Category:
Action/Thriller
A marriage on the rocks - the early signs
Central London gets Kate and Greg Bailey down. The skills of a hair stylist and a health club manager seem transferable to the Scottish Isle of Arran. But the move turns out to be a disaster for them both. As their relationship tears apart, Kate must survive traumatic events. Can she turn her world around on her own? Can she possibly find contentment in her life as the wild sea churns over and the fresh sea breezes blow in her direction?
Chapter 1
17 Huxley Gardens was their first home. A leafy suburb was the description on the Estate Agent’s brochure but the heavy hum of the traffic on the North Circular road and the groans of rising aircraft from Heathrow, niggled on Kate and Greg’s minds. A move on, as soon as they could, was constantly in her thoughts. They were thoughts not as prominent in Greg’s life.
Kate travelled into the city each morning as a hair stylist at Nuthatch in the fashionable Chelsea district. It meant leaving the house to the grating sound of gurgling rooks at 6:30 each morning. Greg left an hour later when the constant gear changing, tyre screeching and exhaust belching of cars filled his ears and nose as he made for the busy bus stop. There were usually eight awaiting the bus with a ninth passenger always late. One traveller usually delayed the driver, until he arrived out of breath and jumped onto the bus. Despite this activity, no word was ever spoken. Not even a nod of appreciation from the breathless passenger was seen while those already seated turned their heads away with frowning faces.
Five stops later, Greg alighted from the bus and walked a further two hundred yards aware that cars at the pavement parked space-less. Like dominoes in a straight line. The morning sun burned in a sky of marvellous blue serenity making the drooping leaves of the trees shine brilliant and the pale blossoms expand to fullest beauty.
Most of Greg’s clients were office workers, retired couples and unmarried youngsters hoping their work-outs would keep their bodies in shape. The Body Perfect was owned by Greg. An inheritance at his mother’s death two years before along with a considerable sum from his unmarried god-father funded his venture. His heart was in his business providing a personal service to clients and managing a staff of three, enthusiastic in offering several demanding routines. His lead Yoga teacher walked into his studio last year. She was from the foothills of the Himalayas and had practiced yoga all her life. Accordingly there were classes in Hot, Ashtanga, Bikram and Moksha Yoga as well as Pilates and Spins. Male attendees often did push-ups with weights or trained like boxers with skipping ropes. Some sessions had quiet soothing music while at other times a heavy rock beat was heard to work-outs when the younger generation took to the floor.
Greg’s home clients were at the Orchard Braes care home where he gave classes to stretch tired limbs, dance with the able-bodied and sing songs accompanied by his guitar. It was a lifestyle which he enjoyed and Kate was equally happy receiving good tips from her wealthy clients and making bold hairstyles for her demanding sitters.
At the weekend, Kate worked a half day while Greg had a full Saturday shaping and exercising bodies. It meant Sundays were the only real time they had together. A long lie-in was the start of their unwinding Sunday. Sunday Love Songs on Radio 2 woke them and a cup of tea brought them to life.
‘Darling, in ten years, where do you see us?’ asked Kate.
Greg stretched his arms above his head. ‘Depends.’
Kate looked at him. ‘Depends on what?’
‘Depends if our Premium Bonds come up a winner; if either of us have an incapacitating illness, if we have a large family...if...hey what are you doing?’
Greg’s question required no answer. Kate was pulling off his pyjama trousers.
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