Chapter 25 #2
As her friend cooed and kissed the little dog, Aria hurried to the tented female changing rooms. The beach was already full, with people taking a quick dunk or stretching while spectators stood with their dogs and kids, chatting in small groups or eating breakfast. As she emerged back into the sunlight with her wetsuit on, she suddenly felt part of something, and God was it good to be back.
Joining the warm-up at the edge of the lake, she started a conversation with the woman next to her about how lovely it was to join in a proper community event.
A few minutes later, the swimmers surged into the water on the parp of a horn.
Soon the air was filled with splashing. Some set a ridiculous pace, while Aria waited for the rush to be over.
She acclimatised to the cold water before trusting the testers and pushing her head into the familiar darkness, setting herself on a solid course.
Freshly annoyed that Nic was trying to turn it into a competitive event, she took time to enjoy the spectacle and the feeling of being alone in a crowd.
At the halfway buoy, she was taking a moment’s rest when an old man struggled up and grabbed at the huge inflatable.
She recognised him as the guy she’d helped at registration.
‘You doing OK?’ Aria asked, concerned about his pale skin as he rubbed bloodshot eyes. ‘Fred, isn’t it?’
He looked a little defeated when he answered, ‘How kind of you to remember. I think I took on more than I was capable of. I was county champion in my youth, and harking back to that, I persuaded my daughter to let me swim on my own. But I’m used to a swimming pool and this lake has proved a challenge.
I dearly want to finish what I started, but, if I’m honest, I’m very cold. ’
Aria noticed he was breathing unevenly as he struggled to hold on to the buoy. She made up her mind. He needed to be removed from the water. ‘Let’s call a boat to transport you back to the shore.’
His face fell. ‘Please, don’t do that. I just need to take it a bit slower.’
Picking up on his pride, she offered him a way out.
‘Have my goggles.’ She whipped them off and fixed them on his head while treading water.
‘It could be contaminants irritating you. I’ve been campaigning about chemicals – you should take a look at my stall on your way home.
’ Aria told him. ‘I think I’ll bob around with you for a while, if you don’t mind. I’d like the company.’
‘Oh, I couldn’t delay you like that, my dear. You have a race to swim. And you kindly gave me your bracelet at registration.’
‘Then we were meant to swim together.’ She touched the extra bracelet she’d swiped from behind the desk.
‘I’m tired myself,’ she lied, charmed by someone who wore his age in the wrinkles on his face.
As they swam towards the shore, she happily went at his pace.
‘You seem fine now, but if you go blue, start talking rubbish or giggle hysterically, I’m going to call one of the safety boats over. ’
‘I talk rubbish all the time but haven’t had a proper giggle in years, my dear,’ he replied.
They made companionable conversation as they headed towards the shore.
‘Thank you for babysitting me,’ he said as they approached the wooden pier that marked the end of the swim.
‘I am very much afraid I spoiled your race.’
She waded out, making sure he was steady on his feet beside her, before putting him right on something.
‘It is not primarily a race, but a community event, put on to remind us how lucky we are to live near this beautiful lake and to enable people like you and me to enjoy it together. And I enjoyed it even more by spending it with you. So, my thanks to you, Fred.’ Aria noticed people were starting to pack away the buoys and the safety boats were coming in behind them.
Most of the swimmers would be having lunch by now.
‘I think I was too ambitious signing up for the elite category,’ the old man confessed.
‘There’s nothing wrong with a bit of ambition. And you are elite in my eyes,’ she shivered.
***
As she walked back towards the lockers, a voice boomed out a critique of her performance.
‘Second to last? I watched you in the water after I finished. You’re out of shape, Aria Wilson.
’ Justin appeared in front of her, dressed in tiny Speedo swim trunks with goggles on the top of his head and a wetsuit over his arm.
‘As two of the best swimmers in town, I’d have expected us both to be in the top five. What happened to you, girl?’
When he cast a greedy look at her, her skin crawled. Hugging her towel to her chest, she answered sharply, ‘Well, you’d know all about racing ahead and coming first, wouldn’t you, Justin.’
‘I’m just used to being a winner, Aria’ he replied, his voice icy.
She’d clearly rattled him with her comment.
