Chapter 10
Plans were afoot in the village. The supper club gang were settled at Dan and Andreas’s kitchen table in the flat above the stores, after closing time the following Tuesday.
They had already spent a half hour discussing fundraising ideas for the tea event: a themed hamper raffle filled with gourmet afternoon tea goodies – this sounded a winner, and Nikki’s boys had offered to go around the village washing cars for a fiver, and happy to put all the funds raised into the pot.
Will was delighted with this idea, and he and Cath put their vehicles forward to be the first cleans.
Thankfully, the Mini was all repaired and back at home.
Cath also advised that the Brownies group had volunteered to do a sponsored trampoline ‘bounce-a-thon’, and she told them about Julie’s recent offer of a donation from the care home.
When she’d visited last week, the manager had explained that the home had been left some money by Christopher, who’d sadly passed away a couple of weeks before.
The elderly gent had loved coming to the Tilldale Christmas do, and had apparently been talking about it up until the end.
It had seemed very fitting, that a part of his monies go to help another Tilldale event, one that was guaranteed to cheer the home’s residents, Julie had said.
Lily – via a video call to the others, being mid-exams and studying hard – was on the case with organising some live music for the dancing, telling them that she was in discussion with some members of the high school’s band, and negotiating a small fee for their attendance.
She laughed about bribing them with the promise of cake for a reduced rate.
‘I have already, and they’ve been practising “Swing”, “Sinatra” and “Big Band” sounds for a school concert this year. They’ll be the perfect fit.’
‘Ideal. Thank you so much, lovely,’ said Andreas, with a grin.
‘And how are the exams going, dare I ask?’ queried Dan cautiously.
‘Ahm, okay, I suppose. I’m pretty much knackered. But I’ve just gotta keep going.’ She seemed resigned to her revision-heavy fate.
‘That’s the attitude,’ said Will.
‘Go, girl!’ encouraged Nikki.
‘Thanks all, and on that note, I really had better go. Mum might come up at any minute, and realise I’ve not actually been studying for the past half-hour. Love you, guys.’
‘Bye, petal! Love you, too,’ said Andreas.
‘Best of luck,’ Will added.
‘Bye, darling. Keep on going. It’ll all be worth it in the end. And thank you for your help with sorting the band. Sounds brilliant.’ Cath waved at the screen.
Dan had made a coffee and walnut sponge for this afternoon’s meet-up, and there was also a plateful of Andreas’s famous honey and walnut baklava before them.
The conversation had gone off-piste from the tea event, with Andreas asking Will how the plans for the beach hut were going.
He was angling for a coastal visit, and a nose around the inherited hut, for sure.
‘Slowly,’ answered Will frankly. ‘I’ve yet to get someone contracted to fix the roof and wooden wall slats. It’s got to be weatherproofed before I can do anything else.’
‘So, there’ll be plenty of work on, then,’ commented Dan, as they chatted over top-ups of tea and cake.
‘There will, indeed,’ confirmed Will.
‘Yep, lots of work,’ agreed Cath, visualising the dilapidated state of the place. ‘It’s rotting away,’ she added openly.
‘Sounds lush,’ noted Nikki sarcastically.
‘I’ve rung around a few companies already,’ added Will. ‘The structural repairs are needed before we can start thinking about any interior work. And before I can do any of that, I need to get permission from the National Trust regarding the exterior and roof work.’
‘It has loads of potential,’ added Cath more positively. ‘And it does have the most beautiful location.’
‘Oh, how exciting. Will you be open to interior design suggestions?’ asked Dan, who loved a bit of creative input, and was already looking to the next stage.
‘Now then, that’s a long way off,’ said Will.
‘Ooh, well, I love a challenge me,’ Nikki added. ‘I’m more than happy to help, when the time comes.’
‘I think we’d all be happy to help … and I’d love to take a trip to the coast to see it,’ added Andreas, still angling.
‘Well, once the initial repairs are made, of course, you’ll all be welcome to come and take a look around. Don’t get too excited, though,’ warned Will. ‘It’s more of a wooden shell than a cosy beach retreat at the moment.’
‘But in time … just think, it could be amazing,’ said Nikki.
‘It’s going to be a great project,’ said Dan warmly.
‘Lots to plan and do,’ added Will.
Cath chipped in with, ‘The Tilldale Tea and a renovation by the sea. We’ve got our work cut out.’