Chapter 19
‘I have a question.’ Reece’s head appears in front of me as he pokes it through the serving hatch. ‘How many people were you expecting tonight?’
It’s a week later and the Marzipan Campervan Quiz Night starts in less than an hour, and I see why he’s asking.
‘I don’t know. Maybe twenty?’ My theory was that Lettie, Wilma and Madge had overstated how popular their quiz nights were, and in reality, it would be them versus a couple of their friends from another village, and that even if others had once come, they’d be put off by the whole open-air angle and lack of licensing to serve wine.
Madge mentioned she was printing out some flyers, and Wilma said she’d post about it to their followers, and Lettie has been telling everyone who goes into the shop, but I didn’t think it would lead to anything like this.
The car park is off-limits to vehicles, but they’re parked all along the lane and on the edges of the road up from the village, and people are streaming in, some carrying their own folding chairs, others waiting patiently for Reece to find them space at one of the many tables we’ve brought down from the Kingfisher Arms.
I must admit I’m starting to panic.
‘This might’ve been the worst idea we’ve ever had,’ I hiss through the serving hatch, frantically trying to arrange slices of coffee and walnut cake in the display case before the Marzipan Campervan officially opens and people start ordering their tea and baked goods.
‘There are at least sixty people and more are arriving every minute!’
He looks around in awe. ‘How did so many people even hear about it?’
‘I have no idea, but I’m going to run out of cake before we even start!’
I’ve baked for days between serving walkers.
Cherry scones, chocolate brownies, flapjacks, Angel Delight cake, lemon iced buns.
I thought it was overkill, but Lettie insisted I’d need a lot.
Now, looking at the crowd of expectant faces settling themselves at our mismatched tables, I realise I’ve vastly underestimated the appetite for quiz nights, never mind cake itself.
‘Need any help?’ Reece asks, like he’s not already running around with tables and chairs and trying to fit people in with a minimal amount of squashing.
‘I need about six more hands and, actually, six more campervans would come in handy too.’ I’m only half-joking, but the sight of his smile steadies my nerves.
‘Don’t joke about that. Campervan is one of a kind.’
She is now. Apart from the questionable paint job, I’ve moved things around inside, packed away Jared’s things and put my own out, so it feels like a real little home, and Reece spending every evening with me has only reinforced that feeling of finding home, and now I can’t imagine doing this without my little sunshine campervan.
We get on brilliantly, as long as I don’t have to drive her ever, ever again.
Reece has transformed for the evening. Instead of his usual paint-splattered work clothes and unkempt hair, he’s wearing dark trousers and a light blue shirt that makes his eyes look impossibly bright, his hair is tamed and held down with styling product and his tropical aftershave makes me want to push my nose into his neck and inhale.
And there’s an energy about him that reminds me he used to command court rooms for a living, and I get the feeling he’s looking forward to this.
‘Dolly dear!’ Lettie appears at the edge of the car park carrying a teetering mountain of Tupperware boxes. ‘We’ve brought reinforcements!’
Behind her, Wilma and Madge are making their way up the path with what looks like the entire contents of a bakery.
Madge has got a stack of cake tins, and Wilma’s balancing clingfilm-covered plates of sandwiches.
Between them, they’ve brought enough food to feed the entire village for three days, and I’m so grateful I could cry.
‘Oh, you angels! You didn’t have to—’
‘Course we did,’ Madge interrupts. ‘We knew you’d be unprepared for the turnout, and we can’t let the first quiz night in years be let down by a lack of cake.’
‘And we’ve saved you a spot on our team.’ Wilma gives me a wink, which is only mildly terrifying. ‘The Agatha Quizties need a fourth member, and you’re young enough to know all the pop culture answers, and we’re hoping you might have some insider information from that nice young builder.’
Every time they say those words, I get the feeling they’re hinting at something, but I tell myself I’m projecting because of what I know, and all they’re really getting at is whatever’s going on between me and Reece. ‘What about the van?’
‘The van can manage itself for a while,’ Lettie says. She might be disappointed to learn that, although Campervan herself is very clever, she’s not reached that level of sentience quite yet. ‘And we’ll help! I’ve been fancying a nosey round inside for ages!’
