And I can’t see myself getting away till the evening on Sunday so there’s no way I’ll be back till late. Sorry, hon.’
Maddy tried to look suitably disappointed but the truth was, with Seb away, she and Nathan could do some world-class loafing. She wouldn’t have to make proper meals; she could eat cold beans out of the tin if the fancy took her. She could even have Nathan in bed with her after his early morning feed and have a lovely lie-in. Seb would never allow Nathan in their bed – said it was a sign of lazy parenting and that it was the sort of way drunks and junkies behaved. Like he knew anything about parenting, or drunks and junkies for that matter, but Seb had very set views about a lot of things and didn’t like them to be challenged, even if he was completely wrong.
‘Oh well, can’t be helped,’ said Maddy, trying to sound suitably disappointed.
‘Thanks for being so understanding, Maddy,’ said Seb. He sighed heavily. ‘It’s not my idea of a fun weekend but there’s no getting out of it.’
You fibber! thought Maddy. Like he’d ever passed up an opportunity to get out on the water in a boat, and even if he was training other rowers, rather than doing his own training, he’d still be in his element.
‘Fancy jumping in your car after work tomorrow and coming down here to the sticks?’ said Sam over the phone to Michelle. It was Thursday evening and Sam was facing another weekend in the mess with precious little company and even less to do. ‘I’m supposed to be getting a haircut on Saturday but, if you come over, I’ll rearrange it for another time.’
‘Sam, I’d love to, but your hair appointment is safe. I’ve been dicked to run a sodding work detail starting tomorrow.’
‘What? Over the whole weekend.’
‘I know, I know. Shit, isn’t it? Honestly Sam, some of the officers here have got it in for me. It doesn’t matter what I do, I always seem to piss someone off.’
Sam groaned. ‘What have you done now?’
‘I didn’t do the weekly stock check of the mess bar.’
‘Michelle! You’re the mess wines member. It’s your job to do that. It’s like not turning up for staff parade when you’re duty officer.’
‘Look, I forgot, that’s all. It’s not like anyone died, is it?’ Michelle sounded defensive; she always did that when she knew in her heart she was in the wrong.
‘No, it isn’t. But you can’t forget stuff it’s your responsibility to do. No wonder someone got pissed off.’ How could Michelle be so utterly hopeless and drop herself in it yet again?
Over on the married patch Maddy was watching Seb pack, ready to go away to Dorney Lake in the morning. He wanted to be there before the wannabes arrived, to check all the kit, the boats, the arrangements, the tentage and everything else that would make the weekend a success.
‘So you’ll be back late Sunday, is that what you said?’ she asked.
‘That’s the plan,’ said Seb as he threw some underpants into a case. ‘Get everyone out on the lake on Saturday morning to learn the basic technique, then more advanced training Saturday afternoon, followed by trials all day on Sunday to see who’s got the most potential. After that I pick the best of the bunch to go forward for further training for a whole fortnight, after which we should have some who might be capable of joining the army team.’
‘Do you know how many people have applied?’ Not that Maddy cared. It didn’t really make any odds if Seb was dealing with two or two hundred, she knew he’d be as happy as Larry to be back on the water, doing what he loved best.
‘Not a clue,’ said Seb. ‘The only criteria, as far as I could gather, was a minimum height requirement and another one for fitness. How the hell applicants were screened after that is anyone’s guess.’ He fished his Lycra all-in-ones out of the cupboard and stuffed them on top of his other clothes. ‘Let’s hope the weather isn’t too bad. I think I’m
Maddy tried to look suitably disappointed but the truth was, with Seb away, she and Nathan could do some world-class loafing. She wouldn’t have to make proper meals; she could eat cold beans out of the tin if the fancy took her. She could even have Nathan in bed with her after his early morning feed and have a lovely lie-in. Seb would never allow Nathan in their bed – said it was a sign of lazy parenting and that it was the sort of way drunks and junkies behaved. Like he knew anything about parenting, or drunks and junkies for that matter, but Seb had very set views about a lot of things and didn’t like them to be challenged, even if he was completely wrong.
‘Oh well, can’t be helped,’ said Maddy, trying to sound suitably disappointed.
‘Thanks for being so understanding, Maddy,’ said Seb. He sighed heavily. ‘It’s not my idea of a fun weekend but there’s no getting out of it.’
You fibber! thought Maddy. Like he’d ever passed up an opportunity to get out on the water in a boat, and even if he was training other rowers, rather than doing his own training, he’d still be in his element.
‘Fancy jumping in your car after work tomorrow and coming down here to the sticks?’ said Sam over the phone to Michelle. It was Thursday evening and Sam was facing another weekend in the mess with precious little company and even less to do. ‘I’m supposed to be getting a haircut on Saturday but, if you come over, I’ll rearrange it for another time.’
‘Sam, I’d love to, but your hair appointment is safe. I’ve been dicked to run a sodding work detail starting tomorrow.’
‘What? Over the whole weekend.’
‘I know, I know. Shit, isn’t it? Honestly Sam, some of the officers here have got it in for me. It doesn’t matter what I do, I always seem to piss someone off.’
Sam groaned. ‘What have you done now?’
‘I didn’t do the weekly stock check of the mess bar.’
‘Michelle! You’re the mess wines member. It’s your job to do that. It’s like not turning up for staff parade when you’re duty officer.’
‘Look, I forgot, that’s all. It’s not like anyone died, is it?’ Michelle sounded defensive; she always did that when she knew in her heart she was in the wrong.
‘No, it isn’t. But you can’t forget stuff it’s your responsibility to do. No wonder someone got pissed off.’ How could Michelle be so utterly hopeless and drop herself in it yet again?
Over on the married patch Maddy was watching Seb pack, ready to go away to Dorney Lake in the morning. He wanted to be there before the wannabes arrived, to check all the kit, the boats, the arrangements, the tentage and everything else that would make the weekend a success.
‘So you’ll be back late Sunday, is that what you said?’ she asked.
‘That’s the plan,’ said Seb as he threw some underpants into a case. ‘Get everyone out on the lake on Saturday morning to learn the basic technique, then more advanced training Saturday afternoon, followed by trials all day on Sunday to see who’s got the most potential. After that I pick the best of the bunch to go forward for further training for a whole fortnight, after which we should have some who might be capable of joining the army team.’
‘Do you know how many people have applied?’ Not that Maddy cared. It didn’t really make any odds if Seb was dealing with two or two hundred, she knew he’d be as happy as Larry to be back on the water, doing what he loved best.
‘Not a clue,’ said Seb. ‘The only criteria, as far as I could gather, was a minimum height requirement and another one for fitness. How the hell applicants were screened after that is anyone’s guess.’ He fished his Lycra all-in-ones out of the cupboard and stuffed them on top of his other clothes. ‘Let’s hope the weather isn’t too bad. I think I’m
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