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Then it was Rachel’s turn. The male instructor rigged her up, with a very snug harness, showed her how to hold the rope and work the belay plate to make her way down safely. Now all she needed to do was to step off what was basically a rocky cliff edge. She took a deep breath. Life had presented her with enough metaphorical cliffhangers lately, without her choosing to tackle a literal one, but hey ho, she couldn’t wriggle out of this challenge … ‘Woo-hoo!’ she called out as she felt herself dangle precariously, whilst she was actually thinking, Shite, oooh, shite. But step-by-wide-angled-step, and inch-by-inch, she made her way down, with a quick, heart-stopping downwards lurch when she let through too much rope, then into a calmer final descent. As Rachel reached the bottom, a big cheer went up from the girls, and with her heart still thumping she realised she had actually enjoyed it.
Once they’d all had a turn, they tried the same descent again. Rachel got the hang of it, one foot at a time, and once she’d mastered controlling the belay and prusik rope, she decided it was brilliant fun, and went back for another challenge on a slightly higher face, along with daredevil Kirsty. The others in the group were happy to watch from solid ground and cheer them on at this point.
All this activity was followed by a much-needed chill-out back at base in the lodge’s Jacuzzi. Limbs were aching and muscles they hadn’t used in years sore, but they all felt proud of themselves for having given it a go and getting themselves down successfully.
‘Was a bit worried I wouldn’t make it down that ravine. I felt my stomach churn as I took my first step over the side, I must say,’ admitted Jill.
‘But you still did it – well done you, Mum.’
‘Face the fear and do it anyway! That’s the way.’ Hannah grinned.
‘Well, I suppose it was better than a bungee jump or something. Thank heavens you hadn’t organised that for us, Eve. Hah, at least this was one foot at a time. At one point I was so worried I’d let too much rope slip through. But once you got the hang of it …’ Rachel was beaming.
‘It wasn’t half as bad as I’d feared,’ added Hannah.
‘It never is …’ smiled Kirsty.
‘Especially when you’ve got a safety harness on and your friends by your side,’ chuckled Eve.
And that’s exactly how it had felt this past couple of years, mused Rachel, looking across at her group of fabulous friends and her brave mum. It had been friends and family providing the safety net just when she needed it. ‘You all did great,’ Eve added, so pleased her idea had gone down well with everyone. She knew that Rachel wouldn’t have wanted to prance about in a bride-to-be sash and sit drinking all weekend. But well, maybe just for a few hours …
‘Well, I bloody loved it,’ enthused Kirsty. ‘I might even look for more classes back home. Can’t wait to tell Josh and little Callum all about what Mummy’s been up to. Beats changing nappies and mashing up baby food, any day.’
It was time to get themselves out of the warm bubbles and put their glad rags on, ready for their evening out in Oban. Well, there needed to be at least part of the hen weekend spent sitting in a lurid pink sash with a drink to hand!
First, they had to head to the train station to collect Charlotte, who was hopping with excitement on the platform, with her overnight bag and a relieved grin. ‘Thank heavens, I’ve made it. I’ve been thinking of you lot all here these past twenty-four hours. And those photos on Facebook of the lodge, a-maz-ing! But, I’m here now and I’m so ready for this.’
Rachel took her friend’s bag from her and pulled her in for a hug. ‘I’m so glad you’re here, and thank you for taking on the train trek today. Now I’ve got all my besties here together, as well as my wonderful mum, of course. I’m so happy.’
There were hugs and hellos all round, and the group started strolling along the platform for the exit.
‘Right then, off to the first pub,’ announced Kirsty. ‘I do believe Charlotte here has a bit of catching up to do.’
‘I spotted one just along the road as we passed that looked all right,’ said Rachel. ‘It’s not far from the harbour. Shall we walk from here and give it a try?’
‘Sounds good to me,’ replied Charlotte, with the others all in agreement.
A round of gin and tonics and a juice for Jill, who’d offered to drive them back, went down rather well in the old-fashioned, black-beamed Scottish pub, accompanied by lots of chatter and laughter. It was soon time to head on to the bistro, which they discovered in a cute spot on the seafront. The owner had reserved them the large front table with a great harbour view.
A supper of local scallops, chilli prawns, steak burgers and freshly made fish and chips followed. The desserts were a triumph – it had to be done, of course – with raspberry cranachan coming out the firm favourite, followed closely by a velvety chocolate mousse made with whisky and orange.
