Page 56 of The Seaside Supper Club

‘Ah, okay, thanks. This bungalow glow-up is going to be so cool,’ said Lily.

‘A bunga-glow,’ came Andreas’s pun, quick as a shot.

‘Hah, that’s brilliant,’ said Nikki.

‘Even I have to confess to liking that one,’ agreed Dan.

Cath chuckled.

Lily glanced over to where she was pouring coffee. ‘Hey, hi, Cath. How’s Will?’

‘Hey, hun.’ Nikki came over, pulling her friend into a warm hug.

‘Yeah, he’s okay. One day at a time,’ she responded. ‘But it has knocked the stuffing out of him.’ A sigh escaped her lips.

‘Aw, bless.’

‘We’re all rooting for his speedy recovery,’ responded Dan calmly and supportively.

‘And he’s going to love what we’re doing here,’ added Andreas.

With Andreas likely working on some quirky feature, Cath wasn’t quite so sure about that. But hey, these were their friends and every hammer, nail and brushstroke were absolutely being done with love. If that wasn’t enough, then nothing would be.

After finishing their reviving drinks, more dust sheets were laid out on the floor, which was to stay as the original brown wooden planks, apparently. Some original features were to remain, at least, which was slightly reassuring, and Nikki had mentioned finding a gorgeous rug in shades of sea and sand for the living area, to go beside the log burner.

With all the talk of extras, as well as the paint, Cath couldn’t help but feel concerned about mounting costs. Nothing had been said about the money side of all this, and whilst giving up time and skills for free seemed fine and was so lovely of them, letting them cover the costs for all sorts of expensive additions such as a new kitchen unit and soft furnishings, well, that didn’t sit easily with her at all. She vowed to broach the matter before she left, but for now it was time to dip that brush and go!

Cath’s first brushstroke with the supper club gang felt momentous, the pearly-white shade on the wall looking so fresh and new. This felt very much like a second chance for this place. A fresh start for the beach hut, with more adventures and stories for bungalow 12A to come. She crossed her fingers that these would be Will’s adventures for many years yet, and if she was lucky enough, that she’d be a part of them, too.

With the music on – Lily requesting a change to some Taylor Swift – and Andreas switching tracks to a beaty rendition of ‘Shake it Off’, within the hour, the first coat on wall one was done!

Although Cath was occupied, time also seemed to move slowly. She was wondering how Will was getting on, and if he might try and contact her. What they were doing here was great, but she’d never made a good liar; secrets not being her forte. She’d had enough of lies and deceit from Trev. She was meant to be doing online tuition at her home in the village, and here she was, on a mad dash to the coast, undertaking what now felt like a DIY ‘experiment’ on his inheritance. Oh blimey, she hoped Will would like it. It had seemed such a good idea at the time. Perhaps her nerves about his recent surgery and ongoing recovery had left her reeling and feeling anxious about everything. Life was looking so good for the two of them, their relationship was going so well, and then suddenly with the cancer news, they’d found themselves on a knife-edge.

She dripped a blob of paint from her brush onto the floor. ‘Damn it.’

But of course, Dan’s dust sheets were down. The safety nets were there. Like her friends were, she realised. Her heart gave a big thank you as she looked around the room; Dan screwing a drawer together ready to place in the new unit, Andreas lining up sawn sections of bamboo, Lily and Nikki painting away, as Lily sang and Nikki hummed to the tunes. Their friendship life raft was in place. They just had to hang on in there.

*

It was time to head back to Tilldale.

‘Well, I’ll have to love you and leave you, guys. I’ve said I’d be back with Will by late afternoon,’ said Cath. ‘And I’m making supper for them all tonight as Maddie is coming up.’

‘Oh, that’ll be nice for them. You’re so good. Send the patient our love,’ said Nikki.

‘Tell him we’ll pop in and see him again soon,’ said Lily.

‘I’ll bring baklava. It’s a cure-all treat. And we’ll get these keys back to you soon,’ added Andreas.

‘Not quite yet, though. If that’s okay, Cath?’ added Dan. ‘I’ve a feeling we might need to hang on to them for a couple more days. There’s a few more hours work, yet.’

‘Thank you, and no worries, I’m sure Will won’t be looking for them for a while, at least,’ she responded.

‘He’ll still be busy licking his wounds,’ said Nikki.

‘Bloody hell, I hope not,’ Andreas retorted, unable to hold himself back, then collapsing with laughter. He quickly apologised, but Cath was laughing too – as was everyone.

In the midst of the gloom was Andreas’s humour, like a daft beacon of light. Cath was shaking her head, whilst they all grinned. What was he like?!