Page 27 of The Second Chance Supper Club

She turned down the oven with a simmering sigh. She’d give him a few minutes and that was it; he’d evidently driven a long distance. But there was no way she was letting him get too comfy here. If he really wanted to talk things over, it could wait until tomorrow.

And it felt wrong, him stood in her cottage kitchen. This was her little haven. Her new start.

But he was waiting, in beige chinos and a work shirt she recognised, having ironed it dozens of times, sort of hang-dog style. ‘Just a few minutes?’

All of their past and her present stood clashing in that kitchen. He didn’t deserve any of her bloody time after the way he’d behaved, how he’d let her down. But, a little voice in her head reminded her, he was the father of her son, after all. That they’d need to keep in touch for Adam’s sake at least, to be polite and discuss ongoing matters relating to him.

Oh, bugger it, she’d let him have a few minutes, and that was it. And then she’d ‘about turn’ him and shove him back out of her kitchen and her cottage. Hopefully, before Nikki and Will realised that he was even here.

‘Okay, five minutes and that’s it. So, why are you here, Trev?’ Her tone was short.

‘There are some things we need to run over. And well, I thought it might be easier in person. It’s been too long, Cath. I hoped we could stay friends, at least.’

‘Well, it was you who started this whole fucking chain of events.’ Her voice was terse. She didn’t usually use the ‘f’ word but she couldn’t help herself. There was so much more that she could say, but Cath really didn’t want to dredge this all up. ‘I can’t do this right now, Trevor. I have company. I’m in the middle of cooking dinner. And, you should have bloody well let me know you were going to turn up … at least have had the decency to ask if it was okay? What the hell were you thinking? Did you imagine I was sat here on my own pining for you?’

‘No, of course not.’

She could feel her cheeks flushing, anger brewing within. She was not going to let him take the piss out of her again. Not now. Not ever. She was going to get the upper hand here and set things straight from the start. ‘And where are you meant to be staying tonight? It certainly isn’t going to be here. There’s a good pub and a couple of B&Bs in the village.’ She needed to make things crystal clear. He’d made his bed, and he absolutely wasn’t going to be able to come back to lie in hers, not even the one in the spare room.

‘Yeah, of course, I’ll sort something out accommodation-wise. No worries. But crikey, that does smell good whatever’s in the oven. I am really hungry, it’s been a long drive, and I didn’t have time for anything earlier.’

Wow, the audacity of the man. If it hadn’t been Andreas’s gorgeous food in the oven, she’d love to have got it out and tipped it right over her soon-to-be ex-husband’s head.

The air in the kitchen felt like it could crackle with static. ‘Oh hi.’ Will appeared, stepping into the back door from the garden. He took in the surprise extra guest. ‘Ah, just thought I’d pop down and see if you needed a hand with anything. As you seemed to be taking a while.’

‘Well, yes, I have an unexpected visitor.’

‘Oh, joining us for supper?’ Will asked innocently.

‘Ah … well.’ No, was on the tip of her tongue, but she didn’t get a chance to get it out.

Before she knew it, Will added politely, ‘I’m sure there’ll be plenty to go around.’

She flashed her eyes at Will in warning, but it was too late. Trevor was on to it. ‘Well, if it’s all right with Cath? Yeah, I’d love to …’

Grrrrr! Cath sighed aloud, dammit, it would seem rude to say no now. Mr Grumpy Will was being so nice!

There were a few seconds of uncomfortable silence, with both men looking at her, then she conceded with an ‘O-kay, you can have some supper, but that’s it.’ She glared at Trevor as she added, ‘And you’d better get on to the pub right away and sort out your accommodation, or else you’ll be sleeping in the car.’

Will realised his error, mouthing a ‘sorry’ as he pulled an apologetic face from behind Trevor’s head.

‘Will, meet Trevor, my ex,’ she emphasised the word with a slight hiss, ‘husband.’

‘Right, I see. Well, hi.’ He sounded rather awkward. Jeez, this was going to be some night.

‘I’ll just nip back up to Nikki, then,’ Will said, ready to make a swift exit from the emotionally laden kitchen. ‘Anything you need me to take up?’

Cath took out the warmed bread, added a knife and butter to the board, and passed it to him with a ‘Thanks. I’ll be there shortly with the starter. Help yourselves to the wine in the meantime.’

Wine, she needed more wine. She took a glug from hers, which was on the side.

‘Will do.’ Will gave an empathetic smile, evidently sorry to have landed her in it.

She busied herself for a few moments getting the feta bake out of the oven, with her back to her ex, her husband of thirty years, trying extremely hard to get her thoughts and emotions in order.

Trevor was here in Tilldale.

She set the baking dish down on the trivet, then said, ‘Look, if you want to talk … properly … I’d rather tomorrow morning, certainly not now in front of my guests. Why don’t you come for a coffee at say ten?’