The World At Their Feet

Life is for living

Daniel came hurtling back to the car, sweat damp on his brow, as Kate rolled down the window. “I can’t find her. She isn’t on the bus. I checked all the seats. I went into the pub over the road and she wasn’t there. I asked around but nobody’s seen her. If I call her mobile it goes to voicemail.”

“She’s eighty-one; she can’t have gone far.” Kate hid a smile as Daniel slipped into the passenger seat. His worrying made her love him a little more.

Their task this morning had seemed simple enough. Meet up after Daniel’s stint at work, then rendezvous with the coach. Maggie, his nan, was travelling from her home town. They’d need to ferry her to his parents’ semi-detached, then go into town, pick up a cake then take it to the venue of her birthday party.

“She’s not like other grans.” Daniel, it seemed, felt the need to explain one more time. “She married Granddad in three-months-flat down in London, aged twenty-three. She took her kids off to Australia on her thirtieth birthday on a whim. Last month she ended up in Mexico and didn’t tell a soul. She could be anywhere by now… even Everest!”

Kate could see how Maggie would struggle to fit into Daniel’s clan. They might have a hundred good points but they were nailed to bricks and mortar, the nine to five, and holidays in tourist traps. She’d seen photos of Maggie circa 1960. Tall and willowy with cheek-bones a model would envy, she could just image the woman laughing and saying, “I’m not going to be here tomorrow. I’m flying off to camp on the side of a mountain in Peru.”

In the car, a hand clutched at her arm

and Daniel’s face swam back into view. Sorry, did I go quiet there? she thought. I was riding a white horse into the surf on some uncharted beach with a much younger version of your nan .“So where do we look for her?”

Daniel hummed and haared. “The Lookout, maybe. She always took me there as a kid. It’s a café.”

“A café? That sounds a bit tame for your wild old nan.”

Daniel rested a hand on his forehead. He had a habit of doing that as if trying to stop worried thoughts from escaping like vapour through his skull.

They’d been a couple for over a year now. They’d sped past the “meeting your parents” milestone long ago and got stuck in the “saving up to get married” cul-de-sac.

“She was based down here for years, wasn’t she – when your granddad was alive?” Kate pointed out. “Are there any memories she might want to revisit?”

Daniel looked confused. “I don’t really know.”

Kate started the car and put it into reverse gear. “What are you doing now?” “I’m just trying to think the way your nan would.”

Kate remembered one particular technicolour snap of young Maggie – the wind blasting past her slim ankles, her skirt blowing up to show off conker coloured knees, her hair almost volcanic, like lava pluming and smoking from her scalp.

Kate almost hit a bollard and stamped on the brake. “Oops!” “Are you all right?” “I’m… fine.” The car made an exaggerated arch across the road, spitting up sand blown in on the breeze. “She loved being photographed on beaches by your granddad when she was

young. Maybe she headed that way?”

“She’s eighty-one.” Daniel clutched at his seatbelt. “She’ll go to a café. She’ll need the loo, a sit down and a breather.”

He did sometimes get lost in the little practicalities.

“I know what,” said Kate. “I’ll drop you off in town. You can search the cafés while I search the coast. We can keep in touch by phone.”

All’s quiet; no sightings of the target. How’s it with you?” “The target? What target? What are you talking about?” Daniel asked down the line to Kate’s mobile as the sun reached its zenith.

So much for pretending to be in a spy thriller – they weren’t his favourites.

“I haven’t found your nan yet.” Kate had avoided the tourist areas of his home-town. Instead, she’d searched the coastline to the east after dropping him off. Now her old car sat by the side of the road, its ancient electric motor humming as the soft-top folded down. She loved it when the wind blew through her hair as she’d sped down the lanes, only Daniel said it made his ears ache. That’s why she normally didn’t.

He huffed into her ear, “Mum and Dad say Nan’s still not home yet.” “Well, she must be somewhere.” “I’ve tried every café. I’m going home to pick up my car. Mum says she most likely went to The Castleford on the other side of town.”

“Yes, go and try there.” Though I’m sure you’ ll be wasting your time. The Castleford was a crumbling tearoom with a resident Collie. It drooled as it stared at you chewing your way through your scones. Maggie wouldn’t be there. She’d be on a yacht somewhere, charming the captain with tales of her exploits. He’d take her on a tour of the bay as she quaffed his champagne.

“Kate? You’ve gone quiet.” “Have I? Sorry. I’ll report back if I find her.” She ended her call and threw her phone onto the passenger seat.

She started her car and roared off. The wind screaming past turned her long blond hair into tumbling waves.

Kate said, “I knew I’d find you here, Maggie.” She had finally chanced upon a distant dot down by the ocean. A thick-set barrel of a woman dressed in blue shorts and a stripy top wandered along the shoreline. Her fine short hair blew back, still bright red although, these days, that colour must come from a dye-box. Steps led down to the private beach she’d strayed upon. Kate took them two at a time, glancing to the big house to her left. Would they get chased away like a couple of burglars? She pelted down the sand, calling, “Maggie? Maggie!”

Maggie turned, one hand lifting to shield her eyes “Yes?”