Proseccos were poured, and the chatter continued, as they finished their gorgeous meal. After thanking the staff and owners, and leaving a generous tip, they headed out into the cooling evening air. It had been a real treat, one which admittedly Rachel and Jill couldn’t afford to do often, but this was a special weekend, after all.
‘Okay ladies, one last pub stop, and then we’ll head back to the lodge, yes?’ suggested Kirsty.
‘Are you okay with that, Mum?’ Rachel checked, aware that Jill was driving.
‘Of course, love. It’s great seeing you all enjoying yourselves.’
And so it was that they ended up in The Lobster Pot, further along the seafront. They all crammed around a small table in a corner near the bustling bar, large glasses of wine in hand, and Eve dug something out of her handbag – six sparkly pink sashes that read, ‘Team Bride’, and one that said ‘Bride-to-Be’, along with a twinkly plastic tiara. And, as a grand finale, a pair of silver deely boppers.
Rachel looked aghast. ‘You’re kidding … I said no fuss, and absolutely no deely boppers!’
‘Argh, come on Rach, you only get married once … well, hopefully,’ Kirsty gave a cheeky grin.
‘Let’s do this thing; look, we’re all in it together.’ Eve started passing around the sashes and Jill, who was totally sober, bless her, put hers straight on.
‘It is your hen do, after all,’ Charlotte cajoled.
‘Ah, okay, this pub only, all right. And I’m only doing it to please you lot …’
Of course, nearing the bottom of her glass and realising she needed the bathroom, Rachel had totally forgotten she was wearing her sash, tiara and deely boppers as she tootled off to the toilet. She wondered why she was getting several stares and a wolf-whistle as she passed the blokes at the bar. On the way back, an old guy started singing, ‘I’m getting married in the morning’, at which there was a flash of a camera from Kirsty – oh damn, there’d be photographic evidence – and the hen do party collapsed into fits of giggles.
Rachel blushed pink and began tugging at her tiara, just as a tall, good-looking bloke stepped forward from the bar.
‘Hey, haven’t I seen you somewhere before?’ He gave a cheeky grin and then gestured across to their table.
What a line, Rachel thought, rolling her eyes. ‘I don’t think s—’ She was keen to make her getaway.
‘No, really, I’m not one to forget a pretty face.’ Cheesy or what? ‘You and two of your friends there, you were at the service station near Glasgow.’
Oh blimey … She took in the sandy-blond hair, the broad chest. It was him. Coca-Cola T-shirt Man. He walked across with her back to their table. ‘Good evening, ladies.’
‘Hell-ooo.’ ‘Hi.’ ‘Hi, there’ came a chorus of chirpy responses accompanied by broad smiles.
‘It’s T-shirt Man,’ Rachel mouthed to Eve, over his shoulder.
‘Nice to see you again.’ He smiled directly at Eve.
‘Yeah, apparently this, er, gentleman, remembers us from the service station. What are the chances, hey Eve?’
Eve’s mouth dropped open. ‘Gosh, yes. Hah.’
‘So, you lot know each other?’ quizzed Hannah.
‘I wouldn’t say that. We just happened to be getting out of our cars at the same time at the service station yesterday,’ said Rachel.
‘It’s Ross, by the way.’ He introduced himself to the group.
‘Hi, Ross.’
‘So, you girls were on your way to a hen do then? Your hen do, in fact.’ His hand was now resting on Rachel’s shoulder. It felt like a friendly gesture, nothing more.
‘Yep.’
‘One lucky guy.’
‘He sure is,’ said Eve, proud of her friend.
Soon a few of Ross’s mates had joined the group and there was more chat and laughter. They were keen to know where the girls were from and what they all did. Ross, it turned out, did garden maintenance; mostly bigger jobs like lopping tree branches, cutting back shrubs, mowing large lawns, he explained.
‘Yeah, I’d been to Glasgow that day to pick up a new ride-on.’
Several of the girls raised their eyebrows at that, with a giggle bursting forth from Eve.
‘Lawn mower,’ he added, shaking his head but grinning all the while.
It was all harmless fun and added to the jollity of the night. But after one more round of drinks, which the local lads insisted on buying, Rachel spotted Eve sidling up to Ross and batting her eyelashes, getting a little too up close and personal. Now that really wasn’t like Eve at all. What was she up to? She was definitely starting to look a little the worse for wear, wobbling on her high-heeled shoes too.
‘Time to go, Eve,’ Rachel called out, moving in to steer her away from Mr T. The others were already popping on their jackets anyhow, deciding it was time to head back to the lodge.
‘They were a nice bunch of lads, weren’t they?’ said Rachel.
