One month later
Molly
Molly’s arms pumped by her sides, her legs striding forwards, finding the rhythm of her run. The air was cool and fresh with the dewy smell of blossom and spring. A weak sun fought through fluffy white clouds dropping beams across the landscape like spotlights.
Home wasn’t just a place, Molly thought, as her eyes absorbed the rich green tapestry of the peaks. It could be a person, like Henry and Isla were to Erica, or it could be a thing, an action. Running was Molly’s home.
Molly breathed slow and steady as she passed the stone wall and waved at the sheep grazing in the field. Her feet pounded the dry ground as she ran further up the hill.
Dare ya.
For a moment she could feel Billy running two strides in front of her, looking round every so often with a wide grin that made her laugh and spurred her on all in one go. Fresh tears built in Molly’s eyes and blurred her vision. The tears broke free and streamed down her face. The path ahead was clear. Just dried mud and green grass. She wiped the back of her hand across her eyes but didn’t stop.
Billy was gone. And finally a part of her that had been clinging on to him, or the grief, had too. She would always miss him, but she had to live her life now.
Her arms continued to move in perfect harmony with the stride of her legs. Her breath evened as she continued upwards.
Only when the path levelled and she reached the grass hilltop did Molly draw to a stop and pull in a deep lungful of air.
‘Hi,’ a voice said from behind her.
Molly spun towards it. ‘Erica?’ She grinned, striding towards her sister and enveloping her in a hug. ‘What on earth are you doing here?’
‘We’re visiting this weekend, remember?’
‘I remember. I meant here.’ Molly waved her hands out across the hilltop and beyond to the grassland and fields, broken only by stubby white stone walls and the occasional single-track road.
Erica laughed. ‘I phoned Joyce earlier. She told me you were planning to go for a run. I thought you might like some company.’
‘Thanks.’ Molly flopped onto the grass beside Erica. ‘Where’s Henry and Isla? I can’t wait to meet her.’
‘They’re at the B&B. Isla’s having a power snooze before we head to your Mum’s for dinner. I’m a bit worried she’ll be allergic to cats and puff up like a balloon,’ Erica said, pulling a face.
Molly laughed. ‘Don’t worry. Mum has returned all but Fiona to the shelter. She realized it was getting out of hand. She’s volunteering at the cat shelter instead, which gets her out of the house every day and she still gets to see the cats, and I get to have a cup of tea without cat hair floating in the top.’
Erica grinned and the pair fell into an easy silence.
‘I haven’t been up here for years,’ Erica said a moment later, tilting her face to the weak spring sunshine.
‘It’s so beautiful here,’ Molly said. ‘It was Billy’s favourite place. When he had a girl he really liked, he’d always bring her up here for a picnic.’
‘That’s sweet.’
‘I was out running and caught him shagging one of them once.’
‘What?’ Erica laughed. ‘Umm, maybe sweet isn’t the word then.’
Molly grinned at Erica and threw back her head, peals of laughter shaking her body. ‘No probably not.’
‘So tell me about your job then,’ Erica said. ‘You sounded so excited on the phone.’
‘I am.’ Molly lifted her head up to the sky as a ray of sun broke through the clouds. ‘I’m going to be working with Lee.’
‘Lee as in Arctic Lee?’
Molly grinned. ‘I’ll tell him you called him that. I think he’ll be pretty chuffed with the nickname.’
‘So how did that happen? Start at the beginning.’
‘I phoned Lee about a week after we got back. I wanted to apologize again for what happened and check the cut on Shelby’s paw was healing OK. He said he’d been really impressed with my mushing skills and if I was ever in need of a job then I should give him a call. And I said, actually, I was.’
‘So you’re going back to the Arctic?’ Erica pulled a face and shivered inside a black fleece two sizes too big that looked as though it might belong to Henry.
Molly shook her head. ‘No, not at first anyway. Lee’s office is in Rotherham. I’m going to take over the admin side of things for him. He also wants to expand the challenges to include other countries, which we’re going to look into. I’ll need to complete some training, but we’re thinking of a peak-to-peak challenge right here in the Peak District, which I would run.’
‘More camping?’
‘It wasn’t that bad, was it?’
Erica smiled and dropped her arm around Molly’s shoulder. ‘No, it wasn’t.’
‘So no more competing then?’ Erica asked, her voice hesitant as if she wasn’t sure she should.
Molly shook her head, swishing her curls in their ponytail. ‘I thought about it, but right now I want some balance in my life. I need a break from all or nothing. I spoke to my coach, Sam, though, and I’m planning to do a bit of volunteering, coaching a few kids.’
‘You’ll be amazing at that,’ Erica said, giving Molly an extra squeeze.
‘What about you? Any plans to go back to work?’
Erica frowned. ‘Not in TV. I think I’m looking for balance too. I’m taking each day as it comes right now. There’s a publisher interested in my book, and wants me to write another one.’
‘That’s fantastic. I can’t wait to read it. Will you do it?’
‘I’ve already started.’ Erica laughed. ‘I’ve been waking up at five and writing before Isla wakes up. Henry’s gone back full-time for now. Isla’s still at nursery a couple of days a week so I’ve got plenty of time to write, or do what I want to do.’
‘Are you happy?’ Molly asked. ‘Is that what you want?’
‘Yes I am. For now anyway, which is all that matters. Henry and I, we’re getting there; we’re making time for each other. It’s not all bouquets of flowers and date nights but we love each other and we love Isla.’
It was Molly’s turn to squeeze Erica closer. She leaned over and planted a kiss on Erica’s cheek. ‘I’m glad.’
‘Being up here reminds me of the Arctic,’ Molly said after a pause. ‘I think it’s the emptiness, like I’m the only person alive.’
‘Not so empty today.’ Erica pointed ahead to a small black dog, bounding over the hilltop towards them.
‘Aww, hey girl,’ Molly cooed as the bundle of soft fur tumbled over their legs. Molly stroked her silky black ears and fell back as the dog jumped up, nuzzling Molly’s face. ‘Please tell me this gorgeous creature is yours,’ Molly said.
‘Mine, ha.’ Erica laughed. ‘I may have a new-found respect for dogs,’ she said scratching the puppy’s ear, but –’
‘She’s mine,’ a familiar voice said.
Molly’s eyes shot up, her heart lurching into her throat as Noah strode onto the hilltop.
‘Bessie.’ He whistled as Molly leapt to her feet.
‘Hi,’ she said as a firework rocketed inside her stomach.
When I look at you, I just see you. I want you.
The feel of her lips touching his in the cold forest filled Molly’s head. The intense feeling of falling, a torch in the darkness.