Five Ladies Go Skiing

by Karen Aldous

  I glanced up, meeting with kind, smiling eyes. The man who spoke now gripped my hand with one of his and lifted my elbow with his other. ‘Thank you,’ I muttered, flustered, trying to lift my feet of clay to balance again. ‘Sad, stupid pair aren’t we?’ I said, wishing the ground would swallow me up. ‘We are literally finding our feet with this skiing lark.’

  ‘It isn’t easy, especially when you’re …’

  ‘… our age,’ I finished for him as I found my feet. I was mesmerised and mentally trying to brush myself off. This man’s tall presence wasn’t aiding my balance. Probably similar in age, maybe a bit younger, his thick hair was adorned with skeins of grey and blond waves falling over a high, barely wrinkled forehead. He held my gaze with hypnotic sparkling eyes. I forced myself to breathe. He reminded me of one of those adventurous heroes you see in films, like Indiana Jones – not excessively handsome but rugged and devilishly sexy.

  Instead of helping Kim, I stood there stupidly staring as he stepped aside, lifting her under one arm whilst her other arm was being winched up by an even taller man, though younger I noted, in a bright red all-in-one ski-suit. As his face turned, I saw he was one to definitely attract the girls too with his stunning features and long raven-black hair.

  ‘… when you’re starting out. I was actually going to say,’ the older man said, returning to me with an easy laugh from a lusciously shaped pair of lips. ‘There’s lots of us oldies on the slopes, and experienced or not, we all tumble, so don’t beat yourself up. You’ll get used to all the extra weight and carrying your skis around. Here, let me.’ He knelt down, gathering all four skis, which to me appeared identical, while Kim and the other man in the red ski-suit crawled on the floor collecting the contents from her helmet. She handed me one of my gloves, which I hadn’t noticed was missing, and I rolled my eyes.

  I must have appeared so uncool as I fixated on the older of the two men who held out our skis and peered back at me. ‘You may have to get these checked. They’re very similar. Are your shoe sizes the same?’ he asked squinting as he inspected the bindings. My head and neck were too busy looking around for his wife. He must have one here in this crowd, I imagined. Probably watching me make a complete fool of myself.

  The man in the red suit examined them too then promptly swapped one over and as the older man held them steady in their pairs, the younger man pointed.

  ‘These two match. This pair is for larger boot,’ he said with a smooth French accent, ‘but put them on to check before you leave.’

  Kim blushed as the younger man peered down at her. A little chemistry there, I thought, watching Kim. I clocked the motif on his suit too. Ecole Swiss de Ski & de Snowboard. He must be a ski instructor.

  ‘I’ll take those. I’m a size bigger than Ginny,’ she said, returning his smile. ‘They’re Ginny’s. Thank you both.’ Kim’s face brightened. ‘We’re very grateful.’

  ‘Yes, thank you.’ I smiled at both but when I reached out to take my skis, the older one pulled them back and rattled off something in French to the other.

  Then he pointed his hand and said, ‘Move over there out of the way and we’ll check them for you.’

  Kim and I scuttled to the side of the room where I spotted a gap. I placed my helmet and accessories in a space as the two men followed behind. Angie then appeared too.

  ‘What are you two doing? We’re waiting. We need to go. Luckily the ski instructor isn’t out there yet.’

  ‘Are you waiting for Christoff?’

  Looking indignant, Angie peered up at the tall man in the red suit and, in an instant, I saw her jaw drop and her eyes widen. Swiftly, her face softened and her lips curled. ‘Yes, how …?’

  ‘You’ve found me.’

  Amused, Kim and I looked at one another and both scrunched our noses with a snigger. I saw the older man laughing too. I explained the events to Angie whilst she gazed gormlessly at Christoff. I placed my skis down on the rubber matting on the floor and gripped her hand. One at a time, I clicked my boots to lock on the bindings. I leaned on her and squeezed her hand but she failed to notice. The older man knelt beside me, causing me to shiver and my cheeks to flare.

  ‘May I?’ he asked, holding a hand out towards my knee and looking at me with a flirty glint in his eye.

  Blushing and unsure of what he was implying, I answered, ‘Go for it, yes. You know what you’re doing.’ But I was unprepared. As his fingers touched the back of my knee, a part of me stirred that I thought had been buried with Mike. I bit my lip and looked at Kim, trying to deny or hide the pleasure he was inducing. A tiny touch. He tugged at my boot and ski with his other hand. Daring to meet his eyes, I saw him nod his approval.

