Chapter 3
Will was at the door. Cath’s heart gave an involuntary lift. It was early evening, a couple of days later, and his visit was a surprise. He hadn’t mentioned he was calling by.
‘Hi.’ Cath smiled.
Even though they’d only been together on Sunday morning, she couldn’t help but feel a fuzzy glow, the one she got whenever he came around. Especially a bonus visit, out of the blue, like this one.
‘Hey.’
‘Well, this is a nice surprise. Coffee? Something stronger?’ She offered.
‘Ah, yeah. A coffee would be good, thanks.’ He sounded upbeat, as he followed her into the kitchen, but there was something else to his tone that she couldn’t quite work out. As if he might be about to tell her something. She hoped his girls were okay.
She popped the kettle on, choosing a decaf for herself; hopefully warding off the 3 a.m. caffeine-induced whirl.
‘So, I’ve had some news,’ Will started, a bemused look crossing his face.
Cath looked up from her coffee-making, now curious. ‘Oh?’
‘Yeah, it’s a bit of an unusual one. Certainly unexpected … uhm, it looks like I’m about to inherit a beach hut.’
‘Oh, wow, that sounds exciting. Where?’
‘Not far away, actually. Just at Low Newton. One of those bungalows in the dunes there.’
‘Well, that’s a gorgeous spot. Lucky you.
’ She knew that part of the coast well. The two of them had shared a picnic there just last summer.
They’d also walked the beach from Low Newton to Embleton with Will’s girls over Christmastime.
‘How’s that come about?’ Cath had always been fascinated by the old wooden chalets and huts of varying shapes, sizes and styles, dotted about the dunes near the Dunstanburgh Castle Golf Course and beach.
They seemed to be a rare commodity; you hardly ever heard of them changing hands.
‘Well, it should really be going to my dad.’ Will began to relay the story, as Cath handed him a cup of strong white coffee.
They headed for the little bistro table at the galley kitchen end.
‘He had a distant cousin who had the lease on one. I do remember going to visit it years ago, when I was just a kid … and playing in the dunes. Now then, don’t get too excited, even from my childhood memory, it was very basic.
A wooden shell, really. And I don’t think it can have been used much since those days, as we never went back.
In fact, I’d almost forgotten all about it.
It wasn’t a side of the family we saw much of. ’
Cath was fascinated. What a wonderful surprise; the chance to have a beach hut of your very own. ‘It sounds an amazing opportunity, though. That part of the coast is just fabulous, too.’
‘Well, it is pretty cool. The National Trust own the land,’ he elaborated, ‘and there’s several years left outstanding on the lease.
Mum and Dad didn’t think they’d get the use out of it at their ages, and to be honest, I think there’ll be a fair bit of work to do, to even make it usable.
Not the kind of project they want to take on in their eighties.
The solicitor advised them of a way of passing it on, directly.
So, hey, being an only child, I’ll be the one who inherits.
You’re looking at the soon-to-be owner of a slightly ramshackle beach bungalow. ’ He gave a quirky grin.
‘Ooh, we’ll have to take a drive over and have a look. When do you think you’ll get the keys?’ Cath couldn’t wait to go and see it.
‘I’m not quite sure. It’s all yet to finalise legally. But fairly soon, I imagine. Perhaps in a couple of weeks.’
‘Exciting.’
‘Yeah, it is, isn’t it?’ He took a sip of his coffee.
It seemed like the news was only starting to sink in for him, too, telling someone making it all the more real.
‘I haven’t mentioned it to the girls as yet.
Wanted to make sure it was all going to go ahead okay.
Mind you, I think when they do find out, they’ll be picturing a luxury seaside retreat – all New England grey-painted clapboard.
There are one or two a little like that, but I fear this one will be as far from that as you can get. More garden shed.’
‘Hey, there’s nothing wrong with a garden shed.’ Cath gave a wink, alluding to her own recent supper club venue renovations.
‘True. Well then, cheers.’ He raised his mug with a hopeful grin.
‘Cheers! To new seaside adventures,’ Cath replied, lifting her coffee mug.
