Page 87 of The Second Chance Supper Club

The conversation ended soon after, with virtual hugs and kisses, and a warm feeling that Adam was going to be all right. A little of her mother-guilt about the break-up with Trevor and the sale of the family home, the upset it had caused to all their lives, peeling away.

It was one step at a time for her son, and for her, trying to navigate their adult relationship with honesty, humour and respect, but at last she felt it was all going in the right direction.

There was another relationship that she really needed to keep steering in the right direction, too. Despite the frosty reception to her side of their youthful story from Will, Cath was determined not to duck out anymore. This was the new Cath, taking life, love and friendship by the horns.

She decided to private message Will, saying that though she’d love to come along to the next supper event, she was offering him an easy way out if he felt uncomfortable about it. Cath was determined to keep trying hard for them to remain friends … to give it time, but she didn’t want him to feel awkward. She was waiting for his response.

An hour after sending the message, there was a rap at her door.

Oh, Will was there, looking so damned attractive in dark jeans and a plain khaki T.

‘Hi.’ His expression and tone were gentle.

‘Hey.’ She found she couldn’t be cool with him, a hopeful smile already playing on her lips.

‘I’m sorry if I didn’t take it well … your explanation the other day …’ he started, looking distinctly awkward.

‘Hey, come on in.’ This was evidently not a conversation for the doorstep.

Both stood in her hallway now. ‘It was all just a bit of a shock … well … hearing that you might have been pregnant back then. I’m sorry if I wasn’t very understanding.’ He looked right at her.

‘It’s okay …’ She felt a calmness come over her. He was here now, they were talking again, and that meant so much. ‘And I’ve seen the lads, they’ve actually been giving me some cooking lessons in advance of Friday … I certainly need it. They told me about your Adam. I’m sorry you’ve had all that worry. How is he?’

‘Ah, he’s doing okay. Thank you. I think he’s through the worst of it. Just hit a real low. It’s hard for them, isn’t it, youngsters today. All those hopes and dreams after uni … and then the reality, with good jobs so few and far between.’ She drew a breath. ‘And it really hasn’t helped him, all this stuff going on between me and Trevor these past couple of years. It’s been a total mess and he’s been in the middle of it. We hadn’t always noticed … Your children are still so vulnerable, even if they are grown-up adults.’

Will was nodding understandingly. ‘There’s no magic shield when you hit eighteen is there? Life still sends in those knocks.’

And didn’t the pair of them know it.

‘The Supper Club at mine,’ he continued, sounding slightly uncertain of himself, ‘I’d like you to come along, Cath. Shall we give this friends thing a try?’

‘You sure?’

They both knew it wasn’t going to be easy for him – for either of them.

‘Sure.’

‘O-kay. Well, thank you.’

So, Supper Club at Will’s was a yes.

He gave a cautious smile, then added, ‘Sorry, but I’ve got to go, get back to the shop. Got a delivery due at six.’ He was preparing his exit, there was of course no hug or kiss on the cheek, but at least something had shifted positively between them. Cath still felt a whole heap of emotions when she looked at him, having once hoped for so much more. She’d have to settle for friendship, and they’d still need to work at making that feel comfortable again, but hey, this was way better than the stalemate they’d had for weeks now.

Chapter 51

Tonight was the night, Supper Club at Will’s, and as Cath got changed into her floaty-floral summer dress, she couldn’t help but feel nervous. If they could get through this one, take those steps to re-build their friendship, then there might be hope for the future, fingers crossed.

On the group chat, it was agreed that everyone would take something to help out, with Will making the main supper dish. Andreas and Dan had given him a couple of cooking lessons to boost his skills and confidence, bless them. Lily and Nikki were on puddings, and Cath said she’d do the starter – a baked goat’s cheese salad, served with homemade red-onion chutney. The ingredients were all ready to take over in her basket. All she had to do was give the rounds of cheese a light toast under the grill, and assemble them with some salad leaves and the relish – easy-peasy. The cooking was the simple part, it was trying to maintain a natural approach with Will that would be tricky.

She set off, with an anxious whir inside, as she made the short walk up the village. Her plan was to arrive a few minutes late, hoping that someone else in the group would be there first to take the pressure off the pair of them. At 7:08 p.m. she knocked on Will’s door, her head a bit of a mush and her heart feeling sore. All the while, she told herself it’d be fine, she just had to be polite. All she had to do was to make chit-chat with Will where needed, then steer herself towards the others. Will opened the door, looking smart – and oh, she had to admit, handsome – in a pale-pink linen shirt, the sleeves rolled up revealing his lightly tanned forearms, and black jeans. A waft of gorgeous aftershave hit her. She felt a little unsteady. ‘Hi, Cath.’ His tone was calm, if a touch cool. Was he trying too hard to sound normal?

‘Hello.’ She tried to smile, but everything was feeling pretty difficult already. And, damn, why was there was no sound of chat or laughter coming through from the rest of the house? In fact, it sounded ominously quiet in there.

‘You’re the first,’ he acknowledged. ‘Oh, and Andreas and Dan have had to pull out. Something about Dan having a terrible migraine, and Andreas not wanting to leave him as Dan was feeling a bit sick with it, too.’

‘Ah no, that’s such a shame.’

‘Andreas did pop in with some homemade olive bread and a salad dish earlier though, so that was good of him.’