I try to ignore the fear that they will uncover something that shows the van doesn’t belong to me, but Madge has already clambered in and is examining every nook and cranny, and Wilma’s got her head in the bathroom, presumably inspecting my cleaning prowess.
Twenty minutes later, my newly appointed catering team are hurrying between tables, taking orders over to everyone.
It’s nowhere near dark yet, and the chatter of conversation and laughter fills the evening air.
There are quite a few dogs, and someone’s brought their horse.
I don’t yet know whether it qualifies as a quiz team member or not.
‘Ladies and gentlemen! Canines and equines!’ When everyone is set up with their tea and cakes, Reece’s voice cuts through the noise, amplified by the microphone he dug out of storage in the pub today. ‘Welcome to the first Marzipan Campervan quiz night!’
The cheer that goes up is so loud that it echoes off the surrounding hills and probably scares a few sheep.
I watch from my seat at The Agatha Quizties’ table as Reece takes his position on the steps up to the pub and transforms into someone brimming with confidence.
He’s charming, authoritative and completely in control of the crowd, with people hanging on his every word.
His beam is as bright and sunny as his personality as he explains the rules with easy clarity, consults the quiz master’s handbook and manages to make even the most obscure round introductions sound fascinating.
‘Round one is general knowledge,’ he announces, reading from the old handbook in his hand. ‘A bit of fun to get started. Your first question is: What variety of turtle is named after a word meaning “one who is concealed” in Japanese?’
A rustle of excitement goes through the crowd as teams huddle together. At our table, Lettie immediately whispers, ‘Ninja!’ and Wilma scribbles it down like it’s the most important thing she’s ever written. ‘Ooh, he’s taking risks, I like it!’
‘Question two,’ Reece continues, and I find myself grinning as I watch him because he’s so clearly in his element. ‘How many cities are there in Scotland?’
‘Eight,’ Madge murmurs confidently, and I realise I’m not just watching a quiz – I’m watching Reece have the time of his life, and it feels good.
The questions are all perfectly chosen. Challenging enough to make people think, but fair enough that everyone has a chance. Apart from the horse, who probably doesn’t know that much about world history.
Reece moves seamlessly between rounds – literature to science to current affairs – taking to quiz hosting so naturally that you’d think he’d done it many times before. He catches my eye across the car park and winks, and something warm and wonderful spreads through my chest.
‘He’s good at this.’ Wilma follows my gaze.
‘You can tell he’s used to public speaking,’ Lettie agrees. ‘Which is a bit odd for a builder, don’t you think?’
I stuff another slice of coffee and walnut cake into my mouth to avoid the charged silence, grateful when it’s time for another round.
‘Question fifteen is our local knowledge round,’ Reece calls out. ‘What are you supposed to do at the Thimblenouth Force waterfall?’
‘Ooh, I know that!’ I squeak in excitement. The three ladies are quiz veterans, and even if I know the answers, they’re already scribbling them down faster than my brain works, but that is something I know.
‘You’re one of us now, Dolly dear!’ Lettie nudges me. ‘We’ll make a Yorkshire gal out of you yet!’
It gives me yet another warm feeling inside.
I’m having the time of my life too. The Agatha Quizties are formidable competitors and I wouldn’t want to be on any other team, and it strengthens that feeling of having found somewhere I belong.
I’m still not sure how I ended up here, but it’s starting to feel like somewhere that’s always been mine, just waiting for me to find it again.
During breaks between rounds, I slip back to the van to serve more tea and hand out the sandwiches and cakes my teammates bought, and looking around the car park gives me such a glow of pride.
Over an hour has passed since we kicked off, and I’m wishing it wasn’t over already when Reece announces the final question – a sudden-death round between three tied teams, including ours. ‘The poem “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud” by Wordsworth is often better known by which one-word title?’
‘“Daffodils”.’ We all agree, but a man from the team called Quiztina Aguilera stands up and calls the answer a nanosecond before Wilma does, and a huge celebration erupts as they’re crowned the winners.
‘Cheaters!’ Wilma shouts, although the sizzling look that passes between her and the winning man shows it’s nothing more than good-natured banter between old rivals, and I make a mental note to ask the ladies if they’ve ever been anything more than rivals.
‘That was the best quiz night we’ve ever had.’ Lettie returns from making herself another cup of tea in the campervan and holds it up in a toast.