CHAPTER SIXTEEN
‘We’ve decided we’re going to do something different on Tuesday evening.’ Cheryl’s smile contained a hint of mischief. ‘It’s basically therapy.’ She shrugged. ‘Ten-pin bowling for rejected spouses. Why don’t you come with us if you’re free? It would get you out of the house for a bit?’
‘Right.’ I looked at her in surprise. ‘Ten-pin bowling.’ I’d been bowling on quite a few occasions and I’d always had a great time. So I found myself nodding. ‘Actually, that sounds like a really good idea. Far healthier than moping in front of the TV with a bottle of wine, wondering what your ex is up to with his new woman.’
‘Exactly. Let’s swap numbers and organise it.’
When they left, I told Ellie what Cheryl had suggested and she nodded approvingly. ‘You’ll be having too much fun to even think about that waste-of-space Richard. Can I come?’ she added jokingly.
I chuckled. ‘I think it’s a club for sad rejects only. And anyway, how on earth would you manage bowling when you’re already carrying around your own very special bowling ball?’ I indicated her baby bump which was growing larger with each passing day.
Smiling, she stroked her belly. ‘You do have a point.’
‘You can’t do everything,’ I reminded her. ‘You should be making the most of being pregnant by spending your time reclining on the sofa and letting Zak feed you grapes.’
She chuckled. ‘Interesting idea. As long as I can switch out the grapes for a couple of apple Danish pastries.’
‘But I’m serious. You should be relaxing.’
She gave me a worried look. ‘Would throwing a little house-warming party fit into the category of relaxation?’
‘Organising a house-warming ?’ I laughed. ‘Ellie, no. Leave all that for after the baby’s born, for goodness’ sake.’
She gave me a mischievous smile. ‘We’ll see.’
*****
The following Tuesday, I joined Cheryl and Ray for ten-pin bowling.
I wasn’t great and Cheryl was even more hopeless than me, but that didn’t matter at all. In fact, we were laughing so much that at times we had to hold onto each other, in order to try and catch our breath. We’d look at Ray and he’d shake his head in mock despair and proceed to show us exactly how it was done.
‘It’s not fair. You’re so good ?’ I grumbled at one point. ‘I thought you said you’d never done this before, Ray.’
He grinned and tapped the side of his nose. ‘That was just insurance in case I turned out to be as hopeless as you two, although that would obviously be quite a stretch.’
‘Hey! Enough of the criticism,’ complained Cheryl, grinning broadly. ‘Oh, and by the way, the winner buys the coffees, remember?’
‘What? Since when?’
Cheryl looked at her watch. ‘Since... right now. It’s a new club rule I’ve just invented.’
I chuckled as Ray shrugged amiably and strolled off towards the café.
‘Have you noticed, Katja? He’s a different person to the one you met last week.’ Cheryl’s eyes shone suspiciously as she watched him go.
‘He is. There’s a definite twinkle in his eye that wasn’t there before.’
‘It must be the sparkling company,’ she said, tongue in cheek.
‘Or the fact that he’s rediscovered how good he is at ten-pin bowls.’
She looked at me. ‘That’s it, you know. Ray’s heart took such a terrible bashing when he found out they were... well, you know.’
I nodded. ‘People we won’t mention by name.’
‘Exactly. So I think getting out and being with people who enjoy his company has given him a real lift. Hopefully now he can slowly start moving on.’
‘We should do more things like this.’
She turned with interest. ‘Such as?’
‘Things to take us out of our comfort zone.’
‘Ooh, I like it.’
‘Have you seen the posters for the charity fun run in a couple of weeks’ time? How about signing up for that? I’ve always fancied giving something like that a go.’
‘The only running I ever do is if I’m late for a bus,’ said Cheryl.
I laughed. ‘Well, me, too. But we could decide on a charity and then train for it together?’
‘I do like the sound of that.’
‘Will Ray be up for it, do you think?’
She smiled. ‘I have a feeling he will. He’s always been really fit. He used to run marathons in his twenties and he still goes to the gym.’ She gave a little sigh. ‘Well, he used to, until...’
‘People we won’t mention?’
She nodded. ‘He could probably get back into it in no time. Muscles have memories, don’t they?’
‘What muscles are these?’ asked Ray, arriving behind us bearing a tray of goodies.
‘Yours,’ smiled Cheryl. ‘When you take part in the charity fun run?’
‘News to me,’ he said gruffly. ‘Is this you bossing me about again?’
‘Absolutely. So are you up for it?’
He gave a reluctant grin. ‘Go on, then. Put me down. I can see I’m not going to be allowed to say no. Not with you two on my case.’
‘Oh, shut up, you old grump,’ said Cheryl, giving his arm a playful punch.
Laughing, we found a table, and over coffee, we talked about going out running together before the big event. And I thought how comforting and nurturing it felt to be around kind, supportive people, who were all in the same boat – trying to find our way through a stormy time to a glimpse of sunshine beyond...