Page 39 of The Golden Girls’ Road Trip

We stop for fuel before we arrive in Bala at four, and Alex gets Bardo out for a wee. She insisted we stay here for the night to give me a break, but I’m thinking it’s the van that needs a break really.

‘We can have an easy night and leave early in the morning,’ she says, as she points to a parking space outside a convenience store in the high street. ‘I’ve found a lodge overlooking the lake and thought we could grab something for dinner, then we won’t have to come back out again.’

Another expensive room for the night. I wonder if Alex has the ability to slum it. I pull into the space and we get out.

‘I’d like to see if I can buy some more wool,’ I say. ‘I’m really keen to get one ball in each place we go.’

‘Not sure you’re going to get much joy here,’ she says, looking up and down the high street. ‘Maybe the charity shop, though. Let’s grab some food and then have a look.’

We pick up a bag of stir-fry veg and a sachet of sauce, some noodles and some frozen king prawns. Alex takes a couple of bottles of wine and a large bag of cashew nuts.

‘Don’t look at me like that,’ she says, although I’m sure I wasn’t giving her any kind of look. ‘I’m quite often in pain and the wine helps to dull it.’

‘Alex, you’re a grown woman; you can do whatever you want. I’m not judging.’ And I’m not judging because I picked up a couple of bottles myself. I’ll keep them in the van for a rainy day.

The charity shop proves to be a success, as there’s a basket of yarn on the counter. I choose a ball of spring-green-coloured wool and pay the woman serving.

‘You have a project in mind?’ she asks.

‘I do. I’m crocheting a blanket for my grandchild, due in December.’

‘How lovely,’ she says, and I feel a warmth flood me. It is lovely, and reminds me that I want to be in a good place when he or she arrives. I do want to be settled, I want to be happy, I want to be ready.

‘You’ll need a lot more than the one ball if it’s to cover the whole baby,’ she says laughing. I look round at Alex who is touching the collar of a jacket, her face impassive.

‘I’m buying one ball in each place we stop. We’re on a road trip. My friend Alex is an artist.’

‘Well, that sounds like a lot of fun, ladies, and a wonderful idea for the blanket. I’m glad it will have a little of Bala in it.’

‘Oh, I need a swimming costume,’ I say, suddenly remembering.

‘I’ve actually got two, new in. But one’s a young girl’s size. Let me have a look,’ she says disappearing through the door at the back of the shop. Alex wrinkles her nose.

‘I hope it’s not been worn,’ she says, and I roll my eyes at her.

‘I wouldn’t worry if it has been. I’m sure it’s washed.’

‘Hmm, don’t count on it,’ she says.

‘It’s a medium, whatever that means, and it’s a bit bright.’ The woman reappears with something red in her hand. Red with blue polka dots on it. I can hear Alex sniggering behind me.

I take it from her and drape it across my body to check for a fit.

‘Don’t you have a branch of Zoggs or Speedo round here?’ Alex asks, but doesn’t get a response from either of us.

‘I’ll take it,’ I say, pulling out my purse again.

‘A fiver for a new swimsuit is perfect,’ I say, tucking it into my bag with the wool. I’m surprisingly excited to get back to adding to the rows I’ve already completed. It’s really beginning to take shape and I allow myself the idea of a scenario where Diana takes it from me with a grateful hand, a smile on her face as warm as the one from the woman behind the counter.

‘Good luck with your blanket,’ she says as we leave.

*

The road is narrow on the south side of the vast lake and the sunlight is fractured as it comes through the trees. I take off my sunglasses as they don’t seem to be helping and the dappled light is tricky. After a couple of miles we arrive at the lakeside lodges. Three cedar-boarded cabins are nestled in the trees with a garden of ferns and angelica. Alex points to a parking space outside the first lodge.

‘How have you managed to secure one of these?’ I ask, as I pull into it. ‘They must book by the week surely.’

‘They do only book by the week, but I got lucky, because the people staying in this one had to leave early, so it’s free for a few nights. I said I’d pay for the remaining days, and sweet-talked the lad on an e-mail. Don’t forget, Connie, I’ve put the work in here. I’ve been through every hotel and B&B in the area. This is incredibly lucky.’