Page 30 of The Second Chance Supper Club

‘Coupes,’ Andreas elaborated.

‘Ooh, delish. Seems a lot sweeter now, mind,’ added Nikki as she took her first taste. ‘But it’s still lovely.’

‘That’s because you’ve doused yourself in Prosecco these past few years.’ Andreas winked.

After a few more sips, Nikki disappeared to the kitchen. When she came back, she was carrying a tray of glasses filled with layers of crispy green and creamy pink. ‘And the first course is … ta-dah, my bloody Mary prawn cocktail.’

‘Oh, that sounds positively delightful, Niks,’ said Cath.

The glasses were loaded with crisp iceberg lettuce, a rich cocktail-style sauce and king prawns. A half-moon slice of lemon had been placed over the rim.

‘These look gorgeous, Nikki. Thank you,’ Andreas said. ‘Oh, this has certainly got some oomph,’ said Dan, after his first spoonful.

‘Delicious. Spicy, with a kick of vodka, yes?’ Will grinned. It certainly tasted great to Cath. The prawns were juicy and the sauce had a chilli-vodka kick. ‘Love it,’ she added. ‘What a great idea, to twist up a prawn cocktail.’

‘Well, there wasn’t really much cooking involved, I have to confess. A bit of mayo, tommy puree, spices, lemon, and a splash of vodka that I found at the back of the cupboard.’

‘Don’t put yourself down,’ said Dan. ‘Good food doesn’t have to be complicated, just tasty. And if you don’t happen to be slogging all day in the kitchen, all the better. As you get to enjoy the occasion too.’

‘Ah, thanks, guys. Though I am a bit nervous about the main,’ Nikki confessed. ‘I’ve set myself a task, I’m cooking steak for everyone. Hope you like them medium, ’cos I don’t think there’s any way I can do them all different.’

‘Oh, that sounds wonderful. But I hope you didn’t feel you had to go to all that expense and trouble for us,’ Will said thoughtfully.

Indeed, Cath thought, supper club had been about getting together over good food, but it shouldn’t mean it had to cost a fortune.

Her own funds were limited just now, and Cath really didn’t want to put pressure on anyone in the group financially or otherwise, nor make them feel uncomfortable.

‘Absolutely,’ she agreed. ‘There’s no need to spend a fortune.

’ ‘Nah, it’s fine. I got a good tip on Monday, did an oven clean as an extra,’ Nikki explained.

‘And well, I know how to cook a steak for me and Kev, as it’s his favourite.

So, I figured it was best to stick with what I know.

Just need to have two pans on the go at once.

Also, it just happens to be a Seventies classic, and Lily’s made a “Diane” sauce for them.

And the chips are in the air fryer as we speak.

’ The hostess was up and ready to go again.

‘Let us know if we can help?’ offered Andreas.

‘Thanks, but I have Lils as my sous chef. She’s been doing a grand job.’

With Dan and Andreas deep in conversation about some technical issue with the post office that had cropped up at the shop, Will leaned in to ask Cath how she was feeling after the bike accident, and then what she’d been ‘up to’ lately.

How did he make that question sound sexy?

His breath was warm on her cheek, and his long, manly fingers were clasped gently around his wine glass.

She felt her pulse rise, her nerve endings tingling.

His eyes caught hers, those dark pools hiding depths of emotions, his inevitable grief still lingering there as well as the flickers of humour and light.

Why did those eyes seem familiar, when they’d surely never met until she moved into the village?

And why, dammit, was she feeling so very odd, like a bloody teenager with a crush?

Man up, Cath . Don’t overthink it. He’s just a friend, a new friend … who happens to be rather attractive … and looks like Marti Pellow. Gulp. Hmm, it was that melting kind of look across the eyes that she seemed to recognize for sure. Those ‘Angel Eyes’ really were setting her on fire.

And as they finished their starter, he asked, ‘So Cath, how did you come to choose our little village of Tilldale as your new home?’

‘Well, we’d been to the area often as kids. My mum and dad used to bring us up to Belford … to the caravan park there.’ ‘Ah, right.’ Will took a sip of wine. Suddenly shifting in his seat, he leaned back, away from her.

‘Then later,’ Cath continued, ‘as I loved the area so much, I came back with my own family. It’s so beautiful here, the coast, the countryside. We booked a cottage a few times in the summer holidays. That’s when I rediscovered Tilldale. We ate in the village pub.’

