Liv threw some clobber and her wash kit into an overnight bag whilst her mum and Charlotte hovered, sharing the many reasons why her hotfooting it to Scotland was a bad idea.
‘Liv, listen to sense,’ said Charlotte. ‘I’ve googled the journey. It’s three hundred and forty miles and it’s going to take you at least six and a half hours. Probably nearer six days in your old car. I’m not sure you’ve thought this through.’
This fact did at least make Liv pause with a pair of pants in her hand. ‘Blimey that is a long way. Still. I need to do this face to face so it’s worth it.’
‘Liv, it’s okay to change your mind,’ said Charlotte.
‘Don’t try and talk me out of going. This is the only way I will get proper closure. I have to go.’
‘Olivia, sweetheart,’ began her mum. ‘I know this was my idea but—’
‘Was it?’ questioned Liv. ‘I think this was my idea. It was me who said I need to have it out with him face to face. Prove to myself that it’s not me who has a problem. It’s him.’ She needed to do this for her own peace of mind and then she could move on. Plus after what Charlotte said about her dodging difficult situations she felt it was about time she faced this one, however uncomfortable it might be.
Her mum wobbled her head. ‘It was me who found the restaurant and suggested that you speak to him so…’
‘On the phone. This is different.’ She waved her pants at her before adding them and a spare pair to the bag.
‘I don’t think you should go alone,’ said her mum, biting her lip and looking at Charlotte.
‘I would go with her but I’ve got this big thing in London tomorrow. I could cancel?’
‘I don’t need babysitting, thank you very much.’ Liv was indignant. She’d made her mind up and wouldn’t be swayed.
‘Then I’ll come with you,’ said her mum. ‘We’ll need to stop at mine so I can pack a case and—’
‘Definitely not,’ said Liv, feeling a nerve twitching in her neck. Even Charlotte was shaking her head. ‘Thank you but I really have to do this on my own.’ Her mother opened her mouth but Liv continued. ‘Completely on my own. I’m a grown woman and you brought me up to look after myself. I’ll be back before you know it.’
‘Liv, you’ll have to stay overnight somewhere,’ said Charlotte. ‘If you leave now you’ll have to stop a couple of times so you’ll likely not get there until about eight or nine o’clock tonight. You can’t turn around and drive all the way back again – that’s madness.’
Annoyingly her sister did have a point.
‘Fine. I’ll find a bed and breakfast somewhere.’
‘Be careful,’ said her mum. ‘You read about people being murdered and chopped up in places like that.’
‘No you don’t, Mum. That’s only in novels and they’re usually set in remote parts of America.’
‘That’s true it is usually in America. Maybe go for a Travelodge in a town somewhere to be on the safe side,’ said her mum.
Charlotte and Liv exchanged knowing looks. They loved their mum. As a single mother she’d been amazing at bringing them up on her own but sometimes it was a wonder how she’d managed it with her blurred view of real life and fiction.
‘Okay, Mum. I’ll make sure I stay somewhere legit. Okay?’
‘Thank you.’ Her mum gave her a hug. ‘And if you hear a strange noise. Don’t go to investigate.’
‘Mum!’ Liv’s patience was being tested.
‘Charlotte, have you still got that large torch?’ asked her mum. Charlotte nodded. ‘Please give it to your sister; she can use it to defend herself.’
Liv needed to finish packing and escape this madness. She grabbed cola and crisps from the cupboard. That would tide her over and she could always stop at a Greggs on the way. She’d be fine. She headed to the front door with her bag and snacks.
‘It’s seriously cold up there right now. They’re expecting minus eight tonight,’ said Charlotte. ‘Take my torch, and my car.’ Charlotte handed her the keys.
‘Really? Are you sure?’ Charlotte loved her BMW. It was her pride and joy.
‘Yours will never make it and I need my little sis safe. I’m getting the train to London so I don’t need it. Plus, it has something yours doesn’t have – acceleration, so you can escape the bad guys. I don’t want you getting carjacked by some mad axe murderer.’
‘Oh my word, Charlotte!’ said their mum looking horrified.
‘Mum, I’m joking. She’ll be all right. It’s full of petrol so it should get you there but keep an eye on it.’
‘I’m not a complete moron,’ said Liv, taking the keys and getting pulled into a tight hug.
‘Remember he doesn’t know you and you’ll never see him again. So you can be the person you want to be and say all the things you want to say,’ whispered Charlotte.
‘Blimey, Yoda, that’s a bit deep,’ said Liv.
‘Fine. Give him hell and then come home safe.’ Charlotte gave her a final hug.
