Chapter 34
Will picked up his mobile. A group video call was coming in from his two girls.
‘Hey, Dad, how are you?’ There was Maddie in her Newcastle flat.
‘Hi, Dad.’ Sophie joined in a second later, from her accommodation in York, having popped back down to stay with her friends – including Jess who’d apologised for being a pain during exam time – and check the flat out, being mid-August and the holidays still.
‘Hey, girls. This is nice … seeing you both together.’ Will’s face lit with a smile.
‘Well, we thought you might like to see us again soon in person, too,’ said Sophie.
‘Yeah, we’re planning on coming back up for the weekend. Does that sound okay?’ asked Maddie.
‘Yes, of course. I’d love that. Ahm, Cath’s here,’ he added, as he beckoned her over to join in with the chat.
Cath moved to Will’s shoulder, able to see the girls on the screen, as she also appeared in Will’s mini frame.
She couldn’t help but spot the flicker of uncertainty cross Sophie’s face.
It was still there like an undercurrent; a sign of Sophie’s ongoing unease with the situation, that her dad had found someone new romantically.
And yes, Cath and Sophie were still working their way through that.
It wasn’t easy, but Cath got it. A new woman coming into Sophie’s dad’s life, in the place where her mum should have been, must feel so hard for her.
‘So, shall we go over to the beach place? We’re desperate to spend some time there, especially now it’s all done up.
Sophie’s been telling me all about it. Are you up for that, Dad?
’ asked Maddie, sounding protectively caring.
She was handling her dad’s new relationship far more easily, even if it must feel strange for her too.
‘We had the idea to make a special day over there.’
‘Yeah, okay then, that sounds a really nice idea,’ replied Will.
‘And Cath can come too,’ Sophie launched in, even though she then took a chew of her lip.
Maddie added, ‘Don’t worry, you two can chill, and we’ll do the cooking over there for you. We have a plan, don’t we, Soph?’
‘Sounds like you two have been scheming,’ Will responded, the corners of his eyes crinkling into a gentle smile.
‘Perhaps, but it’s all for the good.’ Maddie grinned.
‘That sounds lovely. Thank you, girls.’ Cath came in to the conversation. ‘But just a warning, if you’re planning on cooking, the kitchen area is pretty small. There’s only a gas camping hob – it’s a pretty decent one, but there’s no electricity in the hut.’
‘Noted,’ said Maddie. ‘Yeah, I’d remembered about the hob from what Dad had mentioned a while back.’
‘Well, I’m coming back on Friday night. I’ll be on the train,’ said Sophie, no doubt angling for a lift, then adding, ‘But I can get a taxi from the station if you don’t feel like driving.’
‘Oh, I’m sure I’ll be all right for that, love.’ Of course, Will wouldn’t want to let his daughter down. Taxis were expensive for Tilldale, too, being a half-hour away from the station.
‘And if not, I can fetch you, Sophie,’ offered Cath, jumping in.
‘Okay, well … thanks.’ She sounded as if she’d been caught out by Cath’s kindness, seeming – perhaps naturally – nervous about some forced alone time together.
But Cath hoped that all these small steps might begin to add up to something, over time.
A relationship, and with a little perseverance, a friendship with his girls.
All she wanted was for Will and his family to be happy, and yes, she needed to feel that her place with them was a comfortable one.
One that in time could grow, and maybe one day flourish, with some much-needed love and support. She’d keep sowing the seeds.
‘And I’ll be driving up Saturday morning, as I’ve got a long day shift on Friday,’ added Maddie.
‘Ah, it’ll be great to see you, girls,’ said Will. ‘Something to look forward to.’
‘Brill. Sounds like we’re sorted then, Sis,’ Maddie addressed Sophie, and they gave a thumbs up to the camera.
‘And hey, thanks for everything you’ve done these past few weeks. Looking after me, and everything,’ Will added, looking a little misty-eyed. ‘Your mum would have been so proud of you both.’
Cath felt all choked up, too.
‘Aw, thank you. Love you, Dad. Take care. See you soon.’ Sophie started waving. ‘Bye, Cath,’ she added, simply yet rather touchingly.
‘Thanks. Have a good week, Dad,’ said Maddie.
‘Will do. Love you, girls.’
‘Love you, too,’ said Maddie.
‘Bye, and thank you. The weekend sounds lovely.’ Cath gave a warm wave back, as Will closed the chat, saying, ‘Ah, that was lovely of them.’
Perhaps those seeds were already making roots.
*
Plans had been tweaked, mid-week, when Cath had had a call from Adam saying he wanted to come up that next weekend, too.