‘Hah, always a good watering hole.’ Will managed a tight smile, then went quiet, looking pensive. The conversation between them came to a halt, and thankfully, the main course of steaks arrived, Lily and Nikki bringing the plates in.

‘Sirloin steaks à la Diane. Bloody hell, I hope I’ve cooked them all right. I’ve been worrying about this bit all day.’

‘I’m sure they’ll be delicious,’ reassured Will.

Everyone tucked in, and despite Nikki’s concerns, they were cooked well – still a little pink in the middle – served with chips, broccoli, and Lily’s piquant garlic-mushroom Diane sauce. The tummies around the table were soon full and happy.

‘You’ve done us proud, Nikki. And Lily. Thank you,’ said Cath.

‘Compliments to the chef.’ Will raised his wine glass, now filled with a smooth Merlot. ‘Or chefs should I say. That Diane sauce is delicious, Lily.’

‘Bravissimo!’ Andreas gave a salute. ‘Or, Yperocho! should I say. Wonderful.’

Watching the group chat together, Cath had been thinking about how hard it had felt starting over again in a new place, yet already she was making friends. Dan and Andreas must have done the same, moving here several years ago, but their situation would have been very different.

‘Do you mind if I ask you something, guys?’ Cath ventured, looking to the lads as she spoke, and feeling far more comfortable with the group.

‘Absolutely, fire away …’ said Andreas.

‘There’s not much can faze us.’ Dan smiled.

‘Well, coming here, starting again … it’s not easy for anyone.

’ Cath was thinking of her own bumps along the road, as she tried to settle into rural life.

‘But for you as a gay couple … how did you find moving to this small village? Did you struggle at all? I mean it’s such a tight-knit community here. ’

‘Ah, well, it was fine in the main.’ Andreas was nodding, thinking back. ‘And we were the only gays in the village,’ he added with a grin.

‘Uhm, there can always be hints of prejudice … wherever you are,’ Dan said more honestly. ‘But we never faced anything major, nothing at all threatening.’

‘Ugh, some people can be so small-minded,’ chipped in Lily, frustrated on their behalf.

‘Of course, but I think some of the early comments we heard came from curiosity …’ Andreas continued, ‘and some preconceptions, which in time they realised we just didn’t fit.’

Dan said, ‘We didn’t come in all bells and whistles. We just opened the shop and got on with it.’

‘And that was great,’ Will spoke up. ‘You gave that old shop a new lease of life.’

‘I think at first, many thought we were business partners,’ Dan explained. ‘But then, living together above the shop, and socialising together, some began to put two and two together … and well, you know what Tilldale can be like, the news soon began to spread.’

‘A few eyebrows were definitely raised,’ Andreas agreed, raising his own emphatically.

‘But you know what, people had got to know us and on the whole they were absolutely fine. They still wanted their bread, milk and paper supplies … and my cake and baklava. We’d reeled them in by then.

’ He winked. ‘Do you remember old Kenneth asking if we were one of those “queer” couples? He blurted it out right in the middle of the shop, that day,’ Dan elaborated.

‘I do indeed. And Veronica, who happened to be in at the time – she’s a rather, how shall I say it, hmm, domineering type …

in charge of the village hall committee – well, she shot him down in flames.

“I think you’ll find that’s a derogatory term, Kenneth.

You absolutely cannot use that any more …

” She’d pulled herself up to her full five-feet-two and was plumped up like a peacock. ’

The visual made Cath smile.

‘It had helped that we’d just given a generous donation to the village hall fund,’ added Andreas.

‘Oh, the committee would be more than happy to take your money off you, whatever they might be saying behind closed doors,’ Nikki added wryly.

‘Back to Kenneth, well, he’d flushed bright red by then. “Ee, I’m sorry, lads. I was just asking,”’ Dan continued.

‘Actually, Kenneth, “queer” is one of the words we’re fine with,’ Andreas recounted. ‘Veronica, you’re right in one way. It used to be offensive, but we and the LGBT community use it with pride now … And it’s fine you asking questions, that’s how you find out the truth. Yes, we are a gay couple.’

“ Gay, blimey … that used to mean happy back in my day,” Kenneth had said,’ Andreas continued.

‘Well, let’s just say we are very happy,’ Dan retold the finale. ‘And that was it. The old chap was more interested in getting his milk and newspaper then.’

‘Naturally, Veronica was off swiftly spreading the news that yes, we were a gay couple. And once the news was out, no one seemed to bother much about it anymore. We were just the lads, or the boys.’

