by Karen Aldous
She removed her hand, placing both her elbows on the table, and focused on the stem of her glass. ‘Well, don’t get me wrong – you, all of you, have done an amazing job with your diet and fitness, but I’d like to encourage more people. Encourage and educate them about their bodies and nutrition.’ She looked upwards staring into the air. ‘My dream would be for everyone, with money or not, to listen to their bodies, seek out the best food and exercise for them, form new habits, find what’s comfortable for them, employ new, healthier attitudes. Basically, treat their bodies as temples.’
‘That’s a great ambition,’ Christoff said. ‘I admire that er … what do you say, vision.’
‘Thank you, Christoff,’ Angie said blushing, but determination glistened from her eyes. She looked at me and then at Cathy. ‘This is where I need help. Marketing my vision. I think a blog on the website would be a great start. All those areas I mentioned, plus recipe ideas from me and readers’ suggestions. It would be like having my own online magazine.’
‘Sounds amazing,’ I said, feeling fired up myself, ‘and Cathy and I can help you there. Well, if Cathy agrees – she has the writing skills; I can work the metadata.’
Lou’s eyes lit up. ‘And I could put your website link on to ours. We have lots of visitors and a monthly newsletter on the site, people seeking inspiration for new homes, a better lifestyle. All ages too. I think it would link in beautifully. I’m confident they would be interested in that type of blog.’
‘Wow, girls, what a dynamic force we are. But there is one more thing.’ Angie pointed her index finger into the air and waved it, wishing to maintain our attention. ‘It’s something that’s been ambling around my head for a while and is possibly the personal challenge, or diversion that I need.’ Angie looked at me. ‘It’s to go on one of those mountain climbs for charity. For cancer research in honour of Mike.’
I felt a lump in my throat at the same time as my eyes began stinging. ‘That’s so sweet of you, Ang. It’s the perfect diversion.’
‘Exactly. Ideally somewhere like Machu Picchu or the Himalayas. I would need to check their website, but I’d look to join a Nordic walking group to train, hopefully altitude training too. Basically, I’d acquire the skills I need to go to somewhere like Nepal to raise money. I would love that.’
‘Aw. Take me with you, possum!’ Kim begged with a snort. ‘I so need you girls.’
Poor Kim. It was evident she needed her friends.
‘I wouldn’t mind coming with you either, and the Nordic walking course,’ Lou enthused. ‘I desperately need to keep up my fitness. I feel so much better after our six months of training. And, raising money for charity would be great.’
Here was my opportunity to support her too. ‘Mountains have grown on me too, so it sounds as though you have lots of company. That means you’re going to keep us all busy as well as yourself, Angie. You will unquestionably have to begin planning this itinerary, our diets and fitness schedules too.’
Angie patted my arm and craned her neck towards me. ‘So, mission accomplished, my beautiful friend,’ she said tapping the side of her nose.
Joy waded through my veins. ‘I really hope so,’ I said squeezing her arm. So far, the outcome couldn’t have been better.
Cathy then squealed. ‘I can’t believe I’m saying this, darling, but I think I would benefit too.’ Cathy wriggled in her chair. ‘With all the writing I’ve been doing lately, I need to stay active. And think how much we could raise for the cause between us.’
This was music to my ears. ‘Cathy, fantastic,’ I said, knowing how much she said she had struggled lately sitting for long periods, even with exercise. On the aeroplane, she said her knees had become stiff and painful and she found herself getting up every thirty to forty minutes to do lunges or squats to relieve them.
‘Well, use it or lose it, I’ve come to realise,’ Cathy added. ‘These recent changes have made such an impact on me and lifestyle. I was on the go and standing as a teacher. I wish I could persuade Anthony to join in too. He needs to increase his activity. He has put on so much weight over the past year.’
‘Terry too.’ Lou shook her head. ‘Yes, he likes his beer and his bread.’
Angie clutched her hands and was almost bouncing in her seat as she bubbled with excitement. ‘So this is what I’m getting at. Well, maybe we can set an example. Let’s focus on our goals first,’ Angie said before she slid into pedagogic mode. ‘You see, that’s the thing. The guys need to be motivated too. It’s not just a message for the young or overweight, it’s everyone. As we age, everything begins to slow down. Metabolism, digestive system. We do need to eat less and become more active. You should see some of the changes in clients who come to my clinic.’
