Arjun was front and centre joining in, grinning at me and giving a thumbs-up. I was glad to see him looking a little healthier, more colour in his cheeks, energy in his stride. I was being swept up in the atmosphere, the cries from the women, the bickering of the polo-shirt man who had been joined by a polo-shirt woman who was looking rather confused, all my other thoughts fading away.
Men were picking their way across the women lying down, manoeuvring their clubs over their bodies to get inside.
I returned to Howard, wondering just what I was going to say.
‘Well,’ he said breathlessly as I approached. ‘Did you talk her down? Woman to woman?’
‘Er . . . not exactly.’
Howard’s eyes narrowed. ‘What do you mean, not exactly?’
‘Um.’ I scuffed my toe along the ground. ‘Um, I agreed to take over the loudhailer for her so she could go to the toilet.’
Howard was turning a funny shade of magenta and Grandad had definitely lost it now, patting him on the back and stifling a laugh with his other hand. ‘Maybe it’s for the best, old chap. Give the club some new energy. And we could use the green fees. Clubhouse looks rather dated.’
‘Clubhouse will be turned into a pink hell on their watch, all china cats and tea pots,’ Howard spluttered. ‘They’ll get rid of Sky Sports, they’ll demand one of those fancy coffee machines. They’ll want wine in those silver ice bins.’
‘You’ve been saying for ages we should get a cappuccino maker,’ Grandad protested.
‘This was not how I wanted it,’ Howard spat. ‘And I’m not talking to Arjun ever again.’
Grandad opened his mouth and sensibly shut it again. We both knew we would get nowhere while Howard was in this mood. I bit my lip and stood there, listening to the chanting behind me and trying to look vaguely like I cared. I tried to sympathise: Howard was a man who didn’t like change, knew where he stood. On the other hand the rule was archaic and ridiculous, and of course the women should be fighting to access the golf club they all live close to.
‘Why don’t we get off and get Lottie back to her flat, eh?’ Grandad said, clapping a hand on Howard’s shoulder.
‘Fat lot of good she did us. Inciting things further,’ he said, glaring at me as I realised Margaret was beckoning me over for her loo break.
Feeling strangely shy I turned to Grandad. ‘Don’t worry, I can make my own way back. I’d better . . . ’ I nodded my head in Margaret’s direction.
‘Lottie, about the other night . . . it really isn’t what you think.’
I nodded slowly, knowing there was more to say but realising this was enough for now. ‘OK,’ I said, a weak smile on my face.
‘Lottie!’
The loudhailer called me. I cringed. ‘I better go.’
Grandad tipped his head in acknowledgement. ‘Right, well, Howard, that leaves you and me,’ he said in a bright voice. ‘How about we head home, put the kettle on and—’
‘HEAR OUR CALL, GOLF IS FOR ALL. HEAR OUR CALL, GOLF IS FOR ALL.’
He had to raise his voice. ‘I’m sure all this will die down soon enough.’
I crept away back towards the gaggle of women and Margaret. One elderly lady had hoisted herself up on to the low stone wall and was marching along it with her placard. The polo-shirted workers were desperately pleading with her to get down and simultaneously asking the lying women to get up. I felt a burst of pride for Margaret doing what she thought she needed to do to be heard. Heading over to her, I took the loudhailer.
‘Thanks, Lottie,’ she said, almost crossing her legs she was so desperate to get to the toilet.
Grandad was leaving, a shy half-wave in my direction. Feeling marginally better I switched on the loudhailer and raised it to my lips. ‘WE THOUGHT YOU LOVED BIRDIES. LET THE WOMEN IN.’
Darling Cora,
I saw Lottie today. Howard frog-marched her to the golf club to help stop the protest (a long story). I’d made things so much worse between us the other night and could barely look at her. She looked wan and pale and her flat was unkempt and as sad as her and Luke. How did I get myself into this position? She thinks I’m withholding all these terrible dark secrets from her, when really I am just trying to keep a promise to Arjun. I know I