Jake and Gill

Jake saw her slight discomfort, interpreting this as worry about her offsprings' health, put a hand on her shoulder and said, "Looks like you need something that you can all do as a family together, what do you think about hiking and camping?"

Gill was startled, she wasn't expecting this as an answer to her request for suggestions. She had asked all the girls in her office and had various ideas like getting a family gym membership, which she had done without success, swimming, racket games, weekends at country club-like resorts. But camping? No-one had said anything about hiking and camping in the great outdoors. And the promise of a fine spring was virtually round the corner.

Jake continued, "Or if camping is out of the question you can hike between fantastic country pubs, hotels or even B&Bs."

Gill's mind was suddenly racing with the idea. She used to go on lots of hiking and camping holidays with her family when she was a girl and even did a little hiking and hosteling at college with a group of girls who were similarly inclined. However, she had packed all that delightful activity up when she started going out with Wayne. He was into ten-pin bowling on Friday nights and had a football season ticket at Stamford Bridge, which wiped out more than half of each weekend. One of the reasons that Wayne and Clay never really bonded as father and son was because Wayne was hardly ever there to encourage Clay to take up any kind of sporting activity.

"There are also plenty of opportunities to do short walks which can be fitted into a morning and or afternoon without bothering with all that camping paraphernalia," Jake continued, consulting his iPhone calendar. "There's a nice gentle one this coming Sunday for young families, which would be an ideal starter, if you are interested. It is only a ten mile drive or so out of London."

"Sorry, I was miles away just thinking about camping," Gill said, smiling. "This is a great idea," she enthused, "A chance to exercise, get plenty of fresh air, build up an appetite for good, wholesome food and indulge in some family bonding, too."

'Well,' she thought to herself, 'everyone said John would have the answer and, damn it, they were right on the button!'

Just then came a voice from the doorway, calling out, "Fourteen across 'queen exists, again', four letters, any ideas?"

Gill turned and nodded in greeting to David Sullivan, one of the eurobond negotiators, poking his head round the doorway, addressing Jake.

Jake grinned, replying "Isis, which means 'she of the throne' and 'is'-'is' for 'exists, repeats'. You finished it now, Dave?"

"No, not quite John," admitted Dave, "but I'll see where this clue gets me, speak to you later. Oh, hi Gill," and with a wave he was off.

Gill turned to look at Jake, with a quizzical look on her face.

"Dave buys his Telegraph at the station and fills it in on the train, I have mine delivered at home early and do the crossword during breakfast," said Jake by way of explanation. "I'll email the location of Sunday's walk and a list of what I think you'll need. The circuit returns to the pub car park at lunchtime and again at the end of the afternoon so you won't have to lug the picnic around with you. Or you can lunch in the pub. Also, if the kids are too tired by the time you get to midday you can always give the afternoon walk a miss."

"Sounds great," said Gill. "I'm definitely up for it. I take it you don't bother to go on the beginners' walks?"

"My grandmother organises these particular rambles and there is a wide range of age groups present from toddlers up to pensioners, even the odd babe in arms, too. They are very gentle strolls rather than hikes, say up to three hours in the morning and two to two-and-a-half after lunch. I usually attend these sessions, as my grandmother hates to drive, so I take her. She has them about once a month between spring and autumn."

***

It was a glorious Sunday and, with the minimum of coercing, Gill had managed to drag along both Jenny and Clay. At home during the week Gill had printed out the map that Jake had already emailed to her computer by the time she had got back to her own desk on Monday. He followed it up with directions to the car park and approximate itinerary of this particular trip. The walk was designed for young families with quite young children, and consisted of mainly pavement or tarmac'd paths and wasn't too taxing.

Gill had looked out her old hiking boots, polished off the layer of dust and had worn them round the house for a couple of evenings to soften them up ready for the walk. Jenny and Clay wore their everyday trainers. Gill thought that if they were going to take longer walks together and even camp out, she would have to kit them out properly. She might suggest that Wayne could contribute this element to the children's welfare, as he was the reason for Clay putting on weight and Jenny's depression. Jake had listed suggestions for lunch and that they bring plenty of drinking water, Gill had packed all this in a cool box in the car.

