Page 8 of The Second Chance Supper Club

‘She’s not meant to be down here in the shop, health and hygiene and all that,’ Andreas elaborated.

‘Well, seeing as she’s already here, meet Shirley … our Westie,’ added Dan.

‘Hello, Shirley.’ Cath gave the cute terrier a rub behind her ears. ‘Love the name.’

‘Right, that’s long enough, Shirley. She’ll be escaping all the more if she thinks she’ll get fussed.’ Dan gave a wry smile. ‘Come on then, madam. Back upstairs now. Before we have the environmental health agency on our backs.’

‘Named after the dance presenter – the very sassy Shirley Ballas,’ Andreas filled Cath in, as the terrier was gathered up by Dan, ‘Or “Shirley Ballsie” as Dan sometimes refers to her. The dog that is.’ With that, canine Shirley gave the most huffy look as she was despatched back out of the store, and up the stairs. ‘A bit of a madam at times, but adorable. She’s such a character.’

‘Hah, I can tell.’ Cath chuckled. She’d always loved dogs, but between her and Trevor’s hectic working lives, they’d never been able to get one of their own.

With the kerfuffle over, Cath remembered the phone call Andreas had received last time she was in the shop. ‘Oh, how is your mother, Andreas? Feeling better, I hope.’

He gave a small sigh. ‘She’s so-so, just now. She’s had a couple of bad weeks with a chest infection that she can’t seem to shake off. I’m just back from visiting her actually, been trying to keep her spirits up with baklava and banter. But she’s really not herself. Mama’s usually so with it and chirpy … even being in her eighties. But she seems shattered, bless, like the stuffing’s been knocked out of her.’

‘Oh, I’m sorry to hear that. I do hope she feels much better soon.’

‘Me too. If she can shake off this damn cough, then she might be able to sleep a bit better.’

‘Oh, let’s hope so.’

‘Can we tempt you with anything else today?’ asked Dan as he returned, still drying his just-washed hands.

‘Hmm, I was thinking of making an omelette for supper, so I’ll take some mushrooms and a red onion to spice up the filling.’ It was going to be plain cheese, but hey-ho, she needed to make more effort with this cooking-for-one.

She couldn’t help but think about the lads planning and enjoying their meals together, Andreas baking baklava for his ill mother, even Nikki, feeding her brood among the full-on buzz of family life, albeit in a rush. ‘Ah, it’d be so nice to cook for someone again …’ she said, her thoughts spilling into words once more.

‘Well, why don’t you?’ Andreas was matter of fact. ‘Umm, well for starters, I don’t really know anyone here, yet,’ Cath confessed. And with Adam away, and no one due to visit soon …

‘You know us.’ Andreas gave a cheeky wink. ‘Sometimes, when we’ve been cooking for the shop all day, and with the busy life we lead, cooking at night can be a chore. It’d be wonderful to be served a cosy supper.’

‘It would indeed.’ Dan raised a hopeful smile accompanied by a tweak of an eyebrow.

Had they just invited themselves over? Cath couldn’t help but grin. She sensed with the extra worry about Andreas’s mum, and a shop to run, life might well be a bit tough for the lads just now. ‘Ooh, well I could … I suppose.’ The lads seemed friendly enough, and everyone knew them here in the village. Why not? Her mind began racing … Hmm, having another person might just help the numbers, four was a better number table-wise, and would help keep the conversation flowing. It was out before she knew it. ‘What about asking Nikki along too?’ Cath ventured. ‘Do you think she’d like a supper out? Would her husband look after the children for her? Seemed like she might be in need of a break.’

‘Ooh, I bet she’d love it,’ said Dan. ‘She’s good fun too, when she gets the chance to let loose, that is.’

‘Oh, yes, remember that time at the Christmas pub quiz?’ Both lads grinned. ‘A Prosecco or two was enjoyed … dancing on the table in The Star she was.’

Cath smiled. ‘Okay, well I’ll check some dates …’ she started. What on earth was she saying? What exactly did she have on socially, in the next couple of weeks? And wouldn’t it be good to start some new friendships here in the village? ‘Actually, lads, you tell me when’s good for you in the next week or two. And would you mind putting the suggestion to Nikki, seeing as you know her better than me? I’m pretty flexible on days just now. Evenings are good after seven … Oh, other than a Monday, and a Wednesday, that is, as I do some tutoring then. What do you say?’

‘That would be lovely. And hey, it sounds like we just launched ourselves on you. We could take a turn too … we’d love to have you back here sometime. Wouldn’t we, Dan?’

‘Of course.’

‘Sounds like a plan,’ said Cath. ‘Oh, it sounds a bit like a supper club,’ she added with a bubble of excitement, already picturing the cosy gathering.

‘Brilliant, yes. Food with friends. I’m feeling perkier already,’ said Andreas, the buoyant mood catching. ‘Something to look forward to.’

And with that, the hostess-with-the-mostess-to-be went off with her provisions and a newfound spring in her step.

Hmm, a supper club indeed! Good Lord, had she just gone and made herself a social life?

Chapter 7

What on earth was she going to cook? And how would they all manage to squeeze around her galley kitchen table?

Later that evening, sat with a camomile tea, which wasn’t working very well at calming her nerves, Cath’s mind was whirling at the thought of entertaining again. There was a sense of excitement, yes, which was also laced with a touch of panic. After all, she hardly knew these people or their culinary expectations. Yes, she was a good home cook, but she wasn’t capable of anything particularly fancy. And, in her old life, she’d had a separate dining room for entertaining and plenty of space in her kitchen, meaning no onlookers to observe her as she cooked and served. Here in the cottage, blimey, the far end of the galley kitchen was the dining room.