The girls were crammed in the back of the Land Rover, chatting away on the slightly bumpy ride home along the winding lane to the cabin.
‘Yeah, pretty cute too,’ chipped in Kirsty.
‘Hah, well, we’d only be looking. We’re all married – or nearly married – ladies, after all,’ added Charlotte.
‘Hmmm, absolutely,’ Eve said a little drowsily.
‘Well, I only have eyes for Tom. Honestly, I couldn’t even imagine wanting anyone else, ever.’ Just thinking about him made Rachel feel all warm and fuzzy.
‘Well, that’s a good job, seeing as you’re getting married on the fourth of July,’ added Hannah.
Eve was unusually quiet, sitting a little slumped in the seat next to Rachel. ‘You okay, hun?’
‘Yeah,’ Eve’s voice was a whisper. ‘Think I might need a bit of air.’
‘You’re not going to be sick, are you? Shall I shout on Mum to stop?’
‘No, no, I’ll be fine, honest. Just a bit woozy …’
‘Anybody got a carrier bag as insurance?’ added Kirsty wryly.
The hens got sleepier on the last mile back, the winding road and effects of the alcohol lulling them. Eve rested her head on Rachel’s shoulder, and Rachel stroked her friend’s hair gently.
Half an hour later, after a brief nightcap back at the lodge, Hannah and Kirsty had given in and headed to bed, followed soon afterwards by Charlotte and then Eve. Jill, who still remained sober, started clearing the glasses into the sink, and gathered up a handful of confetti from the floor. ‘Oh …’ She suddenly stopped in her tracks.
‘What’s up?
‘Oh nothing … well,’ she burst into a daft grin, ‘I didn’t realise they did willy-shaped confetti, I must say!’
‘Hah, nor did I.’ Rachel scooped some up from the table top, taking a closer look.
‘Bloody hell, it is too. I’d better warn them not to bring that to church, the vicar would have a fit.’
They had a good old chuckle.
‘Don’t worry about the washing up now, Mum. We can do that in the morning.’
‘Well, I am pretty shattered,’ admitted Jill. ‘It was a great night though.’
‘Yeah, it was … and thanks again for driving.’
‘No worries … and at least I won’t have a thick head in the morning.’
‘Night then, Mum.’
‘Night, love.’
Rachel headed over and gave her mum a kiss on the cheek and a warm hug. ‘I’m glad you’re here with us.’
‘Me too. Sleep tight, pet. Hope the bed bugs …’
‘… don’t bite,’ they chanted together, with a shared smile. A saying from Rachel’s childhood.
It was all dark in the room that Rachel and Eve were sharing. Rachel decided not to blast the light on, as Eve should be all tucked up in bed, but strangely things just didn’t feel right as Rachel entered.
‘Eve?’
‘Ah … huh,’ the answer didn’t seem to be coming from the bed.
Rachel moved forward cautiously and fumbled for the bedside lamp. She clicked the switch. ‘Oh, Eve … are you okay?’ Her maid of honour was splayed out, still fully clothed, propped on the floor at the foot of the bed. ‘What are you doing down there, hun?’ Rachel started to sober up amazingly quickly.
‘I … I don’t know …’ Eve looked about her, seemingly as surprised as Rachel was to see herself at floor level.
‘Okay then, hun. Let’s get you up and into bed.’ Rachel helped hoist her friend up onto the mattress and proceeded to help her off with her clothes, leaving her with bra and knickers on, then tucked her in under the duvet. She seemed extremely tipsy, which wasn’t like Eve at all, as she could usually hold her drink better than Rachel.
‘Right, I think I’ll fetch us both a big glass of water. Help clear our heads a bit,’ said Rachel, hoping to stave off the hangover from hell the next morning. ‘Stay there then, hun.’ To be fair, Eve didn’t look as if she was going anywhere.
‘Hmm,’ was all her friend could utter, whilst clinging on to the duvet cover as if it were a life raft.
Rachel hoped Eve wasn’t about to be sick. Thinking quickly, she moved the waste-paper bin across to Eve’s side of the bed – better safe than sorry. She headed for the kitchen and was soon back with two large glasses of water, making her friend take a few big sips before glugging down her own. Soon in her PJs, Rachel slipped into bed, turned off the lamp and then whispered, ‘Night, Eve.’
‘Nigh … Rach …’ There was a pause and then a whisper sounded in the darkness. ‘Rach?’
‘Yes, hun?’
‘I can tell you anything, right? You … you can keep a secret?’
