Page 30 of The Seaside Supper Club

‘That’s the attitude,’ said Will.

‘Go, girl!’ encouraged Nikki.

‘Thanks all, and on that note, I really had better go. Mum might come up at any minute, and realise I’ve not actually been studying for the past half-hour. Love you, guys.’

‘Bye, petal! Love you, too,’ said Andreas.

‘Best of luck,’ Will added.

‘Bye, darling. Keep on going. It’ll all be worth it in the end. And thank you for your help with sorting the band. Sounds brilliant.’ Cath waved at the screen.

Dan had made a coffee and walnut sponge for this afternoon’s meet-up, and there was also a plateful of Andreas’s famous honey and walnut baklava before them. The conversation had gone off-piste from the tea event, with Andreas asking Will how the plans for the beach hut were going. He was angling for a coastal visit, and a nose around the inherited hut, for sure.

‘Slowly,’ answered Will frankly. ‘I’ve yet to get someone contracted to fix the roof and wooden wall slats. It’s got to be weatherproofed before I can do anything else.’

‘So, there’ll be plenty of work on, then,’ commented Dan, as they chatted over top-ups of tea and cake.

‘There will, indeed,’ confirmed Will.

‘Yep, lots of work,’ agreed Cath, visualising the dilapidated state of the place. ‘It’s rotting away,’ she added openly.

‘Sounds lush,’ noted Nikki sarcastically.

‘I’ve rung around a few companies already,’ added Will. ‘The structural repairs are needed before we can start thinking about any interior work. And before I can do any of that, I need to get permission from the National Trust regarding the exterior and roof work.’

‘It has loads of potential,’ added Cath more positively. ‘And it does have the most beautiful location.’

‘Oh, how exciting. Will you be open to interior design suggestions?’ asked Dan, who loved a bit of creative input, and was already looking to the next stage.

‘Now then, that’s a long way off,’ said Will.

‘Ooh, well, I love a challenge me,’ Nikki added. ‘I’m more than happy to help, when the time comes.’

‘I think we’d all be happy to help … and I’d love to take a trip to the coast to see it,’ added Andreas, still angling.

‘Well, once the initial repairs are made, of course, you’ll all be welcome to come and take a look around. Don’t get too excited, though,’ warned Will. ‘It’s more of a wooden shell than a cosy beach retreat at the moment.’

‘But in time … just think, it could be amazing,’ said Nikki.

‘It’s going to be a great project,’ said Dan warmly.

‘Lots to plan and do,’ added Will.

Cath chipped in with, ‘The Tilldale Tea and a renovation by the sea. We’ve got our work cut out.’

Chapter 11

‘Ahm, hey.’

It was now two days later, and Will was on the phone to Cath. She knew he’d been trying to get work started on the beach bungalow and wondered if he was calling with an update. Yet his voice sounded unusually hushed. A mere two words, and she felt an odd sense of unease.

‘Hi, Will.’

‘Ahm, I’ve been … to the doctors.’

‘Oh, right. Well, is everything okay?’ He hadn’t mentioned making an appointment, but perhaps it had been on his mind about his ongoing tiredness.

‘Umm, I’ve had a blood test,’ he continued. ‘A PSA.’ The couple of seconds’ silence that followed seemed disturbingly long.