Constance returned home to England in the company of Imogen Drill, who was there to attend a walk-a-thon. Each woman regretted being in the other's company.
Imogen hated the way that Miss Hardbroom was so stiff. People were so likely to find her strange. Strange? Who was she kidding? She taught school at a place where girls didn't have to run to cover great distances; in stead, they just hopped on brooms and flew.
Constance could barely restrain her embarassment at being seen in the company of a woman clothed like some kind of wild forest dweller. That's the way that she often thought of Miss Drill when she studied her ' most unusual' hair cut. Anyway, when did she plan to leave off? Her relatives would be arriving in fifteen minutes, and she didn't want to be seen with with this spectacle of a woman whose idea of embracing nature involved trampling every surface that wasn't nailed down. Honestly!
Imogen couldn't wait until Serge drove up with the mountain bikes. She could use the fresh air right about now, given her present company.
Constance tried to conjure the perfect excuse to part ways with Imogen, but nothing acceptable or plausible came to mind. At this rate, she and Imogen were likely to spend New Years together standing at the bus depot.
Salvation arrived when a young man sprinted over to Imogen and asked in a foreign accent," Excuse me, but are you Imogen Drill?"
" That's correct, and you are?"
" Pierre, I'm Serge's little brother. He had to see to some last minute stuff, so he sent me to come and get you."
" Uh, thank's, Pierre. Oh, before I forget, this is my friend Miss Constance Hardbroom."
" Oh, please forgive my abruptness. It's just that we've been frightfully busy all morning, Serge and I."
" Apology accepted," she said stiffly. Normally, she would've scowled to cut him down to size, but she was more than eager to get rid of Miss Drill, so it didn't really matter.
" I will surely miss you over the duration, Constance."
" As will I miss you, Imogen."
Both women hugged each other wearing sincere expressions, and then turned away from each other, each rolling her eyes while thinking," Thank heaven."