‘Can we have all of the riders over here please!’
A red-haired woman about the same age as Sue was beckoning everyone over to the long row of bicycles just outside the two guest houses where many of them had spent the night. The woman was wearing an orange version of the brightly coloured LifeTime t-shirts they’d been handed at the group meal last night as they were given their room assignments (Sue, Flo and Raven were given a family room with a set of bunkbeds and a double bed which they’d drawn straws for). When the woman turned around, Sue saw she had BECKY printed on the shirt and SUPPORT TEAM.
Flo, who was on the phone with her husband discussing how to apply Captain George’s poultice, signaled to Raven and Sue that they should go on over. She’d catch up in a minute.
Raven, who looked quite different in her riding shorts and bright yellow t-shirt, was beginning to look as nervous as Sue felt. Little wonder considering the poor thing hadn’t really done all that much riding apart from their twice-weekly ‘debt collecting’ rides. Numerous times, Sue had invited her to ride into work with her, but she’d always declined for one reason or another.
‘If I could get everyone’s attention, please! Great. Excellent.’ Becky waved them all in closer. ‘I’m Becky Harris, part of your cycle support team from Newcastle’s very own Pedal Power!’ She whacked an arm around Kath. ‘Thanks to Kath here and her passion for LifeTime, you all are about to do an amazing, but very difficult ride. That’s why, so far, you all have raised over two hundred and twenty-three THOUSAND pounds!’
Everyone cheered.
‘How about we double or even triple that by the time you cycle into Tynemouth?’
Another cheer.
‘Okay. Now that that’s sorted, let’s talk facts.’
Sue looked at Raven who made a scared face and pretended to bite all of her nails off. Despite her nerves, Sue giggled. Riding with Raven looked set to be as natural as living together had been.
Becky put her hands into a film director square. ‘Big picture? All you have to do today is get on your bike and ride. There’s some lovely coastal bits, some beautiful country lanes and even some hill work for those of you who like a bit of a challenge.’
Sue hid a smile when Flo arrived just in time to roll her eyes as Trevor shouted out, ‘The more hills the merrier!’
‘That bloody man will drive us mad by the time this is through,’ Flo intoned as she pulled her windproof fleece zipper up to her chin.
‘That’s the spirit,’ Becky gave everyone the thumbs up. ‘Right. The small print. We have an advance party van. It is manned by this lovely young woman to my left, KC and her trusty companion Dean-O. Give everyone a wave, you two.’ A pretty blonde girl who looked as if she were an outdoor-wear model waved, as did the hipster-type beside her. ‘Do not – I repeat – do not try to keep up with them. This is not the Tour de France. They’ll have tea, coffees, biccies, oranges, all the good stuff you need to keep your energy levels up at the twenty-mile marker and the forty-mile marker. Lunch will be picnic style and will be on the piers at the lovely seaside town of Maryport. For those of you who are extra speedy, there is an aquarium that is well worth a look. They have kindly extended complimentary tickets to our riders who arrive early.’
Whilst the group applauded, Raven threw Sue a look that said all she needed to know. They’d be missing out on the aquarium.
Becky clapped her hands together and gave them a rub. ‘Today is the longest day, but also one of the flattest.’
Murmurs of relief rippled through the crowd.
‘But! Your health and safety are paramount, isn’t that right, Kath?’ Kath nodded. ‘If you need a rest, if you are in any pain, if you need something from your bag – just look to the back of the peloton – you’ll be riding in formation, am I right???’ She didn’t pause to find out, ‘I’ll be there for you in this big old van, yeah?’
Someone began to hum the theme song from Friends.
Becky laughed. ‘Alright, that’s enough for me. How about we have a quick hip-hip for the brilliant Kath Fuller who’s got a live spot coming up with Kev and then we all hit the road!’
Ready or not, thought Sue, as she hip-hip-hoorayed along with the rest of the riders … here I come.
Chapter Forty-Three
‘Do you mind if I touch you from behind?’
As it happened, Kath didn’t mind in the least if Fola touched her from behind. Or the front. Her body, as usual, had sprung to high alert when he’d approached her through the crowd of cyclists pulling on their jackets and readjusting their shoes out here on the blustery green in front of the hotel. The truth was, she’d been tingly ever since Fola had boarded the large touring bus they’d all taken from Birmingham. Since then the feeling had only grown. It reminded her of being thirteen and falling deeply in crush with David Langham, a Jack the lad who regularly ignored her until one day one of her mates had pushed her towards him and their teenaged bodies had collided in a whirl of heat and hormones. It was days before they could get a moment alone to see if the frisson buzzing between them was real. It hadn’t been in the end, but, oh, that electric feeling of anticipation … Bliss. This trip had been much the same. Last night had been all bustle. Meeting and greeting the riders as they checked into the small coastal hotel where they’d set up a temporary headquarters. Going over scripts with her producer. Checking that Kev had arrived in South Africa with his crew. Going to bed on her own, spreading
