Slim appeared impressed. “What are the chances of that?” He stared at Gabe wide-eyed. “I think someone’s trying to tell you something here.”
Gabe scoffed. Serendipity, divine intervention, kismet, fate… Slim could call it what he liked. Gabe didn’t believe in any of it. “You mean I need to pay more attention to my surroundings?”
“I’m telling you. Twice in one week. Something cosmic’s going on.” Slim looked at Gabe with a grin. “If you see her again, you should ask her out.”
CHAPTER19
Hannah had spent the previous couple of days testing her injured foot. However, rather than meander aimlessly, she’d come up with a simple circular route that was flat and easily timed. Her walk might not have stretched to 5k like in the sponsored run, and it certainly wasn’t as challenging as Wethersham Hall’s woodland, but it was enough to see if Hannah’s ankle held out. She’d even treated herself to some new trainers. A proper assessment wouldn’t have been possible if her feet were sliding about in Beth’s old pair.
That day, as she neared the top of the high street on her return leg, Hannah was surprised at how easily she’d got into the routine of walking. Striding along, she’d begun to enjoy it. It felt good to get out into the sunshine and clear her head. Hannah might not be on target to win records like Mel had done, but there were other benefits. One, she was getting regular exercise and two, she was able to sort through the worries that had snuck into her brain of late.
She scoffed as she walked. Beth and Archie’s trip to France had meant to be a break for her too; a chance to have some proper down time for once. But from the second her children had left the last thing Hannah had done was relax. Instead, she’d found herself in a constant emotional quandary, as if forces were conspiring to make her think about her life in a way she hadn’t considered before.
As she stepped aside for a young woman with a pram, Hannah couldn’t help but take note. Even that felt symbolic. Yet another message to remind her that her existence solely revolved around Beth and Archie and as much then as it had when they were babies.
Of course, Aunt Dorothy’s arrival hadn’t helped. Her aunt’s loneliness had struck a chord. All thanks to Janice, who’d pointed out it wouldn’t be too long until Beth and Archie were off to university. Her mum was right to mention it though. If Hannah couldn’t cope with them being away for a month, how would she manage when that time came?
Hannah pictured Dorothy’s solitary existence down in Norfolk. Like her, if Hannah didn’t act would she too be sat in a soulless kitchen staring down at a ready-made meal for one? While her children were off studying and partying to their hearts’ content.
“Hannah!” a voice called out.
Coming from the other side of the road, she glanced over to see Gabe on his bike. Hannah’s face fell and she willed him to stay put. Feeling hot and sweaty thanks to her vigorous walk, she knew if he got too close, he’d wish he hadn’t given her his number. Not that she planned on ringing it anyway, she reminded herself.
She watched him check for traffic and pedal in her direction regardless and cringing at the state of herself, she swiped away the hair that had stuck to her forehead and forced herself to smile.
“Big improvement with your ankle, I see.” Bringing his bike to a standstill, Gabe climbed off.
Hannah looked down at her foot. “So far, so good.” As Gabe took off his helmet and ran his hands through his locks, Hannah almost swooned. Between them they looked like stars of a shampoo ad, with her as the before, and him the after.
“Glad to see you took my advice and picked up some new trainers.”
Hannah blushed, recalling their last meeting. Wearing oversized footwear probably contributed to her hitting the ground the way she had. From the whole sorry collision to her ugly crying, to Mum and Aunt Dorothy’s ogling, it was a day she wanted to forget. But there Gabe was reminding her. “Not that you took mine,” Hannah said. “Or are you wearing contact lenses?”
As Gabe threw his head back and laughed, Hannah found his confidence unnerving. She didn’t know why. After all, she was used to dealing with Carl. Not that that was a fair comparison, Hannah realised. There was a fine line between self-assurance and arrogance; the latter was something her ex-husband was full of.
“Thank you for the flowers, by the way,” Hannah said. He might not have brought them up, but she thought she should. “They were completely unnecessary.”
“Flowers?” Gabe frowned at Hannah for a moment, as if she’d said something wrong.
Hannah frowned at Gabe in return, wondering what his problem was. In her view, why bother sending someone a bouquet if they’re not supposed to mention it? She sniffed. Why include a telephone number?
“Yes. The flowers. Sorry.” Gabe seemed to gather himself. He gestured to the café a few doors up. “Erm, fancy a coffee?”
A voice inside of Hannah screamed yes, most definitely. The man was a Greek god. However, Hannah found herself hesitating, as another voice warned her to stay well away. The man was a player. Besides, it further insisted, Dorothy was waiting, stop clock at the ready.
Hannah knew Dorothy wouldn’t really mind. If anything, she’d be delighted by the fact that Hannah had bumped into Gabe again. Moreover, she’d be ecstatic to learn Hannah had socialised with the man.
“My treat,” Gabe said, eyebrow raised.
Taking in Gabe’s anticipation, butterflies fluttered in Hannah’s tummy. A sensation of nerves and excitement, she’d long forgotten what that felt like. A Hellenic deity had never asked Hannah to join them for a drink before and having spent that morning’s walk mulling over her life, Hannah knew it was about time she did something out of the ordinary.
She took a deep breath ready to accept his invitation.
“Maybe some other time,” she said. “Aunt Dorothy will be worried if I’m not back soon.”
CHAPTER20
Making his way home, Gabe wished he’d ignored Slim’s advice regarding Hannah. If he had, he wouldn’t feel so stupid after she’d just turned him down. Of course she wouldn’t want to join him for coffee. What would they have talked about? They were opposites. Sports were his thing, while she was, no doubt, bookish.
