Easter party – hire a big Easter bunny/arrange an egg hunt on the common
Christmas party – Father Christmas – sleigh rides
Yoga classes
Slimming club
Running club
Craft days
After-school club
Gracie rubbed the back of her neck. What needed most thought though,wasthe SW19 Club. How could she market it without it sounding too macabre? Maybe she should have a brainstorm with Kate? Her mind began to whir. For women who have lost babies? No. For those of you who have lost a child?Lost?Not a good word but the whole point was getting people to face up to and discuss their sadness, so maybe ‘lost’ was all right.
Perhaps she was being too thoughtful about this? Did it really matter how she marketed it? Then the idea came to her: ‘Yes! Yes! Yes!’
A movement behind her made her jump out of her skin.
‘God, Ed, have you not heard of knocking before? You scared the bloody life out of me.’
‘I’m sorry. The door was open. I saw your car and…’ Ed’s face fell at Gracie’s reaction.
She took in his toned tanned legs and softened slightly. ‘It’s fine. Next time, give me a bit of warning, though. Sneaking up on me like that is not funny.’
He went to tickle her and she pushed him away. ‘Hey, Gracie. Don’t be like that. It’s a shame I couldn’t make you scream out like that the other night, eh? So bloody embarrassing – the old fella gets a mind of his own after a few pints.’ He pointed down to his European-style long khaki shorts and gave a half smile to gauge her reaction. It wasn’t a good one.
Gracie said nothing, just shuffled on the spot.
‘It’s OK, Ed. We had fun and not everyone is going to have a connection in this world, or that “ol’ devil called love” would be even more complicated than it is already.’
Ed was looking at her curiously. He beckoned her towards him.
