Tuesdays at the Teacup Club Page 3

  I thought of the concern in Chloe’s voice, the way she was worrying about him right now.

  ‘Chris, Chloe loves you. She’ll want to be here for you. She’s your girlfriend.’

  ‘I need some time. If I have the operation, I’ll tell her afterwards, when I’m better. But right now, I don’t want her to have to deal with this.’

  He turned to me, his brown eyes determined. ‘Don’t say anything to her, Jen.’

  Alison

  Friday, 13th September

  ‘Macaroni cheese OK for tonight?’ Pete asked, as Alison hung up her coat in the hallway.

  ‘Anything that I’m not cooking sounds absolutely delicious,’ she said, taking off her boots. She was chilled to the bone. It was only September, but the air had cooled and it was raining heavily.

  Pete smoothed her dark hair, wet in places from the rain. ‘You’re drenched. Didn’t you have an umbrella?’

  ‘It didn’t look that bad this morning,’ she said. He took her into the warmth of his arms, and her cheek brushed against the soft cotton of his lumberjack shirt. She felt the familiar bristle of his stubble against her ear.

  ‘Come and sit down while I get the dinner ready,’ Pete said. ‘Sophie’s upstairs helping Holly rehearse her lines, so we might even get time for a chat.’

  ‘Excellent,’ Alison said, walking through into the kitchen with Pete and taking a seat at their large wooden dinner table. ‘Does this place serve wine?’

  ‘The very best you can get for a fiver,’ he said, pulling a bottle out of the wine rack.

  He poured them both glasses of red, and put a pan of water on to boil. ‘How’s everything been going at the café?’

  ‘Good. Apart from the Love Latte effect.’

  ‘Oh dear, really? Can’t believe they opened up right opposite you like that.’

  ‘All’s fair in the coffee and cake business,’ Alison said, with a shrug. ‘It’s going to be tough competing with them on price, but we’ve got some tricks up our sleeve.’

  ‘On that note, thinking of your film night next week – I checked the projector and it’s working fine.’

  ‘Great, that is good news. Do you remember when we used to have it set up in our bedsit? It’s been on a journey with us, that thing.’

  ‘Certainly has. It’s good to see it’ll be getting some use again, and giving Blitz Spirit a helping hand.’

  ‘I think we’re going to make a real impact with this new night,’ Alison said, taking a sip of wine. ‘We just need to remind people who we are and that we’re not going anywhere. We won’t write their name on disposable cups, but we’ll serve up a perfect vintage tea to remember.’

  ‘I’m sure it’ll make a splash. You’ve always risen to a challenge.’

  ‘Good thing, given this family.’ She laughed warmly.

  The kitchen door opened and Sophie and Holly burst in. ‘Hi, Mum,’ Sophie said. She was wearing a tight black T-shirt and jeans, and Alison noticed how her daughter’s body was becoming curvier, like her own.

  ‘Is dinner ready?’ asked Sophie.

  ‘We’re absolutely staaaaaaaaaarrrving,’ Holly joined in, dashing over to see what her dad was putting into the pot. ‘It’s hard work rehearsing.’ She dumped her play script on the kitchen table.

  ‘And it’s hard work listening to her rehearse,’ Sophie said. ‘We’re hungry. We have rights, you know – and I’m pretty sure eating is one of them.’

  Alison caught Pete’s eye, smiled and shook her head. ‘Sometimes I wonder if it wasn’t better when the two of them were at war, don’t you?’

  Maggie

  Tuesday, 17th September

  ‘I’m really, really glad you’re back,’ Maggie said, curling up on the sofa next to Owen with a large glass of wine, her hair pulled up into a loose top knot. The wine was a week-old budget Merlot, the stuff she’d put aside to use for cooking, and a little vinegary. It was the kind that a year ago she would never have considered wasting her weekly units on. But tonight, with Stan finally asleep in his cot, it would do just fine. He’d nodded off after just a couple of lullabies this evening, the rain battering against the nursery window seeming to have a calming effect on him.

  ‘So glad to see me that you’re heading out the door any minute?’ Owen said with a smile, stroking a strand of hair out of Maggie’s eyes.

