Chapter 25
‘I wondered about a visit to the beach hut today,’ announced Cath, when she called back the following morning, trying her best to sound casual about it.
The trip was planned. It was Sunday, they were now ten days in to Will’s recuperation, and eek, this was the big reveal.
After her secret mission to help start painting the interior with the gang, she hadn’t been able to get back over to the hut and help.
The supper clubbers were very much keeping schtum about any further details, too.
She’d tried to wheedle some snippets from them on the design, or even better a photo or two, but they’d frustratingly said she’d just have to wait along with Will.
By now, she was desperate to see the finished glow-up herself.
‘Just a little drive out,’ she added hopefully.
‘I’ve bought one or two things to leave at the bungalow, mainly kitchen stuff.
’ And she did in fact have a set of puffin-print tea towels, and a couple of new pans to help make cooking there that bit easier in the future.
She was especially excited to try out the newly refurbished kitchen zone.
But of course, Will knew nothing of this as yet …
Will looked up at her, from his sofa seat, through rather jaded eyes. ‘Oh.’
He didn’t appear that keen on an outing at all.
The op and the implications thereafter had naturally taken it out of him.
And, even with the post-surgery catheter now removed, he’d admitted to Cath that things were still a bit of a nightmare on that front.
He was having to use pads permanently. Oh dear, was this all too soon?
Perhaps she should have left the outing for a bit longer.
But it was all organised. She’d been keeping in touch with Nikki over the past couple of days. They were all primed …
‘Sorry, I just thought some fresh air … perhaps a gentle stroll by the sea …’ she mooted tentatively.
Damn, she should have realised he’d have concerns about going out so soon.
Not to mention the practical implications that might be worrying him.
But she did also believe that getting out, doing something more normal, might be good for him.
The fit, young-for-his-age man had disappeared overnight on that operating table.
But he had every chance of making a full recovery.
‘There’s a loo at the bungalow.’ She caringly reminded him.
‘And I’m not meaning a hike, Will, just a short stroll on the sands.
The nurse did recommend some gentle walking.
Or perhaps, we could just sit for a while, on the deck there, take in the view and some healing sea air. But hey, it’s up to you.’
She backed off, letting him have a little think. He didn’t need any extra pressure just now, she understood that. And hey, she supposed they could always reschedule if he wasn’t happy. It would be disappointing but all it would take was one quick WhatsApp message.
Maddie had left early to head back down to Newcastle, and Sophie, who’d been making some toast in the kitchen, then came through to the lounge. She must have heard the end of their conversation. ‘Everything okay?’
‘Yes,’ Cath replied, trying to smooth things over.
‘Cath’s trying to get me to go out … over to the beach hut,’ said Will.
‘Well, it’d probably do you good, Dad,’ she prompted. ‘You have been a bit cooped up here. Hey, I’d love to go and see it, but I’ve promised Lily I’d go over and help her with something this afternoon.’
The two young women had struck up a friendship since Sophie had been back at home, messaging mostly, which was nice.
And Sophie had called there for a couple of hours the other day.
They’d probably all been feeling a bit stir crazy, to be honest. But this did confuse Cath a little.
Wasn’t Lily going to be over at the hut with the rest of the gang this afternoon?
But perhaps they both wanted some time with people their own age this afternoon instead.
Will looked up shortly afterwards, their words of encouragement seemingly working. ‘Actually, yeah, you’re probably right. A short drive out might be good. And we may as well take a look at the beach bungalow.’
‘Great.’ Cath struck whilst the iron was hot. ‘Let’s have a quick bite of lunch here, first. Then I’ll call in at mine, and collect the kitchen bits on the way. About an hour’s time sound okay to set off …?’
‘Yep, fine.’ He gave a small nod, the corners of his mouth lifting into a small smile.
The wheels were in motion.
*
They’d walked the track steadily through the dunes, and were now approaching the rear of the bungalow. Cath had sneakily sent a warning ‘Thumbs Up’ emoji from the car park.
‘Okay, so there’s something I need to do at this point,’ Cath announced, feeling a buzz of excitement, as she reached from behind to cover Will’s eyes with her palms. They were about to round the building’s corner and approach the deck.
‘Hey, what’s going on here?’ Will queried.
‘You’ll find out very soon.’ She was smiling as she spoke, and suddenly felt a bit nervous, too.
