‘I know how hard sport can be sometimes. But one thing I’ve learned is that you can’t not try things because you might fail. If you can’t run again, that’s going to be difficult to deal with. But if you don’t do the things you can do, it’ll be even worse.’
Ross felt a tickle of embarrassment at the back of his neck. Was Laurie talking about him, too? He dismissed the thought. She knew how he felt and she accepted it.
‘Let me tell you something. I came close to giving up at one point and ruining all my chances of ever getting back into competition rowing. But there’s one thing I know for sure.’
The chatter of the seating area suddenly receded into the background. If Laurie didn’t have Adam’s attention, she had Ross’s. She was using her own hopes and fears to reach the boy, and that took nerve and commitment.
‘What?’
Laurie smiled, leaning towards Adam. ‘I know that whatever I can and can’t do in the future, I’ll have tried for my dreams. If I fail, that’s just as much a badge of courage as if I succeed.’
Ross swallowed down the lump in his throat. Maybe if someone had said something like that to him during the dark days after Alice had left, he might have felt a little better. Not great, he still would have felt the failure keenly. But somehow justified in having allowed himself to hope.
‘I don’t know what I’ll do if I can’t get back to running. I’m not much good at anything else.’
‘You’ll find something. I know a winner when I see one.’ Laurie gave him a smile.
‘Okay. We’ll give it a go.’
‘Great. Then you can sign my programme, eh?’
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
LAURIE HAD WHEELED Adam back to the podium, and he’d got unsteadily to his feet. Then something had happened that she clearly hadn’t planned for. The woman playing her avatar strode over to the edge of the stage and held her sword aloft in a salute. The other characters had seen what she was doing and followed her lead.
‘I’ve got to do it now.’ Adam’s brow creased.
‘You’ve already done it, mate.’ Ross grinned at him and the boy’s back straightened a little.
Slowly, carefully they walked up the steps. Adam was holding onto his arm but he didn’t need the support. Just the confidence. And his attention was all on the top of the steps, where the group of costumed performers was waiting for him.
As he reached the top, the woman knelt, holding the hilt of her sword out towards Adam. It was a little over-theatrical, but Adam flushed red with pleasure, looking up at Ross.
‘I’d take it if she offered it to me,’ Ross murmured to him.
‘Wait!’ Laurie was ahead of them, her phone in her hand, and when she rapped out the word the performers froze into warlike poses, used to people wanting photographs. It was perfect. Adam smiled, and Laurie took as many photographs as she could.
He took the sword. Leaning on Ross’s arm, Adam was led around to the other side of the podium, which was a reconstruction of a scene inside a castle. Ross led him to the elaborate-looking throne and sat him down.
Then more photographs. Laurie was recording this all as the performers gathered around the throne, taking up different poses, all obviously rehearsed. Adam was grinning now.
As each of the performers took their turn to sign Adam’s programme, Ross held out his hand to Laurie to take her phone. ‘You go. He’ll want a few of you both with your avatars.’
Laurie hesitated, and then nodded. ‘He’s having such a good time. I’m going to cry in a minute if I’m not careful...’
This meant so much to her. And Ross was so proud of her.
‘I might join you. If you’re not careful.’
She chuckled, wiping her hand vigorously across her face. ‘Don’t you dare. I’m relying on you to help me keep it all together.’
The performers seemed in no hurry and everyone else was standing back to give Adam more than his allotted time for photographs. And the customary bravado of a sixteen-year-old was looking as if it was going to crack at any moment.
‘There are other people...’ Adam gave the sword back to the woman warrior. She bent and kissed him on the cheek and Ross saw Adam’s ears redden furiously.
‘You have all the photos you want?’ Her soft, Newcastle accent sounded slightly at odds with her warlike appearance.
‘Yes. Thank you.’ Adam watched her go, and then turned to Laurie. ‘I want to go back now.’