  ‘I can’t miss tonight,’ she said, smiling. ‘This launch is a big deal for Alison, and I owe her one for cheering me up last week. Plus I really fancy an evening out – it’s been weeks.’

  ‘I know, I know, I’m only joking,’ Owen said, laughing. ‘I’ll be fine here with Stan, I didn’t like being so far away from you both in Devon. I enjoyed the project, but the hours were a killer – I needed longer than a week, really, to get the garden just right. I didn’t want to extend the trip. Facetime with Stan at bedtime really doesn’t match up to the real thing.’

  ‘Well, we certainly missed you. I think Stan was starting to think his dad lived in my iPhone. Are you likely to have more work in that part of the world?’

  ‘Funny you should ask, actually. Mrs Everett’s neighbour offered me a bigger job, at a stately home not far from her in Devon. Acres of land, and they want to spruce it up for some anniversary celebrations. It would be a block of at least a month’s work.’

  Maggie’s heart sank, but she hoped it didn’t show. She wanted Owen’s business to go well, and for him to get the most out of his work. She just wished it didn’t mean him going so far. ‘Are you planning to take it?’

  ‘I don’t know,’ he said. ‘I need to think about it – and we need to talk about it. But look, I’m here now, so take advantage of it. You’re free to head out whenever you want. Go and get spruced up, or whatever it is you do to make yourself look even hotter,’ he said, squeezing her leg. ‘Your night off has officially started.’

  Alison

  Tuesday, 17th September

  Sheets of rain lashed against the windows of Blitz Spirit, and the sky outside was dark grey, heavy with stormclouds. Alison had never seen a thunderstorm this intense hit Charlesworth before.

  She had everything ready for the event. The projector was set up to play Casablanca, the room was decorated with black and white film posters, and she’d spent all day baking cupcakes and muffins. The glass counter was laden with teacups ready to be filled, next to them a jug of Mojito cocktail with fresh mint, and popcorn spilled out of bowls on each of the coffee tables. But it was seven p.m., the start time she’d put on all the publicity, and there was no sign of any customers.

  Chewing on a nail, Alison tuned into the local radio station to check if there was any news.

  ‘… access roads to Charlesworth have been closed due to significant flooding from the River Eyre, and a dozen cars have been stranded on the outskirts. Local people are being advised not to travel unless absolutely necessary.’

  That didn’t sound good. She looked out towards the high street. There was nothing to suggest that the nearby river had flooded its banks, but the road was quiet, and the rainwater was almost over the kerb. She looked around the room for something she could use to stop any water seeping in, if the level got higher. She grabbed some tea towels from the kitchen area and blocked the gap at the bottom of the door.

  With a heavy heart, she drew up a sign in black marker announcing the cancellation of the night’s event, and picked up her phone to ring around her friends and the other people she had numbers for. Not that anyone would be venturing out in these conditions.

  Jamie’s phone was switched off. She tried Jenny next.

  ‘Hi, Jen, it’s me, Alison.’

  ‘Hi, Ali. How are you doing?’ She sounded a little surprised, and Alison wondered if she was interrupting something.

  ‘Good thanks – listen, I’ve lost track. Are you still in town or are you on your tour?’

  ‘I’m still here in Charlesworth, for the time being. Something came up and I’ve had to postpone some of the Scotland dates. Is everything OK?
’

  ‘Yes. Well, no. Sort of. I was just calling to say that I’ve had to cancel tonight’s event at Blitz Spirit. I can’t go ahead with this weather. I wanted to make sure you didn’t have a wasted trip.’

  ‘Oh, thanks. I’m really sorry to hear that, Ali. Good luck with everything, and stay dry over there.’

  ‘Thanks, love. Speak again soon.’

  She dialled Maggie’s number next.

  ‘Hey, Maggie, it’s me.’ Alison bent to check the tea towels at the door and saw that they were soaked through, with more water seeping past them. She picked them up and dumped them in the sink.

  ‘Hi, Ali – I’m on my way.’

  ‘You are?’ she said, distracted, searching for dry tea towels in the kitchen drawers. She located a few and put them by the door.

  ‘Will take more than a little downpour to keep me away. I’ve even got lipstick on, so I look very close to human. I’ll see you in about twenty minutes.’

