Page 60 of The Seaside Supper Club

And didn’t that sound wonderful. A bit of carefree fun at a pub with friends. Cath suddenly yearned to go back to those easy days. They’d had a quiz night at The Star Inn here; Cath, Will and the supper clubbers in a team. A lot of fun, firing answers like bullets between them – not all of them right – along with a few cheeky beers and vinos. How the world had shifted. How much you took for granted. She’d give anything to be back there now, with a cancer-free Will and her buddies laughing. It’ll come again, a small but steady voice rose inside her. Like the tides of the sea, good times, bad times, ebbs and flows. This too shall pass …

‘Aw, have a great time. And thanks for listening, Sis.’

‘It’s been good to catch up. And you take care now. It can’t be easy. Send Marti my get-well wishes, and my love.’

That made Cath grin. When Susie had come up to visit her in Tilldale, before Cath and Will were even an item, she’d insisted he looked like Marti Pellow from Wet Wet Wet. And hmm, that wasn’t a bad look at all.

Closing the call, with her fears and frustrations aired, Cath felt so much stronger. The situation was the same, but she was ready to forge back in with a clearer mindset. A problem shared, and all that …

Talking with her sister had felt like pressing a reset button.

*

Despite feeling riled by the situation at Will’s, and after letting off steam with her sibling, Cath knew that going forward she was stronger and more generous than her frustration had made her feel. Will’s family were absolutely struggling with all this, too. And perhaps, if the girls were still making her life difficult later down the line, then, when Will was feeling much more himself, they could tackle it together. But for now, Cath understood that it was better to stay calm, keep visiting Will as and when she could, to be kind, and keep the peace.

It was now eight o’clock in the evening, and she sat outside on her back patio with a cosy fleece on, a glass of chilled pinot grigio to hand, watching swallows dip and turn, as she pondered. How best could she help Will and his family? That was what was important here. She needed to stitch up the holes that had recently formed in her safety net for them.

If she wanted to be a more permanent part of their lives, she had to be patient.

*

The next afternoon, Cath headed back to Will’s with resolve, fortitude and her wicker basket to hand, bearing a home-cooked meal – the mince she’d left there last night could go in his freezer – and some additional goodies from the shop for them all.

‘Hey, how’s the patient?’ Cath found Will in his armchair in the lounge, watching a football match on the TV. ‘Andreas and Dan send their love, and I’ve picked up your copy of Cycling Weekly.’

‘Ah, I’m okay, and thanks.’

‘And there’s some refreshing ginger beer, and a couple of 0 per cent lagers for you. I’ll pop them in your fridge in a mo.’

‘That’s great.’ He seemed a little distracted by the match.

Cath continued chatting for a while despite his eyes drifting to and from the players on the pitch, leading in to, ‘Oh, and I wondered about getting some fresh air … a short walk or a drive out somewhere perhaps. How does tomorrow sound?’ She planted the seed. She’d been getting updates from the supper gang, and the big beach bungalow reveal was imminent. ‘It’ll be good for you. To get back out,’ she mooted. He needed to build in a little exercise at this point, anyhow, a little getting back to normal.

‘Hmm, yeah, perhaps.’

‘Okay, well, I’ll have a think what might be nice.’ She tried to sound casual, whilst smiling at her idea beginning to take shape. ‘Right, I’ll get this stuff into the fridge.’

She caught up with the girls, who were in the kitchen chatting, giving them her carefully chosen gifts of a mini candle each and some artisan chocolate from the village stores. ‘Here you go, ladies, a little something to chill out with. I think we all deserve a treat, don’t you?’

‘Ah, that’s sweet of you Cath,’ said Maddie warmly. ‘Ooh, and I love a candle.’

‘That’s so lovely, thanks, Cath.’ Sophie seemed genuinely grateful.

‘Oh, and I’ve got a meal to leave for you in the fridge. It’s a lasagne, made fresh, so it’ll keep for a couple of days, if you don’t fancy it tonight. I’ve got a busy evening with tuition, so I’ll be off shortly. Last blast of the exam season with my GCSE students.’

‘Aw, thank you. That’ll save us from getting a takeaway,’ Maddie responded.

‘Hope that goes well, your tuition,’ added Sophie.

And Cath gave a smile. Small acts of kindness. Small steps forward.

She stayed a while to chat about Maddie’s recent nursing shifts, and what plans Sophie had ongoing for the summer. Some easy conversation. Cath then asked how they felt Will was getting on, interested in their take on his progress. Though he was able to physically get up and down, and walk around the house more easily, these past few days he’d seemed a bit low if anything, a bit lethargic.

The girls had spotted it too, Sophie saying she’d have thought he’d be getting restless by now, eager to get back out on his bike or something.

‘Yeah, it’s knocked him a bit. But I see this often with my work,’ commented Maddie. ‘There’s a real positivity and energy pre-surgery, like you’re ready to face this thing head-on, and then afterwards, it’s like the shock of it all, the realisation that you’re really dealing with cancer hits your body, your mind too. It’s hard.’

It was early in his recovery though, and goodness knows how sore he must still be feeling, Cath thought. ‘Yes, you’re right,’ she agreed. ‘He’s had so much to cope with.’