how I am because I’m behaving strangely and because
I’ve changed the lock. ‘I was just about to make myself some coffee. Would you like one?’ I’m giving her the new key.
‘No, hon, thanks, I’d better go, I have another three dogs to pick up. Do you want me to take Wispa?’
‘Actually, why not? I wouldn’t be able to take her out for a while with all the work,’ I lie. Wispa looks at me accusingly when Nicole puts a leash on her.
‘OK, I’ll drop her off in a couple of hours.’
‘Thanks, Nicole. Be careful out there, will you?’
Nicole throws me a curious glance.
‘I always am, Anna. Cheerio!’
I shut the door behind them and put the chain on, then take it off, remembering that Nicole will be dropping Wispa off. I’m wound up about something, but I don’t know what it is.
I’m usually quite disciplined about working from home and get much more done than in the office. But today it’s as easy as drawing blood from a stone. I sit in my study, looking out
through the window, staring at my lush garden, and I know I should be feeling extremely lucky that I am where I am, with a beautiful house, great job – despite the on-going shit-storm –
and all the trappings of an affluent life. Of course, I do have a hideous mortgage to repay, thankfully ticking over nicely on a very low interest rate, and I am a prisoner in the golden cage of a
big corporation, but I can live with it. What is bothering me, then? Am I getting broody? Nah, I’ve never wanted to have children and being on the wrong side of thirty-five hasn’t
changed how I feel about it. My friends with kids say the biological clock will wake me up sooner or later, but I haven’t heard it ringing yet. I need to clear my head and I fall back on the
only way I know how to do it: I have to go for a run. I remember what I’ve promised Bell and decide to head to Waterlow Park. Just as well – I don’t want to stumble upon Nicole
with the dogs on the Heath, it would only confuse Wispa.
I trot down the High Street, stop briefly to peek at the bookshop’s window, then enter the park through the gate next to Channing School for Girls. As I pass the tennis courts on my right
I slow down and look back for Wispa, only to remember she’s with Nicole on the Heath.
Waterlow Park is small, but it always takes my breath away when I get to the top of the hill and look at the rich meadows sprawling down its gentle slopes, the elegant trees, the windy alleyways
and the magnificent view of the London skyline below. Today there is a group of happy pensioners, amateur watercolour enthusiasts, scattered on the lawn, busily recreating the view. I can feel my
body and soul sing as I pass them and run down the alley towards the ponds. The singing stops when I see a pale-skinned and almost-naked silhouette lying in the grass, right by my path. Alden. He
seems to be blissfully asleep in the sun, but when I pass him he raises his head and shades his eyes with his arm.
‘Anna!’
Damn. I slow down and turn towards him with a forced smile. I really don’t fancy any company right now.
‘Alden.’
He’s on his feet now, his tan Bermuda shorts riding down his flat stomach, revealing a tuft of dark hair above his belt. Normally I’d enjoy this slightly narcissistic display of a
cute male body, but now it just annoys me.
‘Anna, I’m so sorry about the other night. I really don’t know what came over me. I saw your front door open and . . .’ He waves his arm and gives me his charming
puppy-like look.
‘No worries, Alden, glad you’re OK now.’
‘Oh, yes.’ He brushes his face with his hand. ‘It was just a little tiff with Tina, all well now. You OK?’
‘Yes, I’m fine, just getting my endorphin rush.’
‘Oh, I get mine from eating hot chillies and sex.’ He winks.
‘Lucky you.’ I can’t help but laugh.
‘You off work?’
‘Working from home,’ I say with a pang of guilty conscience.
‘I can see that. Me too.’
I’ve changed the lock. ‘I was just about to make myself some coffee. Would you like one?’ I’m giving her the new key.
‘No, hon, thanks, I’d better go, I have another three dogs to pick up. Do you want me to take Wispa?’
‘Actually, why not? I wouldn’t be able to take her out for a while with all the work,’ I lie. Wispa looks at me accusingly when Nicole puts a leash on her.
‘OK, I’ll drop her off in a couple of hours.’
‘Thanks, Nicole. Be careful out there, will you?’
Nicole throws me a curious glance.
‘I always am, Anna. Cheerio!’
I shut the door behind them and put the chain on, then take it off, remembering that Nicole will be dropping Wispa off. I’m wound up about something, but I don’t know what it is.
I’m usually quite disciplined about working from home and get much more done than in the office. But today it’s as easy as drawing blood from a stone. I sit in my study, looking out
through the window, staring at my lush garden, and I know I should be feeling extremely lucky that I am where I am, with a beautiful house, great job – despite the on-going shit-storm –
and all the trappings of an affluent life. Of course, I do have a hideous mortgage to repay, thankfully ticking over nicely on a very low interest rate, and I am a prisoner in the golden cage of a
big corporation, but I can live with it. What is bothering me, then? Am I getting broody? Nah, I’ve never wanted to have children and being on the wrong side of thirty-five hasn’t
changed how I feel about it. My friends with kids say the biological clock will wake me up sooner or later, but I haven’t heard it ringing yet. I need to clear my head and I fall back on the
only way I know how to do it: I have to go for a run. I remember what I’ve promised Bell and decide to head to Waterlow Park. Just as well – I don’t want to stumble upon Nicole
with the dogs on the Heath, it would only confuse Wispa.
I trot down the High Street, stop briefly to peek at the bookshop’s window, then enter the park through the gate next to Channing School for Girls. As I pass the tennis courts on my right
I slow down and look back for Wispa, only to remember she’s with Nicole on the Heath.
Waterlow Park is small, but it always takes my breath away when I get to the top of the hill and look at the rich meadows sprawling down its gentle slopes, the elegant trees, the windy alleyways
and the magnificent view of the London skyline below. Today there is a group of happy pensioners, amateur watercolour enthusiasts, scattered on the lawn, busily recreating the view. I can feel my
body and soul sing as I pass them and run down the alley towards the ponds. The singing stops when I see a pale-skinned and almost-naked silhouette lying in the grass, right by my path. Alden. He
seems to be blissfully asleep in the sun, but when I pass him he raises his head and shades his eyes with his arm.
‘Anna!’
Damn. I slow down and turn towards him with a forced smile. I really don’t fancy any company right now.
‘Alden.’
He’s on his feet now, his tan Bermuda shorts riding down his flat stomach, revealing a tuft of dark hair above his belt. Normally I’d enjoy this slightly narcissistic display of a
cute male body, but now it just annoys me.
‘Anna, I’m so sorry about the other night. I really don’t know what came over me. I saw your front door open and . . .’ He waves his arm and gives me his charming
puppy-like look.
‘No worries, Alden, glad you’re OK now.’
‘Oh, yes.’ He brushes his face with his hand. ‘It was just a little tiff with Tina, all well now. You OK?’
‘Yes, I’m fine, just getting my endorphin rush.’
‘Oh, I get mine from eating hot chillies and sex.’ He winks.
‘Lucky you.’ I can’t help but laugh.
‘You off work?’
‘Working from home,’ I say with a pang of guilty conscience.
‘I can see that. Me too.’
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