At the sound of the post dropping through the door, Maddy jumped up to retrieve the wedding invite responses. Drew looked up from mashing his tea and asked, "Have we had a reply from-"

"No, she hasn't replied."

"Oh, what about from-"

"No, he's not replied either. We know neither of them are happy about us getting married but it's something they'll just have to get used to. On July 21st we are getting married."

"I might try ringing her again in a few nights, see if I can sort this out," Drew decided. "In the meantime we have old tosspot to worry about."

The mention of Brian "tosspot" Graves dampened the mood and breakfast was eaten in silence. Neither of them wanted anything to do with him but they knew they had to for the sakes of their careers.

"Let's go," said Maddy as Drew again looked at the clock. "We will be early but I'm sure we can find something to do."

"We could go a slightly different route," thought Drew out loud. "See some of the 'scenery' as we go."

"Sounds like a plan," agreed Maddy hoping that Drew would calm down when on his bike. When Drew was overly frustrated he normally cycled very enthusiastically which, on most days was fine. However, she'd just started her period, so wasn't feeling on top form.

Even with the extended cycle route, Maddy and Drew still got to the British Cycling Federation headquarters about ten minutes early. Drew had indeed been enthusiastic in his cycling and even though Maddy was upset, she didn't show it as outwardly as Drew did.

"I'll sort out the bikes," Drew said as Maddy unlocked the secure cycle area. "Why don't you run on in and change. I know you're itching to discuss the wedding with some of your friends."

With the two bikes safely stowed away, Drew walked to the reception carrying his ever trusty rucksack containing his change of clothes. As he walked through the reception he flashed his ID badge at the new receptionist and walked towards the changing rooms.

"I'm sorry but you can't go in there," panted the receptionist as she caught up with Drew.

"Excuse me?"

"That is the male changing rooms," she explained.

"And?"

The receptionist looked a bit puzzled for a moment. "Well you can't go in there. That's the male changing room. The ladies changing room is over there."

"Do you know who I am?"

"Your badge said 'Drew Bond', so I presume that's your name."

"Ah," uttered Drew, the figurative light bulb flashing above his head. "You don't follow cycling, do you?"

"Well no," she replied. "I'm just temping for a few days while Donna is on holiday."

Drew fished out the ID badge from his rucksack and showed it again. "If you look carefully at the bottom, you will see it says that I'm male."

"You can't use someone else's badge," she said taking it off him. "Please come to reception where I can sort this out."

"But I've got a meeting," lamented Drew.

"Well don't just stand there wining," she said. "The sooner this is sorted the better."

Reluctantly Drew followed the receptionist back to her domain. She picked up the phone and said, "Hi, this is Emma in reception." Just then Josh walked in and Emma continued, "Oh, I'll ring back in a minute."

"Josh, can you please explain to Emma who I am. She won't let me go and get changed."

"This is Drew Bond," explained Josh.

"I'm only trying to stop her using the male changing area," explained Emma.

"Drew is short for Andrew," said Josh. "Drew is male."

Emma apparently had a hard time with this and said, "I'm sorry but Drew has breasts and men don't have breasts."

"They do when they have my medical condition," said Drew.

"You could flash her," said Josh with a huge grin.

"That's not funny," I replied, trying not to laugh at Emma's shocked face.

"Emma, you called a minute ago," said Richard Stokes as he walked into the reception.

"Emma was concerned about me going in the male changing rooms," Drew explained.

"Ah, I can see how that's possible," said Richard with a slight smile. "Drew, go on in and I'll sort out here. Sorry you've been inconvenienced."

"Thanks," Drew gratefully said.

Emma passed Drew back his ID shocked that he was a boy. Drew quickly went into the changing rooms before anyone else could stop him.

Being the top cyclist in the country had its benefits. They had installed individual changing booths so that Drew didn't have to have other male cyclists ogling his unique extra attributes. Once he was changed, he met up with Maddy and they went to find Brian Graves. They eventually found him berating a cyclist who had just finished in the velodome. So much for positive encouragement.

