Making PLANS

With her dream within her grasp, Rachel had to make a difficult decision

- Maria McAvoy

Stumbling over the soft sand, Rachel wished she had worn her flat sandals. Her husband Nik, hands in pockets, walked a few paces ahead. The evening sun glinted off the silver that had recently appeared in his dark hair. He looked deep in thought. So deep in thought, he hadn't noticed she had fallen behind. When he did, he turned, waiting for her to catch up.

She was slightly out of breath when she reached him. 'My sandals are too tight,' she explained. 'I think my feet are swollen.'

They both looked down. Her ankles were indeed a little puffy, the leather strap digging in slightly.

Holding on to his arm for balance, she lifted one foot and loosened the buckle.

'You should have said something, love,' Nik chided. 'We could have met Petros and Eleni closer to the apartment so you didn't have to walk so far.'

She could have. But walking along the beach to 'their' restaurant was one of the much-loved rituals of their regular Greek holidays and, right now, Rachel found herself clinging to familiarity as tightly as she clung to her husband's arm.

'Are you OK?' he asked, his strength steadying her until both her feet were once more firmly on the ground.

He looked concerned. And maybe a bit wary, too. Rachel could hardly blame him. She'd been increasingly emotional recently, even breaking down into tears when none of her holiday wardrobe fitted her due to weight gain. She was tired all the time too, falling asleep at the slightest opportunity throughout the day, then finding herself unable to settle at night.

She'd thought she simply needed a holiday and had been really looking forward to their break. It was Nik, looking at her in her swimming costume on the beach a few days ago, who had put forward another tentative suggestion – one that had rocked both their worlds.

'I'm fine,' she reassured him. 'Just... you know.'

'Yeah,' he said. 'I do.'