Four Steps

by Wendy Hudson

  Lori smiled at the comment, pleased at her ability to make Alex shift uncomfortably just as easily as she had. “As tempting as that is, I’m not sure my boyfriend would approve. But maybe we could go climb a mountain together? That’s if you’re up for the company?”

  “Ah, there’s always a boyfriend.” Feigning disappointment, Alex shook her head sadly. “I guess I should have known someone as gorgeous as you wouldn’t be single. What’s his name?”

  Lori was determined not to let Alex see the effect being called gorgeous was having on her and also not really wanting to get into boyfriend territory, she began to organise her bed and sleeping clothes on the bunk above where Alex was sitting.

  “Andrew. He’s back in London, not really the roughing it type, which works out well because I like the time away by myself…” she trailed away hoping the subject would be dropped.

  Jumping at a prod to her side, Lori looked down to see Alex peering up at her mischievously “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable, teasing you like that about a date. I’m told I’m a massive flirt when the notion takes me and you straight girls don’t always appreciate it.”

  Lori sat on the stool opposite the bunk. “Trust me, it’s not that at all, although you do seem to have a knack for making me blush. I just hadn’t thought about him all day. I’ve been distracted by the climb and the view, and then meeting you and Frank.” She sighed and rested an elbow on her knee, chin in hand. She guessed talking to a stranger had to be more productive than to her best friend. Stella would just profess what a bore Andrew was and pour her more wine. To be fair, she was right. “I kind of came here under a bit of a cloud. Andrew and I argued about yet another weekend spent apart. It’s getting boring and I’m tired of it.”

  “The arguing is getting boring or he’s getting boring?”

  She could have played along when she heard the humour in Alex’s voice, instead she gave the honest answer. “Both, I guess. When we first started seeing each other, having walking in common was a big plus. Turns out my walking and his walking are two very different things. But, anyway, we have much bigger problems than that and I guess I’ve just finally taken my head out of the sand and seen them.” It wasn’t just an argument. It was a full-blown shouting match that had ended with Lori declaring it was over between them. Again. “I guess I just can’t take his selfishness anymore. Or his complete disregard for my career and my hobbies. In fact, the more I think about it, his disregard for anything that makes me happy. Andrew wants a housewife, and a housewife I most certainly am not.”

  Alex blew out a breath. “Well high five for the sand-free head. It took me three years to do the same and realise the only thing Rachel cared about was Rachel. How long has it taken you?”

  Lori’s shoulders slumped. “Don’t be so quick with that high five. I’ve wasted the best part of seven years on Andrew.”

  “Wow,” Alex said, eyebrows raised. “It surely can’t have been all bad if you’ve stuck around that long?”

  “No, you’re right. That’s not fair. We had our moments. I suppose these days I’m struggling to remember what they were.”

  When they first dated he had understood her work would involve travel. As an interpreter, she would sometimes be out of the country to work freelance at the European Parliament or to personally accompany an MP or diplomat to a summit or meeting.

  It was normally only for a couple of days at a time but sometimes longer, depending on the event. He was happy that her interest in politics and international issues had swayed her away from signing on with one of the many businesses that had courted her, avoiding a potential permanent move out of the country. He also said it was perfect because it afforded them plenty of freedom to do as they pleased, particularly with the hours he would have to put in as a junior broker in the city.

  At twenty-three, they were still young and, although committed, they wanted to retain some independence, including keeping separate homes and their own group of friends.

  On paper, they were a good match and Andrew ticked all the boxes she thought a good future husband was meant to tick. He was handsome and career driven, he came from a similar wealthy background to her, and was headed for big things. They could have the picture postcard life. House, kids, cars, pets. They could give their kids all the traditional, stable things she never had.

  After five years together he started to change. In the last two years, he’d become possessive and demanding, deriding her for staying away and ‘deserting’ him despite it being necessary for her job. Suddenly her handsome and easy-going boyfriend had turned ugly and emotionally manipulative.

