’d come off. Her phone was in her own rucksack if they needed any help, and she eased the bag from his back.
‘Are you in pain?’ If he was hurt then it might have to be mountain rescue; she doubted she’d be able to help him walk if he needed support. Phone signal would likely be non-existent out here but she’d already registered her number with mountain rescue so she could text for help, and that should make it through.
‘No.My pride’s dented, that’s all.’ Pale, with a tremble in the fingers resting on his thigh, Zac smiled nonetheless in an obvious effort to calm her. ‘It’s only a cut. Let’s just carry on and get back. It’s not far.’
