They said goodbye to Bev, and upped their speed when Rick realised they were going to be late. ‘She always says the time her fuddles kick off isn’t set in stone,’ said Rick, striding out more energetically. ‘But I never like to risk it.’
Beryl’s front door was already standing open when they arrived, and she welcomed them in warmly. ‘The others are all here,’ she said. ‘I was hoping you’d come soon. The sausage rolls are just out of the oven, and they’re always nicer eaten fresh.’
Vee followed Beryl into the small living room which was bursting at the seams with people. She felt a wave of panic when she saw that they all looked to be around Beryl’s age so they might know her and remember her history, but then she spotted Sid Potter. He gave her a friendly wave and an encouraging smile, which was heartening.
‘Right, everyone, this is Venetia Prescott from next door, if you don’t already know her,’ said Beryl. ‘She likes to be called Vee these days, apparently, but I knew her as Venetia as a child. She left here when she was a teenager, so you won’t all remember her.’
Vee looked around and smiled in what she hoped was a confident way. She could feel her knees shaking but then became aware of Rick moving up behind her more closely. He was barely touching her, but she sensed that he was trying to give her some kind of support. She began to relax. This was going to be fine. It wasn’t a crowd, just six elderly people who all had friendly faces and were clutching champagne flutes.
‘Have a drink, you two,’ said Sid, as Beryl bustled off to the kitchen to sort out food. ‘I reckon I should probably introduce everybody seeing as our hostess has gone missing.’ He poured Rick and Vee a glass of Prosecco each and handed them over.
‘I’ve already made Vee’s acquaintance again after a long time,’ Sid continued. ‘We met in the churchyard. This is Winnie.’ He indicated the voluptuous lady on his right who was dressed in a long robe of fuchsia cotton with a candy-striped head wrap. ‘And this is the third of our lovely Saga Louts, Anthea.’
Winnie beamed at Vee and Anthea stepped forward. ‘Hello, darling. Welcome back to Willowbrook,’ she said. ‘I didn’t meet you when you were here before because there were a few periods where I lived elsewhere.’
‘With one of her many husbands,’ said the dapper man with a neat grey beard who was standing beside Anthea. ‘I’m Maurice. I’m lucky enough to be engaged to this gorgeous woman. Husband number five-to-be, waiting in the wings.’
The others all laughed, and the warmth of their obvious friendship gave Vee the feeling of being part of something joyous. The third man was on his feet now too.
‘My name’s Frank,’ he said. ‘I’m a relative newcomer to the village. I moved here from Sheffield with my son and daughter-in-law, and I have to say I didn’t want to come, initially. We live just around the corner, and it’s turned out to be one of the best things we ever did.’
‘So now you know us all, Vee,’ said Winnie. ‘Tuck into some snacks, both of you, keep topping up your glasses and we’ll get around to the main business of the evening when we’re fully fuelled up.’
‘Oh, so thereisan ulterior motive for this,’ said Rick. ‘I thought we might be celebrating the happy couple.’ He handed over the champagne and card to Maurice and Anthea and they exclaimed with delight.
‘It’s not an engagement party as such,’ said Beryl, coming in from the kitchen with a loaded tray. ‘Wearecelebrating these two brave souls and their news but there’s something else I want to run past you all. Anthea, Maurice and Winnie already know what it is, but I’ll keep the rest of you in suspense for just a little bit longer. I’m hoping by the end of tonight, I’ll have full agreement to set my latest plan into motion.’
19
When there was nothing left of the sausage rolls but flakes of golden pastry and every plate of Winnie’s tongue-tingling snacks was empty, Beryl cleared the decks and asked Sid to refill everyone’s glasses.
‘It’s time for the main business of the evening to commence,’ she said, in her best WI meeting voice.
The others in the room fell gratifyingly silent in seconds. Beryl signalled for them all to sit down and settled herself in the highest chair. It was tapestry-covered with wooden arms and always made her feel slightly regal. She looked round at her assembled guests. Frank, Sid, Rick and Venetia wore confused expressions, but the other two Saga Louts and Maurice were gazing back at her with shining eyes. Winnie gave Beryl a thumbs-up sign.
‘I’ve a proposal to put to you,’ Beryl said.
‘I thought Maurice already had the proposal covered,’ said Sid, grinning at his old friend.
‘Not that kind. This one is about an adventure. As most of you know, Anthea, Winnie and I love to go travelling but we usually either travel by train or plane and we’ve done so many city breaks and short package holidays to the seaside all over the place that I thought it was time to try something different. We were going to do a Yorkshire Dales trip last time, but it was cancelled so we swapped it for Majorca and going abroad again has given me itchy feet.’
She paused for a moment and Frank said, ‘Go on, spit it out. I don’t see what that has to do with us though.’
Beryl smiled. ‘I’m hoping it has everything to do with you. I want us to go on a road trip together. Anthea, Maurice and Winnie have already said they’re up for it. We’ll just need a minibus and a couple of drivers. Last time we did this, when we were the Happiness Gang, Rick sorted all that out and drove us beautifully.’
Rick nodded. ‘Yes, I did, and it was great. Are you telling me you want me to take you all to Norfolk again?’
‘Not exactly. Let’s go a step further this time. I’d like us to go to France.’
‘But… I’m in the middle of helping Vee to sort her house out,’ said Rick. ‘I can’t just take off to France at a moment’s notice. What’s brought this on?’
Beryl glanced across at Venetia, who wasn’t looking at all impressed. ‘It doesn’t have to be immediately,’ she said. ‘And we’d want another driver, for a start, because Anthea…’
Her voice tailed off and Anthea pulled a face. ‘Okay, okay – I know you all think I’m past my sell-by date for driving on the wrong side of the road,’ she said. ‘Do you have a driving licence, Venetia?’
Vee sat up straighter. ‘Yes, I have, as a matter of fact. I haven’t got a car any more though. Do you mean you want me to come with you? Most of you hardly know me.’
‘Well, I for one think it’s a superb idea,’ said Frank. ‘I haven’t been anywhere exciting for ages. What about you, Sid?’
