Page 42 of The Second Chance Supper Club

Damned stupid middle-aged woman, she should have known better than to let daft romantic feelings go to her head.

Last night had been wonderful, a little sprinkle of star-like magic, but it was just a moment in time.

Romance wasn’t meant for middle-agers like them …

especially not ones who’d been battered and bruised by married life.

Best to steer clear of the next phase of confusion and hurt which was bound to happen, and to keep that evening as a lovely memory.

With that in mind, Cath was determined to busy herself today, getting on with her new life, and drive this latest, though lovely, incident aside.

She arrived at the village stores, to the now familiar welcome of the jingly doorbell.

‘Morning, Cath. And how are you today?’ asked Dan chirpily.

‘Good, thanks. You?’

‘Fine thank you, petal.’

‘And Maria? How’s she getting on?’

‘Back from hospital and making steady progress,’ he replied. ‘Ah, that’s good.’ Cath opened the glass door to the fridge compartment to reach for a carton of milk.

‘Oh yes, she’s perked up a lot,’ Andreas added, as he appeared from the back room with a knowing smile. ‘Back to her old ways … trying to organise my life.’ He shook his head as he raised his dark eyebrows.

With a fresh loaf, some tomatoes on the vine, milk and ground coffee to hand, Cath approached the counter where the lads now stood together with a slightly serious look on their faces.

‘Shall we ask her?’ Dan prompted.

‘Oh, ask me what?’ Cath was curious.

‘It’s a bit of a biggie,’ Andreas chipped in.

‘Try me.’

‘Umm, well, would you consider minding the shop for a weekend? In two weeks’ time? It’d be the full day on Saturday, and then, a half day on Sunday.’

‘I could! What’s up?’ She actually felt quite excited by the prospect. This was her chance. It’d be nice to get involved locally. She’d hoped for a couple of hours trial in the shop at first, with help to hand, rather than flying solo, but hey-ho, in for a penny, in for a pound.

‘Well, it’s a bit of a story. Mama’s insisting I attend my cousin’s wedding,’ Andreas explained.

‘Family representative and all that. But well, it’s down in London.

And after her fall and everything, I have to admit I’m really not sure about leaving her and going so far.

Eleni – that’s my cousin, the bride to be – says she understands if we can’t make it.

But Mama is going on and on about it, as though I’m letting the whole family down if I don’t go. ’

‘Well, you did say she’s doing okay now, back at the home?

Nice and stable,’ Cath countered.

‘Ye-es, but you just don’t know what might happen next …’ Andreas faltered.

Dan chipped in here. ‘They’ll be there with her all the time, Andreas. She’s in good hands.’

‘True,’ supported Cath gently. She’d only heard good things about the nursing home in Kirkton.

‘It’d be an overnighter for us on the Saturday,’ Dan explained. ‘And then we’d be back on the train and home by late Sunday afternoon.’

‘Doesn’t sound too onerous to me. I’d probably enjoy it to be honest.’ Cath smiled warmly.

‘Yes, I’d love to be able to help.’ ‘Oh, and then there’d be Shirley to look after, too,’ Dan added.

‘Or we could try the kennels, if need be. But she wasn’t too happy in there last time, to be honest. Was in a huff with us for days. ’

‘It’s a bit of an ask, we know. We’d pay you for working here, of course.’

‘Oh yes, we’d insist on that.’

‘It sounds fine to me, honestly. And having Shirley, that’s no problem. She’s a joy. Just give me those dates, and I’ll double-check when I get back in. I’m sure I can shift some of my tutorials on that weekend, if need be. And hey, me and Shirley are sofa pals now.’

‘Are you absolutely certain? It is a lot to take on.’

‘Just give me a lesson on the till before you go … and anything else I’ll need to know here. But yeah, I’d love to help out. Honestly.’

‘Oh, well we’re sorted then. London here we come … off to our Big Greek Wedding. I’ll get online in a mo to book the train tickets.’ Dan sounded excited.

‘Oh, that’s great, Cath. And Mama will be delighted. Though I still don’t really feel comfortable about leaving her.’ Andreas had been visiting twice a day, every day, since she’d got back from the hospital.

‘Would you like me to call in, and visit her whilst you’re away?’

‘Oh, my goodness, we can’t give you any more to do.’ ‘Well, I’d have some time on the Sunday afternoon, anyhow.

Why not? If you let the care home know in advance, and explain to Maria who I am. I’d love to meet her. From all you’ve told me, she sounds quite a character.’

‘Oh, she is that. If you think Shirley’s a character, well … Mother’s a step ahead. And yes, she’d enjoy your company, for sure.’

‘Well, that’s it then. Shop, Shirley and a visit to Maria … sorted.’

‘Ah, thank you, petal. We’ll make it up to you sometime soon. Perhaps a gourmet supper evening, all bells and whistles.’

‘Well, your beach picnic was pretty fab as it was, lads.’

‘You ain’t seen nothing yet.’

‘Well, don’t put any more pressure on yourselves, just now. Let me check these dates, which I’m pretty sure will be fine, and then you go and have a great time at your family wedding.’

‘You’re a godsend, lovely.’

Cath picked up her items and left the stores with a smile, but also a small chink of anxiety about what she had just taken on.

Eek, she’d never run a shop in her life, what was she letting herself in for?

But surely, if she could control thirty plus hormone-laden teens in a classroom it should be a doddle.

And she was more than happy to help the lads out.

They deserved a bit of a lift in their hour of need.

The two of them had certainly helped lift her spirits since she had arrived as a lonesome newbie to the village.

Could she manage running a shop? Well, there was only one way to find out, and that was to hit the ground running.