  ‘They’re fine,’ he said, then repeated with the other leg. I braced myself the second time, but he clearly had a magic touch as the sensation returned, and his eyes locked on mine again, as if knowing the effect he was having. I don’t know if I breathed or for how long I gazed at him, but I felt the tug and release, then two snaps as my boots were released from the bindings.

  My lips twitched, and I found my voice. ‘Thank you, you’re very kind,’ was all I could say.

  Leaning on Christoff, Kim nodded her approval as he checked hers. Angie licked her lips and asked, ‘All OK?’

  Satisfied, Christoff looked up and signalled with his thumb. ‘Good. So now we go,’ he said, pushing down the back of his bindings and rising slowly, giving Kim the opportunity to release her hand from his shoulder. He then strode off to a pillar where he grabbed his skis.

  ‘Thank you, again,’ I said to the older man, securing my skis, helmet and poles in my arms again.

  ‘You’re welcome. Ginny and …?’

  ‘Kim,’ I told him, realising we hadn’t thought to introduce ourselves or exchange names. Tightening my skis and poles towards my chest, haphazardly in my nervous stupor, I shook his hand.

  ‘Neil,’ he said. ‘Lovely meeting you both. It’s a been a pleasure.’

  ‘For me too,’ I said, thinking: if only he knew.

  Chapter 6

  Kim

  Those guys were ace, absolute diamonds. After shaking Neil’s hand, I thanked him and Christoff for helping us. Their help was above and beyond expectations and the experience had even distracted my mind from my first ski, not to mention the churning in my stomach from our heavy night. I wasn’t feeling my best. We’d got quite carried away at La Poste with our drinking and dancing, and clearly we’d all forgotten about the skiing. It was worth it though to see Ginny really letting her hair down. Something she hadn’t done for years. And, watching Ginny with Neil just now was quite endearing. She was blushing. I saw her face turn scarlet a few times.

  ‘Wasn’t that man sweet?’ I said to Ginny as we straggled behind the girls and the tall handsome Christoff up a steep path.

  Her face glowed again. She must have noticed the way he’d looked at her. ‘Very.’ Ginny smiled coyly. ‘Though not as sweet as Christoff, I believe. I saw that look between you.’

  ‘Oh Jeezuz, no way. One man is plenty enough for me, thank you. I think he could lead Angie astray though, by the look on her face.’ We chuckled. ‘But seriously, don’t you think you two had a spark? I mean, it looked that way from where I was standing.’

  Ginny’s eyes lit up. ‘He’s certainly attractive and a proper gent; in fact, they both were. I mean who does that nowadays? Not only did they stop and pick us up but then to check our skis. Everyone else was rushing around in a panic,’ she said, panting for breath like me, trying to get to grips with the hefty boots and weighty skis.

  ‘Exactamundo, hon, incredible. Such gents. I still maintain that Neil may have had an ulterior motive though – the way he was ogling you. Christoff … I reckon he’s a player.’

  Ginny blinked hard and dropped her head. ‘Anyway, I’m grateful whatever their motives. I was in such a panic.’ Her voice wobbled, and she paused. It struck me that talking about the men may possibly have made her think of Mike. She continued. ‘I was hot
, and there was so much to remember. Thank God for Angie getting us organised this morning, especially after last night. My head has stopped thumping, but I’m still groggy.’

  This wasn’t the time to pursue my confession, but I was keen to know what was on her mind. I couldn’t even guess. Was it that she had found a man attractive and felt guilty, or that I mentioned Christoff was a player?

  Angie took charge the minute we left the ski-hire shop to join Lou and Cathy outside, making sure we all still had our essentials; snoods and scarves tucked in, ski passes in the right place, preferably inside our inside jacket pockets, our goggles on our helmets, our gloves clipped to our jackets, sunglasses on, skis and poles in one hand to help us when we walked. I struggled trying to keep up with her and I swear I saw Ginny’s eyes well up. Christoff kindly helped lift our skis onto our shoulders. At least we had the benefit of their experience to get us going. Although, I doubted it would have made any difference if either had warned us about the hill to the nursery slope, which I guessed would be the challenge every morning.

