Chapter 20
Nora was having a catch-up with Dixie and bringing her up to date on the goings-on, such as they were, at Crafting and Cocktails.
‘I’ve been replaced by a retired dentist,’ said Dixie, sounding glum.
‘Not at all. He just got roped in by Renee, you know what she’s like.
We’ll probably never see him again,’ said Nora.
Renee had put forward a strong argument that crafting was all about improving your well-being and known for its stress-reducing properties.
Nora wasn’t entirely convinced by Renee’s stance that cocktails were good for you because alcohol contained antioxidants, and antioxidants helped fight the effects of high blood pressure and blood sugar.
Plus they also increased good cholesterol and could fend off type two diabetes and Alzheimer’s.
Renee had also argued that cocktails frequently contained fruit juice, which she claimed counted as one of your five-a-day.
‘I miss Crafting and Cocktails,’ said Dixie. ‘I might have to recreate it with Arnold.’
‘Who’s Arnold?’ asked Nora.
‘I’ve named the squirrel Arnold Schwarzensquirrel. He was giving off early Schwarzenegger vibes. And naming him makes him seem friendlier.’
‘I’m not sure he’ll be up for crafting or cocktails but I did love the video,’ said Nora, who was curled up on her sofa with a cup of tea. ‘It had loads of likes and views too.’
‘I know, it’s been my second most successful post to date. Someone even said it was like The Blair Witch Project meets Countryfile! I mean, that’s an accolade right there.’
‘When are you moving on?’ asked Nora, mentally crossing her fingers. She didn’t like the thought of her friend taking unnecessary risks.
‘I can’t,’ said Dixie.
‘Oh no, has Elsie broken down again?’
There was a slight pause. ‘She has, so I literally can’t move, but also metaphorically I can’t move on either. I feel like I need to make a stand for the common man against the establishment.’
‘And in this scenario, who is the establishment?’
‘I don’t know exactly, if I’m honest, but I feel a stand needs to be made all the same. And I’m going to make it. Plus my five thousand, seven hundred and eleven followers also want me to.’
Nora wasn’t sure this was a good idea. ‘Maybe we should do a bit more research and find out who does own the land that you’re currently occupying.
That way you’d know what or who you were up against. If the person leaving the notes is legit then you will need to get Elsie moved, and if he isn’t and it’s owned by the council or it’s designated nature reserve, then whoever is leaving the notes is doing it for kicks, which is all kinds of weird and you definitely need to get the hell out of there.
I mean that’s cabin-in-the-woods territory,’ said Nora, almost spooking herself.
‘Don’t say that,’ said Dixie. ‘Campervan in a shady glade sounds so much nicer. And I appreciate your concern but this trip is all about me doing things for myself.’
‘I thought it was about making your parents proud?’
‘It is, by showing them that I can survive without their support and that I can do something worthwhile with my life. Being an influencer might not be a conventional job but I’m enjoying it and it’s bringing pleasure to others.
And while I do want to make my parents proud, I think it’s probably more important that I feel worthwhile as a person. ’
Nora was instantly worried for her friend. ‘Oh, Dixie, you are worthwhile. Please don’t ever think that you aren’t. You are the kindest, sweetest, wackiest person I know. Well, second wackiest after Renee. And by wacky I mean unique and in a good way. Are you sure you’re OK?’
‘That’s a lovely thing to say. I don’t think my parents see wacky or unique as good things. I think they thought I would have worked my life out by the time I got to twenty-six.’
‘I disagree. They are business people so they know that you have to stand out from the crowd and that is what you do. Plus most entrepreneurs start their businesses in their forties and are more successful for it.’ She didn’t have the stats to hand but Nora hoped that sounded positive.
‘Thanks. I thought that for now I would focus on how I feel about me,’ said Dixie.
‘That sounds like a plan. And, apart from worthwhile, how do you want to feel?’
‘Hmm, that’s the part I’ve not entirely figured out yet but I’ll get there. I have time.’
Nora sipped her drink. From what Dixie had told her, if the notes were serious then time was exactly what she was running out of.
The morning of the climbing weekend came around and Nora was waiting at the pick-up point for Jay to arrive when Trent swaggered over.
‘Nora, I was so pleased to see your name on the list. Have you had a change of heart about us?’ he asked with his hand on his chest as if he was about to break into the American national anthem.
‘Nope, no change of heart. Jay suggested it and I thought it sounded like fun.’ He didn’t need to know that she’d been checking the stats on outdoor climbing ever since she’d agreed to go and as they made hair-raising reading she had been having a lot of second thoughts, assuming you could have more than one second thought.
