Page 44 of The Seaside Cocktail Campervan

It was finally time for Lucy’s second Book Club night. She had really enjoyed her sneaky sofa moments and late-at-night bedtime reading of One Day over the past couple of weeks. Losing herself in the world of Emma and Dexter, and their complicated friendship and near-miss love lives, with Daisy curled up by her side as always. Yes, Lucy found herself very much looking forward to this month’s bookish Driftwood meet-up.

Later that evening, Lucy was sat at a big circular table in the café with a mug of tea and a generous wedge of coffee and walnut cake beside her. Louise introduced her to Paul who’d been missing last time – a jovial forty-something with a love of crime novels and a secret penchant for Mills and Boon, apparently. He seemed fun, and it would be great to get a male perspective on the books they were reading.

As there were still one or two of the group yet to come, Lucy started to chat with Helen who was seated next to her.

‘Hey, how are you? How’ve the past few weeks been?’ she asked kindly, remembering that this was the woman who was in the middle of a messy marriage break-up.

‘Oh, so, so. Not so bad. The kids have kept me busy.’ Helen sounded purposefully vague. ‘Me mam’s got them tonight, so it’s nice to get a bit of time out.’ She gave a smile.

Lucy had the feeling that she was putting a brave face on things, whilst no doubt making the most of a chance to get away from it all.

‘What about you, aren’t you the lady with that lovely-looking pizza horsebox? I’ve seen it parked up down the village. That must be a fun kind of work?

‘Yeah, it is. Hard work too mind, but yep, I get to go to all sorts of cool parties and places. No two events are ever the same.’

‘Ooh, it’s my cousin’s birthday soon. We’ll have to bear you in mind. She was wondering what to do for it. The kids’d love that too. How many people do you need for a booking?’

‘Well, to make it worthwhile, umm, probably twenty or so pizzas as a minimum, but yeah, I can do small or large events.’

‘Sounds good, I’ll mention you to Jilly. Be nice to have something to look forward to. Something a bit different too.’

Louise stood up then, clapping her hands together. ‘Right then, ladies and gents, welcome all. It looks like Cathy is running late, and Becky can’t make it this week, is that right, Lucy?’

‘Yeah, she’d already got something on. A meal out with her partner’s parents.’

‘No probs, so it’s us merry band for now. So, what did you all make of the delightful One Day?’

‘Ah, well I liked the concept of two people over twenty years,’ Paul began eagerly. ‘And seeing how their lives went. Seemed to be very much wrong place and time for them both as a couple for much of the book …’

‘But weren’t they great characters?’ Sarah, chipped in. ‘Yeah, Emma seemed pretty mature from the get-go and Dex, well, he was by no means perfect, but he was just so warm and vibrant, and okay, damned well sexy.’

‘Oh, you think so? I just found him bloody annoying,’ contended Helen.

‘Hah, I’m with Helen. He was definitely a bit of a knob,’ young Abby added. ‘But it was interesting that he wasn’t perfect. He was just human. He got it wrong. A lot.’

Why did Lucy’s mind spring to Jack all of a sudden? Was it that happy-go-lucky, yet seemingly immature side she’d seen in him? And then all the Becky stuff …

‘Yeah,’ Lucy joined in, ‘he had his issues, big ones admittedly, but they were just finding their way, getting on with life, like we all have to.’ She picked up her well-thumbed copy that she’d parked beside her cake.

‘Well, I think Emma had always loved him from the very start, hadn’t she?’ added Louise.

‘I think he frustrated her,’ Lucy countered.

‘And hurt her,’ added Helen.

‘Didn’t she hurt him at times too? Wrong time, wrong place? Doesn’t love just do that to you?’ Louise ventured.

‘Yes, and it was so sad when his mum died,’ Abby said with a frown, helping herself to a second brownie from the stack left enticingly centre-table.

‘Ah-hah, well if that bit got to you, what about the bloody ending? I thought these romances were meant to have happy endings. Caught me right unawares, that did – I was sobbing,’ Cathy said, who’d just arrived, and was pulling up a seat.

‘Well, I suppose it plays out more like a Greek tragedy in that way,’ Phyllis contributed.

‘I liked that about it, it seemed more realistic,’ Helen spoke up. ‘Yep, just when you finally get going, the shit hits the fan. Did nothing to lighten my mood, mind you.’ They all then heard a big sniff. All of a sudden, Helen’s veneer slipped, and there were tears flowing. ‘Bugger it,’ Helen dipped her head.

‘Oh, petal. Can we do anything to help?’ Louise stepped in, reaching a hand across the table, all maternal and full of concern.

Lucy felt for Helen, remembering the roller coaster of own break-up, and gave a caring smile.