No Ordinary Love(5)

Alex flipped her laptop shut, gathered some clean underwear in her backpack and made her way to Maddie’s floor.

* * *

“Let’s do the Dragon’s Back tomorrow.” Alex glanced at her three table companions who were all indulging in too much wine. “It’s one of the easier hikes in Hong Kong.”

“Don’t you have family dim sum?” Maddie, who’d probably drained a bottle all by herself, slipped her hand on Alex’s thigh.

“That was last week, babe.” Alex remembered how Maddie had tried to corner her. It had only resulted in a half-hearted attempt at trying to make her open up about Rita and Maddie had soon abandoned her efforts when she’d sensed Alex’s reluctance. Maybe we can talk about her after Thursday, Alex thought. Maybe I’ll be able to deal with it then.

“Easier? You are taking the more advanced age of our companions into consideration, I hope? I’ve done it a couple of times and it nearly killed me.” Nat raised her eyebrows. “Language is my thing and easy is not the right word to describe the path running over that mountain.”

Alex needed action. As much as her body needed the rest, she couldn’t bear the thought of a lazy Sunday afternoon. Exercising was the only activity capable of putting a stop to the endless churning of her brain. Had she made the right decision? What would Rita say? Should she tell Maddie? “Children do it. Pensioners do it. Everyone does it. You all belong to an excellent gym which keeps you in great shape. All that’s left to do is go easy on the wine.”

Nat reached for the bottle and topped up Alex’s glass. Alex let her, she wouldn’t drink it and that way it didn’t end up in Maddie’s glass.

“I’ve tackled the Dragon’s Back many times. Admittedly, it has been a while, but I’d love to do it again. It’s a wonderful Sunday afternoon activity in winter.” Isabella smiled at Alex. “Good plan.” She turned to Nat. “I’ll show the ageists how it’s done.”

“You don’t have to prove anything to me, darling.” Nat shot Isabella a wink. “I’m well acquainted with your high levels of endurance by now.”

“That just leaves me then.” Maddie started to slur her words. If she didn’t stop drinking soon she would never make it to the top tomorrow. “I’m a Dragon’s Back virgin, I’m afraid. In fact, in all the time I’ve been here I’ve only been on one hike and that was the one across Lamma Island.”

“That’s not a hike,” Isabella, a seasoned walker, said. “That’s a leisurely stroll.”

Maddie turned to face Alex. “I trust you only have my best interests at heart.”

Alex pondered this statement for a second. She wasn’t planning to climb this mountain to benefit Maddie’s health. This was a purely selfish activity, set up only to take her mind off Rita. “I’ll be with you every step of the way.”

The look in Maddie’s watery eyes brimmed with love. “I know you will.”



MADDIE



The hike was a bad idea. Maddie’s temples throbbed, her calves burned and she had a foul taste in her mouth. Yet, the view was almost worth it.

While the others seemed to float upwards along the narrow, steep trail, their feet barely touching the ground at an ungodly pace, Maddie lagged behind more and more. Alex waited for her at regular intervals, but Maddie felt increasingly alone in the staggering landscape of green mountains and indigo sea.

“Bad legs today, Madison?” Isabella asked, a self-righteous smile on her face.

Maddie loved her friend dearly, but she felt so miserable, so out of touch with everything they were enjoying, she limited her reply to a low grunt.

“Clearly your girlfriend hasn’t been working you hard enough.” Nat put a hand on Isabella’s shoulder. “I, on the other hand, am extremely proud of mine.”

They both stood there gloating, basking in the improbable love they’d come to share. They truly were the oddest couple ever.

“Come on, babe.” Alex shuffled a little closer. “The worst is over now.”

“You said that last time we stopped, before this hike turned into actual rock climbing.” Maddie had caught her breath and was able to string sentences together again.

Alex grabbed her hand and pulled her up. “Look at this.” Alex waved her arm in front of the splendour below them. White-tipped waves crashing to shore and wet-suited surfers trying to catch them. Endless forests in all shades of green stretched away from them. “Aren’t you glad you decided to stay in Hong Kong when you see this.”

“I didn’t stay for this.” Maddie curled her arms around Alex’s waist. “I stayed for you.”