The drive back to the Ahrtal was pretty uneventful, Wilhelm’s driving matching his wife’s use of the outside lane and a heavy right foot. The biggest difference was the route, straight up towards Frankfurt before picking up the E3 through the Westerwald. We did have a stop, somewhere south of Frankfurt, where we got lunch – it was actually a Dinea so whilst not four star Michelin, it was at least eatable!
With the lunch stop, oh and some roadworks past the airport it was after two when I got home to find no one about, well no cars or campers at least.

"Thanks for including me,” I offered to von Strechau senior.
"No problem, Gaby.”
Max had my cases under control and followed me up to the house.
"What have you got in here?”
"Only my dresses, er do you and your dad want coffee or something?”
"I'll go see.”

Well it’s only polite right. I heaved my bags inside and put the kettle on, well I need a decent cuppa anyhow.

"Dad’s gonna head home but I wouldn’t mind a cup.”
“‘Kay.” I shrugged.
He popped to the door and waved to his Dad before closing the door.
"Anything I can do?”
"Nah, sit.”

 
Quite how we got from coffee to oral gymnastics on the sofa I couldn’t really say, Max seemed quite happy when I sat on his lap and landed one on his lips in the kitchen. Not sure at what point I suggested somewhere more comfortable, that cupboard last night was not my ideal spot for a make out.

"Gaby?”
I shot up, "Sugar!”
"Gab, you home?”
"Who is it?”Max asked urgently.
“Mand, quick, in the office.”

He scuttled off the sofa and through the office door.

"In here.” I offered quickly pulling my cami back into place.
"You on your own?” de Vreen enquired appearing in the door.
"Er yeah, why?”
"Well there’s two cups in the sink.”
"One was there when I came in?”

Note to self, lock the door next time.

She shrugged, "We going training, I need to get back, I'm working the crepe trailer later – some thing down in Sinzig.”
"Er sure, I guess we can do a short session.”
"Suits.”

I got up and headed for the stairs only to hear Mand call into the living room, "You can go home now, Max!”
Bum, bum, bum!

 
Max had made himself scarce while we were changing so I avoided broaching the elephant, temporarily at least. We were on the climb up to Ramersbach, you know, the road south out of Ahrweiler, before I dared broach more than directions.

"Er, how did you know, Max...?” I ventured.
"Seriously?”
"Yeah, I know you didn’t see him.”
“His shoes were in the hall.”
I mentally did a head slap, “Really?”
"Good job I wasn’t your dad,” she sniggered.
"You won’t tell?”
"As if, so I take it he’s a good kisser?”
"Okay,” I allowed.
"So come on, let’s hear all the dirty details,” she prompted.

 
Forty kilometres later she’d had the edited highlights from Stuttgart (minus the cleaning cupboard) and I got a report on last night’s dinner at the Stube. Both the Hymer and A Klasse were there so I had to do an even more edited version of events for the rents. Mand went off to meet the Foch’s without eating, Mum rustled us up some sort of Spanish omelette things, enough after having a big plate of Rindsrouladen for lunch.

"Just going to Con’s,” I advised the rents after washing up.
"Don’t be too late,” Dad instructed.
"I won’t,” I promised, fingers crossed.
"And take a jacket, it’ll be cold later.”
"Yes, Mum,” I sighed.

 
"Never!” Con gasped.
"Straight up, I didn’t know what to do.”

I eased myself into a more comfortable position, the hip is certainly not healed enough to sit cross legged comfortably. We’d decamped to Con’s bedroom, I hardly want her rents hearing about my sexual encounters do I?

"I still can’t believe Mand caught you el flagrante,” con giggled.
"We weren’t,” I defended, "We were just snogging.”
"Yeah and I'm still a virgin.” she scoffed.
"You aren’t? You haven’t?” I mumbled.
"I'm not a nun.”
"You never said anything,” I half accused, a little miffed she hadn’t told me before.
"It was before you came, I was like thirteen.”
"Thirteen!”
“Keep it down, you don’t have to tell the world.”
"Soz, but like thirteen?”
She shrugged, "We were on holiday, the other girls on the campsite were doing it, so...”

