Walking at a steadier rate than her forerunners, Hannah was cheered by how comfortable she felt. Her ankle-testing walks had obviously built up her stamina.
“Look at her go,” Liv said, as Mel suddenly left Francesca for dust.
Elbows bent and hips swinging, Mel didn’t seem to care that she looked like a penguin on speed.
“No wonder she still holds Saint Hilda’s running record,” Hannah said. Mel’s competitiveness seemed to know no bounds.
“It’s good of Gabe to do this, isn’t it?” Liv asked.
“It is.” Hannah glanced over at him, but quickly diverted her eyes when he suddenly returned her gaze.
“I’m still in shock that he’s friends with Quentin. I mean, what are the odds of that? Did I tell you I’m going to a rally on Saturday?”
“No, you didn’t,” Hannah replied.
“It’s to protest cotton capitalism.”
Hannah frowned. “I think you mean climate change.”
“Do I?”
“Cotton capitalism is something to do with the 1800s.”
“Is it?”
“I’m sure I read somewhere it’s linked to slavery.”
“Well, whatever I mean, it’s something Quentin feels strongly about. It’s one of the reasons he works in non-profit. Apparently, carbon emissions from cotton production amount to millions and millions of metric tonnes a year. And did you know, well over 2000 litres of water are needed to produce a single cotton T-shirt?”
“Wow,” Hannah said. “That’s terrible.”
As Liv continued to witter, Hannah began to feel the effects of her walking. She struggled to breathe and talk at the same time and had to respond to Liv with one-word answers.In through the nose and out through the mouthbecame her internal mantra as she concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other.
“I’ve come up with a great idea for our team bonding session. I was thinking we could all go for a meal. Not just us though, it would be great to invite Quentin and Russel.”
By then Hannah struggled to speak completely.
“It would be like a triple date,” Liv said, excited.
Hannah wanted to stop and tell her friend that, no, it would not be like that at all, but she knew if she did, she wouldn’t get going again.
The shrill of Dorothy’s whistle suddenly pierced the room and Hannah grimaced.
“Come on, Hannah. Start running,” Gabe called out. “You too, Liv. You heard the whistle.” He turned his attention to Mel and Francesca who were quicker off the mark. “Great job, you two.”
Hannah silently cursed the man as she broke into a jog. Only to jump when Mel flew passed her shoulder, quickly followed by Francesca. Hannah couldn’t believe she and Liv had been lapped, something she knew Francesca would never let them live down.
Embarrassed, Hannah tried to pick up pace, only to suddenly feel a pain shoot up the inner side of her tibia. Wondering why she was putting herself through hell, shin splints were all Hannah needed.
Wishing she was anywhere but there, her making it through the session was going to take a miracle.
CHAPTER28
Hannah sat on the back seat of Gabe’s car, listening to Aunt Dorothy chat to Gabe about how wonderful the training session had been. Just like earlier, he seemed genuinely interested in her thoughts and Hannah was pleased to hear that her aunt had enjoyed herself. The following day’s pain she was, no doubt, going to experience was worth it for that alone.
“Hark at me wittering on,” Dorothy said. “I haven’t let you get a word in, Gabe. Please, tell me something about you.”
“There isn’t much to tell,” Gabe replied. “My life’s pretty boring to be honest.”
