Page 56 of The Second Chance Supper Club

‘Right, well, that’s it all delivered. Job done.’ Will turned, ready to go.

‘Yeah, and I’d better get back to Shirley. Thanks.’

‘Uhm … there’s a village pub quiz coming up. For the local hospice,’ Will ventured. ‘Maybe you’d like to come along? We might even raise a team, if the lads feel up to it, that is. Next Thursday, here at The Star Inn.’

‘That sounds good, thanks. I’d like that.’ She felt a buzz at the thought of spending the evening with Will. Another chance to get to know each other a little bit more.

Dan was back at their flat fifty minutes later, and had phoned Cath, all emotional, after finding the food supplies left in the fridge for them. He explained that he needed an hour or so to get sorted, and the shop re-opened. So, in the meanwhile she took Shirley for a little walk around the village. Several locals, including the elderly couple next door, John and Mary, had stopped her on seeing the familiar Westie, asking about the lads and Maria’s welfare, having heard the news on the village grapevine.

There was a real sense of community in this village, and of coming together. She had a feeling more offers of help and goodies might well be arriving at the shop soon. Dan and Andreas’s past kindnesses across the community being remembered and acknowledged.

As she dropped Shirley off later, Cath repeated her offer to help out in the shop for a couple of hours, if that might ever help.

‘I’ll just get everything straight here today, lovely … but we might well take you up on that sometime,’ said Dan. ‘And thanks so much for looking after our little diva. I hope she’s been good for you?’

Shirley barked on cue, as if to say yes, of course I have, which made them both smile.

‘She’s been perfect. I’ve enjoyed having her. Been good company, to be honest.’

Dan rubbed the little dog behind the ears, then declared, ‘Right, up we go, missy. I’ll pop you away. No loitering on the shop floor for you.’ And up he went, taking the little dog and her things with him. ‘I’ll be straight back …’

‘No worries.’ Cath waited, browsing the shelves and the local crafts until Dan returned.

They then said their goodbyes, Cath aware that Dan would have plenty to be getting on with.

‘Thank you so much again, my lovely.’

‘It’s no problem at all. See you soon. And send my love to Andreas and Maria.’

‘Will do. Bye.’

Cath missed her little canine pal very much that night, and the following day, vowing to ‘borrow’ Shirley more often. The cottage seemed so much emptier without the occasional yap, bark and snuggle, as the terrier had followed her around the house. It seemed all too quiet, once more, serving to remind her how solitary her new life could sometimes feel.

Chapter 33

The winning team were announced as Norfolk and Chance. Liz, the very sensible village carpet bowls team leader, and tonight’s quiz host, pronounced the prize-winners, totally unawares as to why the gathering were chuckling so much as she announced their victory. She continued stoically among the giggling chatter, saying that a close second were the new team Will and Cath’s Quirky Quizzers. They shared an air punch and grinned. They’d soon discovered that she was good on literature and history, both on geography, and Will on the sport and music questions. They complemented each other well. A runner-up prize of a bottle of homemade sloe gin, kindly donated by a member of the local WI, was wending its way towards them.

‘You have it …’ Will offered, with a gentle smile.

‘Sure?’

‘Absolutely.’

‘Well, we could share a tipple or two with the supper clubbers, sometime,’ Cath suggested, ‘when Dan and Andreas are back in action, of course.’ The lads had passed on this evening, still feeling shattered after recent events, and Nikki was holed up tackling a pile of paperwork. ‘How does that sound?’

‘The ideal solution.’

‘Cheers.’ Will clinked his pint against her wine glass.

The two of them had had a couple of drinks whilst quizzing, but not too much. Cath aware that she needed to keep a clear head in his company. They were still coming out of such difficult situations, relationship-wise, after all. It was a fun night, they’d got on well, and had enjoyed the buzzy atmosphere of their village pub on a busy Thursday. And okay, yes, she’d enjoyed being in the company of an attractive and interesting man.

In the end, they stayed long after the quiz, chatting and laughing over a glass of red for her, and a further pint of ale for Will. Still talking over some of the music questions, and discovering their shared love of Fifties and Sixties music – the Drifters, Marvin Gaye, among many.

In fact, the pair of them hadn’t realised quite how late it was, until the bar began emptying and the staff were clearing up around them. Indeed, landlord Bill, dressed in his trademark tweeds, with a sheen of sweat upon his brow from such a hectic night, made his way over to them. ‘Time to drink up, bonny folks.’ He gave a rosy-cheeked smile. ‘And hey, it’s good to see you out, Will.’

It was time to head home. They gathered their jackets, and as they made their way out to the village street it was already getting dark, even though they were in the long late nights of the summer. Pinpricks of stars were twinkling into life above them.

‘I’ll see you back,’ Will offered in a gentlemanly way, his eyes softly focused on her.