‘Yeah, of course. Eve, I’m your best friend.’ Rachel waited for her friend’s voice again, holding her breath. Silence. Well, except for a little puffing, snoring sound.
Rachel sighed. She was sound asleep, bless her. But what ‘secret’ did Eve want to share? And, Rachel reflected again, she had behaved a little out of character that night. It was also unusual for Eve to have drunk so much. Still, Rachel mused, we could all have our moments and let our hair down just a little too much. Oh yes, Eve had looked after her more than a few times as a teenager, she remembered fondly.
But Rachel felt a bit unsettled. She vowed to keep an ear out through the night, and make sure her friend was all right.
5
EVE
A full-blown marching band was thumping away inside Eve’s head the next morning.
Bloody hell, how had she let herself get so damned tipsy? Oh God, there was a vague memory lurking in her car-crash of a brain … of T-shirt Man. Oh yes … she might just have told him she’d been very impressed by his gorgeous bare chest. She gave a groan from beneath the duvet. She really didn’t want to spoil the last full day of Rachel’s hen do. Nope, she ought to try and get herself up and out of bed right now. But, trying to shift up from the pillow was proving extremely difficult, every movement producing a hammer blow inside her skull.
There was a knock on the door and, peeking through one squint eye, Eve saw Jill appearing with two large mugs of tea. ‘Morning, girls.’
Oh, so Rachel was still there in bed too.
‘Hi, Jill.’ Eve could hardly recognise her own voice, which came out as a rasp, but at least she had managed to speak.
‘Morning, Mum.’ Rachel sounded slightly fresher.
‘No rush, but I thought you might need these … and these …’ She placed down a packet of paracetamol beside the two mugs.
‘Thanks, Mum. How’re you doing there, Eve?’ Rachel asked sympathetically.
‘Not sure yet …’ answered Eve, struggling.
‘You don’t happen to have a full schedule of activities planned for today, do you hun? No bungee jumping or anything lined up?’ Rachel said wryly.
‘No …’ Thank the Lord.
‘That’s good to know.’ Rachel managed a chuckle.
‘Definitely a day for us all to chill out then,’ Jill chipped in.
‘Absolutely.’
‘Hmmm …’ The power of speech was failing Eve.
‘Right, well, you two just take your time.’ Jill’s voice was chirpy, far too chirpy. ‘Me and Hannah are up, but we’re more than happy out on the deck enjoying the sunshine and having a natter over a cuppa. The other two are still in the land of nod.’
Eve heard footsteps retreating, uttered a groan-like ‘thanks’, and then buried herself back under the duvet. She most definitely wasn’t ready to face the day just yet. As she sank back into the pillows, something else was niggling at her too. Something besides her hangover. Her emotions had been pretty wobbly over the past few weeks … a certain worry keeping her awake at night. Normally, she’d share her concerns with her best friend, but it was a bit trickier than that. She went through a mental check list of all the reasons to keep schtum:
a) She really didn’t want to air her silly worries now, and spoil what should be a fab hen party for them all.
b) She could hardly make any sense of it herself just yet.
c) Telling someone might make it all the more real. At the moment, she could just leave well alone, pretend nothing at all had happened, and just carry on with life as normal. Right?
The only trouble was that it wasn’t leaving her alone, and it was starting to do her head in, as well as leaving her heart wallowing in a weird, splodgy puddle.
Eve let out a long, slow sigh. Just thinking about her dilemma made her head pound even more. She fumbled on the bedside table for the paracetamol packet, managed to push two of the pills out and glugged them down with a slurp of tea. Urgh, they tasted foul as they lodged in her throat.
Why did life have to be so bloody complicated?
A long, leisurely soak in the Jacuzzi soothed them all that afternoon – warm and bubbly, with good company and relaxed chatter. Bliss. It was certainly just what Eve needed.
When early evening swung around, Rachel and Hannah nipped out to the town to buy some treats for an easy supper. As soon as they left, Eve ran into the middle of the living room and called the fellow hens over.
‘Right, ladies, it’s go time! Let’s get transforming!’ she shouted, rallying the troops as they started to turn the lodge into a DIY SOS-style hen-do decoration zone. Pearlised pink and silver balloons were blown up and hung from the ceiling, streamers were draped artistically, along with bunting that Eve had made especially for the wedding and brought with her from home. The ‘Team Bride’ sashes were back out, and the girls even set up a cardboard ‘photo booth’ picture frame you could stand behind with lots of fun props – spectacles, hats, feather boas, and more.
