Vee said she was, even though the cake had been substantial. ‘The sea air always gets your appetite going, doesn’t it?’ she said happily. ‘I should have brought a towel so we can paddle.’
Rick went around to the back of the van and opened the door. ‘Listen, you’re with the man who loves to get his feet wet,’ he said. ‘I’ve got beach towels, emergency biscuits just in case the café’s shut and a bottle of water. All a bit last minute, my gran would have had a flask of tea and some chocolate too, but this’ll do for today.’
He hefted a rucksack onto his shoulder, locked the van and began to lead the way to a gap in the fence where marram grass pushed its way through the wooden slats. The sound of the seagulls wheeling and crying above them made Vee’s eyes sparkle as they navigated the rutty lane that promised to lead to the shore. Occasionally, parts of it were boarded, but the planks were so old and wonky that it was safer to avoid treading on them and walk on the grass.
‘Here we are,’ said Rick, hearing the excitement in his own voice as they broached the last rise. ‘This is the hamlet of Lower Niddling. Great name, isn’t it?’ And there was the beach stretching down to the sea, pebble in places, narrow and secluded, absolutely perfect in Rick’s eyes.
‘Oh…’ breathed Vee. She stood still, hands clasped in front of her, eyes wide with delight. ‘This is… beautiful.’
Rick heaved a sigh of relief. He’d been pretty sure she would love Lower Niddling cove but even so, his heart leapt at the sight of Vee’s joy as she wandered down towards the shoreline. He turned to the right to see if the café was open and was glad to see that there was a chalkboard propped up outside. The delicious aromas of roast chicken and garlic mingled and drifted across on the breeze and his stomach rumbled.
‘Let’s go and eat before they run out of all the best things,’ he said. ‘They only serve food until the main dishes have gone. After that it’ll be bottled water and chocolate digestives for us.’
They covered the short distance to the wooden building very quickly. It looked as if it had grown out of the dunes, with its weathered clapboards and decking. As Rick led the way inside, a voice called, ‘Well, bugger me, look what the cat’s dragged in.’
‘Hello, Maddie,’ he said. ‘Long time, no see.’
It was a tradition between them to exchange as many clichés and sayings as possible. Rick opened his mouth to speak again, but she beat him to it.
‘Close the door behind you,’ she said. ‘Were you born in a barn?’
He didn’t answer, waiting hopefully for what he knew would follow.
‘What’s the matter? Cat got your tongue?’ She came forward and enveloped Rick in a huge embrace. Maddie must be around sixty-five, he calculated, and she was more attractive than ever with her wild auburn curls and ample figure. The red of her hair must be enhanced these days, surely, but Rick couldn’t imagine Maddie with grey hair.
‘This is my friend Vee,’ Rick said, turning round to introduce her. ‘We’re only here for a little while and we’re ravenous. What’ve you got?’
Maddie looked at them both with her head on one side, then smiled broadly. ‘It’s roast chicken in baguettes with my home-made garlic mayo today. Bit of salad to pretty it up. Take it or leave it. Beggars can’t be choosers,’ she added, with triumph.
Rick was so hungry he couldn’t think of a single trite phrase to throw back at his old sparring partner. He held out the nearest chair to Vee and sank down himself at one of the only two tables. A girl he’d never seen before brought them a jug of water and two glasses. Rick felt any residual tension draining away as he looked around the tiny room where he’d eaten so many simple, lovely meals. It had been a difficult day, but they were here, in this comforting oasis of calm. Classical music played quietly in the background. Rick looked across at Vee.
‘Shall we put off any talking until later?’ he said.
‘Good idea,’ Vee answered. ‘But we should have a regroup of ideas soon. I’ve been thinking. Beryl’s scheme for taking us to France looks kind of fishy now. How did she know I’d need to see my aunt? I haven’t thought about Yolanda for years until Beryl mentioned her the other day. There’s something funny about this, and when we get back, I’m going to find out exactly what’s going on.’
22
Beryl sat at her kitchen table with a map of France spread out in front of her. She had Frank at one side writing in a notebook, Sid directly in her eyeline and Winnie sitting on the other side pouring them all mugs of tea from Beryl’s biggest teapot. It was bright red with a knitted cosy, and the mugs matched. A piping hot cup of tea always made the day go with a swing, thought Beryl, and if it was accompanied by a custard cream or two, life couldn’t get much better.
‘So we’re settled on the route, are we?’ asked Frank, picking the book up as he prepared to share his notes with them.
‘Go on, read it out to us,’ said Sid. ‘It’s going to be a grand trip.’
Frank stood up to make the most of his moment, smoothing down his pullover. He took a sip of tea. ‘I’ll just wet my whistle,’ he said. ‘Right, here goes. I’ve done bullet points. I do like a bullet point, don’t you?’
‘Get on with it, Frank,’ said Beryl. ‘You’re making a right meal of this. I mean, I do appreciate you all coming round to help but we still have to arrange a meeting with the other four and we need to make sure we know what we’re telling them.’
‘Do you think they mind us doing the preliminary plan?’ Sid asked. ‘I’d hate to tread on anyone’s toes.’
‘There’s no point in us all chipping in at this stage or we’ll end up having a road trip that goes on for a month instead of a fortnight,’ Beryl said firmly. ‘Rick’s had a look at his diary and he says he can manage two weeks at a push, but he’s got another job on after that and he’ll be finishing off Venetia’s house in between times.’
‘I wish it could be a month. That would be fine with me, Beryl,’ said Sid. ‘The longer we’re away the better, as far as I’m concerned. I love a good adventure. Haven’t jetted off anywhere since I lost Jenny, in fact the last time would have been before she took ill. All this has made me realise how much I’ve missed our holidays.’
‘Yes, but the young ’uns have work to do,’ said Beryl. ‘They’re not footloose and fancy free like us. Now, Frank, go for it before I lose the will to live.’
Frank cleared his throat importantly. ‘Right, here’s the plan so far. You’ll have to imagine the bullet points as I read. I’ve added extra information and tips.’
‘Oh, good heavens, it’s going to be like one of those interminable parish council meetings,’ Winnie muttered to Beryl but luckily she was sitting on Frank’s deaf side. He launched into his list.
