Page 56 of Daydreaming at the Boathouse Cafe

Despite their shivers and protestations about not enjoying it, Hannah was pleased to find that they were all laughing and chatting excitedly after their cold swim.

‘It’s been too many years since I did this,’ said Mavis.

‘Me too,’ said another. ‘And I did always so enjoy swimming outside. We’re so lucky to have this on our doorstep.’

‘Why ever did we stop?’ asked the first lady.

‘Fear and old age,’ said Dotty with a grimace. ‘Well, that’s not going to hold us back any longer.’

Hannah placed a large plate piled with flapjacks and pastries onto the table alongside the drinks.

‘How kind of you, dear,’ said Mavis. ‘My purse is back at the hotel but remind me to pay you later.’

Hannah shook her head. ‘Oh, no,’ she replied. ‘It’s on the house. You’re my very first customers so it doesn’t matter.’

‘What a treat,’ said Dotty, reaching out to squeeze her granddaughter’s hand. ‘I tell you, ladies, this place is going to be jumping come the afternoons when tea is served.’

‘When’s your first day?’ asked one of the friends.

‘Tomorrow,’ said Hannah, trying to ignore the feeling of dread in her stomach.

‘It looks lovely in there,’ said another lady. ‘I’ll definitely be coming up here for afternoon tea.’

There was a general nodding of heads in agreement swiftly followed by murmurs of appreciation as they all took a mug of steaming hot drink and held it in their cold fingers.

‘What about the mornings?’ asked Mavis. ‘Are you not going to be open then as well?’

Hannah shook her head. ‘We weren’t sure how many people would be around,’ she told them.

‘To be honest,’ said one of the ladies, ‘I can’t see me surviving if I don’t know that there’s a hot drink at the end of the next swim.’

‘And one of these flapjacks,’ added another.

‘Well, we will be back, won’t we, ladies?’ said Mavis, with a determined nod.

‘Absolutely,’ they all agreed.

‘And I might even bring my great-niece Aimee along, if that’s all right?’ added Mavis.

‘More the merrier! In fact, from now on, swim club will be every Tuesday and Thursday morning,’ announced Dotty to a reluctant chorus of agreement. ‘With coffee and cakes afterwards?’

‘So you’ll be opening up for us in the mornings?’ asked Mavis, in a hopeful tone.

They all looked up at Hannah with red cheeks, glowing from the shock of going from cold to warm in a matter of moments.

‘Yes, she will.’

Hannah spun around to find Alex standing behind her.

Hannah gave him a worried look but he merely laughed. ‘I wouldn’t be turning down any customers if I had a fledgling business,’ he told her.

‘Are you going to be keeping a watchful eye on us as well each time?’ asked one of the women in a hopeful tone.

‘Just try and stop me, ladies,’ said Alex with a smile.

He really could be quite charming, thought Hannah, watching as the women all grinned at the thought of the handsome athlete looking out for them twice a week.

Whilst the ladies chatted on, Hannah walked away with Alex.