Page 32 of The Way We Are Now

‘So, is that where you’ve been? Playing squash, as well as hooky, from lectures?’

Theo nodded. ‘I’ve been playing a match – it’s Wednesday – sports afternoon – over at Sheffield uni. There was an accident on the M1 and I was diverted off. I took a wrong turning and found myself on this country lane where I saw you skipping along.’ Theo turned to look at me, grinning.

‘And did you win?’ I asked, feeling myself go pink when he didn’t lower his gaze.

‘I did.’ He looked at his watch. ‘Look, can I give you a lift home?’

I held up the brown envelope I’d been given to deliver. ‘I’ve a job to do.’

‘Well, can I give you a lift to your “job to do”?’ Theo air-quoted the words, his eyes still on mine, and I had to laugh. Was delivering leaflets a summing-up of my political career so far? I suppose we all had to start somewhere. ‘Actually,’ he went on, ‘I could murder a lager. Anywhere you’d recommend?’

‘There are some really pretty villages round here,’ I said. ‘Silkstone, Cawthorne, Hoyland…’

‘Cawthorne? That’s supposed to be lovely. Do you have to be home? I mean, do you have to deliver those leaflets right away?’

‘The Mandeville Arms in Cawthorne is a good twenty-minute drive from here,’ I said. ‘Oh, Mandeville? One of your relatives?’

‘You remembered my last name?’ Theo looked slightly taken aback. Did he think I’d been stalking him in the way Fliss clearly had the previous year?

I examined my foot where a huge blister had developed on my big toe and, in doing so, evaded a response to his question.

Theo peered over at my foot. ‘You can’t walk on that. Come on, I’ll take you to your job to do.’

‘Leaflets from my boss,’ I said, holding up the envelope before standing and brushing grass from my dress.

‘And who’s your boss?’ Theo raised an eye, clearly interested.

‘Arthur Scargill,’ I replied proudly.

‘Blimey!’ Theo stared. ‘You’ve got yourself in the middle of the strike? Oh, of course, I remember now. Your dad? He’s a miner?’

I nodded. ‘Yep, we’re all in the thick of it.’

‘They can’t expect to win? Stop the government closing these mines? They’re not financially viable, surely?’

‘Who told you that?’

‘Well, you know, I read the news like anyone else. Watch the TV when I get chance…’ He trailed off, slightly embarrassed. ‘So, where do you need to be?’

‘The Alamo.’

Theo stopped in his tracks. ‘The Alamo? Sorry, don’t think I’ve enough petrol to get us to Texas.’

‘The Rothersley Alamo.’ I laughed. ‘On Pit Lane, down towards the colliery. It’s a sort of headquarters for the striking miners.’

Theo opened the car door for me and whereas, in the past, I might have thought, I’m a strong independent woman – I don’t need a man to open the door for me, it felt good.

Hell, what a turn of events. I’d been – let’s face it – sexually assaulted by my now ex, John Dyson, and a few hours later I was sitting next to Theo Mandeville, giving directions towards the colliery and the group of mainly men sitting, standing, chatting and smoking at The Alamo.

Once we’d arrived, Theo parked but kept the engine running and the men, as one, turned to stare, clearly trying to work out who the Mini belonged to. Friend or foe? As I got out of the car, Theo put a hand on my arm. ‘Will you come with me then?’

‘For a drink?’

Theo nodded.

‘OK.’ I remembered my manners. ‘Thank you, that would be lovely. Just give me five minutes.’

‘John got himself a new car?’ Mum had clearly spotted me from inside one of the wooden cabins and had come out, wiping her hands on a tea towel. ‘What happened to his Audi?’