Page 46 of The Seaside Supper Club

It was. And she felt like she’d remember that view, and this last day and night, for all of her life.

It wasn’t their usual Monday morning, by any means. Joining him for strong, rich coffee and croissants – straight from the pack, with there being no oven – on the deck overlooking the bay. Will in yesterday’s T-shirt and his boxers, and her in her handy PJs. And it was still only 7.30 a.m.

The blues had won over, the sky now a bold ultramarine with just the odd puff of wispy high cloud. The dog walkers were out on the sands, plus some early hikers. Spaniels were bowling around in a whirl, Labradors lolloping in and out of the sea, border collies – so in tune with their owners – making a disciplined ball chase and return. Another gorgeous day on the coast beckoned.

But all too soon for Cath and Will, it was time to pack up, head back over the dunes, and set off on the country roads back to Tilldale, and to work – this evening for Cath, who had several online tutorials booked in, and this afternoon for Will. Back to reality for a short while at least. Will was already thinking about having to put a sign up in the cycle shop window, that ‘due to unforeseen circumstances’ he’d be closed later this week. He’d wondered whether to put that same message out on his shop’s Facebook page, too. But his girls were bound to spot that, he realised, and then they’d be asking questions. He was not going to share his health news, not until the op was over. Thursday he’d be in hospital for surgery, and Friday back out, with any luck. And that also meant that Sophie’s exam would be finished by then, too. He’d let the girls know on the weekend, ask them to come up, when it was all done and dusted. Hopefully with the reassuring news that the cancer was all safely removed.

Will and Cath couldn’t escape reality for much longer. The hut had been a wonderful haven for these past twenty-four hours, but now it was time to face the future, whatever that might hold. Will tried to calm his fears, knowing he had to face this head-on, but his grip on the steering wheel as they headed back was a little tighter than usual.

In the passenger seat, Cath couldn’t help the nauseous feeling rising in her gut, though she tried her utmost to hide her concerns from Will. She needed to be his rock in these coming days, and she would be. They both knew that this next journey in life for them wasn’t going to be an easy ride.

Chapter 19

‘Cath, I’ve just had a text … from Sophie.’ Will sounded stressed. ‘Her exam’s done, and she’s only gone and jumped on a train all excited, and is on her way home.’

‘Oh, shit, that’s going to be tricky, isn’t it?’

‘Don’t I damn well know it.’

‘At least her exam is finished. That was your big concern.’

‘But I didn’t want to have to tell her like this … And what about Maddie? It’s not right to tell one without the other. I’d wanted to do it in person. Both at the same time. It’ll be a big deal for them.’

‘Yeah, I can see that. Ring Maddie now. Ask her to come up. I don’t think she was working today, was she?’

‘No …’ His voice trailed with the sudden enormity of it all.

All the planning, all the secrecy was about to be blown apart. But he couldn’t exactly lie anymore when his hospital bag was packed and he was going to be off first thing in the morning, Cath realised. The time had come for the truth.

‘Okay, I’ll ring Maddie,’ he conceded. ‘Tell her it’s something important …’

‘Umm, I was coming around to yours anyway after my lesson. Shall I make supper for us all? Would you still like me to be there?’ Their earlier plan of a simple stress-free evening pre-op, had evidently been shattered. And she’d so wanted to make everything pleasant and comfortable for him, being the night before his surgery.

‘Of course, and yes, it’ll be good to have your moral support. And supper, yes … thank you.’ He sounded distant, like his brain was a whirl. Poor Will. His emotions were about to get put through the sieve.

*

Cath let herself in with her spare key. Will had left for the train station twenty minutes ago, and Maddie who, thankfully was free this evening, was on her way up too; an hour’s journey. The house seemed so very quiet. Will’s trainers in the hall, but otherwise all was neat and tidy. The photos of Jane, of the family together, smiling at her from the walls. Cath stood for a second to look. The family unit they had all been … on the beach, on holiday, the snaps that held those precious happy moments in time. And then, they had all been put through so much, Cath’s heart felt a sharp pang. Life and death, love and loss, what a curious, rollercoaster journey we were all on …

Cath gathered herself, with a gentle sigh, and headed for the kitchen. The place she felt most comfortable, especially in difficult times. She’d cook for them all, with love. Armed with her basket of ingredients for a chicken and mushroom risotto, plus some fresh sourdough bread bought from the lads’ shop earlier today. Comfort food at its best. They’d surely need it.

*

She was ladling in another spoon of stock, and stirring the rice dish, when she heard footsteps outside, and chatter as the front door opened. So, this was it, Sophie’s arrival. Cath took a breath. Her relationship with Will’s youngest could be tricky at the best of times. It was an awkward one emotionally, a new woman coming into her father’s life after such trauma for them all. But they were both working on it.

Cath took the pan off the heat and headed into the hall with the wooden spoon still to hand, saying a cheery, ‘Hi, Sophie.’

‘Hey, Cath. Hi. Ahm, something smells good.’ Sophie gave a cautious smile. It must have been strange for her seeing someone else in her mum’s place, cooking.

‘Yep, I’m cooking a risotto for us all.’ Cath tried to sound casual. But she couldn’t help but feel uneasy about was going to happen very soon, once Will broke his troubling news.

‘Nice. Oh yeah, Dad was telling me about Maddie heading up, too. That’s pretty cool.’ The poor girl was oblivious.

‘So, how was the big exam? Go okay?’ Cath asked, soldiering on with the conversation.

‘Yeah, I think so. Couple of tough questions, but I’d studied hard on the corporate law stuff, which can trip you up, so I was happy with that part. Fingers crossed.’

‘Well, I’m sure you’ll have done well. You’ve done your best at least, and that’s all you can do.’