Chapter 25 #2
There was a pause, as Will scanned the bungalow’s interior once more. ‘I actually love it. All of it,’ said Will. ‘I still can’t believe it. When did you get time to do all this?’
‘A team effort. We started a few days after your op, had a full day to kick things off, a few evenings after work, and a big bash yesterday with Kev lending a hand too, to bring it all together,’ explained Nikki.
‘I fitted the new sink and loo this morning,’ Gemma added proudly.
‘And we’ve only just finished putting up the curtains about ten minutes ago,’ said Sophie, going over to give her dad a warm hug.
‘But you were at home …’ Will was still trying to work it all out.
‘I left about thirty seconds after you!’ She laughed. ‘Lily’s dad gave us two a lift over. We passed you as you stopped at Cath’s.’
‘Wow, just wow.’ Will was still utterly gobsmacked.
Cath found herself getting teary. It was beautiful in here.
A world away from the ramshackle, mice-ridden hut they’d walked into two months ago.
A gorgeous place to chill as a couple or on your own, somewhere to sit and just be, watching the constant ebb and flow of the sea, and equally a space to have fun with guests, or to party perhaps – once Will was up to partying again, of course.
And for now, a space to heal, to find a little calm and hold on to that hope for the future.
That’s what Will needed more than anything just now.
And these very special friends had made this possible.
‘Thank you,’ Cath started. The words felt so little, but meant so much. ‘Thank you all,’ Cath repeated, her throat tight with emotion.
‘Thanks so much, everyone,’ added Will. ‘I still can’t quite believe it. No more dodgy dark-wood interior.’
‘You’re very welcome, my lovelies,’ said Dan, his arm around his partner, and scanning their friends and Sophie, he spoke for all of them.
‘Okay, it must be cocktail time, so who’s for the real deal and who’s on the mocktails?’ Andreas called out as he began to pass around glasses filled with the creamy pineapple and coconut coladas, with vivid paper umbrellas and straws in. ‘It’s a hut-warming moment.’ He smiled at his pun.
‘And a big heartfelt get well soon from all of us,’ added Dan earnestly.
‘Yes, time to celebrate,’ said Lily. ‘And to wish you well, Will.’
‘Absolutely,’ added Nikki. ‘To a speedy recovery.’
‘Cheers, to you both,’ said Gemma.
Oh, the lump in Cath’s throat thickened even more.
‘Music, maestro!’ Dan then instructed.
Andreas took up his phone, ready to play something on the mini speaker, and Wham’s ‘Club Tropicana’ blasted out. ‘Oops, no, hang on, your first song was meant to be this …’
They all had to laugh.
After fiddling with his mobile, Andreas found the right track. The beat began, and the unmistakable chords of The Drifters’ ‘Under the Boardwalk’ played out. The gang were soon swaying gently along, sipping their summer drinks.
‘We’ve made a beach-inspired playlist for you,’ added Dan.
‘Aw, that’s brilliant,’ said Cath.
‘Oh, and we mustn’t forget the nibbles,’ Nikki added. ‘Lily’s made Doddington cheese straws, there are also king prawns with a lemon-garlic mayo dip and sea-salt Kettle crisps.’
‘And I have feta and spinach pastry parcels, and honey-spiced nuts,’ said Andreas.
‘Sounds delish,’ said Cath.
‘Don’t forget the mini chocolate brownies too,’ added Lily. ‘In case anyone wants something sweet.’
‘I’m in for those,’ said Sophie with a smile. It was lovely to see her looking so happy.
‘And I’ve brought the loo roll.’ Gemma laughed. ‘As well as the loo, of course.’
The group mingled, chatting about the new decor, and how this had all come about, with Andreas telling them that the germ of the idea had started with Will back at home, post-op, expressing his regret at being unable to make these changes for himself for a while.
The group so wanted him and Cath to be able to start using the place as a bolthole for Will’s recovery.
The freshen-up with a lick of paint Andreas had initially suggested, grew into a bigger job as Dan remembered how drab and tiny the original kitchen unit was, and fancied putting his DIY skills to the test. After that, it had kind of morphed into a full interior design ‘Beach Hut Challenge’, Lily explained, with Sophie getting involved too.
The crowning glory being a chance chat with Gemma at the village stores, who offered to help with her fabulous plumbing finale.
On that note, Will went off to inspect the new loo – a shiny white throne – needing his privacy for a short while.
He hadn’t quite imagined having a party going on while he changed his pad in the beach bungalow water closet, but at least the external noise made him feel a little less obvious.
He’d been left feeling so damn debilitated by the operation.
And yet, in the small yet light space, despite his ongoing physical discomfort and bloody annoying ‘leaky tap’ peeing syndrome, he couldn’t help but smile, caught up in the sense of joy at the unexpected renovations.
*
Later, once the others had gone – with Sophie deciding to head back over to the village with Lily and Nikki – following a happy chorus of ‘take care’, ‘get well soon’ and ‘goodbye’, and big thanks all round, the hectic afternoon began to catch up with Will.
With a yawn, Will admitted to Cath that it had been a wonderful but exhausting day, so soon post-surgery.
She set up two chairs for them outside on the deck, and left him to rest a while.
They didn’t need to rush back to Tilldale, though staying here on the sofa bed was a no-no whilst he was still feeling discomfort.
In all honesty, it was so lovely here, Cath wasn’t quite ready to leave, either.
She was still soaking in all the wonderful new details: the shell-patterned cushions and curtains, the sand-and-sea swirled pattern of the abstract rug by the fire.