“So did you.”
“A bit of snow just makes things more interesting. Have you thought about doing Everest?”
Alex turned around, picking up the sun screen which she’d put on the floor. “Your turn. Keep your hair out of the way else it’ll get messy.” He did warm the cream up before putting it on her skin. “Everest. Scott and I made it to base camp. Jake and I talked about doing it in full, but neither of us could ever commit. I’d love to do one of the big mountains but not necessarily Everest.”
She could barely hear his words over the sound of her heart thumping. Two years she’d watched him and wondered what it would be like for him to notice her as something more than the woman who worked for his brother.
Abby closed her eyes and tried not to drown in the volume of questions that were swirling round her head.
“You should do one at least. For the experience.” It was about all she could get out of her mouth. “If I can get my fitness back, I’d love to do it with you.”
“The Eiger. When everything’s over, that’s what we’re going to do. We might need to take Jake though.”
She rubbed the lotion down to the waist band of his pants. “I can live with that.”
“Good. Let’s go.” He pulled the backpack from the boot of his car which contained everything they needed and led the way.
They’d chosen to park so they had a walk first, making the most of the day and the fresh air. Walkers passed them, heading in the opposite direction, going to the local cafes and pubs for dinner or a snack or a well-deserved pint. A kestrel hovered and the trail upwards was gentle, an easy climb, one she would’ve skipped up three years.
“I see you running most days,” Alex said, giving her a long look that she couldn’t decipher. “You’ve kept your fitness up.”
Abby nodded. “But it isn’t the same. If I wasn’t away on a trek, I’d be in the gym as well, using weights and working on upper body strength. That’s all gone.”
“You’ll be more than fine with this and I bet you realise that you haven’t lost as much as what you think.”
“I did Windgather once before, but it was over a year ago. It’s a nice climb.” And easy, but she didn’t want to say that as she wasn’t sure she’d find it so. It had been a long time and she wasn’t that person any more.
“No equipment?”
She knew he’d brought it any way.
“If you’re sure you can manage it. You know, I don’t want you to struggle.” That was the bit of her she missed: the ability to banter. She could do it in the bar because that was expected, but outside of that there had been no one there, and when there could’ve been she’d been too busy cramming in as many shifts as she could, or avoiding people.
“I’m pretty sure I can manage. You might need to give me a push up if it gets rough.” He gave her a wink and a grin that was what Tilly would’ve termedsaucy.
The air grew stiller. Bird song had drifted away and the sun blazed. Abby had learned to tell the weather over the years and this was shouting for a storm. Not yet, but certainly overnight.
“Thunder tonight.”
Alex nodded. “We need a good storm to clear the air. I’m on call out tonight. Wouldn’t be surprised if we get the bat signal.”
“And you have a shift at work tomorrow?”
“Yep. An early. So once I’ve climbed up there quicker than you we’ll grab dinner and I’ll have to get an early night though, just in case.”
“I can cook something at yours if it’s easier.” It would make her feel like she was contributing something at least.
“No. We’ll stop in Castleton. I need to see the landlord of a pub there about something anyway.”
They fell quiet, but the silence wasn’t awkward. She was used to walking in the company of others and not keeping up a conversation. The outdoors had its own story to tell and the view she was enjoying right now didn’t need words to go with it.
Windgather started to loom in the distance, the crowds Abby would’ve expected thinned out as the day was turning to late afternoon and the time to grab a cool pint in a beer garden. She felt momentarily guilty that she wasn’t there to help Scott in the bar, because it was a Thursday and their Thursdays were usually busy as people started to wind down for the weekend.
“We should use equipment.” If she fell, no one would be mad at Alex, but the other way round and his brothers and cousins would be distraught.
“We will. Safety first.” He shot her another blinding grin.
Setting up the equipment came more naturally than she’d remembered. It was a baby climb, but she knew Alex to be Mr Cautious and even though part of her was shouting that it was unnecessary, she didn’t trust herself yet.
