We cycled slowly back to Tom’s drive, “So what do you think of Simon’s bike?” I asked Henry.

“I can’t believe how fast it is, or could be under Boonen’s bum.”

“I don’t know, you didn’t do too badly yourself,” I smiled at him.

“Not as good as someone else though.”

“Oh, were we racing?” I asked with feigned innocence.

“No, of course not, it wouldn’t do for me to race a woman, would it?”

“Of course not.” Is he a sore loser–or is he a sore loser? No he’s a sore loser. “That wouldn’t do at all, especially if she beat you.”

“Exactly–um, I mean, it just isn’t done, is it?”

“I don’t know Henry, I’ve raced men and women, they both usually beat me.”

“I thought you did reasonably well in that thing against Southampton.”

“It wasn’t a proper race, and they still won.”

“Never mind, I’m sure you did your bit.”

“Yeah, coming last.” We’d actually won, but I was talking it down and I’d come sixth or something.

“Ha, we saw her beat you,” called Simon, who was standing inside the drive with the two girls.

“Nonsense, we weren’t racing,” objected Henry.

“Dad, I know you and you were giving it everything, unlike Cathy, who was cruising.”

I coughed at this, if I’d given it any more, I’d have needed a mortgage to repay it. Henry gave me an old fashioned look, and shrugged, “She is younger than me, you know.”

“Is she? You know I like older women.”

“Hey, what’s this about older women?” To make my point I jabbed my elbow in his ribs.

“Mummy, you were so fast,” quipped Trish.

“Yes, you was vewy fast, Mummy,” added Mima.

“As fast as fast, Mummy,” said Trish dancing around, which Mima copied. “Grampa Henry, couldn’t catch you.”

“What?” said Henry, “Grampa Henry?” he repeated and Trish blushed and looked awkward, Simon looked ready to intervene, when Henry continued, “Yes, Grampa Henry, yes, I like that.” He smiled and Trish smiled awkwardly whilst Simon and I exchanged looks of relief.

“C’mon you two, don’t get too excited.”

“How about taking one of them out on the trailer?” asked Simon.

“Not on this bike, besides we’d have to change them, it’s very cold.”

“Oh, okay, it was just an idea.”

“Maybe later if we have a milder day. Don’t forget, you have to go and see the orthopod later.”

He looked at me strangely, then twigged. “Oh, the consultant about my knee, yes at three this afters.”

Mima wrapped herself around his bad leg, “Is you weggy stiww baddy, Daddy?”

“Well, that’s what we have to see the doctor about later.”

She looked very worried, “Daddy stiww got a baddy weg.”

Henry looked as if she was speaking in a foreign language. You could tell he was trying to translate by rerunning what she’d said, finally he smiled, so he’d obviously got a translation that made some sense. Personally, I couldn’t see the problem, myself.

Henry surrendered the bike to Simon and went off to shower. I wanted to do the same, but I thought I’d wait until he’d finished. I put the bikes away and locked the door.

Simon was cock-a-hoop, “You beat the old b-u-g-g-e-r,” he spelt.

“If you say so,” it wasn’t that important now, “I only just did it.”

“Watch him, he’ll want a rematch and he’ll train like hell to beat you next time.”

“I don’t think there’ll be a next time.”

“Why?”

“I won’t have time for it, I have my two little girls to take care of.”

“But you’ve got to have some time for you?” This wasn’t the usual Simon; was he going to be betting on the rematch, or something? I felt quite suspicious.

“So are you going to baby sit while I do my training?”

“Whenever I’m available.”

“Sounds a bit iffy to me, Si.”

“Sorry, best I can do, old girl.”

“Mummy’s not old,” said Trish and I smiled a thank you at her.

“It’s a figure of speech,” said Simon wishing he hadn’t bothered.

“No,” shrieked Mima, “Mummy not owd, siwwy Daddy.”

“Come on girls, let’s go in and make some tea, I’m gasping for a cup.”

After lunch, I drove Simon to the hospital, the girls came with us as Stella was grumbling about her back again and went to lie down. I dropped Simon at the orthopaedic department and took the girls off to the park. He would phone me on my mobile when he was ready or we’d be back in an hour or so.

The girls scrambled up the slide like a couple of monkeys and shrieked like banshees as they slid down. I caught them most of the time, whereupon they’d giggle and rush off to do the same again. It was harmless fun and got them some exercise.

Then they had a go on the swings, I obviously got the job of pushing them, which was accompanied by much giggling and shouts of, “Higher, Mummy.” I chose to ignore it, they were going high enough for my nerves.

My mobile ringing brought playtime to an end and we went back to pick up Simon. “Gentle exercise, like riding a bike,” he said laughing.

“Did you tell him that’s what caused it in the first place?”

“I tried to, but you know these consultants, two seconds then on to their next victim.”

“I think perhaps an exercise bike to begin, Tom has one I think.”

“There’s one back at Hampstead, the bad news is, he’s told me I can go back to work.”

“Oh, I’d just got used to having you around, oh well, Stella and I will have to cope until Tom comes home. I told him I’d go in this evening. Can you put the dynamic duo to bed again?”

“Yeah, no probs.”

“When do you go back to work?”

“Tomorrow. I’ve told Dad I’ll be back sometime tomorrow morning. Sorry.”

“That’s okay, it had to happen. I’ll just have to get more organised, that’s all.”

“If you need some paid help?”

“I’d rather try by myself, I mean millions of women look after two or more children every day, if they can do it, so can I.”

“I’m sure you can, but you have other commitments too, like your films and helping Tom, and when Stella pops, well…”

“I’m not looking after her baby while she swans around like lady muck.”

“No, don’t you dare. If she gives you any trouble, let me know–I’ll sort her out. She might wrap Dad around her finger, but I have her number all right.”

“I suspect I will be able to deal with Stella myself, she sometimes listens to reason.”

“Sometimes being the operative word.”

“Let’s get home,” I glanced in the mirror and both children were asleep.

“What did you do to them?”

“Just let them run amok in the park. Tired themselves out.”

“Good thinking, Batgirl.”