‘If you get scared, you only have to call and I will be there.’
‘We’re staying in a hostel so, apart from bed bugs, what would I be scared of exactly?’ she asked, thinking that really all there was to worry about was Trent, and the last place she’d feel safe would be anywhere near him at night-time.
Trent’s eyes darted about as if seeking inspiration. ‘The dark?’
‘I’m not five. I’m not scared of the dark. Are you?’ she asked with a smile.
Trent laughed, his usual tinkle that in no way matched the rest of him. ‘Me, I’m not scared of anything.’
‘That’s good then. Watch out for wild animals.
Oh, and especially the bats with rabies, you should definitely keep an eye out for those.
’ Technically the UK was rabies-free but there were occasionally cases of lyssavirus, a rabies-like virus that affected the native bat population, so it wasn’t a total lie.
Trent was looking suitably terrified. ‘What? Flying rabies carriers? Are there any in the Forest of Dean?’
‘Who knows?’ said Nora. ‘Look, here’s Jay.’
Jay got out of an Uber and the driver heaved a massive rucksack out of the boot. Nora went to give him a hand. ‘That’s a lot of stuff,’ she said, attempting to lift the backpack. ‘Blimey, Jay. What’s in here?’
‘I didn’t think there was that much but I guess it all adds up and you don’t know what you’re going to need.’
‘Have you smuggled Bruce along? Or maybe Renee hopped in when you weren’t looking?’
‘Ha, ha,’ said Jay. ‘It’s Renee’s fault that there are a few extra things in there.’ He scratched his head. ‘I’ve no idea why she said I needed to bring an inflatable pillow and a hair turban.’
Nora snorted a laugh. ‘You own a hair turban?’
‘No.’ He looked mildly insulted. ‘Renee gave me one to bring. But the inflatable pillow is mine.’
‘How did she get on with Bruce?’
‘She’s the dog whisperer. He literally did everything she said and walked alongside her like he was in the obedience ring at Crufts.’
‘Wow. Is there anything she can’t do?’ Nora was constantly amazed by Renee. Partly because her life had seemed so full of adventure and also because she was still living life to the full.
‘Maybe, but I’ve not discovered it yet, and she can definitely do dog-sitting. She said she was trained by Barbara Woodhouse?’ He shrugged his shoulders.
‘Never heard of her,’ said Nora.
‘Nope, nor me.’
Someone clapped their hands and Nora and Jay were herded on to a minibus with Trent and seven other people.
Thankfully they had more seats than they needed, otherwise there would have been nowhere to put the luggage, and Jay’s overstuffed backpack was already proving to be a problem.
He was trying to shove it into the small overhead storage while Trent was struggling to get past him, his eyes firmly set on the seat next to Nora.
‘Jay, put your bag next to mine and sit down. People are trying to find seats.’ Nora patted the seat next to her.
Jay put his backpack beside Nora’s, then turned to come face to face with Trent still trying to move past him along the tiny aisle.
‘Sorry,’ said Jay, pointing at Nora as he wriggled to try to free himself.
‘No, you can sit there.’ Trent nudged Jay into a spare seat.
Nora was flustered. The last person she wanted to sit next to was Trent, plus the seats weren’t that big and with his big thighs and likely man-spreading she’d be cramped for the whole journey.
She put a hand up to stop him sitting down.
‘I get travel sick and Jay said he’d hold the sick bag while I vomited,’ she said.
Trent recoiled, giving Jay enough space to squeeze by and plonk down next to Nora.
Trent huffed and moved on to where another lone female was sitting and made himself comfortable there.
‘Thanks,’ whispered Nora.
‘My pleasure,’ said Jay, holding her gaze.
Nora noticed the rich depth of colour of his eyes. She hastily looked away.
‘I do have a sick bag if you need it,’ said Jay, pointing at his backpack. ‘And I’d hold it for you.’
‘I know you would,’ she said. It was bizarre how comforting it was to know that.
It took them two and a half hours to get to the hostel in the Forest of Dean.
Nora and Jay chatted happily, got the giggles over something silly and shared too many Jelly Tots.
It was like the best bits of a school trip with a best friend, although she was aware that due to the small seats Jay’s thigh was keeping hers warm.
She didn’t mind; it was quite nice really.
When they got to the hostel there was just about time to have lunch, which was homemade tomato soup with warm rolls, and a safety briefing before they were bundled back on to the minibus and taken to their first climbing spot of the weekend.