‘I’ll be fine,’ said Liv, feeling buoyed by the anticipation of her adventure. Especially now she was going in Charlotte’s BMW as opposed to her vintage Fiesta.
‘Take care,’ said her mum, getting teary as she gave Liv a hug. ‘I love you.’
‘Love you too, Mum. Don’t worry about me.’ She waved them off, put her bag in the boot and went to get in.
‘Argh!’ she yelped, spotting someone inside the car.
Charlotte and her mother appeared at her side. ‘I thought you’d like some company for the drive,’ said Charlotte with a grin.
Liv pointed at Plastic Stan, propped up comfortably in the passenger seat. ‘Stan? And what is he wearing?’ asked Liv.
‘I couldn’t leave him naked. I put him in my old gym kit so at a quick glance it looks like you’re not alone,’ explained Charlotte.
‘Oh that’s a really good idea,’ said their mum, nodding furiously.
‘I’m not taking Stan with me,’ said Liv leaning in to undo his seatbelt.
‘Think about it,’ said Charlotte. ‘You’ve no idea if this place is a nice area or well dodgy. This way thieves might think twice about nicking my car. Think of Stan as a theft-prevention device.’
Liv studied her sister. There was little point in arguing. ‘Fine, I’ll take Stan. Now clear off because I need to get going.’ She could always put him in the boot at the first services.
‘Call when you get there,’ said her mum.
‘No, because if I forget you’ll have air-sea rescue out after me. If you don’t hear anything then I’m fine. I’ll see you tomorrow.’ With that she got in the car and set off for Scotland.
The first couple of hours went well. The satnav was helpful, Stan was quiet and there were no traffic jams. She’d eaten three packets of crisps, sung her heart out to Taylor Swift, Mariah Carey and McFly, drunk two of the cans and now she was more than a bit bored. She’d been driving for two hours. It was dark and she was still on the M6 and quite fed up with the monotony of it now. Seeing the Welcome To Scotland sign was exciting but when she saw how far she still had to go, that excitement soon evaporated. She tried a game of I-Spy with Stan, but sadly he proved quite useless.
A few more miles and the effect of the cola was starting to make her need a wee. She could see the petrol gauge steadily declining so started to plan her pit stop like a formula one driver. She wanted to get to Loch Lochy as quickly as possible. Liv decided that a one-stop strategy at roughly the halfway, or three-hour point, would be her best option.
Whilst her strategy might have been sound, she hadn’t considered the possibility that her bladder would feel like an overfilled water balloon. But she was determined to hold out and now saw it as a challenge. She pressed buttons on the satnav in the hope of finding a nearby services. The next one on the route was near Glasgow and another twenty-four minutes away – there was no way she was going to make that. But there was a garage two miles from the next exit, which would have to do.
She swung onto the garage forecourt like a getaway driver. Then had the dilemma of whether she should use the loo first and then fill up with petrol. Many loos were designated for customers only, and a discussion would only delay her getting to the toilet. She decided she would bung some fuel in and then make a dash for the loo.
Cross-legged, she stuck the nozzle in the car and squeezed the handle at the same time she squeezed her pelvic floor muscles, hoping that they’d hold. The slosh of liquid exiting the nozzle did not help. She watched the numbers on the pump whizz up. How much petrol did this car take? She couldn’t wait any longer, that would have to do. She returned the nozzle and as quickly as her full bladder would allow she made it into the garage shop.
There were a couple of people in the queue – she couldn’t wait. She’d got some petrol even if she hadn’t paid yet so she weaved her way through the aisles as ‘Christmas Wrapping’ by The Waitresses blared out. She followed the maze of shelves until she came to a printed sign and an arrow that said ‘Toilet’. She felt like an explorer on the cusp of her quest. A few more steps and she could see the loo but she could also see a sign on the door that said, ‘Out of Order’. Nooooooo!
Liv looked in all directions for inspiration. She had no more contingency plans left and definitely did not have time to go back to the car and find the next services. She had to go here. Liv tried the loo door and it opened. She dashed inside and locked it. There was a toilet and a sink. What was the worst that could happen? She lifted the lid, sat down and had the biggest wee of her life. The relief was immense. She also felt like a bit of a hero for completing her mission of a single pit stop without wetting herself in the process. She was winning at life today.
Liv was surprised and grateful that the flush worked – clearly not out of order at all. They probably just didn’t want people using it. She washed her hands, unlocked the door and went to leave the cubicle. That was when she discovered why the toilet was out of order. The handle on the inside of the door was all floppy and had no impact at all. She tried it a few times but the door remained firmly closed. She locked and then unlocked the door. Liv tried the handle again – nothing. She put all her strength on the door handle and it came away in her hand. She was trapped.