Tuesdays at the Teacup Club Read online

  ‘He’ll be OK. He’s a strong one. But I wish I’d known – why didn’t you say something earlier? You know I’m always on the end of a phone, and Ali too. There we were thinking you were off sipping champagne with the literati.’

  ‘Hardly,’ I said, letting out a wry laugh. ‘Thankfully JoJo’s been really understanding about postponing the tour.’

  ‘That’s good. Probably the last thing you’d be able to think about right now. How’s Chloe doing?’

  ‘That’s the toughest part,’ I said. ‘Chris doesn’t want her to know.’

  ‘You’re kidding,’ Maggie said, sitting forward. ‘But didn’t you say he was planning to propose to her?’

  ‘I know – and yes, he’s even got the ring. He was going to do it on their anniversary, which is next week, but I don’t expect that’ll be happening now. He’s cut off contact, and she’s really confused.’

  ‘She must be.’

  ‘She’s a bit of a mess. She’s convinced herself that he’s changed his mind about her. You know what Chloe’s like with men, after getting burned before, she’s jumping to all the wrong conclusions.’

  ‘And you’re sure, about not telling her? How would you feel if it was Dan?’

  I imagined if that was Dan going in for an operation that could change his life for the better, or the worse. The thought of not being there with him made my chest tighten.

  ‘I would want to know,’ I said. ‘I should tell her, shouldn’t I?’

  ‘Only you know the right thing to do.’

  Alison

  Wednesday, 18th September

  ‘Well, last night fell a little flat,’ Alison said, standing in the back room of Blitz Spirit and surveying the mess around her and Jamie. ‘Less cocktails and coat tails, more puddles and ruined stock.’ It was really starting to sink in: all that hard work for nothing.

  ‘Bad luck, that’s all,’ he said, putting an arm around her. ‘Good old English weather never fails to trip us up. But don’t worry, Ali. The main thing is the electrician managed to get the power up again, even if he did give me a hard time about the wiring.’

  ‘Yes, he was pretty stern about that, wasn’t he?’

  ‘He was right. I shouldn’t have tried to do it on the cheap, I’ve been meaning to get it checked out. Thank God nothing more serious happened, and you weren’t hurt.’

  ‘Oh, I’m made of pretty tough stuff,’ Alison said. ‘Actually me and Maggie had a lock-in last night, getting tipsy and eating the cupcakes and muffins I’d made. We were here till nearly midnight. I haven’t laughed so much in ages.’

  ‘Glad you had some company, and you two enjoyed yourselves. I’m so sorry my phone was out of battery, you know I would have been here in a flash if I’d known.’

  ‘It’s fine. Safe to say the party is now officially over, though. Let’s get this place cleaned up.’ She passed Jamie a broom and took out a dustpan and brush for herself. Together they started sweeping up the debris in the back room.

  ‘Just a bump in the road,’ he said. ‘Don’t get disheartened.’

  ‘I won’t,’ Alison said, determined. ‘But damn, I really thought the night would give Blitz Spirit a boost.’

  At the sound of the front door opening, they both looked up from their sweeping.

  ‘Hi, Maggie,’ Jamie called out, as they saw her willowy silhouette in the doorway, a bump in the middle where Stan was strapped to her. ‘We’re back here.’ Maggie walked through to join them in the back room.

  ‘Hello, you two,’ she said warmly. ‘I’ve just been checking Bluebelle for damage, but it seems we’ve got away lightly. Anna and I saw the lights come back on in here, so I hoped that was a good sign?’

  ‘Yes, it is,’ Alison said. ‘The electrician didn’t take long to fix the power. Still some cleaning up to do but it’s only rainwater, nothing nasty, so we should be able to open in an hour or so.’

  ‘That’s great,’ Maggie said. ‘I had a little walk about to see how everyone is doing. Love Latte escaped totally unscathed.’

  ‘Of course, they would do,’ Jamie said, giving a wry smile.

  ‘The other shops weren’t so lucky – Jules’s art gallery lost some stock last night, and Brand New Retro have had some damage to a few of their vintage clothes.’

  ‘So, we’re not the only ones,’ Alison said. ‘Not sure that makes me feel any better.’

  ‘We’ll all bounce back,’ Maggie said. ‘We can have your event another night.’

  ‘I don’t know,’ Alison said, shrugging her shoulders. ‘Everything was set, Chloe was going to do the Sussex Living piece to promote …’

  ‘Oh, we can get Chloe along again any time, she’s always supportive of local businesses – she helped when we had that late opening at Bluebelle, do you remember? When we gave out free Peach Bellinis?’

  ‘I do,’ Alison said. ‘You sold loads of flowers that night, didn’t you? Amazing how readily people will get out their wallets after a drink or two.’

