Page 45 of The Seaside Supper Club

She broke into laughter. It was great that he’d seemingly parked his worries, for a few hours at least. ‘They’re a pretty good choice considering how damned cold it is in here,’ she responded.

‘And I have the perfect way to warm you up,’ he whispered in her ear. And here, in his vulnerability, with life so uncertain right now, the need for closeness was stronger than ever. He needed to lose himself in her.

And they got lost together, in a world of touch and taste and tenderness. Here in the dark, in a sensual world of two, in a chilly wooden hut by the sea.

*

Cath woke. It was still dark and hushed, other than the rhythmic shush of the waves rolling to the shore. The quiet coastal calm of the early morning hours. They must have been asleep for some time. She could hear Will’s breathing, steady beside her, but it didn’t sound deep. He was lying on his back, with a rigidity to his position. Might he be awake, too? Thinking? He had a lot to think about, bless him.

‘Will?’ she whispered, quietly enough not to wake him if he actually was asleep. Heaven knows, he’d need the rest. This surgery week to come was a big one. But there was something, something she so needed to say … It had been burning away like a fire in her heart for weeks now. He really ought to know.

‘Ah-hah?’ His tone was groggily gentle.

‘Ah, you’re awake too.’ She nestled a little closer. ‘Will …’ She hadn’t said these words often, at all. She’d hoped that he knew. The pain of her marital betrayal, the crushing hurt that followed, had taught her to keep all those promises and declarations down. She felt nervous, putting her emotions out there and on the line. But more than anything she felt that it was time. She took a breath. ‘I love you, Will.’

In the dark, she heard a catch in his throat. ‘A-ahh, darling Cath. I love you, too.’

The emotion in his voice nearly broke her, in such a beautiful way.

At the end, with Trevor, those words had sounded so empty from her husband, coming from a place of mere habit, or perhaps guilt. But with Will, this sounded so sincere, and also vulnerable. Love could lift you, leave you and make you feel so fragile. And yet she was so happy to hear those words. She’d never imagined she might fall in love again, or that anyone would love her back.

Will turned on his side to shift closer, as she moved onto her side, too. Cuddling around her in a ‘spoon’, his arm draped tenderly over the top of hers, above the soft, white duvet, holding her close. In a comforting love-warmed huddle, they drifted off to sleep once more.

*

‘Morning.’

‘Uhm, morning,’ came Will’s groggy reply, as he buried his head swiftly back down into the pillows.

Pale streams of light were coming in through the two small front windows. There were no blinds, and on their clearing-out day, Will and his mate had taken down and binned the original scraps of mildewed ditsy-floral curtains. It felt early. All was quiet except for a seagull’s cry outside.

Dawn came early in Northumberland now they were into June. Cath glanced at her wristwatch, making the time out to be just after four. Despite the crazily early hour, she felt the urge to get up. To go and look out over the bay. It might be her first opportunity to see the sun rise over the sea here. Oh, but it may in fact have already happened, she realised.

As she sat on the edge of the bed, a chill began to envelop her as she realised that she, too, was now naked. Ah, there they were, her pyjamas discarded down on the floor. Hmm, their lovemaking last night had been slow and sensual, and she still felt fuzzily warm inside remembering it.

PJs now on, and with her feet bare, she crossed the cool wooden floorboards heading for the door, and quietly turned the key in the lock. She slipped out onto the deck. The colours before her were incredible. The sun was already part-way up, and the sky was softly aglow with burnt orange, peach and hazy purple hues, laced with delicate drifts of smoky grey. All the while, dazzling light came from behind the wisps of cloud, catching the crests of the waves turning them into ripples of white gold.

Cath took a slow breath, filled with awe at the panorama. Smelling the tang of salt in the air, and listening to the rhythmic beat of the waves.

Perhaps she’d make herself a coffee, and just sit for a while. Will was evidently in no rush to come out and join her, and fair enough, it literally was the crack of dawn. But for now, she didn’t want to miss the moment. She stayed as she was, her feet bare on the cool dewy damp of the outdoor wooden deck, watching the sea and the coastal birds as they dipped and swooped and paddled at the water’s edge. The sky slowly yet constantly changed, its colours shifting with each passing second.

Oh, and coffee. The realisation hit her; no coffee machine here, no electric kettle. It would be good to sort some basic electricity at the hut for the future, she mused. She was sure she’d spotted other bungalows with solar panels on the roof. Perhaps when they next came back over, she and Will might strike up a conversation with some of the chalet owners here and find out what was allowed. Perhaps Nikki’s Kev would know about setting a panel up, just enough to make staying here more comfortable.

Ah-hah, and for now, it dawned on her, there was the camping stove and pan in the little kitchen area. She’d brought her cafetière and some ground coffee over. There were ways and means.

She spent a few more magical minutes outside, with not another human soul in sight, soaking in that glorious view. Crikey, it was still only 4.20 a.m., she realised as she glanced at her watch. No wonder Will wasn’t rousing. And, yeah, as a yawn escaped her lips, she actually felt kind of tired. Coffee could wait. Cath snuck in, closing the door softly behind her, and slipped in beside Will’s warm and waiting form, snuggling up. As she nestled against his back, he seemed to register her presence and gave a soft sigh. She soon drifted off into a surprisingly settled and steady sleep.

Will was up when she next came to on that Monday morning. She woke to see him standing in the kitchen area heating water in the pan, the high-pitched whistling of steam stirring her from her sleep.

‘Hey, sleepy head.’

‘Hi.’ Cath smiled, before adding, ‘Hey, I actually beat you. I got up to watch the sun rise over the bay just after 4 a.m.’

‘Oh, crikey. That’s impressive. Was it worth it?’

‘It was indeed. Absolutely stunning looking out over the sea.’ She opened her phone and scrolled to show him a couple of the photos she’d taken. Luckily, the battery had held out.

‘Ah, amazing. That’s so beautiful.’