‘He hasn’t done anything with me.’ Well...that wasn’t entirely true. She and Ross had done a great deal with each other, but that wasn’t what Grant meant.
‘Someone has. The physio?’ Grant nodded towards Sam, who was spending her lunch break making sure that anyone who wanted to come out on the grass and watch could do so.
‘No. I made my own rule and I’m sticking to it. No rowing for another couple of weeks.’
‘We can’t tempt you?’ Grant grinned.
‘No, you can’t. Don’t even try. I need to get this hip properly sorted. Then I’ll be back.’
‘Fair enough.’ Grant leaned back on his elbows. ‘So you’ve taken to talent scouting in the meantime?’
Laurie rolled her eyes. ‘No. Tamara’s not committed to rowing, it’s fun for her and something that she can do at the moment. I know that you know the value of that.’
Grant had made the same journey as Tamara was making, and he’d made his choice of sport. Laurie knew he was committed to helping others do the same if he could, and that was why she’d called him. The team was on its way down from Scotland and Grant had persuaded a few of them to stop off for the day with some of the practice boats.
‘I know the value of it. I just never thought I’d hear you say it.’ Grant’s voice became a pitch higher in a bad impression of Laurie’s. ‘“Rowing’s a bit of fun. I’m not going on the water until I’m fully fit.”’
‘Well, that’s a different side of me you haven’t seen before, isn’t it? I’m a doctor too...’
Grant nodded, appearing convinced. Laurie wasn’t sure she shared the sentiment. She did feel different. She still wanted the water, the way she always had, but there were other things as well. Things that crowded into the box that she usually kept for rowing.
Maybe she was losing her edge. Maybe her father had been right, and too many other things in her life would blunt her resolve and damage her concentration. Even now, she was watching Ross, and not the boats that bobbed on the water.
‘You’ve taken time out before.’
Grant nodded. ‘You know I have.’
‘Was it difficult? Getting back?’ Laurie had convinced herself that this was just a delicious holiday. One full of sunshine, and this peaceful, optimistic place that Ross had built. And Ross himself, of course. She’d adroitly sidestepped the issue of getting back into competitive rowing again, because if she ever dreamed she’d lose that, she couldn’t enjoy this.
‘Nah. I came back better. Stronger, because I knew exactly what I wanted.’
‘I think I will too.’
She obviously hadn’t said that with enough conviction, because Grant raised an eyebrow. ‘You’re sure about that? Your hip is improving, isn’t it? Not thinking of retiring?’
Laurie chuckled. ‘Not while you’re still out there for me to beat.’
‘In your dreams.’
Ross had finished talking to Tamara and was strolling towards them. He sat down on the grass next to Laurie.
‘Nice place you have here.’ Grant smiled across at him. ‘Good stretch of water.’
‘You’re always welcome to stop by if you’re in the area. If you give me a call we’ll find somewhere for you to sleep if you want to stay overnight.’ Ross glanced at Laurie. Maybe that was an invitation particularly aimed at her.
‘Thanks.’ Grant answered before she could. ‘Is Tamara ready?’
Ross nodded. ‘Ready enough to explode if she doesn’t get to go out soon.’
‘Great.’ Grant got to his feet, rubbing his hands together. ‘Let’s get her started, then.’
They watched as Tamara walked a few unsteady steps across the grass to meet Grant. He took her hand, tucking it into the crook of his arm and instead of glowering as she usually did when she needed help, Tamara grinned up at him, talking excitedly.
‘Grant’s made a friend for life.’ Ross stated the obvious.
‘Yeah. Grant’s very committed to helping youngsters and he’s so good with them.’
‘It’s just what she needed. Someone who can show her that she can do anything she wants. We can tell her that...’ He turned to her suddenly. ‘You were the one who helped her to really see it, though.’