Chapter 31 #2
Stood with a welcoming smile at the big oak door, Cath was ready to open an umbrella, and go and greet her guests.
Dan and Andreas were already out there ushering two elderly residents gently down from the first minibus.
She recognised them as Joan and Vera from the home, looking smart in their best floral dresses.
Cath went to join them, ready to take over at the minibus steps.
The driver was also there, kindly assisting the new arrivals, along with Linda who worked at the home.
Next in line was Betty, looking lovely in a smart navy twin set and wearing her pearls, followed by a very dashing-looking Reggie in a grey pin-striped suit and red-and-navy-spotted tie.
‘Hello,’ she greeted them with a smile. ‘Shame about this rain, but we’ll soon be inside and dry.’ Cath popped her umbrella over their heads, and letting Betty take a hold of her arm, and giving Reggie a moment to sort his walking stick, she assisted them along the pavement.
‘Ah, don’t worry pet,’ said Reggie cheerfully. ‘A little rain’s no bother at all.’
‘We’re so looking forward to our afternoon out,’ said Betty. ‘Thank you very much.’
‘We are indeed,’ agreed Reggie. ‘And we’re in for a real treat. This lady and her friends are the bee’s knees of the catering world, Betty. It’ll be like having tea at The Ritz, I’m sure.’ Reggie gave a wink.
And Cath smiled, as that’s exactly what she’d been hoping for too, though she did warn, ‘Now, don’t go raising expectations too high,’ as she helped the pair of them up the steps and into the village hall’s entrance.
Cath left her brolly at the entrance door, and led her duo through to the main hall, and their places at the table.
‘Oh, this looks wonderful.’ Betty’s face was a picture as they entered the room. ‘The flower posies are delightful, and look, we’ve got tablecloths and the best china out, too. I bet this is even prettier than The Ritz.’
‘It’s grand, lass.’ Reggie’s simple words warmed Cath.
She felt proud of how they’d pulled together as a team to make this hall into somewhere rather magical, the perfect setting for an afternoon tea.
‘And how’s your young man? Very much on the mend, I hope,’ Reggie asked kindly.
‘Yes, he’s on the road to recovery, thankfully.
It’s kind of you to ask.’ Cath thought it best to keep the conversation light, and Will was indeed making progress, even if life was more than frustrating lately for them both.
Will hadn’t as yet arrived. She hoped he’d keep to his promise to come along, even if it might be awkward between them.
And then Reggie followed up with, ‘I’ve been thinking about you two lovebirds.’
‘Oh.’ Cath paused, unsure of what to say, and then quietly confessed, so only Betty and Reggie might hear, ‘Well, I’m not sure if we’re quite lovebirds, right now.’ With everything going on with Will of late, she felt like they’d tumbled out of that particular nest.
‘I’m sorry to hear that, dearest Cath,’ responded Reggie kindly.
‘I’m sure we’ll get through it all, somehow.’ She tried her best to sound positive. But deep inside she felt so torn and confused by Will’s recent outbursts.
As if he’d been summoned, Will then appeared at the hall’s entrance.
He must have slipped in while she was busy at the bus, as he was holding a teapot and approaching the table where Reggie and Betty had just taken their seats.
Cath felt herself freeze, whilst her heart thumped rapidly.
She and Will gave each other what felt to Cath like a curt smile.
Maybe, it was that freezing sensation affecting her mouth momentarily, she mused.
Kenneth and Cath’s neighbours, John and Mary, were settled at the table too, having been ushered in by Kev.
Will politely offered, ‘Anyone for tea?’ He looked very dapper in his dark-navy suit, white shirt and pale-blue tie, thought Cath, realising that she’d never seen him in a suit before.
Smart casuals, or his cycling Lycra were his norm.
The 50s fashions were so stylish, and oh yes, she had yet to make her own quick change, she realised.
‘Thank you, young man,’ said Betty, with Mary and John next in line, and Kenneth holding up his cup at the ready.
‘And how are you doing, Will?’ asked Reggie when Will had reached him. ‘Very much on the mend, I hope.’
‘I’m doing okay, thanks, Reggie.’ Will evidently didn’t want to expand on his recent health issues here, but he seemed to appreciate the caring question.
Cath had shifted slightly back, ready to head away and make her escape to the kitchen.
With several of the guests now having arrived and in situ, they’d need to crack on with the catering.
