Chapter 29
MARTHA
We were first but it was only an hour before the men turned up.
Erin and I slunk off as I wasn’t sure how to be around Harrison.
I knew that Cally would pick up on the fact I wasn’t as cutting as usual in my remarks about him.
How could I be now? To just be near him made me feel delightfully uncomfortable.
I felt exactly as I had when I first met him.
Yes, I was older and wiser in most ways, but whatever that chemical was that made you love-struck and swoony didn’t seem to care.
We got a lift to the Niagara Falls hotel.
The first time I came face to face with Harrison was at dinner. The production company had set us up with an intimate meal so we could all talk about our progress, and then they encouraged us to share what we might do with the money if we won it.
I was dwelling a bit on what Erin had said at the waterfalls.
Something about hoping she was worthy. Worthy of what?
She hadn’t elaborated and I hadn’t asked her exactly what she had meant.
Cally had put us on the spot and Erin delivered what sounded like the sort of thing you might say in that situation.
Cally could edit it to suit. It wasn’t always easy acting into the camera on command.
I sort of knew what they wanted from us but I wasn’t always prepared to deliver that.
Dinner had been a selection of fish and meat dishes with vegetables and potatoes and we had all taken the opportunity to fill up.
Erin suggested loading her bag, but that was a step too far and I hoped she was joking.
The remnants were cleared away by staff and dessert was served.
A choice of blueberry pie or a meringue-topped dessert filled with vanilla custard.
Everyone was drinking beer and wine, which was probably why our tongues were loosened.
Harrison and Sam were sitting opposite me and Erin, and I kept catching the older man’s eye, and sharing so many unsaid words in our glances. Our looks were clear; if we could be, we would be in bed together.
‘I think for us,’ Femi started, ‘it’s that our daughter and grandchildren live in Australia and we just don’t see them that often because the cost of the airfare is so big.’
‘Yeah,’ agreed Liz. ‘If we won that money, we could afford to go a little more often. It really would make a massive difference to us.’
There was a mummering around the table of sympathy for yet another parent having lost their child to another continent.
‘We shouldn’t let our kids go backpacking,’ Priya said. ‘They almost never come back. My sister’s son was planning to go to Thailand for six months but he got a job offer at home that he didn’t want to turn down and we were all so grateful.’
I did have sympathy for Femi and Liz, of course I did, but I also thought they could be more grateful for the fact that it would only take a trip on a plane to see their daughter. I did not have that possibility.
Harrison’s eyes locked on mine and his look was full of compassion but then he looked away as Noah was hovering close and Gaz was doing the same. That camera would pick up on everything.
I realised, as Priya started talking about her mother being in an inadequate care home and how much she wanted to move her, that I hadn’t really thought about the money before.
What would I do with fifty thousand pounds?
Well, twenty-five really. Of course, Erin would have her share.
‘Home improvements,’ I told the others when it was my turn. It sounded rather lacking.
‘I’m living in a rented flatshare, so I’d put it as a deposit on a property,’ Erin said, and everyone told her how sensible that was.
I vowed there and then that if we did win, Erin could have the lot.
I loved my flat in Shoreditch. It didn’t need improving at all.
Erin’s mother hadn’t owned her own home, she had always rented, so there was no property for Erin to inherit.
Clare had spent what she had earned and there weren’t huge savings either.
A few quid and personal effects were all she passed on to her daughter.
Erin had insisted it didn’t matter, that she hadn’t ever been expecting anything.
‘I’d like to use it to move too,’ Harrison said. ‘I’m currently living in the West Country and as much as I love it, I was only really there because of a relationship. That broke down a long while ago and I want to get back to London. I miss the bustle of the capital.’
I stared at him. Did he know where I lived?
‘I’m with you, Erin,’ Sam said and then stopped, suddenly embarrassed. ‘I mean I would do the same and use the money for a deposit on a place.’
‘In Marlow?’ Erin asked him.
‘Probably not,’ he said. ‘It’s too expensive. I quite fancy looking further south. Maybe around Chichester. I’ve got some friends there. It depends on… well, it’s something to think about.’
‘I’ve never been to Chichester,’ Erin said and Sam smiled at her.
‘You’d love it,’ he said.
‘I’m sure I would.’
‘You should visit.’
‘I think I will.’
We all watched this back and forth like we were at a tennis match. Every head at the table turning left and right and all with knowing smiles on their faces. I knew something had happened between them but how did I feel about it? I just wasn’t sure.
After the desserts were cleared away and we’d had coffee, everyone began to go their separate ways. Erin skipped ahead, saying she needed the loo, and Harrison caught hold of my hand in reception. He pulled me towards the lift and pressed the button to go up.
‘Where’s Sam?’ I asked him.
‘Said he needed the loo but I would imagine he’s most likely talking to Erin about a trip to Chichester.’
