Page 50 of The Second Chance Supper Club

Despite her best intentions, leaving Will at a distance didn’t seem to be helping her much. How strange that after all these years, she and Matty had got to meet, to become friends again.

Cath was desperately trying to get on with her ‘new normal’ life – cooking, walks in the countryside, her online tutorials, reading, popping to the village shop for updates on the lads and Maria, who was thankfully doing better.

But doubts were beginning to niggle about the way she’d walked out of Will’s house that morning, even though that was what he had asked her to do, without fully explaining the situation all those years ago.

She was worried about how things might be for the two of them from now on.

There was an empty place in her heart, and she had an earworm telling her that she missed his friendship, him.

As she was mulling their fate, which felt like getting lost in a maze, a call came from Nikki. A most welcome diversion.

‘Hi, Cath, do you fancy calling round for a coffee? Umm, after four-thirty would be good. That’s when Lily’s about too.

We can have a nice chat and catch up … and there’s something else. It’s just, well, Lily’s keen to host a patisserie, puds and fizz evening, and we’ve a favour to ask …’

‘Ah yes, of course I can. That’d be lovely. And that sounds a great idea for a supper club night. Right up my street. So, what’s the favour?’

‘Ah hah, all will be explained when we see you.’ Nikki was being all mysterious.

‘Okay.’ She’d have to wait to find out, apparently.

‘Perfect, I’ll confirm with Lily, and give you a text shortly.’

There was a riot of noise at Nikki’s house. Her three boys, aged between eight and thirteen, seemed to be arguing about sofa space and the TV controls.

‘Right, you lot, garden, now!’ Nikki roared.

‘But Mu-um, I was just playing on my PlayStation. It’s those two who are messing about.’

‘I don’t care, Hamish. We need a bit of quiet time to think in here. We have an important meeting and things to discuss.’ Nikki gave a surreptitious wink at Lily and Cath. ‘So, get out the back, get some fresh air and play some football … and be nice to each other, okay?’

They trooped off somewhat reluctantly, but Lily’s offer of taking a stash of her freshly baked choc-chip cookies out with them – that she’d brought for the coffee and chat – softened the blow.

‘Thank heavens for that,’ Nikki sighed as the decibels dropped dramatically. ‘Welcome to my world.’

Cath smiled empathetically. She’d only had the one child, but it was always super noisy and full-on when Adam ever had friends around. Hah, thinking of him living at her cottage recently, even on his own and at twenty-two, he was able to raise the decibels.

‘So,’ Nikki continued, after handing out mugs of coffee, ‘here lies a clue to our request. Lily’s doing pastry as one of her modules next term in her Food Diploma.

.. Science and Nutrition. Very fancy pants, hey Lils, no more good old Home Ec.

like we did, anymore. Anyway, she’s hoping to test out her new skills and recipes. ’

‘Sounds a good idea.’ Cath was nodding.

‘But one, my house is far too full and noisy for the next Supper Club. And, I’ve used up all my brownie points on the Seventies night with Kev and his mother, so there’s no way I’d be able to get him and the kids cleared out for another evening. And, two …’

Lily took up from here. ‘And I’m sorry, but my parents aren’t up for hosting a houseful. To be honest, it’s a bit of a sore point with me trying to push forward my cheffing plans. I’m still working on that, so I really don’t want to go upsetting things at home.’

‘So,’ added Nikki, ‘and I know you’ve already hosted twice – but well, could we use your place to do some prep, and ideally have the super-snazzy garden shed as a venue? We’ll clear up and take care of everything foodwise?’

Lily was looking nervous but hopeful. Nikki grinned expectantly.

‘Is that all? Well, that’s no problem. I’d love to have you all round again.

I think it’s a great idea,’ responded Cath with a wide smile.

‘Oh, this is exciting. What are you thinking of making? And did you say fizz, I’m happy to donate a Prosecco to the cause.

We could ask the lads … and perhaps Will …

to bring a bottle along, too. Spread the costs. ’

Oh, shit, Will . Hmm, bloody hell, she wondered how that would go down. But a meet-up was bound to happen at some point. And hey, there was no way she’d put a halt to these Supper Club plans because of their recent falling-out. However awkward it might prove to be personally.