  ‘Were you flapping there?’ Ginny asked me.

  ‘I was,’ I admitted. ‘It was all too much at once, wasn’t it? Trying to hold it all. Perhaps if I, well we, weren’t so hungover it would have been easier.’ I stopped, catching my breath. I’m not sure if it was the thin mountain air, or that my fitness level was not what I’d imagined. We had only walked about twenty-five metres and not only were my legs feeling like jelly, but I was steaming as well. I could barely see for the mist on my sunglasses.

  Ginny stopped beside me, grappling for air, shades steamed up too, so it was a relief to see the others ahead lowering their skis and resting on them as Angie shuffled them to one side. We moved to the side as skiers and snowboarders began striding between us. They walked with such ease, though I did notice many hadn’t clipped their boots up, nor fastened their jackets. I zipped mine open feeling some light relief as the cool air hit my chest.

  ‘I noticed you had a wobble too,’ I told Ginny, unsure why. It was like I was willing her to talk to me. Open up. But I was well aware of the consequences – so why? ‘I saw your eyes well up.’

  She bit her lip. ‘Oh, Kimmy, sorry. I’ve been like a wet lettuce. I don’t know why. It’s been a year I know, but it randomly happens, especially when I’m stressed. It’s like I’m expecting him to be beside me to take control.’

  ‘Aw, don’t apologise. I don’t blame you. He was your safety net I guess. I suspect it’s natural. Just talk if you want to. I’m here right beside you. And the other Flowers are too.’ I juggled my skis freeing up my hand and rubbing her arm, almost praying I wouldn’t be forced to tell her now. ‘You mustn’t feel alone, Ginny, ever. I’m your friend, your safety net, and I’ve known you long enough that I’m not going to judge you. Don’t be afraid to share whatever is going on in your head.’

  She pursed her lips, looking at me as close friends do. ‘I love you, Kimmy. I should … I will … try to share, I mean. I admit, the skiing scares me but no doubt it does you and the others too.’ She tilted her head for a second then stood tall. ‘But, we’re here together, which is rare, and I want to make the most of it. I’m going up there and going to throw everything I have at it and have a bloody great time. I mean, just look at all these people. There must be something damn sexy about this sport that drives them.’

  ‘Bloody right. Well said that, Flower. Me too.’ I instantly felt awash with enthusiasm and affectionately slapped her shoulder and gave her a wide beam. ‘Good girl. Love the spirit and love you. Let’s get going, shall we. We will conquer this!’ And grabbing our skis, we lumbered them onto our shoulders and marched determinedly onwards and definitely upwards.

  By the time we reached a wide opening, basically a huge open field blanketed in snow between buildings and a steep bank, I wanted to drop. My chest was screaming as my lungs wheezed to breathe. I bent forwards, backwards, any way I could to inhale air into my lungs. I was soaked. At least two pints of perspiration must have spouted from my skin and into the fibres of my clothes. Regaining some sort of consciousness, I focused on Ginny, standing over her skis gripping her hips. Lou was flat out on the snow whilst Cathy stripped off her jacket and helmet and bent beside Lou, who was unzipping hers too.

  What a sorry state we were in. I almost laughed to myself at our insanity, our folly – but then felt a little euphoria for what we had accomplished. A few minutes later though, I was fine and grateful I had worked hard on my fitness. The climb up was hard work, but it got the old heart racing and that buzz you get from a good workout was firing me up.

  As I looked up, I saw Christoff virtually floating down the nursery slope towards us with what looked like several small bottles of water in his hands.

  ‘You star!’ I cheered, as he held them out and, after helping myself, I passed them around. ‘Thank you.’ I was gulping mine down when I clapped eyes on the lift and almost choked, horrified to see it didn’t have seats. Just a pole with a disc on the bottom.

  Christoff, sipping his water with ladylike dignity, must have followed my vision as I watched a group of five- or six-year-olds master the moving button-lift easier than a knife and fork.

  He chuckled. ‘You next. Watch and learn.’

  ‘You can do it,’ Ginny said to me, squirting Rescue Remedy into her mouth. ‘It’s not too difficult. We used one of these on the dry slope. I only fell off twice but that was because I panicked. Just stay calm and you’ll be fine. There’s a man there to help too.’

