Charles seemed to know quite a lot about the parkrun and he talked to me and to Ash, who sat between us at the curry house, asking us questions, most of which we didn’t have the answers to yet.
‘Any idea how you’re going to recruit volunteers?’ Charles asked as plates of poppadums and pickles were delivered to the tables. Nearly everyone had opted for tall glasses of lager.
‘That’s Claire’s department,’ said Ash, deferring to me. ‘I’m going to be managing the technology side once we’re tied in with parkrun.’
The division of labour according to our respective talents and abilities had been agreed since we’d come back from Tring. We were both willing to play to each other’s strengths.
‘Sounds like the pair of you make a great team.’ Charles cast a fond look towards his wife, who was sitting opposite me.
‘We do,’ murmured Ash in a low voice which I only heard because he’d turned towards me and I saw his lips mouth the words. It was oddly intimate, as if the words were for me alone.
It took me a second to force my eyes away from Ash’s golden stare and respond to Charles again; in my bid to sound normal, I came across as overly brusque. ‘The key thing was to get permission to use the park. Now we’ve got that we can really motor on other things. We’re going to organise a meeting in The Friendly Bean for people who are interested in helping set up the run and for volunteers. I thought I’d put up a poster in the café.’
‘Volunteers are going to be crucial,’ Charles agreed.
‘Yes, so I’m thinking of designing something that we could post on social media and encourage people to share.’
‘Great idea. If you send me something we can get it up on the Harriers page. And are you on the Everything Churchstone Facebook group? You definitely should post there.’
‘Not heard of that one,’ I said.
Penny opposite me pulled a face. ‘Lucky you. A lot of it is about dodgy parking, lots of dog-poo complaints, and “can anyone recommend an electrician” requests, but there are also some useful community posts. Just be warned, people can be quite… shall we say, outspoken on there; be prepared for as many negative comments as positive ones.’
‘Ha, you mean absolute toss pots. I don’t know what it is about social media; some people shouldn’t be allowed anywhere near a keyboard.’ A fair-haired woman on Penny’s left joined in. ‘Bonkers it is. The moral majority come out in their droves wound up more by the piss-takers who seem to delight in stoking up trouble. But, like Penny says, it’s a good way of spreading local information. My husband, Matt, is a freelance designer, I could ask him to knock you up a quick design, if you wanted.’
‘That would be wonderful, thank you.’
‘Don’t get too carried away. I have a purely selfish motive. I’m already thinking of the bliss of a couple of child-free hours on a Saturday morning. Can’t think of anything better. I’m Janie, by the way, and Penny is lucky enough to live next door to me, where I bring light and sunshine into her life.’
Penny laughed and put her arm around her friend. ‘Is that what they call it? Plenty of gin, I’d say.’
‘Where do you live, Claire?’
‘On Park Road, on the south side of the park.’
‘Please don’t say on that lovely terrace,’ begged Penny. ‘I adore those houses.’
‘The end one on the right.’ I winced in pretend apology but it was exactly the comment I had wanted ever since I first viewed the house.
‘Right, I’m coming round. I’ve always wanted to see what they’re like inside.’
‘Well, if she’s coming, I’ll have to supervise, and I have gin,’ Janie said.
The two of them were completely irresistible and with a smiling shrug, I said, ‘Why not?’
And it seemed in Churchstone it was just that simple to make new friends. We exchanged mobile numbers and there and then Janie set up a WhatsApp group titled ‘Bitch with Gorgeous House’.
‘You do know, Janie, that you could join the kids on the parkrun,’ Penny said.
‘Why the hell would I want to do that? One, I get to torture Matt and two, like I said, I get a couple of child free hours.’ Janie rolled her eyes and turned to Claire. ‘Sometimes there is a question mark over why we’re such good friends. She has some funny ideas.’
‘I also have very good taste in gin.’ The two of them began to laugh at each other again.
It suddenly occurred to me that if Alice wasn’t home, I’d have to take Poppy and Ava with me.
‘Why the hell do you think I started running?’ asked Janie, patting a small firm tummy, laughing again. ‘Apart from to try and get rid of the baby fat… eight and five years on, it’s still not worked.’
‘How old are your children?’ asked Penny suddenly
‘Ten and six’ I said. ‘They’re not actually mine; they’re my nieces but my sister is away at the moment so I’m looking after them.’
‘Gosh, you’re a saint,’ said Janie. ‘I don’t suppose you want another two?’
‘No,’ I laughed, enjoying the company of these two women. It was refreshing to see that, despite their diametrically opposite approaches to their children, they seemed to adore each other. ‘That’s very generous of you but I’m still figuring out how these two work.’
Janie threw herself back in her seat and cackled, pouring herself, me, and Penny another glass of wine from the bottle that she and Penny had ordered. ‘Feed ’em, love ’em and sink gratefully into a sofa and a glass of wine when they go to bed,’ she said.
‘I know that feeling,’ I said. ‘It’s keeping on top of all the paperwork that’s a killer.’
‘What school are they at?’
‘Churchstone Primary.’
‘Same as ours,’ said Penny. ‘Ten and six did you say?’
‘Yes, Poppy’s in Year 6, Mrs Philips class and Ava’s in Year 1, Miss Parr’s class.’
‘Poppy and Ava.’ I could see Penny turning the names over in her head as well as the moment the information clicked.
‘Oh my God. You must be Alice’s sister.’ Then she frowned as if something didn’t add up and before she could put a stop on her tongue she blurted out, ‘You’re nothing like I expected.’ And then she clapped her hand over her mouth. ‘God, I’m sorry. That er… sounded a bit rude.’
I laughed at her appalled expression. ‘Don’t worry. I know Alice isn’t my biggest fan.’
Penny gave me a grateful smile. ‘I’m really putting my foot in it tonight. But… she’s left the children with you?’
‘I know. Shocker.’ Alice might drive me up the wall and I knew her every fault but blood, it appeared, was thicker and I couldn’t quite bring myself to say more, even if she did bloody deserve it. From Janie’s suddenly distant expression, I suspected she wasn’t a fan of Alice.
Penny studied me as if I were a complex sum that needed working out. ‘Alice isn’t always…’ she winced.
‘Alice is a complete cow,’ said Janie. ‘Sorry, she might be your sister, but she’s not well liked.’