Seb liked Tom—Emma, too—both were responsible, reasonable adults. Tom held a steady jobandliked routine and schedules. He’d get Helen here on time, wouldn’t he?
Brenda tapped her clipboard. “I need to speak to Freddy. I’ll see you by the stage at twenty past eleven, ready for the compere’s introduction.”
“Got it.” Seb checked the time again. 10:50 a.m.
His hand hovered over the phone in his pocket, ready to tell Helen exactly what he thought of her timekeeping.If she didn’t—
A streak of blond hair down the street. Helen—in a bright pink vest and black Lycra shorts, her hair styled straight and glossy—looked up at him. He replaced his phone as she approached, several steps ahead of Emma and Tom, who pushed a wide buggy containing Harry and the baby.
“I know, I know,” Helen said. “We’re on time so we’re late.”
“Lucy took ages to feed this morning,” Emma chimed in, “then she needed a last-minute nappy change. I’m sorry. It’s our fault.”
“It’s absolutely fine. Really.” Seb shook Tom’s hand and kissed Emma on the cheek. “It’s good to see you all.” He turned to Helen, but she was standing just that little bit too far away for him to kiss her and make the move look natural. “I guess … um … we should hold hands while we walk around.”
“Of course.” Helen slipped her fingers into his hand. Tom and Emma watched with tight-lipped smiles. “Are the journalists here already?”
“I haven’t seen our friend yet, but others are circulating.” Seb invited them all farther inside the enclosure. “There’ll be plenty of activities for Harry here,” he said to Tom and Emma. “There’s even a gentle parent and baby workout.”
“Cute!” Emma grinned. “I’ll give it a go.”
Seb guided Tom and Emma to the first arena where a few children played with skipping ropes and balls. With Harry’s attention quickly grabbed, Seb and Helen left them to it and made their way to the stage.
Seb cast an eye over Helen’s new Strive gear and her shiny hair. “You’re looking good, Hobbs.”
She touched her sleek bob. “Emma insisted on getting her straighteners out again. She misses the salon.”
His gaze drifted to Helen’s shoulder where her tattoo lay hidden by the wide strap of her top.“You remember the plan for today, right?”
“Yes.” Helen elongated the word.Maybe he’d asked that question one too many times?But her eyes sparkled with mischief. “Where’s my lecture on punctuality?”
“You weren’t late.” She gave him a look and he grinned.Busted.“The gear suits you.”
“Thank you. And thanks for arranging new trainers, too. They’re so comfy.” Helen fingered the high-spec, technical fabric of her vest and shorts, and glanced down at her matching running shoes. “I feel very …pink.”
Seb’s lips twitched, but whatever the color, Helen in Lycra equaled a very pleasing combination. He hadn’t seen her work out or heard her even mention exercise, but she obviously kept herself in shape.
Seb and Helen reached the stage. Brenda introduced them to the local radio DJ who would be compering the event throughout the day, and after running through the intro one last time, Seb stood in the wings with Helen, ready for the DJ to announce his name.
“Nervous?” Helen asked.
Seb shook his head. “Public speaking has never bothered me.”
“Freak. It scares the crap out of me.”
Seb laughed and didn’t have to force a big hearty smile when he stepped out on stage. He greeted the small crowd that had gathered out front and launched into his routine, directing questions to the kids who’d lined up near the foot of the stage before running through the Get Living ethos. “And lastly, it’s all about having fun. So let’s get out there. Let’s get fit, get healthy, and get living!”
Music played as a team of personal trainers, fitness instructors and sports teachers from the local community joined him on stage. After introducing each one to find out where they worked and what services they provided, Seb officially opened the Get Living Campaign. Everyone on stage whooped and clapped. The crowd joined in, but the numbers out front weren’t as high as they would’ve been if Dan Jones, Isabella and The Wags had been here instead of him.
Early days yet.
But as he high-fived the guys on stage and handed the mic back to the DJ, Seb caught the looming dark clouds out at sea. Crowds would diminish with the increasing chance of heavy rain. Not the best start, and—two hours later—when the sky hadn’t gotten any brighter, Seb resigned himself to running in a deluge.
Neither he nor the PTs and fitness instructors working with him today didn’t mind getting wet, but they were concerned about low spectator numbers and the campaign not getting the attention it deserved after all their hard work.
Seb switched to full-force motivational mode.The rain didn’t matter. This was just the first day. The next event would be bigger, better.But as he and Helen mingled with the public and sampled the variety of sporting activities on offer, people had already dispersed. Even Tom and Emma said they’d be leaving soon, understandably not wanting to be caught in a downpour with two kids in tow.
“Brenda must be even more upset now about The Wags pulling out,” Helen said, looking at the ground as she walked.
