Chapter 48
Alex felt as if he were riding on cloud nine.
Almost all the stars had aligned and he felt as if he were floating most of the time.
Somehow, and he still couldn’t work out how it had finally happened, he had ended up with Hannah in his arms at long last. They were kissing, and enjoying each other’s company, and it felt as if it were a dream.
He couldn’t stop smiling. She cared for him and he cared for her. It felt natural and uncomplicated.
He was in serious danger of losing his heart to her and he didn’t care. She wasn’t Claire. She was more amazing, more beautiful, more kind, more generous in spirit. She was, in short, fast becoming the love of his life.
And yet the sadness that he still didn’t have his parents’ support of his new life weighed over him a little. But he knew that by taking a stand he had found happiness, not only in his personal life but in his professional life as well.
He was taking huge satisfaction from his work each day.
People with no paddleboarding abilities or confidence in swimming were leaving each day stronger and more motivated towards getting fit.
They were more confident in their abilities and happier too.
He had seen it at close hand with the swimming club.
He had so many ideas that he was buzzing as to what the future might hold.
New clubs, new training and teaching opportunities all waited for him in the coming months.
But all that had to wait.
Because before he and Hannah had a future, there was one more hurdle to get across. And it was a big one.
Ben had always been her protective big brother. That much he knew from over the years. He had always declared that nobody was good enough for his little sister. So where did that leave Alex?
He decided to tell him when they were relaxed and having Jake there would help, he knew. So he waited patiently for a few weeks until Jake was able to visit them again. Then, one Sunday night when the bar was relatively quiet, he invited Ben and Jake to a game of snooker in the snug.
‘I can’t get over how popular that swim club has become,’ said Jake, lining up the triangle of balls.
‘It really is,’ said Ben, chalking the end of the snooker cue before looking at Alex. ‘I owe you.’
Alex found himself at a loss for words, not really concentrating on the conversation as he tried to think of how to find the words that came next.
‘It’s not like you to be silently modest,’ said Jake, teeing off. ‘Oh, no, wait, that’s me.’
‘Modest?’ Ben laughed. ‘As if.’
Alex stepped up to take his shot.
‘OK. So I’m the playboy and Alex is the good guy,’ said Jake.
Was he a good guy? Alex sincerely hoped so. Even so, he misjudged the ball so badly it flew off and nearly hit Frankie as she came in.
‘Howzat?’ she asked, catching it in one hand. ‘Thought the game was snooker, not cricket.’
She placed the ball on the table and carried on to the bar.
‘You OK?’ asked Jake, looking at Alex with concern.
‘Yeah, what’s going on?’ asked Ben, frowning. ‘I’ve never seen you play so badly.’
‘You’re making even me look good and I’m the worst player out of the three of us,’ said Jake, with a grin.
‘Nothing,’ said Alex quickly, deciding that honesty perhaps wasn’t the best policy. Perhaps he and Hannah were best staying in a private relationship after all. But then again, he hated having secrets from his best friends.
‘It’s definitely something rather than nothing,’ said Jake, studying him. ‘I’m trying to work out your lapse of concentration with this game. Business is great. So it must be personal.’
Jake and Ben looked at him with raised eyebrows.
‘I’m fine,’ replied Alex automatically.
‘No, you’re not,’ said Ben. ‘Let’s see if another beer helps loosen your tongue a bit. I’ll get them in.’
He wandered away and up to the bar to ask Frankie for another round.
‘Is it Hannah?’ asked Jake softly.
Alex looked at him and nodded.
‘At last,’ replied Jake, with a grin. ‘Is it serious?’
‘The most serious relationship of my life,’ Alex told him.
Jake looked delighted, however Ben returned before he had a chance to reply.
‘So what did you find out?’ asked Ben, looking between them. ‘And who is she?’
Alex and Jake exchanged a look.
‘Well, she’s beautiful, lovely and incredibly gifted,’ Jake told him.
‘Blimey,’ said Ben, amazed. ‘So come on. Where did you meet this goddess?’
Alex took a deep breath. ‘Right here,’ he said, finally deciding to come clean.
Ben’s eyebrows shot up. ‘Here? Is she a guest?’
Alex found that the words wouldn’t come and looked at Jake for help.
‘Actually, it was just after we’d graduated,’ Jake told Ben. ‘When he and I first visited Maple Tree Lodge.’
Ben was still looking confused. ‘But that was years ago!’
Jake took a deep breath. ‘True. But that was also the first time that he met your sister.’
His words rang out in the almost empty bar. Ben stared across at Alex in wide-eyed shock.
There was a short silence before anyone spoke.
‘You know, I haven’t caught up with Frankie for a long time and I suddenly feel like that’s long overdue,’ said Jake, before excusing himself.
Alone by the snooker table, Ben looked down and took his shot which bounced off the side and slid into the pocket. Meanwhile Alex stood nearby and waited for whatever came next. He just hoped it wasn’t the end of their friendship.
‘How long has it been going on?’ asked Ben.
‘We’ve been together about three weeks,’ Alex told him. ‘I’ve asked her out on a proper date but I didn’t want to keep it from you. Neither of us did.’
‘And she’s happy?’ asked Ben.
‘I think so,’ replied Alex, before nodding. ‘Yes. She is.’
‘And you?’
‘Ecstatic,’ Alex told him. ‘I’ve been in love with her for a very long time. Not that she knew anything about that.’
Ben looked at him. ‘Neither did I,’ he said, frowning.
‘There was never the right time and besides, I didn’t think she felt the same way,’ said Alex.
‘But she does?’ asked Ben, looking concerned.
‘I hope so.’ Alex attempted a smile but could feel the nerves spread across his face as he tried. ‘At least, that’s what she tells me.’
‘You’re my best friend and I trust you,’ said Ben. ‘But hurt her and…’
‘I would never do that,’ Alex told him fiercely. ‘You have to believe me.’
‘Oh, I do,’ said Ben, breaking into a grin. ‘I was just teasing you. You’ve got to give me something as the protective older brother here.’
Alex puffed out a sigh of relief just as Jake returned.
‘So, is it pistols at dawn, or do I need to choose one of you in the divorce?’ he asked.
‘Neither,’ said Ben. ‘Unlike you, Alex is the perfect gentleman where women are concerned.’
Jake shook his head. ‘I don’t see how he can be so perfect when he’s had so little experience with women compared to me,’ he said.
‘My point exactly,’ said Ben.
Alex felt relieved and grateful to have Ben’s blessing in what was beginning to feel like the most important relationship of his life. Finally he could relax and make it official by taking Hannah out on their very first date.