Page 62 of The Seaside Supper Club

It was the lightness of the interior that hit Cath first. The pearly-white paint that Nikki had chosen was the perfect shade for three of the walls, and oh, the gorgeous soft grey feature wall behind the stove. The space in the living area looked so cool and airy. Coastal hues of calming blues and greys filled the room, above the umber browns of the original wooden floorboards which had been sanded and freshened up with a touch of natural varnish. A touch of teal caught her eye on wonderfully striking starfish-and-shell-patterned blue-and-white cushions, that were now plumped on the navy sofa bed. Oh, and there were new curtains, fluttering gently at the two front windows, that matched the cushions. The supper club gang had gone above and beyond, by far. And Sophie, who was grinning away besides Lily, was somehow in on it too. Cath was momentarily speechless as a wave of emotion rolled right through her.

‘Am I at the right bungalow? How’s this all happened?’ Will seemed shocked, happy and confused all at once.

‘It’s incredible,’ said Cath, feeling awestruck. ‘It was nothing like this when I left you all that day.’

‘Ah, so you were in on it, too.’ Will looked to Cath bemusedly, yet couldn’t help the smile that lit his face.

‘The key bearer,’ explained Dan.

‘And Cath started the painting with us,’ added Lily. ‘Sophie’s helped to choose the cushions and curtains, and then came down to put them up with us.’

‘Oh yes, we’ve been up to all sorts of mischief whilst you’ve been recuperating, mate,’ continued Dan, with a twinkle in his eye.

‘Hey, how’re you feeling, Will?’ asked Gemma, who now stepped forward from the kitchen area – where there was a shiny brand-new sink. All set in Dan’s fresh white kitchen unit, with its extra cupboards and work space. Something else that had totally changed.

Will was struggling to take it all in. ‘Well, I’m getting there, thanks,’ he replied after a short pause. ‘Mind you, I think you lot have put me in to shock with all the carry-on here. It’s fantastic, but oh my days …’

‘Oh, and there’s a new toilet installed, too.’ Gemma gave a wide grin.

‘I don’t know how to thank you, all of you. It’s just amazing. So how do I settle up for all this?’ Will was still gobsmacked.

‘No need for any of that. It’s a gift. A get-well present,’ said Andreas proudly.

And then, as the grand finale, their eyes moved to the ‘Hula’ corner, where he was now standing: Andreas’s DIY semi-circular bar, with its wooden countertop and bamboo sides.

Ah, so that was what the bamboo had been for, thought Cath.

The counter held a beautiful vintage blue cocktail glass filled with mini cocktail stick umbrellas, a stainless-steel pineapple-shaped ice bucket, and a flamboyant, oh yes, pink flamingo ornament. To the front, Andreas had pinned an opened-out raffia grass skirt for added humour. There were several glasses lined up and ready. Andreas then took his place behind his bar, with the biggest grin on his face, ready to pour his celebratory cocktails. ‘Anyone for a pina colada? Or for those driving or still on meds, I have a pi-no colada mocktail.’ There he was, in his element, sporting a Hawaiian-style shirt with colourful fake-flower garland teamed with chino shorts. Cath then spotted the tropical-plant paintings gracing the wall behind the bar.

The Hula bar was a triumph; a splash of bold colour and a bit of fun, in the midst of the coastal calm. It really shouldn’t work with the rest of the interior design, but somehow it did. Perhaps that came from knowing it had been created with flair and love, mused Cath.

But what did Will think, was the million-dollar question?

‘We did try to rein him in a bit,’ Nikki added with a smile.

‘But you can’t keep a good man down.’ Andreas gave a wink. ‘So, what do you think, Will?’

There was a pause, as Will scanned the bungalow’s interior once more. ‘I actually love it. All of it,’ said Will. ‘I still can’t believe it. When did you get time to do all this?’

‘A team effort. We started a few days after your op, had a full day to kick things off, a few evenings after work, and a big bash yesterday with Kev lending a hand too, to bring it all together,’ explained Nikki.

‘I fitted the new sink and loo this morning,’ Gemma added proudly.

‘And we’ve only just finished putting up the curtains about ten minutes ago,’ said Sophie, going over to give her dad a warm hug.

‘But you were at home …’ Will was still trying to work it all out.

‘I left about thirty seconds after you!’ She laughed. ‘Lily’s dad gave us two a lift over. We passed you as you stopped at Cath’s.’

‘Wow, just wow.’ Will was still utterly gobsmacked.

Cath found herself getting teary. It was beautiful in here. A world away from the ramshackle, mice-ridden hut they’d walked into two months ago. A gorgeous place to chill as a couple or on your own, somewhere to sit and just be, watching the constant ebb and flow of the sea, and equally a space to have fun with guests, or to party perhaps – once Will was up to partying again, of course. And for now, a space to heal, to find a little calm and hold on to that hope for the future. That’s what Will needed more than anything just now. And these very special friends had made this possible.

‘Thank you,’ Cath started. The words felt so little, but meant so much. ‘Thank you all,’ Cath repeated, her throat tight with emotion.

‘Thanks so much, everyone,’ added Will. ‘I still can’t quite believe it. No more dodgy dark-wood interior.’

‘You’re very welcome, my lovelies,’ said Dan, his arm around his partner, and scanning their friends and Sophie, he spoke for all of them.