  Despite the fact that they didn’t live together, he expected her to be waiting for him at his place, with dinner on the table and an open ear ready to listen to him drone on about his day when he got home. Whether it was after work or a day on the golf course, he didn’t care.

  If she wasn’t there when he expected her to be, she was grilled about her whereabouts. Who was she with? What did she do? What did they talk about? She had even caught him once checking her phone messages although he had denied it, making up some lame excuse about wanting to check a date in her calendar. She was sure it hadn’t been the first time.

  He made her feel guilty for wanting to spend time with other people without him, to the point where even a drink after work with her best friend came with a barrage of questions. It had taken a while for her to realise part of the problem was Andrew didn’t have friends. He had colleagues and golf buddies, but any real friends he had kept through University and his first few years at the bank he had let drift away or they’d moved on. He made no attempt to find new ones and had become more and more reliant on her for a social life, for attention, for everything, and she couldn’t be everything for him. It was exhausting.

  His solution? Get married, have kids, move to a soulless commuter town and plan dinner parties.

  She had spent years studying languages and politics, gaining her postgraduate degree in conference interpreting. She’d worked long and hard, freelancing in order to build relationships and a solid reputation. It had enabled her to secure a permanent position in the Westminster Parliament and a place high up the list of people willing to travel. She couldn’t believe Andrew expected her to give it all up. Just so he could play out some old fashioned fantasy that the old boys at the bank seemed to encourage. He’d been watching too many episodes of Mad Men.

  Seven years was a long time though, and it would be hard to make the break, despite everything, she missed him. However, she was resolved to end it and wasn’t going to feel guilty for taking control of her own life and living it her way.

  “Let me guess,” said Alex, breaking into her thoughts, “his walking involves a golf course?”

  Lori burst out laughing. “And four of the most tiresome men you’ve ever met in your life. Andrew included.”

  Alex licked her finger and scored one for herself in the air. “I remember when I was younger, my granddad was a mad golfer and my grandma could never understand him spending four hours walking around a course when he could be at the top of a mountain in that time.”

  “Well, no more,” Lori declared, jumping to her feet. “I hope he and his golf clubs are very happy together. May they keep him warm in the night.”

  “Wow, so it’s actually over?” Alex asked, clearly confused. “A minute ago he was your boyfriend.”

  “Yes. It’s over.” The realisation that she truly meant it this time suddenly hit her. So many times these past two years had she uttered those words, knowing Andrew would talk her around. But this time felt different. She grabbed her rucksack and dug around, hoping she’d remembered to pack what she needed right now.

  “A wee nip to keep the cold away?” she asked, attempting a Scottish accent, triumphantly holding up a miniature flask.

  Alex’s eyes lit up. “Ah, wine and whisky. I knew you were a girl after my own heart. I’ll take that as an apology for fobbing me off with what is actually
an ex-boyfriend.”

  Lori smiled and sat on the bottom bunk again, unclipping the top of the flask to release two small silver cups, she handed one to Alex and poured.

  Alex looked impressed. “Very sophisticated.” She sniffed it and closed her eyes in obvious delight. “Glenlivet?”

  Now it was Lori’s turn to be impressed. “Right again, a favourite of my dad’s.” She touched her cup to Alex’s, looked her in the eye, and raised it in another toast “To exes and to ridding ourselves of their crap once and for all.”

  “To exes,” Alex echoed before they both swallowed the amber liquid down in one.

  Lori felt it burn a satisfying trail down to her stomach and, with a smile at both their empty cups, she topped them up again.

  Alex shivered and sat back against the wooden bothy wall, pulling her sleeping bag across her legs, before tossing the other side of it over Lori’s. Lori followed, sitting close for extra warmth. She took another sip of whisky, its calming effect immediate as she sunk down lower under the sleeping bag. They were both quiet and lost in their own thoughts. The only sound was Frank softly snoring.

  “What are you thinking about?” Lori asked. “Rachel?”

