Page 41 of The Trip of a Lifetime

‘Are we glad to see you,’ Tara said. ‘I was sure we were going to miss the train. Our bus didn’t show up and we had to hitch a lift.’

Erin picked up a leaflet lying on the seat next to her to make room for Tara but Priya chose to stand by the door, arms folded and with a pout on her face. That vibe was still strong and Erin pondered how likeable Tara was over her mother. It was watching that first race that had sealed her dislike of Priya, but Martha didn’t seem to get the same feeling as Erin. Then she wondered if Martha was right and careful editing had Priya painted in a bad light when in reality she was actually just a normal and nice person. Erin thought about her comment about the brothers being out of the race and then she glanced up at her again and at that pout. Maybe not.

Eight sixteen came and went and there was no sign of Harrison or Sam and no sign of the train. Erin and Martha chose to wait outside on the platform.

‘They’ve probably caught it further down the track,’ Erin said.

‘Knowing Harrison, he’s probably paid them to be late so he can just waltz up and step on it,’ said Martha glancing over her shoulder, but Noah and Cally were inside.

It had started to drizzle but still they chose being outside over the cramped confines of the waiting room with the restless contestants and crew.

‘Do you really feel you know him?’ Erin asked her. ‘I mean it’s been such a long time. Maybe you’re being a little unfair to him.’

Martha seemed to consider this for a moment.

‘Maybe you have a point,’ she said. ‘I was remembering twenty-three-year-old Harrison. I suppose I don’t know the man he is now. What about Sam, though? Do you really know him? Would you consider giving him a second chance?’

‘Absolutely not,’ Erin said. ‘He’s only just made a fool out of me. It’s a bit fresh.’

Erin really couldn’t forget how she had felt seeing him with Harrison at the welcome dinner. She’d had a camera in her face and had tried so hard to play down the hurt and embarrassment.

Then, two things happened at once. Sam and Harrison appeared as if they somehow knew Erin and Martha had been talking about them, and the long throaty horn of an approaching train could be heard.

‘There you go,’ Martha said to Erin. ‘What did I tell you. Waltzing up and stepping on board. I rest my case.’

They handed over the vast sum of cash and boarded the enormous train. It was nothing like the overground trains back at home and with no high-level platform, they had to pull themselves up several steps to get on board. It was nine on a Sunday evening and this would be their home until breakfast time on Tuesday morning. This thought filled Erin with a pleasant anticipation but it was tempered with a sudden worry of what would be next. It wasn’t the first time on this journey that she had felt like this. They were reaching the halfway point and with their funds becoming depleted and their energy levels similar, it was only going to get harder.

They settled down for the long trip, snuggled in their sleeping bags and with their seats reclined as much as they would go, but after an hour of the train rattling, Erin got up and decided to stretch her legs and go to the loo. Her grandmother seemed to have nodded off with her head nestled on a rolled-up jumper pressed against the window.

The toilet was occupied, so Erin leaned against the luggage rack while she waited, her face pressed against the glass of the window. The sun had gone now and the stars were gathering overhead. She smiled to herself as she considered where she was. Hamish had called her unadventurous. Look at me now, she wished she could say to him. Look at my achievement. She’d navigated her way across half of Canada and that was no small thing.

She heard the toilet flush and she took a step back. The door opened and out walked Sam.

‘Hello,’ he said.

Erin didn’t respond but stood with her arms folded across her chest, hoping she didn’t look like Priya.

‘We nearly didn’t make the train,’ he tried again and Erin wondered if she was just making herself look spiky and desperate by not responding. She shouldn’t be bothered by him at all. He was nothing.

‘How come?’ she said and stuck her hands in her pockets.

‘Bloody Harrison is so in charge of everything. The money, the tracker, the decisions. I’m twenty-seven and more than capable of making a few choices on what we could do. I suggested a bus because it was the easier option and guaranteed to get us to the station on time, but he was adamant we should try to get a lift share because it was cheaper. Well, we didn’t get one, left it too late and only just missed the bus. The same bus I’d suggested we got in the first place. We literally watched its back end leaving the station.’

‘What did you do?’

‘I found a taxi outside the bus station prepared to give us a lift to catch it up at the next stop. It was like a scene from James Bond. The driver overtook the bus and then screeched to a halt in front of it. So, we ended up paying the bus fare and fifty dollars for ten minutes in a taxi.’

Erin couldn’t help herself and laughed. Sam smiled good-naturedly.

‘How’s your race going?’ he asked her.

‘Brilliant. We got free accommodation in exchange for a few hours’ work and then they sorted us out with a lift to the station. We came in on the back of huge motorbikes.’

‘That’s cool. I would have liked to see that,’ he said and Erin couldn’t help but be delighted by that comment.

‘So, your money’s probably looking good too. Harrison is being a bit extravagant to be honest. I need to try and rein him in.’

Erin was storing up what he was saying, ready to relay it back to Martha. He seemed to have forgotten who he was talking to. Somehow he had moved closer and had his arm resting on the rack above her head. She could smell whatever deodorant he’d used. He had a different soft shirt on. This one was a dark, red-wine colour. She softened her stance and leaned a little more towards him. The pull was strong.