‘Good times … and lots of DIY.’ Will gave a knowing yet happy smile. He didn’t seem the sort to be put off by a bit of hard work.
‘And of course, I’ll be happy to give you a hand,’ added Cath with a grin.
They clinked their mugs, both of them feeling a frisson of excited anticipation mixed with a let’s-not-get-carried-away-with-it dose of reality.
*
Will stayed a while, and they chatted about how lovely it had been catching up with their supper gang the other evening. Cath then asked how things had been going for Sophie since the episode at her uni flat, last weekend.
‘Yeah, things seem to have calmed, somewhat,’ Will responded, looking relieved.
‘Jess’s been a bit more thoughtful, trying not to leave so much mess in the kitchen.
And I think Sophie realised it had all just got to her, built up over time.
There’s a lot of pressure on them with exams coming soon, looking at career paths, hoping she’s made the right choices with her options.
And you know, I bet at the bottom of it all, she’s still missing her mum. ’
‘Of course, she has to be. That’s who you’d naturally go to when life gets tough.’ Cath remembered chatting with her own mum back in her uni days. Warwick to her home town of Sheffield had seemed so very far. And they’d had to queue for a pay phone back in the day, too.
Will managed a soft smile. ‘Anyway, it was touching that she chose to let off steam with me. My advice may not be quite as sound as Jane’s would have been …’ His voice trailed.
‘Hey, sometimes it’s just about having someone you trust to vent at,’ Cath reassured. ‘We’re all just doing our best in this parenting game. Doesn’t get any easier as they get older, does it?’
‘No, not really.’
‘From what I’ve seen of the girls so far, they’re growing up to be great young adults.
My Adam, too. So, we must be doing something right.
’ As Cath spoke, she felt proud that this was true.
With all the recent ups and downs with her son, he was coming through it well.
His new job at the wildlife park was the spur that he needed to get out there, revel in some fresh experiences and enjoy life once more.
Cath had already eaten, but suddenly wondered if Will had managed to have anything as yet. ‘Do you fancy any supper? Can I fix you a toasty or something? I had mine earlier, a salad. There’s plenty of ham and cheese left.’
‘No, I’m okay, but thanks. I’ll head back in a while. Feel a bit knackered. Think that long bike ride’s taken it out of me, to be honest.’
That was two days ago.
‘Oh, are you sure you’re okay? Not coming down with something?’ Cath wondered.
‘Hmm, now you mention it … I can usually cope with those hill cycles easily, but I just felt kind of flat on Sunday. I managed it, thirty miles, but nowhere near my usual time. Mind you, I had had a bit to drink at supper club and a late night. That might help explain it, but yeah, still feel like my batteries are a bit low.’
Will usually made light of his cycling challenges, being as fit as a fiddle, so Cath felt a touch concerned.
He did look a little pale in the face. There were plenty of bugs about, maybe he’d picked something up when they’d all gathered on Saturday.
He might just need a few quieter days. Best not to push himself, however.
‘Well, make sure you take care of yourself.’ She gave a gentle warning.
‘Right, well, I’ll get away, back up the street.’
He nipped to the loo, and whilst he was in there, Cath made up a mini packed lunch for him, turning the last of the cooked chicken into a sandwich with some salad, and popping some fruit and a leftover brownie into a greaseproof bag, too.
If he was feeling slightly off, at least he’d have some easy pickings for supper.
He was very grateful for them. ‘Thanks, you really do spoil me, don’t you?’
She wrapped him up in a hug before he left. ‘Let me know if you need anything. And get some rest.’ She kissed the top of his nose, before moving her lips down to meet his.
Their kiss was warm and tender, and edging towards sexy after a few sensual moments. The all-over tingles were off again. Well, if he did have a virus, she’d probably be sharing it by now, she mused. But it was worth every delicious second.
‘Catch you soon. And thanks for my goodie bag.’
‘You’re welcome. And take care. Sounds like you’ll be needing to be fit and well again soon, for your new beach hut DIY project.’
He gave a smile. ‘I will indeed.’