‘I see,’ said Sue, not at all ready to introduce herself as Sue, Wife of Gary who committed – Nope. No. She wasn’t ready. Not without an avalanche of terrifying feelings following in its wake. ‘You know?’ she began, instead of saying what she should have which was, I am so sorry you’re going through what you’re going through and I hope participating in this ride brings you some peace. ‘I think I need to turn in.’
In the lift (Charlie had joined another group), Raven asked, ‘Are you alright?’
‘Yes, absolutely. You?’
‘Yeah, I just thought you might’ve been a bit freaked with …’ she tipped her head down to indicate the lounge.
‘With what?’
‘With that guy flirting with you.’
Sue’s eyes popped open wide. ‘He wasn’t flirting.’
‘Okay,’ Raven said, which made Sue think, was he? And then, as she did with all things she couldn’t cope with thinking about, she shut the idea down. As soon as they got to the room, she curled up in her bed and, just as she did every night since he’d gone, she pretended Gary’s arms were around her and everything was exactly as it had always been, apart from today, she had petted a cow.
Chapter Forty-Seven
10 SECOND INTERSTITIAL: BRAND NEW DAY
VISUAL: Florence Wilson in cycling gear about to start off for DAY TWO of Hadrian’s Wall ride
AUDIO TRANSCRIPT:
FLORENCE: Although LifeTime doesn’t directly provide them, I’m sure they would agree with me in saying that a therapy dog really can change a life.
Off-camera question: Do you have one?
FLORENCE: I believe all dogs are therapy dogs, in their own way. Captain George, my Irish wolfhound is … excuse me … ooo … apologies … Yes, thank you, love. Silly me, forgetting to pack tissues. Anyway, what I meant to say … it’s difficult being away from him.
Off-camera question: And your husband? You must be missing him as well. Is he proud?
FLORENCE: My husband? Yes. He, umm … Stu is definitely … well look at this watch for example. He can track all of my journey on it. So, yes. Proud. That’s my Stuart. Proud and very, very good at making things work.
Off-camera question: Is there anything you’d like to say to him before you set off today?’
FLORENCE: Yes, of course. Remember darling, the vet said to make sure you change the dressing twice a day and I put Captain George’s medicine in with a bit of tuna. Second cupboard to the right of the fridge, top shelf. And, Stu, I … I – oh dear, could you … yes thank you, love. Just one of those two-tissue days I guess. Anyway, Stu, just a quick byline to say I’m not actually working at 111 anymore and please make sure everyone down at the club donates because my bum is bloody sore. You were right about the padded shorts. You were right about a lot of things.
GRAPHIC: BRAND NEW DAY: Bringing out the Best in Britons Everywhere
‘… and surprise, surprise! They trounced me,’ Kev beamed, his face a darker shade of shoe leather than the ‘fawn’ it had been before he’d left. Looks like someone ignored the beauty therapist about using the factor 50, then.
Kath smiled at the camera.
‘Sounds like an incredible time, Kev. And those meerkats? Adorable! You watch yourself tomorrow. A wine and segway tour? Sounds dangerous! Now, as Kev had such an exciting report – I’ve not got much time, but I know our riders will be wanting to hit the road for Brampton via Carlisle. First things first? I want to send a really loud shout out to the lads from the Sixth Armoured Division. One of our young riders and I – the self-titled @BigBonedGothGirl if you follow Instagram – met and chatted with former servicemen yesterday. They’re a pretty amazing trio who put their lives on the line in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria to keep us safe. I hope any of you in the Maryport area who have jobs going will consider them. I know finding a job was one of my brother’s biggest struggles and … oh, jeezypeeps. This is harder than I thought. Apologies, ladies and gentlemen. I just—have you ever felt like you let someone down?’
Kath’s producer’s voice came through her earpiece. ‘Where exactly is this going, Kath?’
Any bloody direction I want it to, Kath thought.
She took a step closer to the camera as the producer tightly announced one minute left before they cut to commercial. She was supposed to have had a three-minute segment but Kev, his beach volleyballers and his meerkats had run over.
‘The truth is, I let my brother down. He came to me for help and all I gave him was money. Money helped, a bit. To buy alcohol. What I should’ve given him was my time. My contacts. My ear. He needed a job. He needed his sense of pride back. He needed someone to listen to him because the world he left when he joined the army as a sixteen-year-old Newkie lad was not the world he came back to as a forty-year-old ex-soldier. All of which is to say … viewers, maybe it’s time we all started listening a bit more. To the brothers of the Sixth and all the rest of you serving and retired army, navy, air force heroes? Even a few minutes of being heard could make such a diff—’
‘That’s thirty seconds, Kath.’
‘Right …’ she pulled out a cheat sheet and cleared her throat, ‘Time for a few shout outs to our riders from their loved ones.’
‘Jason and Jeff Woodland want their mummy to know they think she is extra special and that they are riding their bikes round the park today as a show of support.’
A teary Rachel blew the camera a kiss and said, ‘I love you, babies.’
Kath zipped through a few more, each one touching the heart of the recipient, all of which made her own heart stretch and ache and squeeze tight. They interacted with their
