The Girl's Guide to Falling in Love

by Sophie Hart

  ‘It’s gorgeous,’ Julia agreed, her eyes lighting up as she gazed at the incredible gown. ‘And how about this one? Look how pretty the back is…’

  Between the four of them, they pulled out half a dozen dresses, as well as a selection of veils, tiaras and shoes, before Zoe disappeared into the changing room. Valerie went in to help her, while Julia and Linda sat outside in anticipation, like proud parents.

  When Zoe emerged a few minutes later, entering princess-like through the white curtain, Julia and Linda gasped in amazement.

  ‘Oh Zoe, you look stunning,’ Julia gasped.

  ‘Beautiful,’ Linda echoed, dabbing at the corners of her eyes.

  Zoe was wearing an ivory-coloured dress, classic and deceptively simple. It was strapless, and cut straight across the bust, with a jewelled sash at the waist before it fell gently to the floor. She’d paired it with a delicate veil, edged in a cream trim, and she looked absolutely incredible.

  Zoe bit her lip, peeping up at the two women from beneath her long, pale lashes. Her eyes were shining, her face glowing. When she spoke, her voice was low, as though she hardly dared to break the spell.

  ‘I think this is it,’ she whispered, looking stunned but exhilarated. ‘I think I’ve found the one.’

  25

  Chapter Twenty-five

  ‘I’m a trisexual. I’ll try anything once’ – Samantha Jones, Sex and the City

  ‘Oh my gosh, I can’t believe it!’

  ‘No way – you’ve got to be kidding me.’

  ‘Have you gone crazy, Annie?’

  ‘No, I haven’t gone crazy,’ Annie replied happily, as she took in the sight in front of her. ‘I did tell you all to wear sporty clothes.’

  ‘But I never imagined… this!’ Nick exclaimed.

  ‘Well, I like to keep you on your toes – or should that be your bottoms?’

  Annie was running her regular Saturday morning group session, and had asked the couples to meet her not at her office, but in a car park at the entrance to the Mid-Yare Nature Reserve. Five couples had signed up and were currently staring, open-mouthed, at the contents of the minivan that had just pulled up.

  ‘Well, at least it’s not dogging,’ Simon couldn’t resist saying. ‘I did wonder what we were in store for, when you asked us to meet in a remote car park…’

  He shut up quickly, as Zoe hit him on the arm.

  ‘What do you think?’ Annie asked. ‘Are you all willing to participate?’

  The group looked nervously at the minivan marked ‘Thompson’s Cycles’, where five tandem bikes were being unloaded, gleaming in the late spring sunshine. One by one, all of the couples answered in the affirmative, as Annie explained:

  ‘What could be better on a beautiful May morning? This exercise is obviously all about the importance of working together. I don’t want any of you sitting at the back and letting your partner do all the hard work up front – you have to put in equal effort. It can be a little bit tricky getting used to the tandem, so you’ll have to master that together too. You’ll need patience, and a sense of humour. Plus, exercise releases endorphins, which should get you ready for a steamy session in the bedroom later.’

  ‘I don’t know about that,’ Ray cut in. ‘I think I’ll be exhausted – if I haven’t collapsed of a heart attack first.’

  ‘I’m sure you’re fit and raring to go,’ Annie teased. ‘With all that golf you play.’

  Ray harrumphed and grunted. As Annie had told them to come in sportswear, he’d put on his golf clothes, and was currently wearing golf trousers and a polo shirt, with a diamond-pattern jumper over the top.

  ‘There are helmets and cycle clips available too. Just line up and see the guys from the hire company,’ Annie explained, as she began handing out high visibility jackets.

  ‘Do these come in any other colours?’ Nick asked, eyeing the fluorescent yellow doubtfully.

  ‘What I didn’t mention is that today’s session is all about overcoming embarrassment too,’ Annie grinned.

  ‘What about you?’ Julia asked Annie, as she wrestled her high-vis jacket over the hoody she was wearing. ‘Who are you going to pair up with?’

  ‘Ooh, is that hot guy from the obstacle course session coming back?’ Zoe asked excitedly. ‘What was his name?’

  Annie felt the colour flame in her face, and tried to keep her expression neutral as she replied, ‘His name was Jamie, and no, Zoe, he isn’t coming with us today. I’ll be riding solo, and cycling alongside you on my mountain bike.’

