As he let his body temperature regulate, he took in the landscape. The town of Brockton lay at the bottom with the River Brock winding through. Udo hadn’t had much chance to get to know the place. His life seemed to consist of training, playing and resting. Then rinse and repeat.
His mind wandered to the day before. Ever since he’d joined Brockton, he’d been wary of Shaun. He was popular with the lads and regularly ran his mouth off. Udo had met players like that before. Would-be alpha males were ten-a-penny in soccer.
In the distance lay Brockton Park, the stadium where they played their home games. The green pitch seemed to be mocking him for his performance for the team. It wasn’t good. They’d paid an absolute fortune for him in the January transfer window.
His calves were seizing up. Udo walked slowly along the path, taking a huge swig from the water bottle he’d brought with him.
When his new agent, Rob Baron, had floated the idea ofplaying for Brockton to him, Udo had been desperate for a change. He didn’t like to swap mid-season. He’d had no choice. He shuddered when he thought about staying with Chelsea.
His phone rang. Mercifully interrupting his reflection.
He got it out of his backpack. His mother’s face filled the ID display. He would have to put a brave face on things. There was no sense in worrying her.
Udo swiped the screen.
“Hi, Mum.”
“Hallo Schatzi.”
“In English, please. It’s easier if I stick to one language.”
“Sorry, darling. I keep forgetting. How are you?”
Udo sighed. Hearing his mother’s voice made his resolve crumble.
“Did you watch the game?” he asked.
“Of course. What happened?”
A bird flew across the sky. Udo tracked it as he tried to come up with an answer.
“I don’t know. I took too long.”
“Do you want to talk about it?”
He did but not in the middle of a public footpath. The idea that someone would get a photo of him blubbering was too much to bear.
“I’ll call you when I get home. I’m out on a run at the moment.”
“Okay, darling.”
He terminated the call and put the phone away. With one final glanced at Brockton Park, he set off the way he’d just run. This time he ran faster. Almost as if his insecurities were chasing him. He craved the detachment of simply running. He needed that peace.
His rented house had once been an old farm. The owners had lovingly converted the outbuildings into an office, gym and home cinema. The rambling house boasted four bedrooms and a massive lounge. Far too much for him on his own.
The long drive leading up to the house had appealed to Udo the most. He had to have proper privacy. Something he valued above anything else.
After a quick shower, he flopped down on the sofa and called his mother back. She answered almost immediately. It had always been the two of them since Udo’s father had done a disappearing act before he’d even been born.
“Darling,” she said.
“Hi,” he replied. “Are you okay?”
“I’m worried about you.”
Udo screwed his eyes tightly shut.
You’re in your mid-thirties and have weathered worse storms than this. Get it together.
