Page 75 of The Seaside Supper Club

‘Marvellous,’ shouted Dan.

‘More,’ called out Vera, who being rather frail and finding standing for long a challenge, had remained in her seat, but had sung along heartily with them.

Reggie took a small bow, enjoying his moment in the limelight, then said, ‘Thank you, and I’m sorry all, but that’s the only one we’ve practised.’

‘Well then, that calls for another cup of tea, and we’ll get the band to strike up again shortly,’ said Andreas. ‘There’s plenty more scones and cake to go around, too. And don’t forget the baklava.’

Cath, still brimming with emotion, stepped forward to address the singers. ‘Thank you all so much. And thank you, Brown Owl, and your fantastic Brownie choir. That was just wonderful.’ She added, ‘We’ve left some spare seats at the end of each table for you. And there’s still cake and scones galore, and a drink of lemonade for the young ones, too.’ Cath was so glad that she’d thought to include them in the tea. And she knew the elderly would enjoy having a little chat with them, too.

‘Ooh, and we’ve got our crafted buttonholes to hand out. We’ll do that first,’ exclaimed Brown Owl gathering up a big hessian bag. ‘Come on, girls.’ The children took several of the bright pink, purple, red and yellow felted flowers each, and gave everyone a gorgeous floral gift to clip onto their outfit, and to take home and keep. The smiles in the room got even broader.

‘Oh, and there’s one more thing.’ Brown Owl dug into her cloth bag again.

The youngest of the group, walked up to Will bearing a small gift bag, announcing herself as Olive and saying that she and her dad had worked on this together. Cath watched with intrigue as Will opened the bag, pulling out a hand-sized metal craftwork. As he turned it in his hand to study it, Cath could see it was a man on a bicycle, made of twists of metal strips, nuts and bolts welded together. ‘Daddy loves your cycling shop,’ the girl added. ‘We heard you’ve been poorly, and we made this for you … to cheer you up.’

Small kindnesses that meant so very much. Well, that was it, Cath’s tears spilled over. The dam had bloody well burst.

Will was evidently feeling it, too, as he took a sniff before replying, ‘Thank you so much, I love it. You and your daddy are very clever to make this. It’s going to have pride of place in my cycle shop.’

‘You’re welcome,’ her sweet voice came back. The little girl looked so happy with a huge smile on her face, as she turned to join the rest of her pack, ready to find a seat, sip some fizzy lemonade and dive into the cakes and bakes.

Reggie called Will over, then, and they had a little chat. The room settled with the warm buzz of conversation, laughter and tinkling spoons stirring as teacups were refilled by Dan and Andreas. Lily made her move around the venue with the last of the raffle tickets for sale. The tombola of treats (and veritable tat!) was drawing some eager punters too.

*

A short while later, with the tea-time treats savoured, the band came back on, bursting into a lively ‘In the Mood’. With John and Mary up on their feet in no time, swiftly followed by Reggie and Betty, the old-time dancing had kicked off. Everyone who was mobile was soon up on the dance floor, and those a little less able were nodding, clapping or hand-jiving along in their seats.

It had a real 50s feel as ‘Rock Around the Clock’ was played next, followed by ‘Wake Up Little Suzy’. Reggie began twirling Betty rather vigorously to that one, considering they were a pair of octogenarians. Carer Linda was looking on carefully, ready to step in and steady either of them, if need be. But also, not wanting to spoil their fun. Next up was Elvis’s ‘All Shook Up’ and a lively version of ‘Hound Dog’. Grandma Liz had partnered up with Kenneth, and Land Army Girl Joan and Edna from the home were having a jig. Andreas and Dan joined in with that one, too. It was a shame terrier Shirley wasn’t there to join in, but food hygiene and health and safety issues had kept her at home today. Cath held back a frustrated sigh, as she caught sight of Will. They’d managed to pull off a fantastic event here, and yet she couldn’t fully enjoy it as he was still acting like Mr Bloody Frosty. She had to admit in the midst of all the fun and frivolity she was feeling a bit lost.

The band then moved to slow things down with ‘You Send Me’, which is when Will looked over at Cath, who was now busying herself collecting up the used plates and cutlery. He looked rather unsure of himself. Cath felt her stomach dip. She remembered wanting to slow dance with him so much at the end of the Christmas Bash, and it hadn’t happened, and here they were – eight months later, with all the ups and downs that life had decided to throw their way – still hesitant.

It was then that Reggie called out cheekily, ‘Come on, Will, Cath … join in.’ Then giving a big wink, he added pointedly, ‘The clearing up can wait.’

She paused to gaze over at Will. Wishing he would walk across the hall to her, to take those tentative steps back to togetherness. And for Cath, the room seemed to hold its breath.

A second or two wait that seemed so long, and then Will began to move slowly towards her. Of course, it would have seemed rude not to act on Reggie’s prompt. She placed the stack of plates she’d gathered gently down on the table beside her, feeling a lump form in her throat.

‘Cath?’ was all he said, his voice husky with emotion.

‘Of course.’ They’d missed much of the song already, but he took her hand and led her towards the space at the front of the hall where the others were dancing, gently drawing her close to him, and oh, they were about to experience their first ever dance together. She reached her arms up around his neck as his circled her waist. Did she feel a hint of resistance, a stiffness of his limbs? Was he doing this just to be polite? Yet here she was in his arms. Will’s body warm and close, his breath gently tickling her ear, and she dared to nestle her head softly against his shoulder.

And as they leaned in, Will seemed to soften into the movement, and the slow swaying motion. Cath was trying hard not to think too much, making the most of the dance, and the music and the moment. But oh, how she’d missed his closeness, the scent of him … so very familiar, and despite all the ups and downs and curveballs, how they still just seemed to fit. The far end of the hall now filled with couples swaying, Dan and Andreas, Kev catching up with Nikki, Lily and her younger cousin Hamish doing a twirl, elderly ladies holding hands, the mums dancing with their toddlers, Reggie gently swirling with Betty … but Cath was sure he’d be imagining that it was his Elsie there with him as he felt the crinkled warmth of the treasured letter in his pocket resting against his heart.

Love didn’t go away when someone close to you died, it stayed like a light in your soul. No wonder at all that Will was still finding all of this difficult, Cath understood, but couldn’t help but want so much more. He had so much of life left to live, he needed more light, more joy. If only he would let it in …

Chapter 32

The afternoon was drawing to a close. Dan gave the band the nod and they announced the last dance, striking up with the chords of ‘True Love Ways’.

Cath and Will drew apart fractionally. Would their love find a way? The thought swirled in Cath’s mind. Did they carry on and dance again? Or might that be their first and last dance? It was a gorgeous song, and the lad from the band stepped forward to sing the lyrics. Cath didn’t want this moment to end, their closeness to end.

‘Shall we?’ asked Cath, almost afraid of what the answer might be.

It was almost four-thirty, and the minibuses for the care home were due to arrive at any minute. Cath should really be making a start on the clearing up, and of course be helping the elderly with their coats and preparing them for their trips back home, but glancing around, most of them were still on the dance floor, too. She wasn’t ready to break apart.

Their faces were still close, and his eyes were hazel pools of mystery. Cath gave a small hopeful smile.

‘All right, then.’ They weren’t the most romantic of words, but they were better than a no – or worse, a grouchy response. The two of them leaned back in for the last dance of the event.