Page 66 of The Seaside Supper Club

‘We can certainly gift some items for the raffle and tombola from the shop. We have some great local produce that would be wonderful for it,’ replied Dan.

‘That’s great, thank you, Dan. But we can’t let you provide it all. Any other thoughts, anyone?’

‘Hmm, let me have a think. The boys did start on a few car washes. I’ve got twenty pounds in the pot, so far from that,’ started Nikki. ‘Their enthusiasm seemed to wane after the first weekend, but I’ll get them back on to it.’

‘Great, yes, and make sure they’re still down to do mine and Will’s, whenever they get a chance,’ said Cath.

‘Will do. Hmm, and maybe we could do something sponsored with their junior league football team, too. Perhaps with half of the funds raised for the team, and half for the event? A kick-a-thon, or sponsored fitness session, with extra laps of the football pitch or something. They’ll be mightily impressed with that idea, not.’ She gave a wry smile. ‘But hey, all for a good cause. Leave it with me for now.’

‘Thanks, Nikki.’

‘And I’ll see if we can wangle a reduced price for the hire of the hall. After all the work we put in for the renovations, I’m sure they’ll be amenable,’ Dan suggested. ‘I’ll chat with Veronica. She might also have some good ideas for fundraising or sponsorship.’

Veronica, the rather bossy chairperson of the village hall committee, had her heart in the right place. She could come across as rather scary at times, a force to be reckoned with, and a stalwart of the Tilldale community. She was always good to have on board.

‘Yes, I think she’d mentioned about the Brownies doing something. I’ll follow that up and have a chat with Brown Owl,’ added Cath.

‘Okay, so food will, of course, be the biggest cost,’ said Lily. ‘And we’ll need a firm idea of the final numbers for catering, very soon.’

‘Yes, of course,’ said Dan. ‘I’ll let people know they need to get their tickets early. We could put a ‘two weeks to go’ limit on, or something. I’ll flash up a date on the poster, and put out a post on the village Facebook group.’

‘Sounds a sensible idea,’ agreed Nikki.

‘I have my moments,’ said Dan. ‘Okay, so who’s on for another cup of coffee?’

Thanks to her supper club posse, the event was beginning to come together. Cath felt so much better than she had last night, when anxiety over the tea-time bash had sent her thoughts spiralling. She’d need to start making some serious lists. A mammoth shopping list for ingredients for one, and a to-do list extraordinaire. She was committed to making this day a special one for everybody involved. To give the hall, the villagers and the care home guests, another wonderful event to remember, with more pictures and mementoes to add to the memory board she’d started there at Christmas time.

‘Thank you so much, guys,’ said Cath, filled with a warm sense of gratitude. ‘You’re all stars. I actually feel like we might be able to pull this off, after all.’

And, with one very special person missing from this planning session, Cath hoped Will would feel up to making it there to join them. A few weeks should make a huge difference in his recovery. Perhaps being a part of this event might mark the start of a new chapter for him, too. A sign that his recuperation and health were on the up. He might not be quite up to dancing a jive, but perhaps a slow dance together, swaying to the beats of Lily’s school band, well, that really would make it the most marvellous of days. She could dare to hope, couldn’t she?

Chapter 27

Cath had suggested a lunch out in a café on the coast, thinking it would be nice to have a change of scene. She missed their walks and those lovely ‘dating’-style day trips spent together. She strongly felt that it was time they ventured out more, here and there locally, nothing too challenging, as a couple. Will seemed to be getting a little morose cooped up at his house, with only the occasional morning going to work at his cycle repair business, which he’d had to leave ticking over until now, in the hands of his friend, Josh. She was even finding it hard making conversation, day in day out, when Will hadn’t really been doing much.

She was aware things were still tricky for him toilet-wise, but he seemed much more able around his home. Making cups of coffee, doing a few small chores, getting up and down from the chair well, and managing the stairs far more easily. It was the confidence to go out that was lacking, she was sure, rather than the ability. The operation had undoubtedly changed him, he was a shadow of the active, cycling-mad man she had met. But perhaps he just needed a gentle nudge in the right direction.

Cath had offered to drive, and they’d taken the winding moorland road across country, and then down to the coast past Bamburgh and Seahouses towards Embleton, where there was a sweet little tea room she’d been wanting to try for ages, called Drift. It wasn’t actually that far away from the beach bungalow. So, if it turned out to be good, it’d be a lovely place to head for when they stayed there, she figured. Though, chance would be a fine thing. Since their outing for the big beach hut reveal, Will had seemed almost reluctant to venture back.

Will had his rucksack with him. She’d seen it left open in the house and she’d spotted several incontinence pads. He had admitted that things were still ‘not great’ down there, and Cath had urged him to have a word with his specialist nurse. She wasn’t sure if he had taken her advice as yet. She didn’t want to nag him, so had left it, for now.

They pulled up kerbside in the coastal village. The coffee shop was so pretty inside. All blues and whites, and mix-and-match reclaimed furniture, the colour indeed of driftwood. Wooden painted puffins and gulls adorned the walls and shelving, along with a host of local crafts for sale. Ooh, she’d have to get a little memento for the beach house. A huge glass counter was filled with inviting-looking cakes, quiches and treats. Will took a seat near the window, as Cath went for a closer look to see what was on offer.

Cath ordered a flat white coffee for them both, and from the varied menu Will decided on a rather basic ham salad sandwich. Cath went for a brie, avocado and chicken toasted panini, and had eyed up a slice of deliciously tempting raspberry and white chocolate cake for afterwards.

Will shifted in his seat, seeming uneasy, then suddenly blurted out, ‘I’m not sure why we’re bothering with all this … coming out, having lunch. It seems a bit of a farce, that life’s all jolly, and we’re having a good time.’ His tone was exasperated.

Oh heck, it seemed the trip wasn’t lifting his mood at all.

‘Ah, I just thought it might help. Get us out for a bit. I’ve been wanting to give this place a try …’

He puffed out a sigh. ‘It might well be nice for you, but it’s a bloody nightmare for me.’ He got up, rucksack in hand, and headed for the toilet, which was off to the back of the café. Cath could hear his huffing and puffing continuing as he tried the handle only to find it locked as someone was already in there.

Oh dear. Was this all too soon? Was she being a bit selfish? But she was trying to find a bit of normal. A bit of hope. A small treat, a drive to the coast, the chance to get them out of the house. Perhaps she was trying too hard.

She’d mooted earlier that they might also call at the beach hut, which was only a few miles away. But wondered now, how might that go down? Will didn’t seem in the best of spirits. When he finally made it back from the loo, she cautiously mentioned her idea. ‘Shall we call by the beach bungalow? Check on it. I brought the keys just in case.’

‘Not today. I just need to get back home.’