‘Tight buns?’ More laughter punctuated his sharp breaths. ‘You’ve been living in the States for too long.’
‘What I meant was a toned arse.’’
‘You do know I’m not cycling 100 miles for a toned arse.’
‘Of course, but it’s a good incidental benefit. You know, what you’re doing is amazing, Sean.’
He eyed her askance, amusement on his face. Cherry did her best to look at him whilst cycling at a similar pace and not falling off the bike.
‘I know you think I’m being daft,’ she said, ‘but your motivationisinspiring. The way you’re pushing yourself on so other people don’t suffer like your dad, how you get up every single day and keeping going, your mind on that goal… It’s incredible. If there were more men like you in the world, it would be a better place.’
She wasn’t sure if the pained expression on Sean’s face was at her words, concern about her falling off the bike or something else.
‘Thanks, that means a lot.’
Cherry prepared to pedal harder, perhaps to get to their destination and the turning point she was about to instigate. ‘I’m going to cycle up ahead.’ She pointed to the road in front of them. ‘I want you to sprint to me. Then when you reach me, you can moderate the pace, and I’ll cycle on again and we repeat the process.’
Keeping his eyes on the road, Sean hit back. ‘Sounds like a metaphor for our marriage.’
It was hard not to laugh. ‘Don’t talk, sweetheart. Save your breath for the sprint.’ She blew another air kiss his way and focused on the road. His observation was both amusingand incisive. And a little heartbreaking. It was time to try and mend that heart today.
The main road meandered along the coastline for as far as the eye could see. But about half a mile after they had passed the distillery, Sean told Cherry to turn right. The incline was steeper; there were fewer dips, and mostly they were travelling uphill. She put all her focus into the cycling and found her thighs burning as they headed towards the thicket of trees in the distance.
Finally, the incline plateaued, the road became more of a dirt track and the warming sunshine disappeared as the trees merged into a canopy overhead.
The quiet stillness of August fields segued into gushing water and the low rush of wind through summer foliage. Moments later, they reached a clearing where a waterfall, about twelve feet high, tumbled into a wide blue pool below.
‘Welcome to Inchfallon Falls.’ Sean’s voice vibrated low like the hum of nature around them. ‘My dad named a whisky after it, but it’s stayed a bit of a local secret. All it would take is for someone to film a Netflix series here and it’ll never be the same.’
‘It’s stunning.’ Cherry straddled the bike, mesmerised by the babbling of the water below and the rustling of the leaves. The air was cooler under the shade of the trees, but there was a gap where the sun shone through at the right angle to hit the pool and brighten the waters.
‘I love it here.’ As if drawn by memories, Sean drifted to the rocks overlooking the pool, and Cherry followed. ‘We spent hours splashing around here as kids. It must havebeen a health and safety nightmare, but Mum and Dad never complained.’
‘We should’ve brought a picnic,’ said Cherry. ‘Made a day of it.’
‘I’ve got some Irn-Bru in my backpack. Thirsty?’
She narrowed her eyes. ‘You’re training for an endurance race. You should be drinking water and eating bananas.’
‘Aye, I do that, too. C’mon, let’s sit.’
They found a couple of flattish rocks above the water, laid the bike down, and Cherry took Sean’s lead in letting her feet dangle over the edge.The water was refreshing without being bitingly cold.
‘How deep is it?’ she asked.
‘Depends. Maybe neck height for you today. The warm weather means there’s less water than usual.’
‘Did you learn to swim here?’
‘Nope. In the sea.’
‘Have you ever had sex here?’
‘Ha! Just as I thought your questions were getting boring. In the pool or under the waterfall?’
‘Either.’
‘Neither. And I’m saying no more than that.’