  “Nah, this trip was about forgetting her. Wiping her memory from this place by making new ones of my own. I was actually thinking Frank obviously isn’t interested in his dinner and so far, I’ve never enjoyed sharing a bothy with a stranger so much as I have with you.”

  Lori glanced across at Alex, smiling at her honesty. “I think you might have been right about me and you being good friends, you know. We have mountains, whisky, and a hatred of golf in common. What more do we need?”

  “Well, right now, I need more whisky.” Alex held out her cup for a third time. “And while you top that up, I have something else to finish this impromptu little dinner date of ours.”

  Lori cocked her head and raised an eyebrow. “Why am I worried?”

  “Relax.” Alex smirked, handed Lori her cup, and then shuffled to the end of the bed to rummage in her rucksack. “I’m over you already.” She grinned over her shoulder. “Ah ha! Dessert.” She pulled out a zip lock food bag with what looked like Frank’s dinner in it “Jess’s homemade brownies. I promise looks are deceiving, they got a bit mashed in my bag.”

  She got up and retrieved their sporks before crawling back next to Lori on the bunk and pulling the sleeping bag back over them. She opened the food bag and offered it to Lori first. “Go on, I swear they’re amazing.”

  Lori dug in, never one to turn down chocolate. “Oh my goodness, that’s delicious.” She groaned. “Okay, you win with dessert. Well, Jess wins, whoever she may be.”

  “Best friend,” Alex mumbled through a mouthful.

  The brownies didn’t last long and one more refill each finished the whisky.

  “Yep, I was definitely right about us being friends,” Alex murmured, leaning in to rest her head on Lori’s shoulder, the whisky seemingly making her sleepy. “I think I was meant to meet you.”

  Lori tensed a little, surprised at the familiar gesture, then relaxed into it. A few minutes later, she realised Alex’s breathing was matching Frank’s and that she was out for the count.

  Rousing Alex long enough to take the cup from her hand and lie her down, Lori laid the sleeping bag over the top of her. She figured Alex would soon crawl inside when the cold started biting.

  The temperature had dropped dramatically and Lori could see her breath cloud in the small space. Stealing herself for the chill outside, she manoeuvred around Frank and left the bothy for nature’s bathroom.

  The sky was clear and the sheer number and brightness of the stars never failed to hypnotise her. She always took a moment to stand and stare, letting her mind clear before bed. Only tonight it wasn’t working and, for a change, it wasn’t because of Andrew.

  She thought about the ‘hot local’ sleeping inside and smiled. Why was that? Yes, she was funny and cheeky and easy to talk to but there was something more. She couldn’t put her finger on it. Suddenly exhausted, Lori headed back inside.

  Alex’s walking trousers on the stool told her she had taken the time to change before climbing into her sleeping bag. The hood was pulled tight around her head against the cold and Lori stood a moment studying the serene looking face lit softly by the lantern on the table. She couldn’t help but admit Alex was beautiful.

  Lori moved around quietly so as to not disturb the sleeping woman while she changed into thick thermals. The ladder groaned under her weight as she climbed up to the top bunk and slid down deep inside her own sleeping bag. Closing her eyes, she let the whisky do its work.

  Chapter 4

  Alex awoke early, shivering in the damp, morning air. The whisky had initially wiped her out so she hadn’t bothered with thermals on her top half before crawling into her sleeping bag. Not sensing any movement on the top bunk, she eased herself gently from the squeaky bed.

  Frank’s head perked up from his bed, tail wagging when he realised he was about to be let loose. She stretched her arms above her head and up on tip toes, her fingertips just brushed the ceiling. She felt good after yesterday’s walk, stiff from the cold and the wafer thin mattress but the stretch was satisfying. She pulled a pouch of dog food from a side pocket in her rucksack, then grabbed Frank’s bowl and her toothbrush before pushing her feet into cold boots and creeping quietly outside.

  Frank wolfed down his breakfast as she surveyed the mountains and weather whilst brushing her teeth. Light drizzle fell and the peaks were invisible behind low-hanging cloud. It was still early so she had time to wait and see if the sun would burn it off, but a decision would have to be made soon whether bagging another mountain this weekend was worth a potentially wet and miserable climb.

