Page 21 of The Seaside Cocktail Campervan

‘You’ve done a cracking job. A seventies classic?’

‘She is indeed, a 1971 VW Westfalia, chianti red.’

‘Hah, yes, I spotted the left-hand drive. Used to own one myself back in the day. A ’74 T2, baby blue. Ah, those were the days, trips to the coast, lazy afternoons by the sea, surfing …’ Frank’s blue-grey eyes glazed with nostalgia.

‘Sounds cool. They all have their own characters, don’t they. Well, what an amazing party you’ve organised here. Love the fairground theme.’

‘Thanks. It’s been wonderful getting everybody together.’

Jack smiled; Frank seemed such a nice guy. ‘So, what can I get for you? Glass of champagne, a cold beer, cocktail, mocktail? Whatever you fancy, and this one’s on the house.’

‘Well, thank you. A nice cold bottle of beer would go down a treat. I should probably be having a fresh juice,’ he winked, ‘but our Linda’s not around just now …’

‘So, what’re the celebrations for?’ Jack asked. He was curious as no-one had mentioned a birthday or anniversary event.

‘Well then, I wanted to get all my friends and family together … to celebrate the fact that I’m now cancer-free. A bloody miracle and all credit to the NHS. It’s been a tough couple of years, so I figured we needed a bloody big party and a whole heap of fun. Hence having the fairground here, too.’

‘Oh, wow. Well, good for you. What a brilliant idea.’

‘Yes, it made me realise that life is too short. My money was sat wasting away in the bank, with my body at that time wasting away around me. Well, I feel like I’ve got a second chance. I gave a chunk to charity and I’m going to live life to the full from now on, and I intend to enjoy every damn moment. And, if you’ve got your wits about you, young man, I suggest you do the same. What is it you young people say? YOLO, or something?’

Jack felt a lump rise in his throat. ‘That’s the one, You Only Live Once. Well, congratulations on your all clear. Have a wonderful night, all of you.’

‘Grandad, Gran-dad, come on …’ A young girl, about ten years old, dashed over, grabbing Frank’s hand. ‘Mummy’s waiting for you on the Merry-Go-Round!’

‘Of course, darling. On my way. Wouldn’t miss it for the world.’ He turned to Jack, ‘I’ll fetch that beer later. Have a good night.’

‘You too.’

Jack watched him go; he felt warmed with emotion, yet a little bit raw around the edges too. Life … it seemed to balance on a pinhead at times.

Ruby’s bar was buzzing throughout the evening, and Lucy had to admit it looked great. The deep glossy red of the campervan’s paintwork was set against its chrome countertop, which pulled down, hatch-like, to one side. Jack had it set out with a three-tiered stand of colourful garnishes, gorgeous cut glasses, a metal ice bucket filled enticingly with chilled sparkling wine bottles, and the jazzy backdrop of the light bulb-lit blackboard menu behind him in the raised white roof section. And as she stole a quick glance whilst cooking, there was Jack himself, spinning his most charming banter to a crowd of young ladies, all the while performing his sleight-of-hand mixology. It was indeed like watching a show, and although he still appeared a little cocky, he clearly loved what he did.

The odd snatch of conversation filtered Lucy’s way, and she found herself listening in: ‘So ladies, do you have a favourite drink in mind? Or, would you like me to take a guess at your likes and then create your ideal personal cocktails?’

Three rather pretty twenty-somethings were gazing up at him with awed smiles.

‘Ooh, yes, choose us something!’ one of them said.

‘So, what do you think I’d like?’ Lady No. 2 purred.

‘For you, something a little exotic, with a hint of juicy pineapple and a swirl of creamy coconut, perhaps?’ Blimey, he was sounding like a male version of Nigella Lawson. Making cocktails suddenly sounded sooo sexy. Of course, it was far too over the top for Lucy’s liking. Pretty damned cheesy, to be honest, but still she listened in, with a hint of a smile across her lips, as she loaded another pizza base with toppings.

‘Oh my, that sounds delicious,’ No. 2 answered.

‘So, I’m talking piña colada but not just any old piña colada. Oh no, a Jack’s Cocktail Campervan Special Colada with an extra hint of lime and my secret ingredient.’

‘Oooh, what’s that?’

‘I’d love to tell you, but it’s top secret. You’d have to kill me first.’ He gave a wink.

‘Hah, okay yeah, go ahead. I’ll take one of those. It sounds divine.’

He started prepping, slicing and pouring, and was soon shaking his cocktail mixer dramatically.

‘And for you,’ a minute or so later, he turned his attention back to the first girl. ‘I saw how much you loved the candyfloss cocktail earlier, so I’ll make you another, but a different flavour this time. Watch and learn, it’s going to be a flossy little Sex on the Beach.’

Lucy was stood beside Tamsin, the pair of them slicing red onions at this point, when she suddenly felt the tip of the knife graze her thumb. Oops, she looked down quickly – thank god it hadn’t pierced the skin. Right, enough of watching that guy’s cocktail shenanigans, she’d better concentrate on her own catering. Time to load these next two pizzas into the oven. She too had customers waiting.