Page 41 of The Second Chance Supper Club

‘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.