Chapter 34 #2
‘Ah, that’s brilliant, girls. And hey, no mocking here. Remember your good old dad’s not exactly the chef of the family, either.’
‘It smells delicious,’ Cath commented, realising her tummy was rumbling.
Bowls of steaming hot chilli, garnished with a blob of crème fra?che, a sprinkling of black pepper and a sprig of fresh coriander, were passed out by Sophie.
The colours looked vibrant, all rich-red, as aromas of spiced tomato filled the air.
Adam followed with a bowl of crunchy tortillas and Sophie’s luscious-looking green avocado-based dip.
He then nipped back in to bring out three additional fold-out chairs, as they gathered en famille to eat al fresco on the bungalow deck, sat overlooking the bay, with bowls on their knees.
‘Head chef’ Maddie appeared last, with a bottle of red wine to hand and a trio of glasses. ‘Anyone care to join me in some vino?’
The girls were all in, Cath accepting a glass which would go perfectly with that spicy savoury supper.
Will stuck to the 0 per cent beer, with Adam doing the same.
Adam had offered to take the girls back to the village later, the plan being to leave Cath and Will to their own devices.
Cath had packed enough clothes for them to stay over if they felt like it. Fingers crossed.
The food was simple and delicious, and halfway through the meal, Cath scanned the deck where the five of them sat; their grown-up children chatting away.
It was great to see the three of them cooking, serving and having fun together.
And as well as the warmth of the spices in her tummy, she had the heartwarming feeling that at last things might really work out.
Adam and the girls, her and Will, this was the start of something new, something special, and hopefully something lasting.
Is this how life could be? The grown-up kids getting on well, meeting up, having fun, sharing food, chatting …
The youngsters would have their own lives, jobs and uni going on, of course, but might the three of them want to share some family time with Cath and Will?
In a beach bungalow by the sea, a blended family was growing its roots.
Later, with the empty chilli dishes cleared away by the girls, Adam popped in to the hut, coming out bearing a cheesecake-style stainless-steel dish.
The zesty scent of lime filled the air. ‘I hope you’ve saved some room.
This took me longer to make than anticipated.
Here’s my Key lime pie. I figured the lime flavours might work well after the chilli.
’ He’d evidently picked up some culinary skills from his cooking-mad mother.
‘Ah, wonderful. Great idea. Well done, Son.’
‘Looks luscious, Adam,’ said Sophie.
‘Thanks, that looks fantastic,’ added Will.
Adam went back in for serving bowls, a large knife and several spoons, and they were soon tucking into wedges of buttery-ginger-biscuit-based lime-and-cream pie with a sprinkling of dark chocolate shavings.
‘Delicious’ was Will’s verdict. ‘Thanks, mate.’
Maddie put a thumbs up, her mouth too full to speak.
Sophie smiled broadly. And Cath felt a burst of pride.
*
Cath suggested a post-supper stroll on the beach, but with Maddie and Adam intent on finishing the washing up, and saying they were ready to chill with a cold beer, and Will taking a brief nap, it was only her and Sophie wanting to go.
‘Okay, well, let’s leave these to it and have a wander,’ said Cath, feeling happy yet still a touch anxious at the thought of it being just the two of them. She so didn’t want to put her foot in it inadvertently, and spoil a really lovely day.
They scrambled down the dune bank to the front of the hut. And as they ambled along the sands, Sophie lifted her gaze, looking across at Cath as she spoke, ‘Ahm, I wanted to say thank you, for everything you’ve been doing for my dad.’
Wow. ‘Thanks. I wanted to be there for him. It’s been a tough time for you all,’ Cath acknowledged.
‘I know … and … I’m sorry … if I haven’t made life easy for you lately.
’ There was a second or two pause. Cath looked on quietly, gently smiling, to give the young woman the chance to find her words.
‘Well, we’ve both seen how much you’ve done for Dad these past few months, and this meal today, it was our way of saying thank you. ’
‘It’s been wonderful, Sophie. I really appreciate it. And I know your dad will have done, too. Thank you, both.’
‘Hey, and your Adam’s not a bad chef, too. That pudding was amazing.’
‘Must have learned a thing or two from me, somewhere along the line.’
‘Yeah, our mum was a really good cook, too. I used to love her banoffee pie.’ And Sophie, for the first time, shared a happy memory of her mother with Cath. And those few words felt like a magical gift.
They both gave a broad smile. Having this chance to chat, felt like a cloud had been lifted. It was like the sea breeze had blown through the fog of their relationship, lightening it, and bringing with it a chance for change.
This felt like such a big step forward for Cath and Sophie.
Two sets of footprints were now running parallel, as they walked side by side in the sands.
*
The beach day had been a success; with two broken families coming together.
And the fear currently hounding them about Will’s health might soon, fingers crossed, lose its grip on their lives.
The relief of an ‘undetectable’ diagnosis for him at the next round of tests, that was the goal.
The hope that finally life could move forward, and work out for them all. Could she dare to dream?
Back on the deck, with the sky softening to a more subdued, rosy-hued evening light, Cath caught Will’s eye, a glint of its old sparkle back, and registered his mellow smile as he watched the two of them return.
Might he be wondering the same things? He was certainly enjoying the moment.
Their grown-up kids had done so well, thinking this up and taking charge today.
Though he looked slightly tired, Will was still so very handsome.
His dark hair, and the most sensual of hazel-brown eyes, that melted her insides when he looked her way.
How could he think she wouldn’t fancy him anymore, merely because of the present implications of his health and surgery?
Ah, it had made her love him all the more.
Seeing his courage and his determination through this most difficult of times.
Witnessing how much he wanted to protect his girls, and how – even if rather foolish and grumpily – he’d tried to protect her from more hurt, too.
But this lady wasn’t for backing down. And she knew when not to give up on a good thing, the best of things.
If her tummy was full after that gorgeous supper, then right now, her heart was even fuller.
Life could throw its bloody curveballs, but she knew who to stand by, and who she needed to darn well hold on to, when they started coming.