She looked directly at Christoff, then Florian, then Tom and Neil. ‘These girls are perfect examples.’ She held out her arm and took a bow of satisfaction. ‘Sorry, I sound such a bore, but I run a holistic health and nutrition centre. We teach new eating habits including nutrition, but the fitness classes make such a difference and I love to see the results. This is my purpose. And I have to create a bigger splash. If only people realised. Weight just falls off after a few weeks. Many of my clients really transform their shape, and even at our age, look amazingly toned – as you can see.’ Angie lifted the base of her cashmere sweater, showing the slender silhouette of six-pack through her thermal vest. ‘So this is mega exciting; these girls are my inspiration.’
I watched as the men gazed approvingly. Christoff’s eyebrows rose at her as she squirmed with pleasure. I just hoped this evening was turning her around in the right direction and not Christoff’s.
‘Indeed. You all look amazing,’ Neil said gazing my way and slapping his hands on his knees and rubbing the tops of his thighs. ‘I’d be a blob if I didn’t stay active. You go, Ang.’
* * *
The sense of pride I felt for Angie was immense and, feeling the heat rise in my chest, I tried to remain calm; but inside I was feeling anything was possible. It seemed the whole table was ignited with Angie’s enthusiasm.
‘How do you stay active?’ I asked Neil, immediately regretting my phrasing.
He leant on the side of his chair, his eyes smouldering. ‘Do you really want to know?’ He cackled along with everyone else. ‘No, seriously, I know you’re too much of a lady to get smutty. When I’m home in the summer months, to keep the pounds off I usually run, swim, play tennis, badminton or golf once or twice a week. I have to say, I do enjoy sport. And don’t you think regular exercise keeps your spirits up?’
‘That’s not all it keeps up,’ Angie blurted.
I almost choked on my glass of Gamay. Should I laugh or cry? I knew I couldn’t change that love of flirting she had. ‘Angie, I honestly don’t remember exercise ever lifting my spirits but they’re lifting now, just hearing your enthusiasm.’ We had spent the last six months running two mornings a week plus slogging it out in the classes or the gym three nights a week, then the compulsory yogalates Saturday morning with Angie, all to get fit for this holiday. After each session I could just about manage to drive home and climb into bed. They were the best nights’ sleep I’d had since losing Mike, I admit, but I didn’t even have the strength to join the girls for a glass of wine on Thursday evenings after class.
Angie’s eyes were ablaze. ‘Absolutely, there’s nothing better to get the endorphins pumping, as well as the serotonin and dopamine it releases. I find it addictive,’ Angie said, high as a kite just talking about it. ‘And—’ she pouted as she winked at Christoff ‘—it’s probably responsible for my ravenous sex drive.’
I sat back in despair wondering whether Rob was actually coping with Angie’s sexual demands on a daily basis. Maybe Rob needed a break!
Kim
The following morning, I woke to find the room unusually dim. Sliding back the duvet I blinked at the clock until my eyes focused. It was a quarter past eight. I tiptoed to the window and peeling back the luxuriant curtain, I discovered why.
There was nothing to see but white. White fog and showering snow.
‘Wow. I don’t think we’re going to be skiing today,’ I said, throwing back my head and looking over my shoulder to Angie, but the duvet on her side of our bed was still in situ. She wasn’t in it. I frowned, looking closer. No, my eyes weren’t deceiving me; it hadn’t been slept in. Instantly I clutched my chest. Surely not. Ginny was stirring.
‘Angie’s not here,’ I shrieked.
She mumbled something.
‘Gin. Angie,’ I repeated. ‘She’s not here and her bed is still made.’ I felt a rush of bile in my throat. Stupid, stupid woman. No, I told myself, letting out a sigh. Maybe she had crashed out on the sofa. ‘I’ll go down and see if she’s there. So, confident that our ski lesson would be cancelled, at least until it eased, I quickly slipped into my dressing gown, and went in search of Angie. I checked the bathroom. Empty. I ran out the door and down the stairs. It was all in darkness. I ran over and pressed the switch to open the curtains and gazed around an empty room. My blood raced. I couldn’t believe she had stayed out all night, presumably with Christoff. My head now raged. I ran to the porch, which was still locked, and out to the front door. That too was secure. How could she? I ran back up the stairs.
