‘I’vereallynever put up a tent before,’ Tilly replies, giving the pile of camping gear on the ground a nudge. ‘Joe always wanted me to come camping with him, but I always managed to find an excuse. I hate camping. Houses were invented for a reason.’
Alfie doesn’t question her, just like he didn’t ask any questions when Tilly messaged him a couple of days ago to ask if he knew anything about camping and was available that weekend.
‘A tent is like a house you can carry anywhere with you.’
‘This doesn’t look much like a house …’
‘Not yet. But it will, I promise.’
‘And you’re sure you’re OK with me borrowing your camping gear?’
‘Of course. It’s nice to think of it being used, I haven’t had time to go camping for a while. Shall we get started?’
Alfie shows her how to connect the tent poles together and pass them through tiny holes to build the frame.
‘Why do they keep breaking?’ she says when the poles snap in the middle.
‘That happens sometimes. You just have to scrunch up the fabric until you’ve found the break, and fix it. Can I?’
He locates the problem and shows her how to fix it herself.
‘You did say someone is going with you, didn’t you?’ he says when she nearly hits her thumb with the mallet meant for the tent pegs.
‘Yes, my friend Rachel.’
Rachel phoned at the start of the month to catch up and ask about September’s book from Joe. When Tilly told her that Joe had given her a book about wild camping, Rachel burst out laughing. When Tilly told her that she was planning on going on a wild camping weekend to remote Scotland, she stopped laughing and insisted that she go with her.
‘Seriously, you can’t go on your own, Tils. And it will be more fun if we do it together.’
Tilly wasn’t sure she was expecting the trip to be fun. She was going because Joe had asked her to, and it turned out it was very difficult to say no to the dead love of your life.
‘Plus, I’ve got family up there I’ve been meaning to visit for ages,’ Rachel added.
Tilly was hesitant at first. Their friendship was in a much better place – but could it withstand a weekend away, just the two of them? On the other hand, she really didn’t want to go alone. And she still wasn’t speaking to the person it would have made the most sense to invite. Harper woulddefinitelyknow how to put up a tent.
‘That’s good,’ Alfie says, nodding earnestly. ‘And I’ve heardthe mobile coverage is much better these days. You should never be out of range of contact with Mountain Rescue.’
‘I’m not sure that’s as reassuring as you mean it to be.’
Eventually they both take a step back, Tilly’s hands on her hips.
‘Well, it looks like a tent.’ She unzips the entrance flap. ‘Come on, we need to test it out.’ She crouches down, holding the back of her pale green dress as she crawls inside.
Alfie hesitates for a moment then follows her.
It smells like woodsmoke and is a lot smaller than it looked from the outside, especially with Alfie sat beside her, his long legs hugged up to his broad chest, his shoulder brushing against hers. It is warm inside, the sun filtering through in a soft glow. The open doorway creates a window framing a view of dogs, a child riding a bike, a squirrel climbing a tree. Tilly feels part of it all but also separate in a way that feels comforting. It’s surprising how a thin piece of waterproof fabric can make her feel like she’s in her own little bubble, her own shelter.
She leans back on her hands, stretching out her legs.
‘This is nicer than I expected. It’s cosy.’
Beside her Alfie rests on his elbows, his legs sticking out of the tent. For once he looks almost relaxed.
‘It is …’
She is very aware of the warmth of his body beside her, the way the tent smells not just of woodsmoke but of coffee and books too.
‘… and just imagine it with a sleeping-bag nest inside. And a kettle steaming on a gas stove outside, against the backdrop of a beautiful view. There’s nothing like it.’
