Page 5 of The Seaside Supper Club

‘Hah, well, thank you.’ Cath chuckled.

‘It smells absolutely wonderful,’ added Will. ‘Can’t wait to try it.’

Cath served out hearty portions of the main dish, and they helped themselves to the greens.

Tucking in, Andreas announced, ‘Oh my, you are the goddess of comfort food, Cath Taylor. Honestly, this is divine!’

Will was nodding in agreement with a big smile on his face.

‘Bloody scrumptious,’ added Nikki.

‘De-lish,’ said Lily. ‘This is unreal.’

To add to the comfort levels, they finished with warm chocolate brownies topped with a confectionery mini egg – a chocolatey nod to Easter approaching – served with fresh raspberries and a blob of thick melting cream. Delish!

Relaxing back into their chairs with happy tummies, they all needed a rest after that. Some of the gang were wrapped in fleeces, some with blankets on their knees, as the inevitable evening garden chill drifted in. With top-ups of wine, a lovely buttery chardonnay that Cath had chosen to go with the main course, the conversation rolled on until late in the evening.

*

Cath caught up with Will as the two of them cleared the dessert plates from the hut to the kitchen, finally catching a few minutes on their own. She used the opportunity to ask about Sophie. He’d obviously not wanted to go into any detail with the others, especially at the start of a social evening.

‘She’s feeling the pressure right now,’ he began to explain. ‘A bit like Lily. That revision and exam strain can hit hard. It’s a big year for her law degree. And I think it all just came to a head with one of her flatmates.’

‘Oh, dear.’

‘One of the girls, Jess, really doesn’t pull her weight in the flat,’ he added. ‘Sophie’s mentioned that before. Well, she told me how she’d come back from a heavy studying stint in the library to find heaps of unwashed dishes and dirty mugs left all over the kitchen surfaces. Some of it was even mouldy, so it must have been shifted out from the girl’s bedroom. Bless Sophie, all she’d wanted to do was go back, make a simple healthy supper for herself, and then chill out. She hadn’t counted on having to clean the whole kitchen first.’

Whilst the issue was concerning, it was a relief that Will was opening up on this with Cath; sharing details not only about his own life but his daughters’ too. He’d seemed rather guarded in their early months. This felt like a breakthrough.

‘And, to make matters worse,’ he continued, ‘a lad was staying there, too. Jess had put her music on thumping loud, probably to drown out other noises from the bedroom. I think Sophie flipped at that point. There were words, a falling-out. Sophie sounds exhausted to be honest, and just needed to let off some steam with me. It’ll blow over, for sure. But it’s tough, all those different personalities in one flat. Like a melting pot, especially when she needs to study.’

‘Yeah, that’s hard on her, though. On the build up to exams, too. Some people are so damned inconsiderate.’

‘I had to laugh, mind, she told me how she’d stacked the whole lot of dirty dishes back outside the lass’s bedroom door, so she and lover boy would find them on their way out. She must have been fuming.’

‘Good on her. Student life, hey.’ Crikey, she’d been going out with Trevor back in her student days, starting their adventures together, filled with hopes and dreams. She could never have imagined where life would end up taking her as she’d hit her fifties. Making a whole new chapter for herself.

But hey it wasn’t so bad, she looked over at Will who was loading the dishwasher as they chatted, those cannon-style curveballs had led her into the arms of this gorgeous chap. As he straightened up, she moved to give him a quick peck on the cheek, just as Andreas and Dan came in carrying the empty casserole pan and several glasses.

‘Hey, I thought you two were clearing up not canoodling.’ Andreas was grinning as he spoke.

‘We were doing both.’ Cath laughed. ‘I can multitask.’

‘Well, that meal was a-maz-ing. Another incredible supper night, thank you. But we really ought to be making tracks,’ said Dan.

‘Yep, time for our beauty sleep,’ announced Andreas, stifling a yawn.

‘Some need it more than others.’ Dan gave a wink, as Andreas poked him in the ribs.

The girls arrived in the kitchen too, bringing yet more glasses and a couple of empty vino bottles with them. ‘Eeh, those steps are lethal in the dark,’ said Nikki.

‘Nothing to do with the amount of wine you’ve quaffed, lovely,’ said Dan drily.

‘Nothing at all,’ she responded, trying and failing to keep a straight face.

It was soon time for jackets on, hugs in the hall and fond farewells.

‘We mustn’t leave it so long for a supper night next time,’ said Andreas.