  She didn’t mind climbing in the cold and snow, but rain was just depressing and there was no reward of a view at the summit. Besides, she’d climbed them before and this weekend was more about putting another memory of Rachel firmly in the past and enjoying one of her favourite places again on her own. Well, almost alone. She heard movement inside the hut and quickly relieved herself before heading back in.

  “Good morning.” Lori smiled brightly as Alex entered. “Bathroom free?” she asked, grabbing her own toothbrush.

  Alex chuckled. “Sure, it’s all yours. Weather doesn’t look great. I’m not sure I’m up for the masochism a climb would be today but…” She pointed to a narrow case about a foot long attached to the side of her rucksack and said, “Telescopic fishing pole. I thought I’d maybe head to the river instead for a while and then take my time walking back out to the car.”

  Lori stopped in the doorway, she looked out towards the peaks still shrouded in cloud then back inside where Alex sat rubbing Frank’s belly. “Is that an invitation?”

  “Only if you happened to have brought coffee and plan on making me breakfast when you get back from the bathroom.”

  “You did hear me when I said I wasn’t the housewife type last night, right?”

  “Trust me, my little English muffin, I don’t plan on being anyone’s husband either.” She shrugged and lifted her hands innocently. “I’m merely trading goods and services with you, coffee and breakfast for the use of my fishing pole and the joy of my company. I mean, I’ll happily make my own and head off solo…”

  “Okay, okay,” Lori held up her own hands. “Just making sure we understand each other. Besides, you had me at English muffin.” She laughed with Alex. “I will accept your terms and be right back to hold up my end of the deal.”

  Alex busied herself with packing up both her and Frank’s beds before pulling out sachets of porridge and a couple of battered bananas. When Lori reappeared, Alex sat on the bottom bunk and watched her put water on to boil and ready their cups for coffee.

  “Will this do, your majesty?” she asked producing two sachets of 3-in-1 instant coffee from her pack.

  “That would be amazing, but I don’t suppose you have any 2-in-1 hiding in there? I’m sweet
enough without sugar.”

  Lori laughed. “I’d disagree, but I’d be lying,” she said, pulling out a sachet of 2-in-1 and holding it up as if she’d found gold.

  Alex smiled. “I don’t know if I’m happier at the compliment or the sugarless coffee. So how did you sleep?” After an initial couple of hours of sleep born mainly of whisky and exhaustion, Alex had woken with the cold and struggled to fall asleep again. Her mind had played tennis thinking back and forth between her last time at the bothy with Rachel and the girl asleep in the bunk above.

  There was no doubt she was a beautiful woman. Alex warmed inside thinking about the day before when Lori had quite obviously been checking her out. However innocent it may have been, Lori’s good looks had not gone unnoticed by Alex. Since she’d pulled down her hood to reveal a funky hat covering hair she later discovered matched her rich amber coloured eyes, Alex had been stunned. Add to that a sprinkle of freckles over skin that looked as smooth as syrup and the widest, most genuine smile Alex had ever seen, she imagined men and women always gave Lori Hunter a second glance.

  Maybe it was the close proximity of sharing such a small space when they had only just met. Maybe she was feeling vulnerable expecting to be out here alone, but the realisation she was single and attracted to this girl was unsettling. She’d kept anyone remotely interesting at arm’s length for a long time and was working hard not to let the panic of actually liking someone set in.

  But she had to admit she’d never felt so instantly comfortable with someone, yet so nervous at the same time. She also knew she didn’t mind the close proximity of Lori and the tingling feeling in her stomach that came with it.

  “Earth to Alex.” Lori was clicking her fingers and laughing.

  Alex shook herself back to reality and spun around to face Lori, feeling like she’d been caught with her hand in the biscuit tin. Her reaction caught Lori by surprise, startling her and causing the unstable milk stool she’d been perched on to tip sideways. Before Alex could stop it Lori was deposited in a heap of arms and legs on the floor.