She wasn’t quite sure what to expect. With so much on lately, with caring for Will, the girls, and keeping up with her tuition, plus the gang’s reticence on letting her in on the finished results, she hadn’t got a clue what the final renovations were like.
She and Will took a few more slow paces onto the hut’s deck.
The bungalow’s door began to open from the inside, as Cath slowly pulled her hands away, all the while peering over Will’s shoulder.
‘Hello!’ Dan stepped forward, with a gathering of excited faces crowded in behind him.
‘What the heck are you doing here?’ Will asked bemused.
‘Don’t worry, it’s just a touch of Hula,’ Andreas called out, as the others then shouted, ‘Surprise!’
And there stood, Nikki, Dan, Lily, Sophie … how on earth was Sophie here? Oh, and Gemma too, their plumber friend.
Cath felt as stunned as Will looked.
‘Come in, come in.’ Nikki beckoned, looking delighted.
It was the lightness of the interior that hit Cath first. The pearly-white paint that Nikki had chosen was the perfect shade for three of the walls, and oh, the gorgeous soft grey feature wall behind the stove.
The space in the living area looked so cool and airy.
Coastal hues of calming blues and greys filled the room, above the umber browns of the original wooden floorboards which had been sanded and freshened up with a touch of natural varnish.
A touch of teal caught her eye on wonderfully striking starfish-and-shell-patterned blue-and-white cushions, that were now plumped on the navy sofa bed.
Oh, and there were new curtains, fluttering gently at the two front windows, that matched the cushions.
The supper club gang had gone above and beyond, by far.
And Sophie, who was grinning away besides Lily, was somehow in on it too.
Cath was momentarily speechless as a wave of emotion rolled right through her.
‘Am I at the right bungalow? How’s this all happened?’ Will seemed shocked, happy and confused all at once.
‘It’s incredible,’ said Cath, feeling awestruck. ‘It was nothing like this when I left you all that day.’
‘Ah, so you were in on it, too.’ Will looked to Cath bemusedly, yet couldn’t help the smile that lit his face.
‘The key bearer,’ explained Dan.
‘And Cath started the painting with us,’ added Lily. ‘Sophie’s helped to choose the cushions and curtains, and then came down to put them up with us.’
‘Oh yes, we’ve been up to all sorts of mischief whilst you’ve been recuperating, mate,’ continued Dan, with a twinkle in his eye.
‘Hey, how’re you feeling, Will?’ asked Gemma, who now stepped forward from the kitchen area – where there was a shiny brand-new sink. All set in Dan’s fresh white kitchen unit, with its extra cupboards and work space. Something else that had totally changed.
Will was struggling to take it all in. ‘Well, I’m getting there, thanks,’ he replied after a short pause. ‘Mind you, I think you lot have put me in to shock with all the carry-on here. It’s fantastic, but oh my days …’
‘Oh, and there’s a new toilet installed, too.’ Gemma gave a wide grin.
‘I don’t know how to thank you, all of you. It’s just amazing. So how do I settle up for all this?’ Will was still gobsmacked.
‘No need for any of that. It’s a gift. A get-well present,’ said Andreas proudly.
And then, as the grand finale, their eyes moved to the ‘Hula’ corner, where he was now standing: Andreas’s DIY semi-circular bar, with its wooden countertop and bamboo sides.
Ah, so that was what the bamboo had been for, thought Cath.
The counter held a beautiful vintage blue cocktail glass filled with mini cocktail stick umbrellas, a stainless-steel pineapple-shaped ice bucket, and a flamboyant, oh yes, pink flamingo ornament.
To the front, Andreas had pinned an opened-out raffia grass skirt for added humour.
There were several glasses lined up and ready.
Andreas then took his place behind his bar, with the biggest grin on his face, ready to pour his celebratory cocktails.
‘Anyone for a pina colada? Or for those driving or still on meds, I have a pi-no colada mocktail.’ There he was, in his element, sporting a Hawaiian-style shirt with colourful fake-flower garland teamed with chino shorts.
Cath then spotted the tropical-plant paintings gracing the wall behind the bar.
The Hula bar was a triumph; a splash of bold colour and a bit of fun, in the midst of the coastal calm. It really shouldn’t work with the rest of the interior design, but somehow it did. Perhaps that came from knowing it had been created with flair and love, mused Cath.
But what did Will think, was the million-dollar question?
‘We did try to rein him in a bit,’ Nikki added with a smile.
‘But you can’t keep a good man down.’ Andreas gave a wink. ‘So, what do you think, Will?’