Helen
He looked at her quizzically. ‘Are you feeling alright, Mum?’
‘No.’ She picked up the paper and waved it at him so he could see the black marks. ‘My trainers are not non-marking.’
He nodded. ‘Why does it matter?’
‘Apparently it does if you want to play indoor tennis.’
‘When are you doing that?’
‘Friday morning.’
‘Since when do you play tennis?’
‘It was one of my favourite hobbies before I met your father.’ Or, more accurately, before you decided to stop playing because it reminded you too much of Nigel. How pathetic.
‘You’d better get some new ones then.’
‘I’d worked that one out, Sherlock. I’ve no idea where though.’
‘Lily works at a sports shop in Barnstaple. You could go there.’
‘Who’s Lily?’
‘Just someone I met in the pub last night.’
‘You don’t know her well enough to qualify for a friends and family discount then?’
He grinned. ‘Not yet. But I’m working on it.’
‘Looks like I’m off on a shopping trip to Barnstaple. Want to come along?’
‘Nah. I’m fine.’