Page 60 of The Trip of a Lifetime

‘What?’ she answered, surprised.

He steered them away from the entrance to the bus station and down a side street.

‘Sam, what are you doing?’

‘I just wanted to say one thing before we go back. It’s just that I know we’ve got the rest of the race to go and I’m not sure I can bear to watch you disappear.’

He stopped for a moment and Erin found she had to gulp and hoped he hadn’t heard it.

‘I’m not going to disappear. You’ll see me at the checkpoints. I’ll be the one with the vodka, lime and soda, looking at her watch and wondering what took you so long.’

He laughed and took a step closer.

‘Will you indeed?’ he said, his eyes bright with amusement and also something else.

And there, on the corner of a side street in Winnipeg, he kissed her.

* * *

Martha was brushing her hair in front of the mirror when Erin walked through the hotel bedroom door. She looked a bit wired and Erin immediately felt sorry for the trouble she must have caused.

‘Hi, Nana,’ she said as the door closed slowly behind her. Her grandmother jumped.

‘Erin!’ she said and flew to her granddaughter, grabbing her and holding her tightly. ‘Thank goodness you’re here. What on earth happened? Are you okay? How did you manage with no money?’

‘It’s all right,’ Erin said and laughed. ‘I’m okay. I had Sam with me which was perfect because he was great.’

‘He was great, was he?’ Martha said with a slight smile. ‘I thought you couldn’t stand him.’

‘I know, I know, but it turns out he’s pretty decent. And I know how you feel about Harrison. Sam isn’t like his great-uncle.’

Martha turned away to carry on brushing her hair, although it was gleaming and not at all tangled. Erin threw herself down on top of the nearest bed.

‘Not that one.’ Martha almost shrieked and Erin jumped back up.

‘God, Nana. Why not?’ she said.

‘Oh, just because I’ve already had a nap on that one. That’s yours,’ she said, pointing to the bed nearer the window. ‘I’ve put your bag on it.’

Erin sat down on her own bed and watched her grandmother not really putting her hairbrush into her bag and then not really taking it back out again. She was being weird.

‘How are you feeling now?’ Erin asked her. ‘You seem better. I guess those pills worked.’

‘Hmm? Oh, yes. I feel so much better, thank you.’

‘I was worried about you. Sam told me not to be as Harrison would look after you. Did he?’

‘Did he what?’ Martha said, finally deciding to put the hairbrush down on her bedside cabinet.

‘What’s with you, Nana?’ Erin said.

‘Martha, please.’

‘There she is. She’s back,’ said Erin.

‘I’m sorry, love, just a bit tired. Tell me all that happened last night.’

Martha sat down next to Erin and finally seemed to relax.