He dropped my hand as the door opened but the lift was empty so he took it again and then we were inside, just the two of us.
He didn’t waste time as there were only three floors and he kissed me.
I slid my arms around his waist and felt my knees go a little weak.
It was quite pathetic really, and I decided it was definitely all the running I’d been doing and nothing to do with the passionate kiss at all. I pulled away as we got to my floor.
‘What are we doing?’ I whispered.
‘I don’t know,’ he said. ‘Do you want to stop?’
‘No,’ I said and then chuckled. ‘Do you?’
‘God, no.’
I stepped out of the lift and watched him as the doors closed, taking him back down to his floor.
‘Goodnight,’ he said.
* * *
Early the following morning, we were driven back to the falls for a sightseeing opportunity.
Later, Erin and I would have a head start to wherever we were going next and it made me feel twitchy. I just wanted to go. I didn’t have the headspace for a team-building exercise but those were the rules. We had to spend our allotted thirty-six hours in Niagara and then we could leave.
‘Behind the falls experience,’ Cally told us before handing out yellow plastic ponchos to us all. ‘Take them, you will get wet.’
We started back at the welcome centre and a tour guide led us down the stairs and into the tunnels that had been built behind the falls.
‘People have been visiting Niagara Falls since 1832,’ she told us as we went further into the tunnels.
The people coming out were indeed soaked and I could already feel and hear the thundering rumble of the water.
‘Back then it was by a spiral staircase and outside. It cost one dollar. The first tunnels were dug in 1889 and tour guides with lanterns led visitors through the tunnel systems for the first time. The falls continued to erode the bedrock and as it receded, new tunnels would have to be built. These tunnels we’re in now were extended in 1944 and still going strong. ’
We walked until there was a lookout spot and we were all encouraged to crowd in together for a TV moment. The noise was phenomenal and the spray was intense. We were a couple of metres away from the back of the falls but a padlocked gate guarded us from falling over the edge.
‘Is this as far as we can go?’ Harrison asked. ‘I was imagining a The Last of the Mohicans moment.’
He then shouted something unintelligible and I had to assume he was quoting Daniel Day-Lewis from the movie but it was lost in the roar. Erin must have heard him because she laughed.
We left the tunnels and were out onto a viewing platform where the magnificent Horseshoe Falls were right in front of us. A boat sat in the middle of the water and I could only imagine how wet those passengers were getting.
It was one of those moments when it would have been a natural thing to hold Harrison’s hand but I moved away from him to hold Erin’s. I smiled at her and there was a silent exchange between us.
Piece-to-camera
Cally: How did it feel talking about what you’d do with your winnings, Martha?
Martha: It gave me an insight into the lives of my fellow contestants. Very worthy ideas.
Cally: Did you not feel that decorating your flat was worthy?
Martha: Not compared with visiting loved ones or the care of an elderly relative, no. But does it mean I want to give in and hand it over? No, no it doesn’t.
Cally: Ha! Of course not. You both have a head start of an hour, leaving shortly. With two checkpoints to go, do you think your funds will stretch, Erin? If you run out, you’re out of the race.
Erin: I think we’ll be fine. We’re a great team.
Cally: And I think Sam is growing on you a little. Did your night together give you a bond that will outlast this race?
Erin: I’m not thinking about Sam. I just want to concentrate on my race with Martha.
‘Cut. Okay, that’s great. Just so you know, Rita asked Sam the same question but his answer was different,’ Cally said with a smile.
‘Hardly appropriate, Cally,’ I said. ‘This isn’t Blind Date.’
‘Sorry, you’re probably right. It’s been a long few weeks. I think I need to get some more sleep,’ she said.
‘Cally,’ I said after Noah had left the room. ‘Can I talk to you about Priya?’
‘Sure,’ she said. ‘What do you want to talk about?’
‘It’s a bit delicate but I feel as if she’s, I don’t know, got an agenda,’ I said.
‘What, like in the first race?’ Cally said.
‘What do you mean?’ I asked her.
‘Did you even watch it, Martha? Obviously I wasn’t there at the time, but she seemed to be trying to trip everyone up. Is she doing it again now? I need to check in with her producer; make sure we’re getting the best footage.’
‘I guess that wasn’t my focus when I watched it back recently.
But it does explain one thing,’ I said, turning to look at Erin.
‘I think it was Priya who made sure I didn’t get that train in Madrid all those years ago.
I think it was her who paid the porter. It doesn’t explain why, though.
She didn’t win the race. What did she really gain? ’
‘I knew I didn’t like her,’ said Erin.
‘I wondered if it was the editing back in the first race,’ Cally said, ‘but she definitely gave Bob misinformation in France. Well, that was how I saw it, anyway. It was one of the reasons we were so delighted she said yes to this anniversary race. Every show has to have its bad guy.’
‘We’re not a social experiment, you know,’ I said.
‘Oh Martha, this is a reality TV show, of course you are.’