  ‘I don’t think I’ve ever looked so unattractive in my whole life,’ Julia muttered to Nick, as she tugged awkwardly on her cycle helmet.

  Nick looked down at his wife, her green eyes peeking out from beneath the helmet, her blonde hair tied in a ponytail that stretched down her back. ‘You look cute,’ he winked.

  Julia smiled back, enjoying the almost-forgotten sensation of flirting with her husband.

  ‘When you’re all ready, climb aboard,’ Annie instructed.

  As everyone was mounting their tandems with much giggling and shrieking, Annie headed over to the bike hire men. ‘Thanks, guys, if you could meet us at the pick-up point at two pm.’

  ‘No problem. See you then,’ they nodded, before getting into their van and driving off.

  ‘Right, are we ready to go?’ Annie called out. ‘Then follow me.’

  The roads around Postwick were quiet, and Annie pedalled out of the car park, swinging easily onto the road. She glanced back and pulled to a stop, noticing that whilst some of the couples were doing okay, others were struggling to find their rhythm.

  Simon and Zoe went flying past her, yelling, ‘Sorry, we can’t stop or we’ll never get started again!’

  Julia and Nick looked to be having a minor disagreement at the back, whilst Ray and Linda had found their rhythm, and were pedalling along steadily looking particularly proud of themselves.

  Eventually, all five couples got going, and they sailed along the country roads, puffing and panting. The county of Norfolk was famously flat, so there were no major hills to navigate, and the countryside around them was beautiful. Cars slowed down to overtake them, surprised to see a convoy of tandem bikes, while children waved at them from back seats and some drivers beeped their horns in greeting.

  ‘How’s everyone doing?’ Annie asked, when they stopped for a rest break. She’d advised each couple to bring a rucksack to store their personal possessions, along with a bottle of water.

  ‘Hanging in there,’ Ray gasped.

  ‘I’m really enjoying it actually,’ Zoe grinned. ‘I think Simon and I should add “tandem bike” to our wedding gift list.’

  ‘How much further are we cycling?’ Nick asked, trying not to show how much he was sweating. Being so busy at the office, he rarely had time to get to the gym these days, and was shocked to discover how unfit he’d become.

  ‘There’s still quite a way, but you can do it.’

  ‘Where are we going?’ asked Linda.

  ‘It’s a surprise,’ Annie grinned. ‘Wait and see…’

  They remounted their bikes and followed the path alongside the canal, past fields of wheat and barley stretching as far as the eye could see. Flowers bloomed in the hedgerows and swallows danced overhead, as they passed dog walkers and horse riders and even an old windmill, picturesque against the hazy blue skies. They continued through pretty villages, and past a country pub.

  ‘I’d kill for a pint of Wherry,’ remarked Ray, referring to the local bitter, as Linda, on the front of the tandem, rolled her eyes.

  But they didn’t stop at the pub, leaving it far behind as they carried on deep into the heart of the countryside. Annie felt inexplicably happy as she pedalled along, her legs pumping, feeling the sun on her face. It felt good to get some exercise. She’d spent so long sitting behind a desk that she’d forgotten how glorious it was to do something like this.

  Of course, her good mood might have something to do with a certain Mr Kennedy, Ann
ie realised, unable to stop smiling at the thought of Jamie. After a rocky start, their movie night had all the hallmarks of the beginning of something special. The chemistry between them had been undeniable and they’d kissed for hours, getting hot and heavy on Annie’s sofa. She sincerely hoped Harry and Sally hadn’t been watching – they’d certainly done enough to make a goldfish blush.

  It had been at Jamie’s insistence that things didn’t go any further; Annie had lost all sense of self-control, but Jamie had been the one who’d reluctantly pulled away, saying that he needed to get home. It had been half an hour before he’d made it out of the door, Annie recalled, smiling at the memory as she cycled along, gazing round at the scenery.

  Eventually, she spotted their destination and slowed down, glancing behind to check that everyone was still with her. She came to a halt at the side of a field and dismounted, the rest of the group doing the same. They’d been riding for over an hour, and there was a mixture of glowing, energised faces and bright red exhausted ones.

  ‘You’ll be pleased to know that you’ve all made it, and that’s all the cycling we’re doing for today. We’ve ridden over ten miles, so some of you have done exceptionally well. And now we’re here!’