Ginny was up grappling in the wardrobe for something to wear.
‘She’s not down there,’ I said. ‘And, the door is locked. I doubt she would lock it if she had popped out.’
Turning around, I saw Ginny had the dressing gown in her hand and was fumbling to find the arm as she gawped at me. ‘Oh, please tell me this isn’t happening,’ she said. I would have laughed at her misshapen hair had I been able to touch base with my humour, but then her jaw moved again as she stared at the empty side of the bed. ‘God, no. Ang, what have you done?’ Ginny wrapped the gown around her and covered her mouth. ‘She’s not in her right mind.’
I sat on the edge of my bed, numbed. ‘No. She’s …’
Ginny raised a hand to her mouth. ‘She wouldn’t have gone along to the supermarket, would she? We needed some bits for breakfast.’
My face gnarled. ‘No idea, but both doors are locked. I doubt she would have locked both after her. I glanced at her side of the bed. She would not have got up and made that bed either. Why would she?’
‘Oh, Kim, what do we do? I don’t want to believe it,’ Ginny said leaning across to check the bedding. The fur throw was ruffled where I had slept but the zillion-thread Egyptian cotton sheets were tightly tucked in place as though waiting for a military inspection. ‘And, you’re right. That’s definitely not her handiwork.’
I covered my eyes. ‘You bloody fool, Angie. A whim! You’re insane!’ I pursed my lips and for the want of something to do said, ‘Oh, chook, I’m going to make a coffee. Do you want one? And, I wouldn’t rush …’ I rose to my feet and headed for the door. ‘There’s thick fog and heavy snow falling out there.’
Ginny pulled a face. ‘Oh, yuck! So, we can’t ski?’
‘I doubt it. I’m not sure what happens when it’s snowing, or foggy. We won’t be able to see where we’re going.’ I spun around to grab my phone. ‘I’ll text Angie to find out.’
I left Ginny still dazed from the shock and made my way to the kitchen, filling the water on the espresso machine and switching it on. I unlocked my phone and messaged Angie. It was brief. Are we skiing this morning?
Opening the fridge, I was relieved to see we still had cheese, a little salami and ham, but the French stick on the side was rock hard. I found a bread knife and tried to slice it. The crust needed sawing but maybe, I thought, as I got through at an angle, it would toast. I was halfway through sawing through it when I heard the familiar voice.
‘Morning.’
I turned around, the bread knife raised in my hand. ‘Where have you been?’ I said accusingly. Angie came up beside me and I looked her up and down. The pink bunny pyjamas and long fluffy cardigan she was wearing clearly weren’t hers.
‘Whoa, good morning to you too!’
‘Well, your bed was empty and …’
Lou tottered down the stairs, followed by Ginny.
Angie watched me cutting into the bread. ‘No, we didn’t get to bed until about half three. I slept with Lou, so I didn’t wake you. Cathy was talking to Anthony when we got back so I was keeping Lou company, then Cathy came down and we sat chatting. With wine, of course. Finished off that white Fendant.’
A wave of relief swept over me. ‘Well, thank God for that. I … was worried.’ I thought it best not to mention my suspicions and glared at Ginny, hoping she would follow suit. ‘So, was Anthony all right? Did Terry take him out?’ I popped some of the bread in the toaster and began sawing the loaf again.
Angie peered at Lou. ‘Yes. Lou will tell you. He was calmer, apparently. They went bowling. Rob met them there too.’
‘Oh! Good. Did they knock any sense into him?’ I glanced from one to the other.
Lou slotted a capsule into the coffee machine and placed a mug under it. ‘Hmm. It’s not something that can be tackled overnight, is it? And we’re only getting one perspective. Terry, who unfortunately has never been one of life’s great observers, was under the impression that Anthony was totally normal. Terry didn’t have a clue what he was supposed to say to him. But he said he did ask how he was getting on without Cath.’ Lou gave a shrug. ‘And Anthony’s response was, fine, he was enjoying the peace and quiet.’ I could see she was as perplexed as us as she peered down while filling the fourth mug of coffee.