  I suddenly shivered with anticipation. ‘Yes, you’ve had some practice runs, haven’t you? You’re all a step ahead of me.’ I had seriously considered a trip to the dry ski slope but decided against it as no one at home wanted to come along. What if I broke a leg or an ankle and couldn’t get home? I knew it was feeble but you always heard the bad things. Besides, I’d spent a lot of time on water-skis. Not quite the same, but my balance must have been decent, surely? And my knees were used to the squatting. There couldn’t be that much difference, could there?

  Angie brushed my arm as she called the others over. ‘Here you go, my Flowers. I think Christoff is ready to begin your lesson.’ She glanced towards Christoff with what looked like a sultry pout. ‘I’ll stay around in case you need any help.’

  Christoff raised his palm. ‘It’s OK. You ski.’ Did he want her out from under his feet?

  Angie twitched with, I detected, a little indignation. ‘Well, I might just watch for a bit,’ she said, stepping aside as Christoff came forward. ‘Enjoy, my Flowers,’ she said poling her way across to a small bench. We gave her a wave as she turned. I couldn’t help but feel sympathetic; after all, she had put in so much time to organise this and being the only one who could ski meant she didn’t have anyone to ski with.

  Once we were all zipped up with helmets and gloves on, Christoff marched with ease, beckoning us with his arm to follow to an area beside the lift. We circled him as he asked our names and what skiing experience we’d had. I was the only one who hadn’t been on the lift or dry slope before, so I gazed at him trying to take everything in as he briefed us. He demonstrated the snowplough and how to brake, where we should hold our sticks, how we sidewalk upwards, and all about staying safe. I hadn’t realised there was so much to it and whilst he continued, demonstrating how to use the button-lift, I couldn’t help feeling a tad bad for not visiting a dry slope and priming myself as the others had. I was now going to hold them all up.

  I blinked, hearing Christoff instructing us to put on our skis. He took our poles and piled them beside the lift shed. We were all shaking in our boots whilst he clicked into his skis and slid expertly through the electronic lift-pass machine to the stack of poles on the frame of the lift. The lift man shook his hand and positioned himself opposite him.

  Christoff took one of the wiggly poles and pulled it. ‘You have plenty of time. You are in control. Pull it down firmly. Place the button between your thighs. Feel yourself being pulled and hold on. Keep the sk
is a few inches apart and let it take you. That’s it.’

  We watched him go up a few feet, then he let go and slid down. ‘So, who’s first?’

  I hung back. In fact, we all stared at him for what seemed like ages, then together Lou and Ginny said: ‘I’ll go first.’

  Ginny slid her skis on and grabbed a rail, shuffling her skis until she reached the poles. She followed Christoff’s instructions with precision and set off up the hill. Lou followed, sliding slightly as the pole heaved her.

  ‘I’ll go next if that’s OK?’ I said to Cathy.

  ‘Please do, darling,’ she said with a chuckle. ‘I’m in no, rush believe me.’

  Putting one ski forward and shifting slowly, I suddenly slid speedily into the bar. ‘Whooo! OK. Calm.’ I talked to myself, shuffling forward as I’d seen the others do. I took the pole and as I pushed it down, it seemed to want to wrench me off my feet; so I let go, my skis sliding forward leaving me and my bum on the snow. Christoff scooped me up under my arm and I was quickly back up but noticed a queue of people. Many of them kids.

  Christoff took a pole. ‘Firm pull.’ He demonstrated.

  I closed my fists and repeated, ‘Firm pull, right.’

  This time I took control of the pole, determined not to be bullied by it, and wedged it between my legs, allowing it to turn slightly, then waited, gripping it tightly with both hands. I felt a jolt and began travelling up. ‘I’m on,’ I squealed my skis starting to wander to one side.

  ‘Straighten up,’ Christoff called, so I dug down in my boots to steer the skis straight.

  I was on my way to my first ever ski. ‘Yee.’ I dared to take one hand off to wave at Ginny and Lou who had reached the top. Slowly it trundled, literally lifting my spirits as it glided uphill. Gripping tight, I twisted my neck to see Cathy behind me and Christoff’s red suit behind her. I felt a bump and panicked but couldn’t look down. I had a feeling it would all go wrong if I did. I kept my skis and eyes ahead. Gradually the line became shorter and tugged me up a bank and before I could think, I heard a clonk and realised the wire was circling round and back down. This is where I needed to get off.