  ‘Where?’ queried Nick, looking round at the empty field that led down to the River Yare.

  ‘The location for the next stage of the day’s activities.’

  ‘Please don’t tell me we’re doing a triathlon, and now we have to swim five miles,’ Simon begged. ‘I didn’t bring my trunks anyway.’

  ‘Then you have to go skinny dipping,’ Annie teased. ‘No, the hard stuff is over for today. The good stuff comes…’ she checked her watch ‘… right about now.’

  She stared off into the distance, and the others followed her gaze. As they watched, another van came into view, this one smaller than the vehicle that had carried their bikes.

  ‘Hi Jan,’ Annie greeted the driver excitedly, embracing her as she got out of the car. ‘Thanks so much for doing this.’

  ‘You’re very welcome,’ Jan replied, as she went round and opened the back doors. ‘I hope you all enjoy it.’

  ‘And voilà,’ Annie announced triumphantly. ‘Lunch is served.’

  In the back of the van were half a dozen wicker hampers, along with cool boxes and picnic blankets.

  ‘If you could all grab something, that would be really helpful,’ Annie called out.

  Everyone did as they were asked, carrying the hampers into the middle of the field, where they spread the rugs on the ground and began unpacking the food.

  ‘This is amazing!’ Zoe exclaimed, as she held up freshly baked baguettes and smoked salmon. The others were pulling out Scotch eggs, potato salad, couscous and olives, along with sparkling water, chilled white wine and cans of ready-made Pimm’s.

  ‘You deserve it,’ Annie smiled round. ‘You’ve all done brilliantly.’

  ‘I don’t think I’ll be able to cycle after all this,’ Ray groaned.

  ‘I certainly won’t be able to cycle in a straight line,’ Simon agreed, as he grabbed the bottle opener and cracked open a beer.

  ‘You don’t have to,’ Annie announced. ‘The journey ends here. The van will come to pick up the bikes, and you’ll all be dropped back at the car park.’

  A cheer went up from the group.

  ‘You’ve thought of everything,’ smiled Linda.

  ‘The perfect woman,’ chuckled Ray.

  They all tucked in, eating and drinking, satisfyingly warm and tired in the sunshine. Annie moved over to talk to Michael and Carolyn, and Jennifer and Richard joined in, leaving Ray, Linda, Nick, Julia, Simon and Zoe in their own little group.

  Linda was watching Annie with interest. She looked young and healthy, attractive in knee-length work-out pants and a loose vest top. ‘Do you think she’s married?’ Linda mused.

  ‘Who?’

  ‘Annie.’

  ‘I don’t know,’ Nick shrugged.

  ‘She doesn’t wear a ring though,’ Julia added.

  ‘I noticed that,’ said Ray. ‘Maybe she takes it off for these sessions.’

  ‘Why would she do that?’

  Ray shrugged. ‘I don’t know.’

  ‘We could ask her?’ Zoe suggested.

  ‘Maybe we should,’ agreed Julia. ‘I mean, how can she comment on our marriages if she’s never been married herself?’

  ‘It’s probably better that way,’ Nick said thoughtfully, as he chomped on a slice of pork pie. ‘She can bring an outsider’s perspective. Anyway, it’s not all about being married, is it? She’s got loads of certificates on her wall, so she clearly knows her stuff.’

  ‘Speaking of marriage, your engagement ring really is beautiful,’ Linda commented to Zoe, looking admiringly at her left hand as she leant over to scoop some prawn salad onto her plate.

  ‘Thanks,’ Zoe beamed proudly.

  ‘You know, I really don’t understand why a young, engaged couple like yourself are going to relationship counselling,’ Ray wondered out loud, as Linda rolled her eyes at her husband’s indiscretion.

  ‘We’ve taken a vow of celibacy until the wedding,’ Zoe announced, not embarrassed in the slightest.

  ‘Zoe!’ Simon began sharply. ‘It’s supposed to be confidential.’

  ‘We can tell people if we like,’ Zoe said defensively. ‘It’s up to us.’

  ‘Well, I didn’t expect that,’ Ray chuckled.

  ‘We thought it would be exciting and romantic, waiting until our wedding night. Didn’t we, Simon?’