"Ah Andrew and Madeline," sneered Brian, "glad you could join us. I didn't see your car in the car park. You didn't hitch, did you?"

"No, we cycled," replied Drew rather puzzled at his attitude. "We were told you wanted to discuss something important with us."

"Ah yes, there has been a slight hiccup and Jane Cooper has had to pull out of the female Olympic road race. Kristen Oakey has replaced Jane and I'd like Madeline to represent England in the ladies time trial."

'I'm sure they heard that at the other side of the Pennines,' thought Drew as Maddy screamed with delight.

"We've got a meeting with all England Olympic riders scheduled in ten minutes. Why don't you wander across now while I finish off here?"

They walked to the meeting room; well Maddy nearly walked, it was difficult to tell due to her jumping up and down every few seconds.

"Hey Maddy," said Josh as we went into the meeting room. "Did you hear what happened to Drew?"

"Shut up Josh," Drew hissed.

"Oh do tell," smiled Maddy.

Josh went and told it, embellishing as he went. Maddy just cracked up with laughter and Drew went very quiet.

"I'm sorry, Drewby," Maddy said when she noticed. "I was laughing at the situation, not at you. You did very well in keeping your cool. I'd have been screaming blue murder."

As they waited for Brian, more riders came into the room. It quickly became apparent that youth had been picked over experience. That might have been good for time trials but road races were often won on skill rather than speed.

They were each scheduled to visit the lab to check on their fitness levels, see the doctors and lastly the coaches to discuss fitness regimes to ensure they peeked at the proper times. When Drew got to see the coach it seems there had been an animated discussion between the national coach and Drew's personal coach on when they wanted Drew to peak. The national coach was saying for the Olympics, his personal coach was scheduling Drew to peak during The Tour.

"How did you do?" Drew asked Maddy as they went towards their bikes.

"Not bad," she replied. "Though it's a good job I had increased my training level or I'd never be ready."

"Well with old tosspot in charge what do you expect?"

"Very true."

"So what did they say?" Drew asked Maddy as they straddled their bikes.

"They want me to do some races I hadn't planned on doing. They also want me to try and keep up more with you. Not for you to slow down but me to compete more."

"What are we waiting for?"

Drew set off with Maddy riding in his slipstream. They were soon overtaking other riders who, in their cars, were stuck in the mid afternoon traffic. Once out of the Manchester traffic they were soon flashing along in the Pennines.

After twenty minutes of free riding, Drew signalled to Maddy to take the lead. On the next straight she overtook Drew and settled into her ride. This was taking more out of her, but in a time trial she wouldn't have anyone to tail.

During their evening meal Maddy asked, "Did you talk to Josh regarding the wedding?"

"I didn't get chance," replied Drew indignantly. "You know how busy we were today."

"Tell me about it," she replied rubbing her legs. "I can't believe the route we took home."

"Well get used to it," Drew replied without feeling. "You're on the Olympic squad and I'm going to make sure that you are ready. The last time trial you did, you came ninth."

"Thanks; I think."

"So what needs to be organised for the wedding?" Drew asked, trying to change the subject. "And what do I need to do?"

Maddy grinned and grabbed her notebook. "Okay, you have your outfit organised and I have mine on order. The church is booked and the vicar said the choir mistress should ring me tomorrow. I have us down to see a hotel for the reception next weekend. You have to speak with Josh about the best man outfit and I need to get the bridesmaids sorted. On the to-do list still are flowers, transport, photographer and ushers."

"I wish we could have a honeymoon."

"Well we can," reassured Maddy putting her arms around Drew. "It just has to be delayed till after the Olympics. Both of us have some gold to win first."

"Too right we will. I want to show old tosspot what a mistake he made by excluding me four years ago."

"That's the spirit," enthused Maddy. "Now go and ring Josh. I'm sure he will have battled through the traffic by now."

"Hi Josh," Drew said on the second attempt at getting through. He was sat in the lounge while Maddy stacked the dishwasher.

"Oh hi Drew. I'm sure your ride back was better than mine. They are still adding the two extra lanes onto the M6 which just makes life more frustrating. You'd think that they'd have managed to do something about traffic by now."

