Page 24 of The Second Chance Supper Club

Cath had cooked a double portion of supper for herself last night, partly to take her mind off the rollercoaster of emotions of the last twenty-four hours since Trevor’s surprise arrival, and also intending to take a dish of home-cooked lasagne around to Andreas and Dan this morning.

She’d heard from Nikki that they were back from the hospital, but no doubt they were having a difficult time.

En route to the village stores and about to cross the road, Cath spotted a bicycle heading her way. She waited a few moments on the kerbside. The cyclist came to a halt before her, looking up with a friendly, ‘Hi.’ She recognised those deep hazel-brown eyes … Will.

‘Oh, hi.’ She felt the warmth of a blush creep over her face. ‘Hey, how’s it going? Uhm, were you okay, after the meal … with Trevor? I’ve been thinking about you, about how you must be feeling …’ He sounded rather awkward, stumbling a little over his words. He looked a little flushed, too.

But hey, she told herself, he’d probably just completed some thirty-mile stretch or something.

‘Ah, I’m all right … thanks. It all went fine, meeting up, in the end, if a bit awkward, as you might imagine.

All that past history. But yeah, the next morning, we managed to sort a few things out between us.

We’ve left things in a good place.’ Cath didn’t want to go into any more detail, or ‘air her laundry’ here on Tilldale’s main street.

‘Ah okay … Well, that’s good.’ He sounded thoughtful, then paused, before adding, ‘It was a lovely evening at yours. Thanks again.’

‘You’re welcome. I’m just off to see the lads, actually. Going to find out how Maria’s doing, and I’m taking them a little food parcel.’

‘That’s kind.’ He smiled warmly. ‘Send them my best wishes, too.’

‘Will do. So, where are you off to then?’ She nodded towards the bicycle.

‘Or are you on your way back?’ Hmm, he was back in his Lycra and looking pretty good, she couldn’t help but note.

His chest was broad and toned, and he slimmed at the waist, unlike Trevor’s portly middle-aged spread. He looked naturally healthy and fit.

Oh, was she in fact staring at him? Oops.

‘Ah, I’m just heading out, a few miles along the coast to Bamburgh and Seahouses, and then I’ll loop back in via a country route, up over the hills, and take the Claverham road home. Be back by early afternoon.’

‘Wow, I think that’d take me all day … and the rest,’ she grinned, ‘well, enjoy.’

‘I’m sure I will do. Catch up again soon, yeah?’ It sounded like a question. Something he was keen to happen. ‘And if you ever fancy a bike ride … ?’

She felt a little surge inside . Don’t jump from the frying pan into the fire suddenly came to mind, like a warning shot.

Cath just nodded in reply, then decided to be honest. ‘Actually, I don’t own a bike any more …

haven’t ridden for years.’ Ah, no, she went even redder then.

Why had she started telling him this? Even though it was true on all counts, she didn’t want to give him ideas.

‘No worries, we have bikes for hire at the shop. And hey, I can loan one for free, if you’d like to see how you get on …

?’ ‘Maybe … might be fun.’ What was she doing?

This was encouraging him, when she had no intention of doing anything like that.

Why did she find it so hard to say no to things?

‘Great. Well, see you around then.’ Will pushed off on his pedals with a gorgeous parting smile, and was soon away.

He was just being friendly, of course, she told herself.

And okay, so if she felt a little buzz around Will, then that was fine.

At least it proved she still had some libido left, thank Christ. It had been hiding away for far too long.

And anyway, it wasn’t as if she needed or wanted to do anything about it, did she?

The shop lights were on and it appeared to be open as usual, which was hopefully a good sign. Last night, she’d had a text message from Nikki saying the lads were back, which was when she’d decided to cook some extra supper. As she stepped inside, it was good to see Dan there behind the counter.

‘Morning.’

‘Hello, lovely. So sorry about letting you all down for supper the other night.’

‘Oh, that’s no problem at all, Dan. No need to worry about us. We were just concerned for you and Andreas. And how’s Maria getting on?’

‘Well, she’s meant to be coming out today, back to her care home, so that’s good.

But it’s knocked the stuffing out of her, bless.

I think it’s going to take some getting over.

She’s had that chest infection, which seemed to be clearing up, but is obviously a bit weak still as she keeps getting giddy and falling.

She’s back on antibiotics, and they’ve done some tests, but they haven’t seemed to quite get to the bottom of it.

Andreas is there again at the hospital ready to drive her back, once she gets discharged …

hopefully this morning, all being well. Be good to get them both home. It’s been an up and down few days.’

‘Ah, I thought it might have been. I’ve been thinking about you all. So, I’ve brought you over a little something to help out. A homemade lasagne. Hope you both like that.’ She lifted out the foil-covered baking dish from her shopping bag.

‘Aw, that’s amazing, and so sweet of you, thank you.’ ‘Oh, and it’s freshly made too, so it’ll freeze if you’ve already got food in, or you don’t fancy it.’

‘We love it. Lasagne is one of Andreas’s absolute favourites, so it’ll certainly be enjoyed. I was just wondering what on earth we might eat for tea. My cooking mojo has disappeared completely these past few days.’

‘No wonder. You’ve had a lot on your minds.

And you know, if I can help at all... If, say, you need to free up a couple of hours for visiting, well, I’m more than happy to mind the shop.

It’d give me something to do, to be frank.

I have to admit, I’ve been feeling at a bit of a loose end since I’ve given up full-time work. ’

‘Okay, well, if you mean it, perhaps for a few hours … I’ll have a chat with Andreas.

It’s been so full on lately. We’ve hardly had a chance to catch our breath.

And with Maria having been so poorly, and still frail, I feel very much like a terrier chasing its tail.

Thanks, we might well take you up on that. ’

‘Oh, and I can dog walk too.’ Cath smiled. It’d give her morning walk a bit of focus having a cute Westie in tow.

‘Ah, thanks for the offer. She can be a bit of a madam, but she’s great fun. Thank you, lovely, you’re a gem. Supper service, shop minding and dog walking … wow. We’ll definitely keep you posted.’

‘I’m still building my tutoring business, but that’s more in the evenings and on a Saturday morning, so I can work around that.’ After a lifetime of running around at everyone else’s beck and call, having time on her hands was a new and unusual place to be in.

Cath picked up a wholemeal loaf, a wedge of local blue cheese, some milk, grapes and a couple of apples.

There was no baklava to tempt her today, with Andreas still doing his shift at the hospital.

She wished Dan and Andreas all the best, also remembering to send Will’s regards on to them too.

Hah, as well as running the shop for a few hours, she might well end up on a cycling trip in the near future.

‘Thanks, petal.’ Dan brought her back to the here and now. ‘You’re welcome. And I mean it … happy to help.’

She hoped they’d take her up on her offer.

She’d love to be more involved in the village, it’d be a chance to meet more people from the local community and to feel useful again.

Fingers crossed they’d say yes. Her life here was going well, but it was a quiet life, too quiet at times …

and yes, though the roots were forming and friendships were budding, it still needed a little working on.