‘In denial, huh. That’s not good,’ I said raising my voice to be heard over the loud gurgling noise it took to barista coffee. What was wrong with a good old-fashioned kettle and instant?
‘Amazing, isn’t it? Poor Cathy. Who knows?’ Lou said, slotting the final capsule in the coffee machine and pressing yet again. ‘Terry and Rob are going to meet him at the Indian tonight and then they’re meeting up tomorrow for golf. Fingers crossed they can keep him busy for a few days. Keep him off Cath’s back.’
As the coffee appliance silenced, the boom of Cathy’s schoolmistress voice bounced into the air. ‘My ears are burning, Flowers.’
I glanced up at her as she reached the bottom of the stairs and I greeted her with a smile.
‘Well, at least it’s not the toast burning,’ Lou scoffed, watching me remove two golden brown slices from the toaster. ‘You could start buttering that though,’ she said to Cathy, and I sensed she was having a dig at Angie who was still leaning over the worktop staring at the bread and the knife in my hands.
‘Ah, there’s no butter,’ I said. ‘I couldn’t see any anyway.’
‘Oh, bugger. I was going to go to the shop yesterday, wasn’t I,’ Lou said removing the fifth mug and inserting a milk capsule in before beginning the process again. Her eyes veered to the window and, baring her teeth, she shuddered. ‘We’ll manage without it this morning. I can’t face that weather yet.’
‘Healthier too,’ Angie said, standing upright and stretching out her arms. ‘Thanks for all your support last night, girls. I’m so excited and fired up.’
I gave her a hug. ‘And, we’re one hundred per cent behind you, sweet.’
‘Yes,’ Lou agreed and switched on the machine and shouted out. ‘Oh, Kim, Terry said Paula was at the bowling last night. With a group of lads from her running club or something … Sounds as though she was feeling sorry for herself, he said. Didn’t like the fact that we were all here and she was bored at home.’ The machine silenced. ‘He got the impression she was feeling left out and would have liked to have come skiing with us.’
I felt my stomach twist, hoping she wasn’t now preying on Terry, Rob or Anthony. I peered at Cathy who turned to me with a frown. I forced a smile. ‘Really? Typical. Probably seeking sympathy. You know what she’s like.’ I grimaced, extracting more toast from the toaster and trying to think of something, anything to divert the conversation away from my sister. I could think of nothing worse than having her here right now. Not that I had e
ver encouraged her to come out with me and my friends, for obvious reasons.
It was then I suddenly felt my stomach lurch. Would she tell the boys of her misdemeanours? As far as Paula was concerned, it didn’t matter who she hurt. What if she had and it got back to Ginny that I knew? I licked my dry lips. ‘So, Ang. Are we skiing this morning?’
Chapter 14
Ginny
As we marched from the chalet, patches of grey-white cloud dented the fog, with a rendering of promising blue hues beneath and the fresh dump of snow adding a further thick layer blanketing the ground and buildings. The village was the epitome of a winter wonderland. I waited for Kim as she dawdled behind, her head down, seemingly distracted.
‘Are you all right, sweetheart?’ I asked softly, utilising some of the abundant energy that had coiled within me since we’d had Mike’s memorial. I was feeling like the younger, carefree Ginny again. Being able to finally open up to my friends had been cathartic and like a daffodil bud, my confidence was beginning to bloom. It was like another school day and us girls were on our way to meet the bus. I wanted to share the sense of liberation and love and see everyone as happy as I was.
Kim heaved her skis onto her shoulder, blowing out a sigh. ‘Yes, I’m fine, thanks, but I’d rather the sun was shining. I’ve added extra layers to brace against the cold, but the light is dismally dim this morning isn’t it?’
It was. But in all honesty, I hadn’t really taken much notice even though the mountain air gave out that hostile chill. It was our first cold day and it pleased me to know that I wasn’t worrying about it. There must have been a seismic shift inside me in the last twenty-four hours. I felt six inches taller. Fog had cleared from my head and with my Flowers’ input, ideas about my future were already beginning to bloom. I looked up to the sky and noticed the thick swirl of mist hovering above us.
‘Hopefully, the sun will burn through that and it will brighten,’ I said.