Chapter 2

There was quite a turn out at the starting point on Sunday morning, a large pub car park, where a very stately-looking and well-spoken older woman addressed the group in a commanding voice to ensure everyone was aware of safety first during the walk. Before they set off, Jake came over to Gill and renewed his acquaintance with her children.

Jenny had been quite sullen during the car journey and scornful of the expected exercise, which she declared would be a 'boring waste of time'. She also felt gawky and uncomfortable standing around in the car park with all these strangers, but she brightened significantly once the handsome Jake came on the scene. Although her mother had said that 'John from the copy shop at work would be there', Jenny never really listened to her mother anymore, but then the girl instantly remembered she'd had a crush on him when she was about eleven years old.

Clay had also been less than enthusiastic about the Sunday outing, until Jake showed him his iPhone and pointed out an application that mapped out the route. It would also track Clay's progress and count how many calories he'd burned; Jake loaned it to him for the duration of the walk and also pointed out the Max Payne game app which was loaded up and ready to use, provided Jake entered a password, which he would when they stopped for lunch.

So it was quite a merry band that Gill started out with on the walk. Clay actually forged onto the front of the strung out group, continually referring to the directions on the PDA, while Jenny hovered immediately behind Jake and her mother, who walked along companionably next to each other. Every now and then the group would stop and gather outside an ancient building or tree with some interesting history associated with it and one of the senior members of the party would give a brief talk on it. They were a lively group, comfortable in company with each other, and there were always questions, comments and banter, with plenty of laughs.

Gill and her children soon relaxed, Clay gravitated to a couple of lads of similar age who were very interested in the PDA, while Jenny was engrossed with a young mum encumbered with a double buggy and two very young children.

Halfway through the morning walk, Jake left Gill's side to hurry ahead to help with various buggies and toddlers through styles and kissing gates leading off-road for a stretch, and told Gill to carry on and he would see her when they stopped for lunch.

It was then the old woman who appeared to be the organiser fell in to walk beside her. The lady was surprisingly sprightly for her age and had no trouble keeping up a brisk pace on the grassy track next to a field of rapeseed, already brilliantly in flower, a golden haze flowing almost to the horizon.

"Hello," she started, "I'm Gertie, Jake's grandmother, you must be Gill. Are you and your children enjoying the walk so far?"

"Very much so," replied Gill, "You certainly have a mixed crowd taking part and all thoroughly enjoying themselves."

"We have a wide spectrum in the group, some of them come out with us every month and others progress onto more challenging treks after a short while and they are replaced by new members. Hopefully, you and your children will come along next month?"

"I think we probably will," laughed Gill, realising that she was really enjoying the fresh air, the gentle pace and somewhat relieved that her children appeared to be having a good time with very little effort on her part. "It's just beautiful being able to get out in the fresh country air, and the exercise is something I really need, the gym just doesn't cut it compared to this."

The vista was lovely, a splash of yellow blossom, white and yellow flowers in the fresh green hedgerow, topped off by an azure sky dotted with fluffy cotton-wool.

"I would like to be free to do this every weekend," Gill thought out loud.

"Tell me if I am being nosy but, while my grandson talks to me all the time, he never actually tells me anything about himself and nothing at all about his private life," Gertie said quietly, linking her arm into Gill's and leaning in so as not to be overheard. "I see you do not have any rings on your left hand, so, are you going out with Jake?"

"Well, John, er, Jake is just a friend from work," Gill answered, "we are old friends, I suppose. I've known him ever since I started at the bank a dozen years ago. He suggested today's walk as a good way of getting my kids outdoors and active for a change. As for my rings or lack of them? Well, according to my lawyer I should be officially single again in about six weeks' time, if everything runs to schedule. I've not even thought about dating anyone yet or even whether I want to, once bitten, they say."

Gill smiled ruefully at the thought. One door closing, an important chapter coming to an end, with only two highlights, her children. It was a shame that their father had let her and them down so badly through his own selfishness.

"Sorry to hear about your marriage dear. I had three husbands myself, but I outlived them all. Jake is the only man in my life right now, but I think he is the best of them all, better even than his father and grandfather and they were great men," Gertie whispered. "So your children, Jennifer and ...?"

"Clay, short for Clayton."