‘People around here are pretty straightforward in the main,’ Nikki added.

‘If they like you, they like you, and if not, that’s nothing to do with the colour of your skin or whether you’re gay or otherwise, it’s down to who you are and how you treat people.

Like everyone, we just need a little respect. ’

‘Well said, Niks.’ Will nodded in agreement, having lived in the area for a long time.

‘Now that reminds me of a song … you know, the Erasure one. “A Little Respect”.’ And with that, Andreas started trilling away.

As if they could fit in any more … soon afterwards came the puds! Yet somehow, they managed.

A Viennetta – brilliant! – was served on a white porcelain platter by hostess Nikki, with a fanfare of pretend pipes from Lily, along with an Arctic Roll (which had been hunted down and sourced from Asda, apparently).

The group couldn’t help but laugh as these retro desserts arrived.

With everyone bar Lily remembering these ice-cream puddings fondly, they had to admit they still tasted good.

The follow-up surprise, and the real pièce de résistance was Lily’s creation – a divine Black Forest gateau: all chocolate sponge, whipped cream and plump black cherries soaked in Kirsch.

And wow, could that girl bake. It looked like something Mary Berry might have made, neat and professional, and at the first bite it was evident that the sponge was light and airy too, and oh so chocolatey.

‘Wow, Lily, this is incredible,’ Cath purred.

‘Hey, girl, you should be on that Bake Off programme.

What a talent!’ Andreas grinned.

‘It’s sooo good. I can hardly speak,’ Nikki murmured. ‘I knew you liked baking … but this, wowser.’

‘Heaven, I’m in heaven,’ Dan began singing.

The grin Lily gave brightened not only her face but the whole room.

‘Aw, thanks, guys. I adore cooking … baking especially. I did follow a recipe for this one, but I also like experimenting with flavours. In fact,’ she began to reveal her aspirations, ‘I’d really love to work with food …

maybe even become a chef one day. That’s my dream.

Once I’ve learned the skills and worked my way up, of course.

’ Her face lit up as she spoke of her ambitions.

‘Got to get the A Levels smashed out first, though. And well … going the chef way, it might not quite be as easy as that …’ She bit down on her lip, then sighed, as her face dropped.

She went quiet, looking unsure of herself.

‘Well, I think I’d mentioned that Lily’s parents – my brother and his wife,’ Nikki stepped in to explain, ‘want her to go the “sensible” route. To go off to uni and study something traditional. You’re a clever girl, after all … aren’t you, petal?’ Her aunt gave her a supportive wink.

‘But what I’d really love to do is to go to catering college, learn the trade,’ admitted Lily. ‘And it’d be amazing if I could get an apprenticeship with a good chef. And, if it were a pastry chef, well, that’d be the dream.’

‘There’s a bit of a battle going on at home just now,’ Nikki continued. ‘It’s time to choose unis and courses … and, I can see both sides to be fair … but if you have a talent in something that you love, how wonderful to try and make a career out of it.’

‘Lily, I’ve been teaching students of your age group for years,’ started Cath.

She had heard so many youngsters’ dreams in her career, and this one sounded positive and achievable.

The young woman seemed as though she was prepared to put the work in, too.

‘I’d look at all the options if I were you, find out as much as you can about the catering courses you’re interested in, and look into your parents’ preferences.

Then narrow it down, and go and visit the unis and colleges you like the best. Talk to people, be brave, be interested.

Find out more about any local chefs you admire too, offer to help out, perhaps see if you can do some work experience for them. ’

‘Yeah, that sounds good.’

‘Be honest with your parents about your dreams, but be prepared to listen to them, too.’ The mother in Cath was coming to the fore. ‘Then you might be able to make a good decision all together.’

‘Sounds like good advice to me,’ encouraged Dan.

‘And if you need anyone to try out your baking, or recipes, in the meanwhile, you know where to come,’ Andreas added with a touch of warm humour that lifted the mood.

‘And if you ever want any more help or advice, Lily, feel free to ask. I’ve had pupils go off and do all kinds of incredible things.

There are so many opportunities these days.

Do your research, and then go for it.’ As she spoke the words, Cath realised she should be taking her own advice.

After the move, which was a huge step admittedly, it had felt like she’d holed herself up too much.

Her self-confidence had been knocked so badly by all that had happened.

Was it time to dream big once more? To keep trying new things, to find her wings.