  ‘Listen, I’m really sorry about this, Maggie – I don’t know if you’ve heard on the news, but this storm is quite serious, the river’s burst its banks. I’m not going to be able to run the screening.’

  ‘Are you sure there’s no way?’ Maggie asked, sounding disappointed.

  ‘I’m afraid not,’ she said. She noticed water where she was standing, a slick surface around her T-bar heels. She had to make sure it didn’t reach the antique furniture and sofas. ‘Sorry, Maggie, I think floodwater’s coming into the shop. I have to go.’

  Mobile in hand, she dashed towards the back room. There had to be something in there she could use. She opened the door and pressed the light switch and the light flickered on – enough for her to see water on the floor at the back of the room. Then a spark came from the switch and the whole café fell into darkness.

  ‘Oh no,’ she said, panic tightening her chest.

  Alison stood in the darkness for a minute or so, trying to work out what to do next.

  Keep calm, she told herself. By the light of her phone she found a torch and some candles in a drawer in the kitchen. She lit the candles and dotted them around the café. Rain continued to pour down outside, battering against the windows. She sacrificed a handmade rug from stock to block the front door more fully and mopped up the water that was pooling around the chair and furniture legs.

  Through the noise of raindrops and thunder, she heard a rapping at the glass door. She turned to see a figure half-hidden under a huge green umbrella standing just outside. In high heels and a red dress. Alison quickly realised it was Maggie.

  ‘Ali! Are you in there?’ she shouted, peering through the glass.

  Alison pulled the rug out of the way and let Maggie in, glad to see a familiar face. ‘Come in. God, you must be soaked.’

  Maggie shook out her umbrella, came inside and took in the scene. ‘You didn’t sound like yourself on the phone, so I thought I’d better come down. What a nightmare this rain is.’

  ‘Thanks,’ Alison said. ‘You didn’t have to. But I’m quite glad you did, actually.’

  ‘Are these candles for atmosphere, or is your power out?’ Maggie said, taking off her heels and slipping on pumps from her bag. ‘Always prepared,’ she said, with a smile.

  ‘The latter, I’m afraid.’

  Maggie looked up at the ceiling lamps. ‘What can I help with? Getting an electrician?’

  ‘I’m not sure we’re going to get anyone to come out tonight.’

  ‘It can wait till tomorrow, I guess. How’s the furniture in here?’ Maggie said, peering down to inspect the chair legs.

  ‘I think we’ve escaped the worst so far. There’s plenty of clearing up to do out the back, but I don’t think we should do it until the wiring’s been checked and the power’s back on. I told Jamie he shouldn’t do the wiring himself, but you know what he’s like …’

  ‘Right, yes, I think we’re best staying out of that,’ Maggie said. ‘But we should get something else to block the doorway, this thing is sodden.’ She took a throw from the sofa and rolled it up tightly.

  ‘I suppose I should just lock up and head home,’ Alison said, looking around at the popcorn and treats she’d laid out for an event that now wasn’t going to take place.

  ‘Well, it seems a shame not to take advantage of a rare night off,’ Maggie said, eyeing the cupcakes and the jug of cocktail.

  ‘Are you thinking what I’m thinking?’

  ‘Let’s have a drink and wait until the rain’s eased off. Our families will cope without us.’

  ‘It’s a plan,’ Alison said, lifting the jug of Mojito and pouring them both a teacup cocktail. ‘Not often I get a night off, and with one of my favourite ladies, to boot.’

  ‘Only a shame Jenny’s not here to complete the club,’ Maggie said.

  ‘Isn’t it? I called her but she’s sensibly staying at home tonight.’

  They took their drinks over to one of the sofas, a dry island, and Maggie brought some candles with her.

  ‘Here’s to surviving,’ Alison said, raising her teacup.

  ‘And thriving,’ Maggie added, chinking her cup with Alison’s.

  Jenny

  Tuesday, 17th September /Wednesday 18th September

  ‘Ali’s had to cancel tonight,’ I said to Dan as he came out of the shower, scrubbing his hair dry with a towel.

  ‘That’s a shame,’ he said, sitting down next to me in his dressing gown. Elmo, our puppy, leaped up on the sofa between us and nuzzled my leg. Dan ran his hand over the dog’s wiry grey hair, stroking him, and Elmo rolled over to show his belly. ‘Although I guess she had no choice with this weather. Were you planning on going?’

