Page 22 of The Seaside Supper Club

‘Okay. Great, let’s get a date fixed in the diary, then,’ said Cath.

‘A Tilldale Afternoon Tea … has a lovely ring to it, don’t you think?’ Andreas smiled. ‘Simple, but it works,’ he added.

‘Sounds a bit like you, Andreas,’ chuckled Dan.

Andreas then swatted his partner as if he were a wasp. ‘Cheeky git.’

‘It sounds perfect,’ confirmed Cath.

Andreas continued animatedly, ‘And we can let the village folk know about it, too. Get a poster up in the shop window, get the community involved.’

‘The supper club strikes again!’

‘It’s going to be tea-licious,’ said Andreas.

‘Tea-lightful,’ added Dan.

The group’s groans turned into big grins.

‘This calls for cake!’ And with that, Lily went off to fetch her showstopper of a sponge.

They celebrated their great idea over slices of moist buttery Victoria sponge, with fresh juicy strawberries and a hint of custard in the cream.

‘Oh my,’ Andreas said dreamily, after taking his first bite.

‘You’ve excelled yourself with this one, Lily,’ said Dan.

Cath was left speechless momentarily, as she savoured the perfect combination of bouncy soft sponge, creamy custard and sweet strawberry. ‘That is heavenly,’ she finally managed. Honestly, it was like having the best-ever trifle in a cake.

Lily gave the brightest of smiles.

It was, in fact, the perfect cake for an afternoon tea event.

*

Cath felt sun-kissed, content and very full. A relaxing while later, sat beside Will, he reached for her hand where it rested on the table top, giving it an affectionate squeeze. Life felt good, with everything on the up, at last. They certainly had some great things to look forward to, and life as a couple was beginning to take shape – with a community afternoon tea event now to plan, and the beach bungalow project to forge forward with.

Oh, they hadn’t mentioned the hut as yet to the others, so perhaps this was the ideal time. ‘We’ve got a bit of exciting news, too,’ Cath started, as she looked to Will. It was his inheritance and project, after all. Will gave an affirming nod, seemingly guessing where she was going with this.

Before she could begin to explain, Andreas blurted out gleefully, ‘Oh, we’ve not got wedding bells ringing out, already?’

Crikey. ‘Of course not, we’ve only just got together.’ Cath firmly batted down that idea, feeling herself blush. Though she was surprised to find herself secretly lifted by the thought, but then equally terrified that Will would get spooked.

Will too went rather pink in the cheeks, and it wasn’t just the effect of the sun.

‘Shame, I was looking forward to buying a new hat for the occasion,’ Andreas continued.

‘Pipe down, Cilla,’ Dan warned. ‘After that set-up of a supper club for two, he thinks he’s some kind of matchmaking hero.’

With that, Andreas was off singing, ‘I need a hero …’ As the group collapsed into a fit of the giggles.

‘Aw, it would be lovely, though,’ chipped in Nikki. ‘A wedding in the village … Now that would be some event to organise.’

‘Behave, you lot.’ Cath suppressed a smile as she tried to steer the conversation back on track, and steady her matchmaking pals.

Will took over, swiftly changing the subject. ‘Well then, the news is … that I’ve just inherited a beach hut.’

‘Ooh, how fantastic,’ said Dan.