Epilogue
SIX MONTHS LATER
‘Hurry up, it’s about to start,’ Martha called out as she settled back on the sofa and curled her legs up underneath her.
Erin was pouring popcorn into a bowl on the coffee table and helping herself to the last couple in the bottom of the bag.
‘I don’t know if I can bear to watch it,’ she said to her grandmother before plonking herself down on the other sofa and sitting back with her laptop open on her knees.
‘What are you doing with that?’ Martha asked her.
‘It’s the jigsaw puzzle world championships in Spain. I’m live streaming it.’
‘What?’
‘Noah, he’s competing. Surely you haven’t forgotten all the practice he did in Canada?’
‘Of course. I had forgotten actually. How’s he doing?’
‘He came seventh in the individual and he’s now waiting for the team event.’
‘Wow, go Noah. That’s amazing, isn’t it?’
‘It is, but it’s also almost as nerve-racking as waiting for this to start,’ Erin said, gesturing towards the TV.
There was the sound of a cork popping and then Harrison and Sam appeared with four glasses of champagne. Martha made room and Harrison handed her a glass before sitting down beside her. He slid his arm around her shoulders and pulled her in close.
‘I can’t wait to see how this played out behind the scenes,’ he said.
‘Look away now if you’re of a nervous disposition,’ said Martha, and Erin laughed.
‘I don’t think you’re going to hear anything good about yourself in the first few episodes,’ Erin said.
‘What about me?’ Sam asked.
‘Worse, if I remember correctly,’ said Martha.
‘It’s a good job I’m totally smitten with you,’ said Harrison, and kissed the top of her head.
It had been six months since they had flown back from Canada and they really hadn’t been out of each other’s sight, with Martha saying they had fifty years to catch up on.
Harrison had packed up his life in Cornwall and moved into Martha’s flat.
It hadn’t been strange at all for either of them.
Somehow they had moulded themselves into a shape that worked and had just got on with the important job of living.
Going into the race, Martha hadn’t considered how much she would come away with.
The fifty-thousand-pound prize money paled into insignificance compared to what she had now.
She glanced across at Erin who had put her laptop on the seat beside her and was clinking her champagne flute with Sam’s.
They had a lot to celebrate because if Martha wasn’t mistaken, there’d been some quiet talk about them moving in together too.
That was the other thing the race had given them; a reminder that life was short and opportunities should be taken when presented.
In the summer, Martha, Erin and Martha’s ex-husband, Mike had travelled to the Alps where Clare had spent a lot of time.
They had chosen one of her favourite mountain walks near Chamonix to scatter her ashes.
Afterwards they’d had a meal and talked a lot about her and their memories of her. It was cathartic for all of them.
Martha’s front doorbell suddenly rang and she got up.
‘Who’s picked this time to turn up?’ she said and walked out into the hallway to find out.
There was a delivery driver with a package and Martha thanked him before closing the door. She pulled the tape from one side and slid out the contents. There was a note.
Dear Martha,
This just arrived into my hands and I’m sending it straight on to you. It had been sent some time ago from Canada but I’m sorry to say had become lost in among a lot of other things that came from our trip away. To be honest I’m amazed it found its way to us at all.
Anyway, you have it now and I send it with fondest wishes, and I hope you enjoy the show.
Cally
Martha stared at the copy of Anne of Green Gables in her hands and noticed a piece of paper poking out of the top. It was a note.
I am sending this back and hoping it finds the two lovely women who I gave a lift to St John’s.
All best
Claire
She turned the book over twice and reread the note, particularly at the way Claire spelled her name.
Not actually like her Clare. It was a sign if a sign was needed.
Martha ran a hand gently across the front cover and took a grounding breath, then she opened the drawer of her hall table and carefully slipped the book inside.
‘All okay?’ Erin asked her when she returned to the living room.
‘Yes, fine, just a delivery,’ she said and sat back down next to Harrison.
She picked up the remote control and turned the volume up as the opening credits began.
‘This is it,’ she said. ‘I feel so nervous. It’s ridiculous, isn’t it.’
‘Spoiler; we didn’t win,’ Harrison said, tucking a tendril of Martha’s hair behind her ear.
She batted his hand away playfully and then gave him a serious look.
‘Yes we did,’ she said softly.
First aired fifty years ago, the original contestants are back to take on the vast challenge of traversing the thousands of kilometres between the west and east coast of Canada at ground level.
This time in pairs, these five teams will step up both physically and mentally to find out which of them is capable of winning The Trip of a Lifetime.
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