“Don’t take it personally,” Hannah said. “She’s like that with most people.”
Dorothy scoffed. “I learnt not to do that a long time ago.”
“Ready, ladies?” Appearing with Dorothy’s bag, Gabe held the door open so everyone could enter.
As soon as he was inside, the girl on reception glanced in Gabe’s direction. Her face broke into a big grin as soon as she saw him. “Gabe. Great to see you.” She nodded towards the stairs. “You know the way.”
Never one to be outshone by a pretty girl, Francesca appeared at Gabe’s side.
Hannah felt a pang of irritation thanks to all the eyelash fluttering in the place.
“I’m Francesca.” She held her hand out for Gabe to shake. “You should know, I’m also this motley crew’s team leader.” She made a disdainful show of glancing at the rest of the group. “I know, I know, but someone’s got to sort them out.”
“Have you heard her?” Mel asked, offended.
Liv scoffed. “The cheek of the woman.”
Hannah simply shook her head.
“Come on, everyone,” Francesca instructed. She paused to let Gabe lead the way. Despite trying to appear in the know, she obviously didn’t have a clue where she was going.
Entering a huge gymnasium, Gabe headed straight for a long wooden bench, reminiscent of the one Hannah was often forced to sit on during PE at school. Refusing to see it as bad omen, Hannah lined up next to it with everyone else.
Putting the provisions bag down, Gabe pulled out a whistle from his tracksuit bottoms pocket. “This is for you, Aunt Dorothy,” he said, holding it out for her to take.
Delighted, Dorothy squealed. “Do I get to use it?” Hanging it around her neck, she gave it a blast before he could answer.
“So childish,” Francesca said, not even trying to hide her disdain.
Still focused on Dorothy, Gabe smiled and indicated she take a seat on the bench. As Dorothy got out her knitting, Gabe turned his attention to the rest of the group. “Ready, everyone?”
Oh, Lordy. Immediately recognising his authoritative expression, Hannah knew what they were all in for. She let out a whimper.
Gabe began by going through all the exercises he’d covered during his one-to-one session with Hannah. He grimaced at the varying results. Watching everyone was clearly painful viewing.
Hannah was as atrocious on that occasion as she had been the first time around. Not that Mel and Liv helped. Snickering at Hannah’s lack of co-ordination to properly concentrate on what they were doing, the three of them ended up behaving like naughty school children. Francesca was clearly the swot of the group. Much to Hannah’s annoyance, she followed Gabe’s every move to the centimetre.
Once they’d jiggled sufficiently to loosen up, Gabe began outlining how the training session would go. “Tonight might be all about quick walking, but we’ll be incorporating a slow jog here and there. Remember, it’s important to concentrate on your breathing throughout.”
Mel leaned into Hannah. “Told you.”
“In through the nose,” Gabe continued. “Out through the mouth.” He paused as if to let his instruction sink in. “Our team leader here…”
Francesca stepped forward, gloating at what she evidently thought was special attention. Only to step back when Gabe turned to Dorothy.
“… will signal when to start.”
Hannah mumbled to herself. “That’ll teach you,” she said of Francesca.
“On the first blow of the whistle, you walk,” Gabe continued. “When you hear the second, you jog. When you hear the third, you go back to walking. And so on.” Gabe scanned the group. “Is that clear?”
Hannah nodded along with the rest of group.
Gabe signalled to Dorothy, who blew long and hard on her whistle.
Hannah and the others immediately set off on a walk around the gymnasium perimeter.
Unsurprisingly to Hannah, Francesca set the pace when she strode ahead. Francesca was always boasting about her exclusive gym membership and fantastic fitness level, but it wasn’t long before Mel caught up with her. While the two of them jostled for position, Hannah and Liv brought up the rear, a placement Hannah was happy with.