  Simon nodded, not looking convinced.

  ‘And how are you finding it?’ Nick asked, reading his expression.

  ‘Pretty tough,’ Simon admitted, and everyone laughed.

  ‘Sounds like an understatement, if ever I heard one,’ Nick grinned, helping himself to a handful of strawberries.

  ‘If you need a florist for the wedding, I can recommend a good one,’ Ray chimed in.

  ‘We do, actually,’ Zoe told him. ‘We’re getting married in July, and we only got engaged in February, so it’s all a bit of a rush, although Julia’s been a lifesaver sorting everything out.’

  Ray nodded towards Linda, who took up the conversation. ‘I don’t think I mentioned it before, but I run Expressions, the florist on Pottergate. If you’re still looking, that is.’

  ‘Oh, that’s not far from where I work – I’m on St Andrews Street, at the Vet Centre.’

  ‘I always wanted to be a vet when I was a little girl,’ Julia commented, with a wistful sigh.

  ‘Well, I’m a veterinarian assistant, not actually a vet,’ Zoe explained. ‘But I love it.’

  ‘I gave up the idea when I realised I was no good with blood and gore,’ Julia laughed.

  ‘There’ll be a lot of blood and gore when you have a baby,’ Nick warned.

  ‘Oh, are you pregnant?’ Ray asked innocently.

  He saw the look that passed between Nick and Julia and instantly realised that he’d said something wrong.

  ‘We’re trying,’ Julia explained quietly. ‘Nothing yet though.’

  The group fell silent, but Zoe came to the rescue, quickly changing the subject. ‘I’ll definitely pop in and see you,’ she promised Linda. ‘I’ve no idea what I want, or how much anything costs though.’

  ‘Well, I’d be happy to help. Roses are always beautiful for a July wedding, and lisianthus go perfectly with those. Or if you want something more elaborate, there’s always calla lilies, or zinnia. Anyway, I’m in there most days, and if I’m not you can speak to my daughter.’

  ‘She’s supposed to have taken semi-retirement but, like she says, she’s in there most days,’ Ray couldn’t resist adding.

  Linda shot him a look as Annie made her way over, a smile on her face. ‘So how have you all enjoyed today? I hope you got a lot out of it.’

  ‘It’s been great,’ Zoe assured her enthusiastically.

  ‘I’ll certainly sleep tonight,’ Linda chuckled. ‘All that fresh air and
exercise.’

  ‘The vans are due any moment,’ Annie explained ruefully. ‘So I think we’d better start packing up now I’m afraid.’

  With sighs and groans, the group got to their feet, folding up their blankets and picking up their rubbish.

  ‘Feel free to take any leftovers with you,’ Annie told them, as Ray eagerly scooped up all of the sausage rolls, and Simon slipped a couple of bottles of beer into his rucksack.

  As they picked up the empty picnic baskets and walked back across the field, the bike hire van and a minibus pulled up.

  ‘Time to go,’ Ray said sadly, as they all climbed, exhausted, into the minibus that was to take them back to their cars.

  ‘I’ve had such a lovely day,’ Zoe said, as she snuggled up to Simon. ‘Thanks so much, Annie.’

  ‘You’re very welcome.’

  Across the aisle, Linda slipped her hand into Ray’s, lacing their fingers together. Ray looked up in surprise, then gave her hand a gentle squeeze.

  Sitting behind them, Nick rested his hand on Julia’s knee, leaning across to give her a spontaneous kiss.

  Annie saw it all, and smiled.

  26

  Chapter Twenty-six

  ‘Men marry women with the hope they will never change. Women marry men with the hope they will change. Invariably they are both disappointed’ – Albert Einstein

  ‘I really do feel that we’re making progress,’ Linda was explaining enthusiastically to Annie. ‘I feel so much happier than I did three months ago.’

  ‘That’s great news. I’m so pleased,’ Annie beamed, sitting back in her chair. The room was warm, sunshine streaming in through the window, and she could feel that summer was on its way. Ironically, the warmer months usually meant less business for her; people always felt more romantic and, frankly, horny when the sun was out. Whereas the stresses of Christmas, and the darkness and depression of winter, meant that Annie always had an influx of new clients in January, as couples resolved to try to fix their broken relationships. ‘Ray, how do you feel everything’s going?’