Page 22 of A Summer of New Beginnings
11
Since having her heart broken, Zara’s days had involved cycle training and lots of it. For endurance purposes she had been cycling in all weathers, figuring she had to be prepared for every eventuality. She’d also spent time online researching places she could visit for the article. Some of them looked lovely but she would still rather be going somewhere warm. Shelley had bought her a kindof warts-and-all guide book that had scared the crap out of her with its real-life advice of what to do and absolutely whatnotto do. It had taken her mind off Josh, but she couldn’t say she’d enjoyed it and it hadn’t exactly helped reduce the dread for her impending trip north.
At work Noah had continually commended her for her efforts and praised her for her abundance of team spirit; he’deven given her several days off to train, which had been a big help. Although what would’ve been even more helpful would have been for him to have called the whole thing off entirely.
Shelley and Marco had rallied round her after Josh had been caught cheating. Neither one had said, ‘I told you so,’ and she was grateful for that fact. Her fragile and bruised heart still ached for all the thingsthat might have been, but she was relieved that he hadn’t made any lame attempts to contact her. The last thing she needed was to be reminded of all the things she’d lost thanks to his lies and stupidity. And only now was she becoming resigned to the fact that time away in Scotland would be the thing to drag her back from the edge of the precipice she had been teetering on. She certainly hoped so.
The day of Zara’s travel arrived way too soon for her comfort. At eleven o’clock that evening she stood on the platform at London Euston with her compact camping gear in tow. Her mood was solemn and her bags weren’t the only things that weighed heavy.
Shelley rubbed her hands up and down Zara’s arms. ‘Aww come on, Zee. It’s only ten days. You’ve been away longer for work in the past, sweetie.’
‘She’s right, pumpkin. It’ll fly by,’ her mum agreed, cupping her face. ‘You’ll be home before you know it. Are you going to give Queenie a kiss? She’ll miss you.’ Her mum pouted and held up the shaking Yorkshire terrier.
Zara tried not to gag at the prospect, even though she adored the ancient pooch. ‘Erm, thanks, Mum, but no. I’m covered in midge repellent and it might poison her.’Or, moreto the point, the dog’s breath might poison me.
Marco stepped forward. ‘You never know, Zara Bear, you might meet some handsome man in a sexy kilt,’ he said dreamily. ‘And I want to know if it’s true about their underwear.’ He winked.
Zara laughed and hugged him. ‘Hmm. We’ll see. No wild parties while I’m away, you hear me?’
He saluted. ‘Aye, aye, Cap’n.’
Her dad held her at arm’s length.‘Now, you listen to me. Anybody, and I meananybody, tries to fleece you, tries to have their way with you, or triesanything, you tell ’em I know people, right? Scary people. And you take names, darlin’, right? I won’t stand for my girl being hurt again. I’m still thinking I should go round to that Josh’s house and take him down a peg or two.’
The scariest person her dad knew was Merv, the toothlessalcoholic who spent most of his life in the King’s Head pub down the road from her parents’ house. Only he was scary for totally different reasons from the ones her dad was insinuating – most of them connected to his wild-eyed appearance.
‘Dad, I love you, but you really don’t need to do that. I’m moving on. I’m a strong, independent woman, you know.’ She forced a smile.
Her dad grappled herinto a bear hug and for a brief moment she was ten again. He meant the world to her and his hugs could ease most ills.
Shelley tugged her sleeve. ‘And make sure you don’t miss your bloody train home, okay? I figure, sod it, we’ll go to that damned school reunion and we’ll show ’em how good we turned out,’ she insisted in a wobbly voice.
Marco whispered loudly through gritted teeth. ‘Shells,stop getting upset. You’ll make Zee upset too. You know how soppy she can be.’
Zara whacked him. ‘Oy!’
The station master called for boarding and she gave one last hug to everyone. This was the first time she’d been seen off by her friends and family, which made it apparent that they were all worried.
It really didn’t help.
*
Once she had waved to her leaving party, Zara was shown to herfirst-class sleeper cabin by an attendant who also took her breakfast order. The space was compact but clean, with a single bed, a hide-away sink and a little hanging space. Once she had closed the door, she placed her backpack in the corner of the room and decided she was too tired to walk up to the lounge car. She doubted that she would sleep thanks to the nerves jangling throughout her body, butvowed to at least try. Once her face was washed and her teeth were brushed, she stripped from her clothing and grabbed her old T-shirt from the backpack to sleep in. The thermals she’d bought would be saved for the tent. With the lights out, she snuggled down under the duvet and closed her eyes.
Instead of being irritating as she’d imagined, the clickety-clack of the train on the rails had asoporific effect and, before she could worry too much about the days to come, she drifted into slumber.
When she woke the following morning she was surprised at how refreshed she felt. Perhaps train sleeping was the cure for her recent insomnia? She washed and dressed just in time for the light knock on the door by the attendant who delivered her breakfast tray. She lifted the blind and, as sheate, she watched the last few miles of her picturesque journey pass by the window. Rugged plains and jagged, rocky hills were preceded by calm rivers and lakes. Little houses that looked like models sat out in clusters and she wondered what the people therein were doing. Preparing for work or for school probably. For the first time in ages she felt quite relaxed; or perhaps it was resolved. Eitherway, the worry that had plagued her since Noah’s announcement about the trip was gone.
She pulled her itinerary from a side pocket in her bag and checked the details of her bike hire as she munched on a warm croissant, brushing the flakes of pastry away and then feeling a little guilty as they fell on the freshly vacuumed floor.
She was going to cycle approximately fifty to sixty miles per day,which sounded horrendous. But she reminded herself that once she got moving she really could motor and that was on her own bone-shaker. The bike she was being loaned was constructed from titanium, which, she was assured, was lightweight and tough. She had watched tutorial after tutorial on bike care and repair but in all honesty the information hadn’t really sunk in. She just hoped she wouldn’treally need any of it.
*
Armed with sandwiches, chocolate and water she had bought, Zara made her way to the bike shop with a riot of butterflies dancing the Harlem Shuffle inside her. Her nerves were totally unfounded, however, as the people at the shop were really helpful. She was given full instructions on how best to load the panniers and tent rack, meaning only her clothes and things sheneeded quick access to would stay in the backpack. The staff at Highland Trax waved her off with the assurance that they were happy to help if she had any major issues, so to call if she needed to, and she set off on her newly acquired two wheels, in the direction of the first stop.
The first day was supposed to be a fairly easy ride of sixty or so miles on smooth, flat ground. The words of thewoman who had assisted her at the bike shop sprang to mind.‘It sounds monstrous but, believe me, when you get going, the time and the miles will fly by.’
Hmm. I wish you were here doing this for me,she huffed to herself as she pedalled.
