Page 47 of The Second Chance Supper Club

‘Yeah, that’s Will. He’s a nice guy.’ Her cheeks were flushing. She turned away slightly, putting the milk in the fridge and standing with its door still open for a second or two to help cool her. ‘He’s one of the supper club gang I’d mentioned.’

‘Ah, that’s good. Even better, might get mates rates. Put a word in for me, yeah … ?’ He winked.

Oh, sugar… if the bike was coming up, then Adam really was settling in for the long haul. But what had happened to starting work, finding a job? There wasn’t an awful lot in the way of employment up here. The money was going to dry up pretty soon, unless Trevor was still subbing him – guilt money perhaps.

‘Right, well, yes, I can do. Adam, have you started looking for some kind of work as yet?’ Cath prompted.

‘Yeah, been checking some things out online.’

‘Applied for anything?’

‘Waiting for the right thing to come up …’ He really didn’t sound in any hurry to enter the job market.

‘Which might be … ?’ Her words dangled unanswered, as Adam got lost seemingly looking at a message on his phone.

‘Sorry, Ma, something I need to answer.’

And Cath had the distinct feeling that it wasn’t a job email. There really wouldn’t be many employment prospects for him here in rural Northumberland. Oh … might he decide to work from home here, too? She’d be pushed out of her tutorial space in the spare room for good. She might have to relocate to the supper shed perhaps? That’s if the Wi-Fi would even work up there?

Her lovely new world felt intruded upon … in a big smelly trainer kind of a way. It was an odd helter-skelter of emotions being a mother. All the different stages, and ages, and now trying to mesh together two very different lives – middle-aged mother with newly adult son. Just because you loved them, it didn’t make it any easier.

At least, she wasn’t feeling lonely anymore, she mused wryly.

Hah, fat chance of that!

Be careful what you wish for.

‘Hey, how’s it going with Adam there? How are you both? Seems strange my little family all away.’ Turncoat Trevor was on the line.

You made your bed …

‘Yep, we’re fine. Adam seems well.’ A little too well and too comfy, in fact.

‘Did the bike get there okay?’

‘Yeah, fine. He’s got it all kitted up, and he’s been off out, making the most of it.’

It had given her a little space of her own, at least. A window of a couple of hours. Some peace and quiet to get on with her maths tutorials, much needed financially, and also some Cath-time. She was really appreciating that again. ‘He’s out on the bike now, off to Kirk Yetholm in the Borders, apparently. Cycling first, then a hill hike.’

‘Ah, good. So, you’re on your own then … ?’

‘Ye-ah.’ Something was coming. She knew Trevor so well, the nuance of his tone.

‘Cath, the other week, look, I know I didn’t get it right when I turned up like that … at your cottage. But God, I’m missing you. And I know it’s a long shot after everything I’ve done, and please don’t answer in a rush …’ He was building to something. ‘Thinking about you … and with Adam back now … and all our lives. Well, can you just think on it?’

‘What?’ Spit it out, Trevor.

‘Please, could we try again?’

Bloody hell. What world was he living in? How could she forget everything that had gone on?

‘It’d be different,’ he carried on. ‘I know I’d have to make things different for you. I can change. I’ve learnt my lesson. Been a bloody idiot, to be frank. We could get a new place, a fresh start. Somewhere Adam could stay, too. There’s bound to be more job opportunities down this way …’ That part did ring true at least.

But her new life. Her fresh start. ‘But I’m happy here, Trevor. I love this village … Northumberland.’

‘I know, and I really liked it there, too. There’s no need to get rid of the cottage.’ Her ears pricked at that. ‘I’ve been looking at the finances. If we bought a nice, sensibly priced house back this way, keep our Leeds base, we could have your cottage as a second home. We could visit whenever we liked. Make the most of this semi-retirement stage. Have a trip on a cruise to the Med like you wanted, too. We can afford it …’ Wow, she hadn’t expected that. He had been planning. It was all that she had once wanted, there on a plate. But … the plate still felt rather like it had been smashed, and the pieces clumsily stuck back together. Did she want that for her life?

‘Trevor …’