‘Ah, thank you so much, that’d be great.’ Lily was animated, her kohl-lined eyes beaming. ‘And the menu, well …’ She listed her ideas, as Nikki and Cath’s mouths watered. She’d obviously been thinking about this a lot. The planned sweet treats and pastries sounded delightful.

The three of them chatted some more over coffee and cookies, until a half hour later when the young lads blasted back in from the garden, muddied and with clothes skew-whiff, saying they were starving and what time was tea?

Normal family life chez Nikki had resumed, and it was the cue for Cath to get going.

Despite Cath’s ongoing misgivings about her and Will coming face to face, Supper Club was here again, with Nikki and Lily taking over Cath’s kitchen. Whilst Cath busied herself setting up the summerhouse shed, her mind drifted to how things might pan out.

Soon after the date was set with Nikki and Lily, she’d texted ‘all’ on the WhatsApp group inviting them to ‘Puddings and Patisserie Night’, care of Lily, at Cheviot Cottage.

Whilst the boys answered immediately with a big ‘Whoop, we’re in!

’ and a thumbs-up emoji, it took a further twenty-four hours to hear back from Will, with his muted ‘Yes, thanks.’ Had he been busy, or in fact mulling over whether or not he wanted to go?

It was certainly going to be tricky for the two of them.

And, having kept their heads down recently, it was the first time they’d be face to face since their childhood sweetheart revelation.

And, if he and Cath couldn’t get past their youthful hurts, then how did that bode for the friendship group?

All those wonderful suppers she’d hoped were yet to come for them all.

She didn’t want a black cloud cast over this evening for everyone else’s sake, so whatever had happened between them she vowed to be polite, but not to crowd Will either.

To be fair, in her current guilt-tinged state of mind, she was more than happy to give him some space.

They both needed time to get their heads around this blast-from-the-past revelation.

Lily had gone to a huge and impressive effort.

She was going to take a load of photos to help support her Food Science coursework, and of course for her social media – you never knew who might be looking, she said animatedly.

It was all a big dream, but she was very much hoping for some local chefs to spot her talents, just a comment or a ‘like’ would be a boost. To add to the fun this evening, she was going to let the supper clubbers vote for their favourite puddings; she would then use them for the dessert course of her A Level three-course menu.

Cath loved her enthusiasm, and the support that Nikki, her aunt, was giving her.

She wanted Lily to feel the whole group were behind her too, sort of pastry-chef cheerleaders.

Yet, they needed to be honest and fair with their judgements.

After all, nobody learned by being told they were perfect all the time.

The schoolteacher in her was coming to the fore. It was core to who she was.

The guests (well, the three lads) were due to arrive at 6:30 p.m. for a glass of fizz in the garden, eek.

She was so damned nervous about seeing Will again.

Whilst fluttering queasily inside, Cath tried to put those feelings to one side.

She needed to make this evening right for the girls; Lily had gone to so much effort.

With a batch of tuition fees coming in, she’d splashed out on a nice French sparkling crémant, not quite champagne but as near as.

Wonderful aromas of baking filled the cottage kitchen and were drifting up to the shed – a mouthwatering promise of what was to come – where she was laying out forks and spoons, a small white tea plate and napkin for each person, as well as her pretty glass jars for the tea-light candles.

The sun was shining for now, phew, though the forecast showed the chance of showers later.

At 6:29 p.m. sharp, Andreas and Dan arrived with three tied posies of roses in various colours, one each for Lily, Nikki and Cath.

Oh, how sweet of them. They also presented two chilled bottles of fizz, and an elderflower pressé – especially for the young chef.

After all, Lily wasn’t quite the legal age to drink.

‘Hello, hello! We are so excited about this evening. Puddings and Patisserie, Lily, you’re a little gem,’ exclaimed Dan.

‘Hi, lovelies! So looking forward to this one. A bit of time out and some R&R is much needed, so bless you,’ Andreas added.

With that, the doorbell went again, and Cath felt her heart seize. She walked to the door filled with trepidation, taking a slow breath before opening it. Will was stood there, reticent, and looking anxious himself. Oh crikey, did they kiss on the cheek, give a friendly hug?

The awkwardness was so apparent, like an electric field. Cath remained a step or two away, and merely said, ‘Hi, come on in. We’re all here.’ As if to send him on his way to chat with the others … and give him a chance to escape her. Her heart was pounding inside, and felt all amiss. Oh, Matty.