When Rachel and Hannah arrived back thirty minutes later, they were surprised by a blast of party poppers and hooters, their friends leaping out at them as they came through the cabin door.
‘Well you lot have certainly perked up!’ Rachel grinned, looking around her at the transformation. ‘Aw, this is amazing, you guys.’
‘Well, we couldn’t let the last night pass without a bit of a bang,’ exclaimed Charlotte.
Jill approached from the kitchen with a tray of freshly frosted, salted caramel cupcakes. ‘I think it’s time we popped open the prosecco again then, girls.’
Eve’s tummy gave a gurgle of protest at the mere thought of alcohol. ‘I’ll pass on the prosecco just now, Jill,’ she gulped. ‘But I might well have to try one of those.’
They ate the cupcakes as dessert first, followed by a platter of local breads, cheeses, and pâtés. They sipped their prosecco, bar Eve who opted for fizzy water, and then settled down for a night of hen-do fun. A proper Girls’ Night In.
The photo booth proved a great hit, and lots of silly, smiley photos were taken. Games were played, including an ‘interesting’ hen-do version of what might be known as ‘Pin the Tail on the Donkey’, which produced much hilarity, especially when a blindfolded and blushing Jill managed to place the ‘tail’ appendage slap-bang in the middle of the cartoon man’s face.
It was getting late when Kirsty suggested a quick-fire game of ‘Truth or Dare’, along with an Irish cream nightcap. Kirsty nominated herself as question master – a sneaky move, the others agreed, giggling. They’d have to think of a humdinger of a group question for her as a grand finale.
It came to Jill’s turn.
‘Truth or Dare?’
‘Truth. Go on, I’ve nothing to hide.’
‘Be careful of the question here, Kirst,’ Rachel piped up. ‘Remember it’s my mother you’re asking. There are certain things I really don’t want to hear.’
‘Okay, okay. So, Jill, how many different people have you kissed – romantically, that is?’
‘Ooh, now then …’ Jill held out her hand as she was thinking, counting off digits. ‘Blimey, some of them will be way back. School stuff and first boyfriends.’
‘Better be before Dad …’
Robert was counted in as number four – Eve spotted Rachel sighing slightly, bless her, as Jill mouthed her dad’s name. And then Jill paused before counting out one more … oh, Dan? She must have kissed Dan. Eve didn’t know too much about Jill’s new romance, but she knew it had been a bit tough for Rachel to come to terms with.
‘Five. Yes, five.’
Five in all her fifty-two years. She’d married young, Eve supposed. Times were different then.
‘Thank you, Jill!’
‘Next, Rachel. Bride-to-be. We need to know your first kiss – when, where and who with.’
‘Really? Okay, so it was at school, in the summer, school field, I was fifteen …’ She pinked up, remembering. ‘It was pretty awful, a clash of teeth and metal braces, in fact.’ Rachel had wondered what the fuss was all about. ‘Hah, yes, his lips were a bit like a washing machine on full spin.’
The group were in fits of giggles now.
‘And … it was with Matty Douglas,’ came Rachel’s confession.
‘Hah, yes.’ Eve smiled, having been privy to this ‘major’ news at the time.
‘Ooh, really?’ Hannah raised her eyebrows.
‘Yes, of course,’ Charlotte chipped in. Matty was still about in the village. He was a nice lad, had improved since the braces had come off. He now had a car-valeting business and was married with a kid.
‘Eve’s turn,’ the girls called out, grinning. They were nearly all done now, bar Kirsty.
Eve felt a flash of concern. She hated this kind of game at the best of times, and now it made her feel a bit queasy … especially with everything that was going on in her life right now. ‘Okay, okay.’
‘So, Eve, last kiss, when, where and with whom?’
‘You didn’t give me the chance to say Truth or Dare,’ Eve blurted out.
‘Hmm … Eve Jones, you are reluctant to tell the truth … interesting …’ Kirsty put on an interrogative tone, then took a big sip of her Irish cream.
‘Okay, yes, it was Amelia when we said goodbye on Thursday morning.’
‘Romantic kisses, we’re talking,’ added Kirsty.
Eve felt herself flush before quickly saying, ‘Ben, of course.’
‘Right then, we need a question for Kirsty now,’ Rachel said, swiftly rolling the game on. Eve saw her friend glance across at her, seeming to sense her unease. ‘Come on, ladies, group confab. It needs it be a good one,’ Rachel continued.
The group whispered between themselves, until Charlotte came up with a great question. ‘Have you ever had a crush on a teacher at high school? If so, which one and why?’