But she couldn’t help herself stealing a glance over her shoulder at Will before leaving the hall.
Despite his recent surgery and with all the issues he was facing, he’d made it here, and was looking to help others and be a part of his supper club team, taking care of this Tilldale community.
And despite their personal difficulties and recent falling out, she appreciated that he hadn’t wanted to let anyone down.
As Will moved on to the next table, Reggie called Cath back over, patting his top pocket as he said, ‘I’ve brought her with me, you know.
I’ve chosen this one specially; it’s the letter about when we went dancing.
We used to love to dance back in the day.
’ Her elderly friend’s eyes had misted a little, filled with sweet nostalgia, and love, and loss.
‘Oh, Reggie …’ Cath found she couldn’t say any more.
She remembered the lost love letters, and how she and Will had finally found them in the loft of her cottage.
Elsie and Reggie’s loving history recorded over time.
With all that had happened with Will, since they’d met the second time around just over a year ago, flooding her mind, emotions were filling her to the brim.
Her eyes were dangerously close to filling, and perhaps spilling.
‘That’s so lov … lovely,’ she managed to croak.
With an introductory hoot of a trumpet, the youthful band from Lily’s high school struck up, taking the pressure off Cath and the sensitive nature of the conversation, with some relaxing tunes.
Starting with a couple of Frank Sinatra tracks – Cath recognising ‘I’ve Got You Under My Skin’, which seemed pretty apt.
More guests began to arrive, Cath spotting several faces from the village and surrounding areas, including the final ticket holders, Sue and her husband, along with their neighbour Joyce.
Lily was escorting her glamorous-looking Grandma Liz to a seat just along from Reggie.
And two young mums with their toddlers from the newly started playgroup came through, which was fantastic to see. Young and old, all were welcome.
And there was a short grey-haired lady in a purple floral dress, who looked to be in her eighties, chatting loudly with Vera from the home, the pair of them laughing away about something.
The slight Scottish lilt and the feeling of déjà vu suggested to Cath that she was Granny Ruth.
Cath went over to say hello, deciding that the food could wait another few minutes, to give everyone the chance to settle and get sociable around the tables.
She and Ruth had a lovely chat about The Pudding Pantry tea rooms, Cath telling her how wonderful the raspberry cheesecake had been when they’d called in for the jam, and Ruth chuckling as she revealed her great-granddaughter Maisy’s latest antics on her new pony.
With teas and coffees served, and most of the seats now taken, Cath politely said she needed to get back to her tasks, and dashed to the kitchen.
Along with Dan, Andreas and Lily, final touches were made to the platters and cake stands, and ta-dah, they were soon ready to be served.
Nikki rounded up her three boys, and they began to carefully carry them into the hall.
Angus, Nikki’s youngest, had the most serious look on his face, his concentration fixed as he was determined not to drop a thing.
Middle-child Scott merely beamed at everyone, and said a cheery ‘hello’ as he took it all in his stride.
Stands and platters were placed mid-table ready to share between the guests.
With ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’ and ‘wonderfuls’ filling the room.
Will, Andreas, Dan, Cath, Nikki and Lily then brought in a final tiered stand each, and the room burst into an unexpectedly rousing round of applause.
There was a ding of a teaspoon against a cup, bringing a hush to the proceedings, and young Hamish announced rather formally, as though he’d been practising, ‘Afternoon tea is served. Please help yourselves.’
‘Thank you, young man,’ responded Kenneth, as he reached eagerly for a finger of ham sandwich.
‘Oh, important question, jam or cream first?’ quizzed Cath’s neighbour Mary, diving in for a scone.
‘Now then, I’d go jam first, that’s the Cornish way, apparently,’ said Betty.
‘Oh no, it has to be cream,’ interjected Kenneth. ‘Sort of acts like butter then.’
‘Who cares, it’ll be delicious whichever way,’ pronounced John with a smile.
‘Oh, and look how pretty all the cakes are!’ exclaimed a delighted Ruth.
‘Beautiful,’ said Betty.
‘These are a work of art,’ added Reggie, unable to resist a slice of lemon drizzle, straight from the top tier.
‘You’re supposed to go savoury first,’ hissed Vera, giving him a nudge.
‘Ah, don’t you go worrying about that, pet. No need to stand on ceremony here. I’ll be working my way through the lot anyhow … in whatever order takes my fancy.’ He gave a cheeky wink.
Vera merely shook her head in exasperation.