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‘I’m Alice. I want to say something.’ Alice’s cheeks were flaming red but she had that determined look on her face that Alex had seen time and time again. Leo tipped the microphone towards her and she took it out of his hand, as if she was afraid she might not get to speak her piece.
‘What is it you want to say, Alice?’
For a moment Alice wavered and Alex saw Hayley take her hand, squeezing it. ‘My leg was amputated two years ago...’ The stadium had fallen silent suddenly, in response to the urgency in Alice’s voice. She looked around wildly.
‘And then what?’ Leo’s voice, gently encouraging her. Alice focused suddenly on his face and he nodded her on.
‘I used to run for my county, and I’m training again now with the charity. I want to tell everyone that...’ Alice dried up suddenly.
Alex started to push towards them. Alice didn’t talk much about how desperately she wanted to run again, but somehow she’d screwed up the courage to share it with all these people. But this was enough. Good radio, good publicity for the charity, it all came second to Alice’s best interests and she didn’t want Leo pushing her.
He’d reached out, taking the microphone back and muting it. ‘That’s great, Alice. Is there something more you want to say?’
Alice nodded.
‘Okay then, take a breath and just look at me. Forget about everyone else and say it to me. Whenever you’re ready...’
‘I’m ready.’ Alice leaned towards him. ‘I want to say that you can do more than you think. If you just try.’
A ripple of applause ran around the spectators, and Leo held his hand up for silence.
‘That’s something I could do with remembering...’ Alex heard Leo’s voice catch suddenly, as if he had something lodged in his throat. ‘What do you do during your sessions at Together Our Way?’
‘I can’t run yet; I need a blade for that. But while I’m waiting I’m improving my fitness by exercising and I can jog... And I like the climbing wall.’
‘I’ll be looking for some advice on that, when I check it out next week.’ Leo shot Alice a grin and she beamed back at him, flushed with her own achievement. ‘Ladies and gents...’
He didn’t even have to say it. The audience was his, and he knew it. One movement of his hand and they roared their approval, while Alice and Hayley clutched each other, waving to the crowd.
CHAPTER NINE
‘ALEX!’
She looked round and saw Hayley’s father signalling towards the door, where a man and a teenage girl were standing, looking around uncertainly. Alex always made sure to welcome any newcomers herself and she took the steps between the seats at a run.
‘Hello. My name’s Alex Jackson.’ She paused to get her breath back and the girl’s face broke into a grin.
‘Hi. I’m Carys.’
Alex had hoped that Carys would come today, and she’d said that her father would be bringing her. She wondered whether Carys had told him that they’d already spoken.
The man held out his hand. ‘I’m Ben Wheeler. I hear my daughter’s been phoning you.’
‘Dad...’ Carys started to protest and Alex smiled at the man. Traces of grey in his hair, and lines around his eyes. His smile seemed weary, as if it was something he had to remember to do.
‘We’re always glad to hear from young people who might be interested in joining us.’ She decided to tread lightly at first.
‘Well, I don’t know whether she’s ready. She’s having problems with the fit of her prosthesis...’
‘Dad!’ Carys frowned, obviously feeling that her father was intent on undermining her.
‘That’s not unusual. It sometimes takes a while to get things right. We can give some help and advice on that, and in the meantime perhaps I can introduce Carys to some of our members.’
‘Right. Yes, that’s...’ Ben rubbed his hand across his head in a gesture of helplessness. ‘Will you be all right on the steps, Carys?’
‘I’m a physiotherapist; I’ll make sure she doesn’t fall.’ Alex put on her most persuasive smile. ‘Why don’t you sit and watch—we’ll be having more races soon.’
She gestured towards a seat, which just happened to be in front of Hayley’s parents, and Ben nodded and sat down. As she turned, she saw Hayley’s father leaning forward to introduce himself.