She’d felt in a bit of a quandary. She so wanted to spend the weekend at the beach bungalow with Will and the girls.
Which felt like the biggest social family olive branch ever, but she didn’t want to put off her own son coming up either.
With helping to care for Will, and the Tilldale Afternoon Tea event to organise, it had been several weeks since she’d last seen him.
Will saved the day, by being upfront, and asking the girls if they’d mind another guest at the beach house for the meal they were planning.
They’d been open to that, and learning that Cath’s son was much the same age, he had an invite from the girls to join them. They’d since linked up on their socials, apparently.
*
The ‘big kids’ beach bungalow day was here.
‘Right, you two, you can go for a stroll or sit out on the deck, but you’re not allowed in here for the next thirty minutes while we do the cooking.’ Maddie poked her head out of the beach hut door, and was being bossy, eldest child style.
‘You know what it’s like when we get in the kitchen,’ warned Sophie with a cheeky smile. ‘It might be wise to steer clear, or the mess’ll do your heads in. I promise it’ll all be worth it, though.’
From their chairs on the deck, Cath and Will gave each other a glance.
Will was still looking rather pale, Cath thought, but slowly and surely, he was making a good and steady recovery.
Yesterday, he’d even ventured out on his beloved bicycle again.
Perhaps it had taken it out of him a little.
He probably pushed the distance. They might take that walk a little later, but for now, sitting here in a comfy seat – making the most of the gorgeous bay view as the tide rolled in, hearing the splash of the surf and the families playing in the August sunshine – seemed the perfect place to rest.
‘We’ll stay here a while,’ Cath answered, as Will nodded in agreement. ‘But we’ll be sure to keep out of your way.’
Adam was due to arrive at the bungalow shortly.
On hearing of their beach hut plans, he was delighted to be asked to join them, and had offered to help out.
He had been recruited by the girls to the culinary team.
He was, apparently, organising the dessert, which he had stayed back at Cath’s cottage to make, and was bringing along with him.
Cath had hitched a lift earlier with Will and the girls, to make the most of the day.
It was a wise move from Adam, no doubt, with no fridge facility here, and Will’s girls on a compact kitchen takeover.
So, it was going to be a real ‘family’ day out.
Cath was curious, and if she were totally honest, a tad anxious, about how the dynamics might work out.
Adam had at least met Will before in the village, though she and Will hadn’t been established as a couple at that point, and she knew her son was easy-going company.
But yes, it was early days for them all.
New family ties were about to be made. And as well as some inevitable nerves, that was exciting, too.
‘Anyone for a beer or glass of wine?’ asked Sophie. ‘Or would you prefer a soft drink for now, Dad?’ she added thoughtfully.
Will had been careful with his alcohol consumption since the diagnosis and treatment, wanting to give his body the best chance possible to get through this thing.
A muffled voice came from inside the hut, followed by Sophie saying, ‘Oh, right, and Maddie says there’s some 0 per cent lagers, too.’
‘Yep, one of those will be great,’ Will responded.
‘I’ll go for that, too,’ added Cath. ‘Thank you, girls.’
A chilled beer from the cool bag, on this sunny day, would be perfect.
Cath sat back in her chair. It was unusual for her to be the one resting and sitting down.
Well, this was nice; the girls cooking for them, making the effort to do something special for their dad, and yes, air punch moment, for her too.
It was gorgeous here at the beach bungalow today.
The sun was peeking past slow-scudding clouds.
A late-summer warmth to the air. And looking across at Will, she could see that he felt comfortable here.
Maddie had been amazed by the refurbished bungalow.
The new loo, thanks to Gemma, made life far more pleasant, too.
And here on the re-oiled deck were the best seats in the house.
A pew with a view.
*
Adam soon arrived with hugs, and Cath’s cool box which he’d carefully and levelly carried over the dunes.
‘Hi, guys.’
‘Hey, Adam.’ Cath stood to give him a peck on the cheek.
‘Hi, mate, how are you doing?’ her son asked Will kindly.
‘I’m good, getting there,’ came Will’s response. And they shook hands warmly. ‘The girls are inside … Sophie, Maddie, Adam’s here,’ he called out.
‘Great, I’ll go say hi, and get this pudding into the cool.’
They could hear chatting, as they made their introductions.
And within a few minutes, supper by the sea was about to be served.
‘Okay, here goes. Maddie’s chilli con carne on the coast, and I’ve done the nachos,’ announced Sophie. ‘And before you mock me, yes, I know they came out of a packet, but I have made the guacamole dip all by myself.’