"Yes, Clayton," continued Gertie, "They live with you or your soon-to-be-ex-husband?"

"Most of the time they're with me, they spend every other weekend with their father."

Gertie cackled at that, saying, "In that case you'd be free to go camping with Jake next weekend, he's tackling a handful of Derbyshire hills over the two days, nothing too strenuous, I assure you. I am sure he'd enjoy your company. I like your sturdy walking shoes, by the way, good ankle support. You have obviously hiked before."

"I used to hike a lot as a teenager and before I married Wayne. I'd forgotten just how much enjoyment I got out of it. As for Derbyshire, my grandmother used to live in Matlock so we often walked in the Dales when I was a child, without tackling anything major. The views were fantastic, the rock formations and the streams, I just loved those long summer holidays."

"Well, you will have to tell that to Jake, I'm sure he would welcome your enthusiasm."

"Oh, I couldn't do that, I am really out of condition, an hour or two each week in the gym wouldn't help much walking up and down the Dales all day carrying camping equipment. Besides it's been twenty years since I last camped out. I wouldn't want to hold him up. I don't even have any camping equipment anymore."

"Don't you worry about gear, dear, I have quite a number of single tents at home, even if he doesn't. As for holding Jake back, well, the hills will be there for him to conquer any other day, while the company of a pretty woman would beat hiking on his own hands down," Gertie chuckled. "Anyway, you give it some thought, my dear, I must check out the gate ahead to make sure we all go the right way on the other side!"

'Amazing!' Gill thought, as Gertie kicked down a gear and sped off up the incline, leaving Gill almost standing, and Gertie must be 80 if she was a day! "Regular exercise and fresh air must be good for you, there's no argument about that!'

Gill was beginning to feel warm, walking up that hill, with the early spring sunshine beating down. With her dark-brown hair tied in a sensible pony tail, she could feel the spring sun's warmth on her bare neck and even through her clothing on her shoulders. She took off her thick sweatshirt, it had been cool first thing in the morning and she had been glad of it then. She tied it around her waist. She was pleased she had opted for shorts rather than slacks, it felt good to let the air and sun get to her pale legs. Now with just a thin white short-sleeved vee-neck teeshirt and sports bra, khaki mid-thigh shorts, brown hiking boots and ankle socks, she thought she looked quite cool among these much younger mums and their toddlers.

Gill looked around to check up on her children. Jenny was behind her, laughing and smiling with a bleached blonde girl not much older than Jenny. She was pushing a double buggy with a couple of very young children in it.

Tsk! Gill thought, Jenny must be sweltering in her clothes, thick black sweatshirt and heavy jeans. Jenny was going through one of those self-conscious phases where she wanted to cover herself up all the time. Gill thought that her father leaving home must have affected her confidence, too. It had certainly affected Gill's confidence adversely; losing a husband over a younger woman can do that to you.

She looked around for Clay but couldn't see him at first. She knew he had gone to the front of the group, so she started moving past some of the slower walkers, so she could get a better look. Gill saw Jake ahead, helping a mum get a pushchair over a kissing gate at the top of the hill they were walking up. Strangely, considering the lovely weather and his tanned face and hands, he seemed to be completely covered up just like her daughter, with long-sleeved polo-neck sweatshirt and slacks covering his long, slim legs and pert bum.

'Damn,' she thought, thinking about John or Jake's bum. 'I'm acting like a frustrated old maid who had gone without sex for far too long. And that's the truth, unfortunately!'

When she reached him, Jake was lifting another pushchair over the gate.

"Looks like you've got a job of work there, Jake," Gill said, noting that as everyone else called him Jake she supposed she should. "There's a double buggy coming up in a couple of minutes."

"I know," Jake grinned back at her in response, "it's Gemma's twins. If you can just hold on here for a couple of minutes you could help hold one of the twins with Gemma while I deal with passing over the buggy."

"Sure," agreed Gill with a smile, "by the way, have you seen Clay recently?"

"Yes, I can see him from up here, he's talking with Clive and Ally, they are using an iPhone app to identify trees and shrubs. He's pretty handy on the internet."

"Perhaps I better persuade his father to get him one for Christmas," laughed Gill.

