The Friends We Keep(14)

“Morning!” bellowed her father cheerfully, the first to reach the bench. “Lovely day for a walk!” He slipped off his backpack and opened it to get out his own water bottle as the other hiker turned to him with a nod, before catching Maggie’s eye.

“Evil Ben,” she whispered in horror, and her mother turned to her.

“What was that, darling?”

“Nothing.” Maggie turned beet red as her father immediately engaged Evil Ben in a conversation about the best walks in the area.

“Do you know my daughter, Maggie?” she heard her father say. “She’s a first year here. Maggie? Come and meet Ben!”

“Hi.” Maggie shuffled forward, wishing her blush would go down.

“We know each other, don’t we?” said Ben. “The King’s Head, right?”

“Right,” said Maggie, flashing him what she hoped he would read as a warning look. The last thing she wanted was her parents knowing about the other night, and how she had been treated. “I didn’t know you were a hiker,” she said lamely, hoping to change the subject.

“My whole life,” said Ben. “I walk when I need to clear my head.”

“Nothing like it,” agreed Ted. “Our Maggie’s a huge walker. If you ever need company, she’ll join you.”

“Dad!” Maggie burst out, wishing he would keep quiet.

“What? It’s true!”

“I’ll definitely bear that in mind.” Ben laughed, before looking at Maggie a few seconds longer than was altogether comfortable. Maggie blushed again as Ben smiled to himself and Maggie’s mother nudged her.

Ben passed his thermos over to Ted. “It’s Irish coffee.” He grinned. “It’s excellent to keep the chill out.”

“Well thank you,” Ted said, taking the thermos, then reaching into his pocket and pulling out Liquorice Allsorts, proffering them as Ben leaned forward to take two round ones. “My daughter and I share a not-so-secret love for them. Good job you took a round one. That’s usually reserved for her.” He winked at Ben as Maggie inwardly groaned. “It’s a bit early for me,” Ted said, looking at the thermos in his hand before letting out an easy shrug and a grin. “But why not? It’s the weekend. Cheers!” He took a swig, nodding with pleasure as it slipped down smoothly. “Delicious. I wish I’d had it when we climbed Ben Nevis.”

“I did have it when I climbed Ben.” Ben laughed as Maggie’s father’s face lit up.

“You did it too? Wasn’t it marvelous climbing the highest mountain in the British Isles? Young thing like you probably took no time at all. We took five hours, didn’t we, Kathy?”

“That’s pretty good,” said Ben. “I did it in ten!”

“Ten? Aha. You didn’t do the easy walk, did you? You must have done that ridge climb.” Ben nodded as Ted smiled. “I wanted to do it but those days have long gone.”

“It was hard, and I’m pretty fit, but it was worth it. Spectacular views from the north face. Bloody freezing at the peak though. That’s where I learned about the Irish coffee!”

Ted was clearly delighted at having found a kindred spirit. “We had hailstones at about three miles. You too?”

Ben nodded. “And terrible ice as we got higher. It looked like snow but it was packed ice. I’ve never been so cold in my life. It’s a miracle I finished it.”

“I remember that weather. Awful. The wife and I want to go trekking in the Himalayas next. Ever been?”

“Not yet, but it’s on my list.” Ben stood then, tucking his thermos away. “I’d better get on.” He shook hands with Maggie’s parents and Charlie before nodding at Maggie. “It was lovely to meet you all. I hope you have a great weekend and a wonderful time when you make it to the Himalayas.”

“The pleasure was all mine,” said Ted truthfully. “I hope we see you again. You never know, we might run into you in Nepal.”

“I hope so.” Ben smiled. “Nice to see you, Maggie.” He reached out and rubbed her back lightly, a gesture that felt intimate and solicitous; a gesture that was so gentle, so unexpected, it made Maggie’s heart lurch ever so slightly as she stood, stunned. Who knew Ben had this soft side, not to mention that Ben and her father would have so much in common? It was a disquieting feeling, which only served to heighten her crush.

“What a lovely chap!” Ted said when Ben was—thankfully—out of earshot. “That’s the sort of fellow I’d like to see you with. Clever as well, bringing that Irish coffee along. I’ll have to do that next time.”

“He was rather handsome,” said her mum. “And ever so charming.” She looked at Maggie. “I think he might like you.”

“Don’t be daft,” said Maggie, scuffing the ground with her foot and looking down so her mother wouldn’t see how her heart had jumped at the possibility. “He wouldn’t even look at a first year.”

“I don’t know,” said her mother. “What do you think, Charlie?”

“Definitely fancied you,” said Charlie.

“Right. And I would definitely listen to a sixteen-year-old.” Maggie rolled her eyes, but inside, she couldn’t stop smiling. What if they were right?