"I don't think it will ever get sorted. Though Birmingham is a very nice place to live it does mean you can't cycle to the headquarters. I'm glad I went in today by bike."

"Even if the receptionist thinks you're a girl?"

"It's not the first time, nor will it be the last. Anyway I didn't get chance to talk to you about the wedding."

"Ah yes, I've got to organise your stag weekend."

"Not a chance," said Drew. "We will both be in training for the Olympics. Are you doing the tour?"

"And miss a chance to beat you? Of course I'm doing the tour."

"I must make sure my hotel room is at least five doors down from you," Drew laughed. "I reckon you snore as a tactic to help you win; you keep all the competitors awake. No, make that ten doors away."

"You'll pay for that," laughed Josh. "So what did you want to discuss?"

"Well on Saturday I managed to get my morning suit and wanted to discuss about yours."

"You've gone for a morning suit? I thought Maddy would have tried to get you into a dress."

"You're getting mixed up. I think you're thinking of Britney."

"Oh, that was the American girl? Sorry I get mixed up."

"Maddy might have had me in dresses a few times when we were younger, but it was mostly coincidence."

Drew broke off as he started remembering his childhood with Maddy. The fun they had as children, the promises they made each other when they were young and free. Life was so much less complicated then. The mention of Britney reminded Drew so much of the fateful trip to America when he was young. Tears started to come to his eyes as he remembered his mother's illness and for the first time realised the time in America was the start of the end of his relationship with Maddy.

"Are you okay Drew?" asked Josh when he heard a slight sob.

"Yeah, I'm fine," replied Drew, whipping his tears away with his shirt sleeve. "Just mention of Britney made me think of my first trip to America, which was when my Mum wasn't well."

Drew still couldn't bring himself to say the word 'Cancer'. The horror of that period in his life was still raw.

"Why don't you go and have a cuddle with Maddy," tenderly suggested Josh. "Why don't I come up next Saturday and sort out my outfit? We can't let the girls have the only coordinated outfits."

"Okay," gladly replied Drew.

"What's up?" asked Maddy as she came into the room, seeing Drew curled up on the settee hugging one of the cushions.

"Just remembering the year we first went to America," answered Drew as he snuggled up to his ever loving fiancé. "I was remembering my Mum's illness. I also realised it was the start of a decline in our relationship."

"I suppose it was in some ways," pondered Maddy as she put her arms around Drew and pulled him in close. "It was also one of the times that we were the closest. Strange, isn't it?"

"I don't think I could have survived that time without your help," confirmed Drew. "I really wish we hadn't split."

"So do I. However, I think we both needed the time apart to realise how much we meant to each other. It helped us both grow to what we are today. I know I wouldn't be as caring to you as I now am."

"I think you were wonderful then and now," snuggled Drew. "You never abused me like Britney did."

Drew spat the word 'Britney' out, as if he was trying to wash the name out of his mouth.

"It's okay," reassured Maddy. "Sab says she's has changed a lot."

"Are you sure it's a good idea, inviting her to the wedding? I sometimes wish she was dead."

"You might not like what she did to you in America but it certainly made for an interesting time."

Drew didn't say anything but muttered under his breath, "I wish she was dead."

The next morning, Drew and Maddy came back from their morning ride when they found a clique of photographers blocking the driveway.

"What do you think they want?" panted Maddy.

"No idea," Drew replied in shock. "Perhaps it's to do with the Olympic team but I thought that was being kept under wraps."

"Have you a comment about the attempted murder of Britney Walters?" they started, a dozen microphones and digicorders shoved into Maddy and Drew's faces.

"Someone tried to kill her?" Drew asked, his mind whirling and stomach sinking.

"It seems she was stabbed in the middle of the night. Do you have a comment?"

"We've just got back from a training ride," injected Maddy, having finally got her breath back. "Let us go in and shower, then we will speak."

Once they were inside all Drew could do was utter, "It's all my fault."

(to be continued)

Karen Page 10.08.05 © 2005
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