  ‘I hadn’t really decided, but probably not – there’s been so much to think about this week I don’t think I would have been great company.’

  ‘How are you feeling about tomorrow?’

  ‘OK, I suppose. Hope it’s going to be all right driving Chris to the hospital,’ I said, glancing outside, where the rain was still hammering down. ‘They said on the radio not to go out unless you absolutely have to.’

  ‘I’m sure it’ll have stopped by then,’ Dan said. ‘You’ll get Chris to hospital, and he’ll be getting better before you know it.’

  I squeezed his arm, grateful for his reassuring words.

  ‘I hope so. I can’t stop thinking about what could go wrong. I think I’m probably more nervous about it than he is. But it brings it all back, the hospital appointments when we were kids, the worries about how much he’d be able to do independently, the waiting game. I know I was only young, but I remember every moment of it.’

  ‘It must have been a stressful time, and whatever age you are, you pick up on that. How’s your dad holding up?’ Dan asked, looking at me and toying with one of Elmo’s ears.

  ‘The same as me, worried sick. He really wants to come tomorrow, to be there for Chris. But Chris says he doesn’t want to stress Dad out – he’s only letting me go with him because I nagged him and reminded him he’d need a lift. He thinks he’s protecting people, but he’s not, he’s just shutting everyone out.’

  ‘Have you heard from Chloe?’

  ‘She’s called a couple of times, and I can tell she suspects something’s up. I hate lying to her, she’s one of my best friends, and we’ve always been honest with each other. I feel really stuck in the middle.’

  ‘Poor Chloe. Of course she’d want to know. I’m really surprised Chris is acting like this.’

  ‘I haven’t seen this stubborn streak in him for years,’ I said. ‘You know how laid back he normally is. Chloe was under no illusions about his health – and she’s never been happier than she is with him. I think he’s really scared, Dan, and I wish I could make it better.’

  ‘Right, here we are,’ I said to Chris, as we drew into the hospital car park. The rain had finally eased overnight, and the sun was breaking through the clouds and reflecting off puddles on the tarmac. I’d struggled to sleep, imagining Chris, the brother who had always been so im
portant to me, lying in the operating theatre.

  ‘Yes,’ he said, subdued, undoing his seatbelt. He picked up his hospital bag from the footwell.

  ‘You’re absolutely sure you want to do this?’

  ‘Yes,’ he nodded.

  ‘Sure, sure?’

  ‘If there’s a chance it will help, I need to try it.’

  ‘I’ll come in with you,’ I said, unbuckling my own belt.

  ‘Jen,’ he said, his brown eyes meeting mine. ‘No offence, but I think I need to do this on my own.’

  ‘OK,’ I said, a lump building in my throat. ‘Of course. If that’s what you want.’

  I went around to the passenger side and helped him into his wheelchair.

  ‘Call me as soon as you’re out,’ I said, bending to hug him, his smell so familiar, laundry powder and shampoo. He held me close.

  ‘I will. I’ll be fine, sis. Don’t worry.’

  I watched as he wheeled himself to the entrance of the hospital, tears in my eyes.

  I drove back towards my house, trying to block out thoughts of what would be happening to Chris. As I passed Maggie’s cottage, I caught sight of her in the window of her front room. She tapped the window and waved.

  I hesitated, then slowed the car down and turned around. She answered the door with Stan in a sling.

  ‘Hello, stranger,’ she said, her green eyes lighting up.

  ‘Hi, Maggie,’ I said, giving her a hug.

  ‘You OK, Jen? You look upset.’

  ‘No … not really,’ I said, my voice breaking. The tears I’d been struggling to keep in all morning started to flow.

  Maggie and I were sitting together in her living room, on her white sofa. Stan was playing on his activity mat, lifting bright Velcro flaps and tapping buzzers.

  ‘So Chris went into East Sussex General this morning?’ she asked, concerned.

  ‘Yes,’ I said. ‘The operation is a long one, it’ll be a few hours.’

  ‘He’s in good hands, Jen. It’s an excellent hospital.’

  ‘But it’s just thinking of him, in there on his own, and the risks.’