"Is that so you can get him some school shoes?" teased Jake, looking at her out of the corner of his eye as he lifted over a lunch box and a change bag as a mother carried her toddler through the gate.

"Oh, dear," replied Gill remembering telling Jake that her last gift to her son was clothing, while her ex- had bought him a PC game. "You know me so well!"

She laughed, while also thinking, 'am I so predictable? Is that why my marriage broke up and my kids are so reluctant to respond to me?' Her smile faded with these thoughts. 'Because their father was all flash here-and-now casual with no substance, I have had to be the practical one, which naturally ends up me covering all the boring things in life. This left their dad even freer to do all the frivolous things that the kids have fun with. It's so not fair!'

'Damn!' she thought, 'I want to be the Fun Mum, not the sensible boring Frump Mother that I seem to have become. Perhaps I should start dictating what role I play without waiting for everyone else to organise me, live for today and do what I want and bugger tomorrow! Well not all the time, I can't help being a bit anal, but perhaps I should loosen up a little,' she thought.

Soon the last of the straggler pushchairs had cleared the obstacle, leaving Gill and Jake at the end of the strung out caravan of family ramblers. The gate was at the top of a hill and they could see the rest of the troupe strung out along the path down into the wooded valley below. Jake waved Gill through the kissing gate and, as Jake pulled the swing gate towards him, Gill on impulse stepped up onto the bottom rail, leaned on the gate, pinning him in the corner, put an arm around his neck, pulled their heads together and kissed him quite firmly on the lips.

One-two-three. She counted the seconds. It was a nice kiss, thought Gill, as she counted the number of seconds into the kiss, intending to give it eight, maybe ten seconds tops. Four-five-six. Now, Jake responded by touching tongue to tongue. Jake's lips were warm and soft, she noted, seven-eight-nine. Gill's other hand moved up from the top bar of the gate to cup Jake's cheek, his skin smooth as though he had shaved carefully and closely early that morning, unlike her ex-husband, who usually sported a rough two- or three-day growth at the weekend in an attempt to appear rugged and tough, not!

Ten-eleven-twelve, Jake's hand gently supported Gill behind the small of her back, pulling her into him. Thirteen-fourteen-fifteen, he pulled her head deeper into his returning kiss with his other firm but gentle hand, his thumb wrapped around her pony tail caressing her head. Sixteen-seventeen-eighteen, Gill pulled her lips away reluctantly, but not before kissing Jake's upper lip, nineteen, and sucking his lower lip into her mouth before slowly releasing it, twenty.

Twenty-one, twenty-two, Gill opened her eyes and looked at Jake, inches away from her face, their hands and arms still holding onto one another. Suddenly both reddened with embarrassment and Gill broke the silence with a smile and the hint of a laugh.

"Sorry," Gill began, "I wanted to thank you for inviting us along today. You were right, it was absolutely what we all needed. I was going to wait to thank you at the end of the walk but, you know, opportunity and all that ... and I was only going to give you a little thank you kiss but, well, it was just too nice to break off."

"Well, I must say that it was very nice," agreed the smiling Jake, "I will have to invite you out to places more often, if this is the level of thanks I get."

Neither of them had moved since the end of the kiss. Down the path, Gertie looked back to check on her flock and saw the couple at the kissing gates, and smiled happily before cheerfully chivvying on a couple of dawdling youngsters.

"I had intended giving you an eight-second kiss," Gill admitted bashfully, "but I haven't been kissed for such a long time, I suppose I lost count."

"I wasn't keeping count, but then I'm not the banker here," teased Jake. "I'd have to count on my fingers to keep track."

"I suppose I do count a lot," Gill agreed with a grin, "That's why when we are round the table negotiating, I kick off both my shoes!"

They both laughed. Jake swung the gate with Gill still perched on the bottom rail and handed her down onto the path. Looking down the hill they saw that the rest of the group had moved on and left a sizeable gap. They continued holding hands as they moved towards catching them up.

While they were walking, Gill felt a nice warm glow and not just to her cheeks, the first time she had felt this kind of buzz for a long time. She didn't think for a second any more that Jake was gay but now that she was on a roll, she didn't want to be in that predictable groove any more. 'Well, here goes,' she thought.