Page 59 of The Seaside Supper Club

Her handbag was in the lounge. Popping back in, she saw that Will had now opened his eyes.

‘Hey, I’m heading back home this evening, now. The girls will look after you. Take care, my love. I’ll see you in the morning.’ Did she dare kiss him? A peck on the cheek at least? The girls had followed her into the room by then, and Cath felt the heat of two pairs of eyes on her, as she leaned in for a farewell kiss.

‘Thanks for dropping by, Cath,’ Will said a little groggily. He was probably sleepy but his words ended up sounding polite and rather distant, as though she was a mere acquaintance.

Of course, he’d just woken up, but she couldn’t help feel a bit put out … pushed out. How much was she a part of their lives? She certainly didn’t yet feel like family. And she had to admit that that hurt.

*

Cath let off steam with her sister, Susie, calling her when she got back in. Her sister knew of Will, being privy to the ins and outs of their developing relationship, and was now fully aware of his recent cancer shock and surgery. And being her big sister, she knew Cath inside out, too. She was absolutely the right person to call. It was good for Cath to be able to vent without judgement. To be able to be totally frank.

‘Argh, it’s making me feel like the Wicked Witch of the West. When I’m there, it’s like they can’t wait to get rid of me. The girls, that is. And I’m only trying to bloody well help. I feel like they want to take over. To keep it to their little unit of three. They’re not even subtle in treating me like a spare part. Will’s too knackered even to notice, let alone to stand up to them. And then I feel terrible that I’m even thinking all these things, because it’s a shitty time for everyone.’ Cath ran out of steam then. It had well and truly been vented. Perhaps in a jumbled mass, but it was out there.

‘You’ve had a good day, then,’ Susie uttered wryly. ‘And hello to you too, lovely Sis.’

‘Hi. Sorry, I just needed to let that all out.’

‘It’s okay. That’s what I’m here for.’

‘Thank you. It’s just so damn frustrating. And all I want to do is help Will get better.’

‘Well, keep that as your focus. The rest of it is annoying, and hey, you should expect some respect at least from the girls, but it’s not the time to go demanding an equal footing in their house. Maybe it is a bit too soon, and in the circumstances, everyone’s emotions are bound to be heightened.’

‘Yeah, I suppose you’re right.’ Cath felt herself coming back down. ‘And it probably brings back difficult memories, too,’ she conceded. ‘Of when their mum was trying to get through her cancer treatments, and they’d hoped it would all turn out right … and it never did.’

‘There’s always a bigger picture, Cath. But hey, it’s understandable how you’re feeling too. You just want the best for Will. And I bet you’d imagined you’d be the one caring for him, nursing him through this. You were always like that … sparrows with broken wings, mice half-dead that the cat had brought in, trying to nurture them back to health in a cardboard box. Nurse Cathy. If you hadn’t been a teacher, I bet that’s what you would have done instead.’

‘Hah, probably.’

‘And how is Will doing?’

‘Sore. But he’s okay. Slowly, but surely, I suppose. It has knocked the stuffing out of him, mind. That’s what’s really hard, for him and me, seeing him so frail now. Yet when he went in, he was such a healthy, active man. Cancer is weird like that. Hidden. Lurking. You feel fine, and then getting the bloody thing out and treating it, makes you feel horrendous.’

‘Yeah, I hadn’t thought of it like that. But yes …’ Susie sounded contemplative.

‘Anyway, we’ll work through it,’ said Cath, sounding far more positive than at the start of her rant. ‘So how are all of you? And what are your girls up to lately?’

‘Ah, we’re all fine. Hectic, as always. Hannah’s enjoying all elements of the uni life down at Bristol. On the netball team, too. She seems very happy. And Beth’s been off to Paris for a few days with her legal work. Sounded very glamorous, though she swore she hardly had time to see any of the city or sights. Had a very fancy dinner, all paid for, mind. All champagne and canapés, duck à l’orange, and something elaborate and chocolatey to finish.’

‘Sounds fabulous. We never got any of that treatment in my secondary school maths department.’

‘Hah, no.’

‘Oh, you’ll have to come up again soon.’ With their easy chat, Cath realised how much she missed her sister.

‘Yeah, once all this has settled with Will and his family, I’d love to. I’m sure you’ve enough on your plate just now. But it will be lovely to catch up again properly, and your little village is so beautiful.’

‘Yes, it is a bit hectic right now,’ Cath conceded. ‘And, on top of all this, I’ve got the Tilldale afternoon tea event, I told you about, to get organised.’

‘Oh God, yeah, you’ve got all that to prepare for. You must be bloody mad.’

‘Yes, well, I didn’t know any of this was going to happen when I suggested the idea, did I? I’ve got around thirty expectant attendees on the list. I can’t let them down.’

‘Oh heavens. Good luck.’

‘Cheers. I’ll need it.’ She was bloody crazy, she silently agreed. But Cath would park her concerns on that one for another day. Her brain might well implode otherwise.

‘Right, lovely, well, I’d better go,’ said Susie. ‘We’re off to The Bull for a drink with friends. It’s quiz night. And we’ve got a team together.’ The Bull was their local pub.