“I’m Kate, Daniel’s girlfriend.” Kate drew to a panting halt. “We’ve been looking for you all morning. Daniel’s in a right panic. You really need to turn your phone on or get a… tracker collar… or something.” She laughed.

“Yes, maybe I should at that. I fancied a bit of a wander. I didn’t feel like birthday cake or salmon and cucumber sandwiches just yet.” Maggie heaved out a sigh.

Of course, you didn’t. Why would you? Kate thought, looking at Maggie.

Her emerald green eyes seemed to stare right through flesh and bone and enter straight into Kate’s heart.

“It’s very nice to meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you.” Maggie held out

She’s not like other GRANS – she took off to Australia on a WHIM!

one wrinkled hand. Without another word she took hold and tugged Kate towards the surf lapping the golden sands.

“Are we going for a paddle?” Water curled over the lip of Kate’s sandals. “We really need to take our shoes off.”

Maggie tugged a little harder. For an old lady, she had a very strong grip. Kate gave a little squeal as a bigger wave thundered in. Too late, it broke across her legs, slashing up, so fat droplets dampened her face. Her soaked skirt cleaved to her legs. “What did you do that for?” She glared accusing at Maggie, whose flat brown shoes squelched, too. Thoughts thundered in: How far is it to Daniel’ spa rents’ place from here? Does Maggie have dry shoes? Has she had too much sun? Will she need ali ed own? She glanced at her sodden sandals. They cost me forty pounds. Will they dry out?

“Oh, the look on your face!” Maggie’s eyes shone with mirth. “You look like your whole world’s ended just because you have wet feet! Now, who do you remind me of?”

Kate’s mouth dropped ajar. Daniel maybe? Her shoulders sagged as she recalled him the day before making a fuss about roadworks setting him off on a long diversion. He’d been on an errand for his boss. Even the fact they’d changed his office chair had made him break out in a sweat. Unexpected wet feet… well, he might need counselling after that horror! Maggie peered into Kate’s pale face. “Maybe that idea I planned to tell you both was a bad one. I mean, it might be murder with the two of you tagging along. Then again, it was only after my Aunty Lily forced me on a trip to India in the Monsoon season that I realised holidays didn’t have to involve hotels, pools and cocktails. True adventurers aren’t always born; sometimes they have

to be made.” Maggie cocked one white eyebrow.

Kate might have found the old lady but now she felt completely lost. “Sorry, I’ve no idea what you’re talking about.”

“I’m talking about slumming it out in the wilds of the Congo, later in the year with some of my local contacts? What do you say? Are you and Daniel up to accompanying an old battle-axe on her very last escapade? We’ll see gorillas and maybe a tiger or two. I won’t be out adventuring again at my age, so I need this last trip to be memorable… for more than just myself.”

She gave a wistful smile then grimaced as if guessing Kate’s reply.

“No, no, I can’t. I have work and…

“I’m talking about SLUMMING it in the WILDS of the Congo,” she said

and… you’re… you’re eighty-one,” she stammered. “You can’t go slumming it anywhere at your age. It’s ridiculous.”

“Oh, please stop,” Maggie waved her away. “You might well love my grandson but don’t let him answer for you. My Edward was just the same – such a homebody, such an influence on me – all slippers, cocoa and holidays full of sun beds and bars.

“Why don’t you give Daniel a call? Tell him you’ve found me. Tell him to come and have a wade out to sea in his best suit. I assume he is wearing one? He usually does. Do you think you can talk him into that?”

Kate shook her head. “No. Most definitely not.”

Maggie heaved another sigh, turned her back and started to wander off.

“Er… don’t go far. Please,” Kate called after her. “Hello? Maggie?” Her brows creased. She’d always dreamed she’d meet someone one day who’d change her life. She had always considered it would be tall, good looking Daniel, a man who planned ten years ahead and made her future feel solid and dependable. Only to live that life, as his nan had clearly suspected, meant she’d avoided all risk of living another.

Maybe Daniel wasn’t the one who’d change her life forever, after all?

But I wouldn’ t mind a trip to the Congo, just a hut in a native village and Mother Nature all around.

Kate pulled out her mobile and speed-dialled.

“Have you found her?” Daniel asked urgently. “Is she all right?” “She’s fine. Hale and hearty.” “Where are you?” I’m… actually, I’m trekking through thick jungle looking for gorillas. All I can hear are insects and African grey parrots in the canopy above. I feel like an explorer. It’s as if nobody else has ever trodden this path before.” Kate gave a dry swallow. “Except perhaps your nan.”

She stared up into the wide blue skies above her and imagined herself thousands of miles away.

“Dan, your Nan wants us to go with her on her last adventure. Why don’t we do it? I would really, really like to go.”

She glanced to Maggie who stood close by now, her head cocked to one side. Kate knew that once upon a time that Maggie had asked a man the very same thing. Daniel’s grandfather had made a choice. He hadn’t travelled with her on her wildest escapades it was true, but he’d never stifled her sense of adventure.

I know you love me, Dan, Kate thought, but how do you love me? That’ s the question now.

She knew that at any moment she was about to find out…