I didn’t pursue things, she clearly didn’t want to elaborate and to be honest I wasn’t sure I needed to hear any more. Just goes to show that however well you think you know someone, they probably still have secrets. Maybe big secrets.

 
I stared up at the night sky, unable to get to sleep, my mind awash with the day’s events and revelations. My thoughts flitted from Con’s revelation to my own fumbling on the sofa with Max – I say fumbling as there was a bit more than kissing going on. By the time I finally dropped off I was nearly convinced that I'd done the deed with Max on some Spanish beach – get a grip girl!

 
Pssshhhissshhhhh. The Würsts spat and sizzled as I turned them on the hotplate, back to reality, no fancy jewellery, floaty dresses or, worse luck, hunky kiss monsters.

"Your mum said you were here.”
Jump? I nearly had a heart attack, “Max, what are you doing here?”
"You left your glasses in the car.”
"Glasses?”

He put my girly sunnies on the counter, well you don’t think I wear cycling specs all the time do you. These are more fashion statement than eye protection, forty euros in the Kaufhaus.

"Er thanks, you want coffee?”
He waggled his brows, “Hmm coffee.”
"There’s nothing else on offer,” I mentioned pointedly.
"Dang, Mand didn’t say anything did she?”
"Nah, we’re safe there, you want coffee or not?”

 
“Lover boy been keeping you company?” Con suggested when she arrived with the bread delivery half an hour later.
"No. Well maybe,” I admitted, "And we’re not a couple. how’d you know?”
"Saw him going back down through Mayschoß just now.”
“He was just dropping off my glasses.”
"Oh aye?”
“Really,” I waggled said eye-wear at her.
"If you insist.”

 
The rest of the day was notable for, well nothing really. We cooked, brewed, cleaned and chatted our way through the day. For the umpteenth time I had to give a trip report, edited again for Kristin – I should just record it and play it to everyone. I stayed til shutting time – well it was only fair given my days off, I caught the train down with Con even though I had ridden up.

 
"So come on,” P chivvied, "Spill.”
"Spill what?”

We were waiting for her dad to fetch us after Garde, he was going to be a bit late so we’d found a perch over by the fire station.

"Come on, Gab, three days away with your boyfriend, there has to be something.”
"We went to a wedding, with his parents,” I emphasised, "And how many times, he’s not my boyfriend!”
"Pah, semantics. I'll just ask Con.”
Oh no you don’t, "Alright I'll tell you.”
“Ha, knew it!” she crowed.

Geez, with friends like these who needs enemies, by the time I'm done half the valley will know some version of Gaby does Stuttgart!

 
She waggled her tongue at me.

"Ew! That is so wrong!”
"You don’t fancy some girl on girl?”
"As if!” I shot back.
"I really can’t believe you, snogging on the sofa.”
"Er, it was handy?”
"So much for the ice queen.”
"Ice queen?”
"You know, as in frigid.”
"I'm not frigid, who says that?”

It suddenly dawned on me that I was now bothered by the suggestion I don’t ‘put out’ as much as any suggestion I do. Flippin’ hormones.

"So we still going to the comic thing in Kӧln next week?”

Good question.

"I'll have to talk to Con, we’re supposed to be working.”
"You shouldn’t be working six days, you need some time off.”
"I guess,” I allowed, maybe I need to talk to Tomas and Therese.

 
"Did Max catch you earlier?” Mum asked as I flopped down at the opposite end of the sofa to where she was curled up in Dad’s lap.
"Er yeah, I left my sunnies in the car yesterday.”
"Oh, before I forget,” Dad mentioned, "Was speaking to Dave over at BC this afternoon.”
"Oh?”
“He’s not running Manchester this year.”

Well that confirms what Cav overheard.

"I've arranged for the A squad to be based in Germany for the summer instead.”
“Really?” Mand finally stirred from her drone like TV watching.
“Really,” Dad confirmed, "I've rented a house for them down in Neuweid.”
"Cool!” I offered.
“Hopefully we’ll get the rest of our lot down as well, Gret in particular needs different training.”

Well that's a turn up for the books – I wonder who’ll be coming?
 
Maddy Bell © 04.04.17