‘I’m not even swimming competitively anymore, yet I still expect to grab a trophy.
Have you seen Lu-Lu? She has my clothes.
She should be more aware of how cold top athletes get after an event. ’
Aria remembered Justin’s fiancée claiming a six-year menstruation cycle to get out of doing P.E at school.
‘She might not have realised you were so fast in the water. Let’s hope you don’t get disqualified for exceeding the speed limit,’ she joked, causing one of his eyebrows to shoot up.
His lack of humour reminded her she was definitely over him, and she was struggling to remember why she’d been so upset he’d moved on.
He’d undermined her many times and chipped away at her confidence over the course of their relationship.
She’d been playing with the idea of doing her A levels or a foundation course and applying to uni, when Justin persuaded her to stay and enjoy the ‘university of life’.
Her dad was unhappy about it, but conceded she was old enough to make her own decisions.
After some stupefyingly boring years as a lifeguard, Justin’s marriage proposal and invitation to join the family firm moved her onto a new path.
But the engagement came to an abrupt end when he dumped her, then jumped ship into Lu-Lu’s arms. Looking at him now, Aria decided, if she put aside the shock of being cheated on and the sting of being instantly replaced, she’d been lucky.
She could so easily have ended up with a boorish husband who droned on about mobile homes while bragging about his latest motor.
Of course, she hadn’t thought that when she jumped on a train south to escape the gossip and hide the shame around being dumped.
Already feeling pushed out by Felicity, she’d been bereft and alone.
Taking the first job she saw, she’d accepted a flat-share next to a factory that threw luminous green light into her room all night.
Thinking she’d give it a month, she stayed till her dad died.
What a waste of my life. Aria swerved the changing rooms in case Lu-Lu was hanging around clutching Justin’s sweaty jacket.
Instead, she shrugged herself out of her wetsuit as far as the waist and tied the sleeves together.
It could dry on her body along with her bikini top in the pleasant sunshine, and she’d nip in and change after that.
She diverted from the main tent when she saw her stepmother holding court with some middle-aged women.
She didn’t want to be pinned into a corner while they all gave her the pitying looks and asked how she was, really.
Looking around for a better escape route, she spotted Sophie accepting a giant hot dog from Cal at his food truck.
Tiger strained at his lead when he saw Aria and the bun wobbled dangerously in her friend’s hand.
‘They are top quality extra-large German frankfurters. No one else has complained about the price.’ Callum scowled at Sophie, while she flounced off to the condiments table. ‘And please note that is branded sauce!’
Sophie ignored Aria’s questioning look. ‘Oh, there you are, we’ve been looking for you everywhere.
Feast your eyes on this – apparently it is the largest and best quality sausage in all the land,’ she said, holding the bottle of ketchup above the bun like a dagger.
‘Although you need an actual mortgage to pay for it,’ she exclaimed loud enough for Cal to hear.
‘What’s your beef with him?’ Aria asked, to be informed it was actually pork.
Realising she was hungry, Aria ordered one with extra onions.
She was already regretting the decision to keep her bottom half in her wetsuit - her thighs chafed in the material, she was struggling to keep it up around her waist and it wasn’t the most flattering outfit in the world.
But she was definitely more hungry than cold or embarrassed.
She tied the arms tighter and accepted Tiger’s lead.
He licked her fingers happily, pleased to be reunited, while Cal handed her the hot dog.
She bit her bottom lip in anticipation of the food.
‘Well done on the swim,’ Sophie said. ‘Want help with sauce?’
‘Mustard. Drench it, please.’ As Sophie went overboard, even for Aria’s spicy tastes, Nic walked over to the van, greeting Cal like he was a bestie and introducing his associate.
She tried and failed to overhear the name.
When Nic turned and flashed them a smile, a layer of water warmed up in her wetsuit – getting extra toasty between her thighs.
‘How did you do in the race?’ he asked, walking over to them. At least he wasn’t calling it his race.
‘Well, I finished,’ Aria stuttered, waiting for him to be as mean as Justin, relieved when no insult followed. But he stuck around, leaving her holding the hot dog as though it was a land mine in danger of exploding.
‘In line for the big prize?’ Nic’s companion asked her.