  ‘Absolutely,’ Maggie said, looking up for a moment as if pondering something. ‘And on that note, I think I’ve just had a brilliant idea.’

  ‘Don’t hang about,’ Jamie said eagerly. ‘We need all the brilliant ideas we can get right now.’

  ‘Right. Well, yours isn’t the only business that could do with a helping hand right now. Why do it alone?’

  ‘Are you talking about partnering up? Who with? How?’ Alison asked.

  ‘You could run Tuesdays, like you planned … but why not get the other local shops involved too? Us at Bluebelle, the gallery, Brand New Retro – we could organise a late-opening night across Charlesworth, with drinks and treats in all the venues, to draw customers in,’ Maggie said.

  Alison and Jamie exchanged glances. ‘I like the sound of that,’ Alison said, and Jamie nodded. ‘We could set up stalls inside the shops for handmade things, too,’ she added.

  ‘Absolutely. And if it works, you could keep the screenings as weekly, and make this larger event into a monthly thing?’

  ‘What do you think, Ali?’ Jamie said. ‘Are you up for it?’

  ‘Definitely. I’m not beaten yet,’ she said. ‘Let’s get started.’

  Jenny

  Wednesday, 18th September

  Chloe rushed into the waiting room in a flurry of brown ringlets, her cheeks flushed. ‘Any news?’ she asked.

  ‘Nothing yet,’ I said.

  ‘I’m so pleased you called me, Jen.’ She looked panicked, and I saw her eyes welling up with tears.

  ‘I should have told you at the start. Come here,’ I said. She hugged me tightly.

  ‘I’ve been going out of my mind. Thinking Chris had started having second thoughts about us. It never crossed my mind that it could be this, his health. And now – God, I nearly crashed my bike twice on the way over here. He is such an idiot to put himself through this on his own.’

  ‘We agree on that, then.’

  ‘How much longer till we hear?’ Chloe asked, perched awkwardly on the edge of the plastic hospital chair.

  ‘I don’t know,’ I said. ‘But long enough for a coffee. Can I get you one?’

  She nodded, biting her lip. ‘OK then, thanks. Actually maybe a herbal tea, if they have one. I feel sick, Jen. To think of him in there.’

  An hour later, Dr Kilbride stepped out into the waiting room and made her way over to us.

  ‘Jenny,’ she said. ‘Chris is out of surgery, but we’re still waiting for him to come round from the anaesthetic.’

  ‘And how did …’ Chloe asked urgently. ‘What happened in there?’

  ‘The operation went smoothly,’ Dr Kilbride said. ‘We’ll need time to see how effective it’s been, but we were able to do everything we planned to.’

  ‘That’s good. Can we go in and see him?’ I asked.

  ‘Yes, of course. I’m sure he’ll want you there when he wakes up.’

  The consultant led the two of us around to Chris’s hospital bed. I sat down beside him. It was stra
nge to see my brother lying there, motionless and uncharacteristically quiet, breathing softly.

  Chloe stood over him and stroked the side of his face tenderly. ‘I could kill him, Jen.’

  ‘Please don’t.’

  ‘But seriously,’ she said, turning to me and shaking her head. ‘What did he think – that I’d go running for the door at the first sign of trouble? He should know by now that I love him. I don’t need him to be perfect. I just want him to be him.’

  Chloe smoothed Chris’s sandy hair, and slowly he began to stir and open his eyes.

  He caught sight of Chloe and smiled at her. Then he looked over at me, narrowing his eyes accusingly for a moment, before lying his head back down.

  ‘I should have known you wouldn’t be able to keep quiet, sis.’

  ‘And I’m glad she didn’t,’ Chloe said, pushing back a lock of hair from his forehead.

  ‘I’m going to leave you two alone,’ I said, giving Chris’s arm a squeeze. ‘The operation went well.’

  As I closed the green curtain behind me I could hear Chloe’s voice.

  ‘Chris, what were you thinking keeping this from me? There are no prizes for soldiering on alone, you know. If there’s something you’re going through, I want us to go through it together.’

  And as I walked away, I overheard my brother’s reply.

  ‘I know. It was stupid, and I’m sorry. And Chlo, I’ve been thinking. There’s something I’ve been wanting to ask you …’

  Maggie

  Friday, 20th September

  Owen and Maggie were nestled closely in bed in the dawn light, with baby Stan between them. ‘Six hours straight he slept last night,’ Maggie said. ‘I can’t believe it.’

  Owen gave a victory air punch and laughed. ‘Result.’

  ‘I feel like a completely different person,’ she said. ‘Like I might actually be able to think straight today at work.’

  ‘Me too,’ he said. ‘Hopefully this is the start of something.’

  ‘He’s beautiful, isn’t he?’ Maggie said, running a finger over Stan’s brow, the curls of dark hair he’d inherited from Owen. ‘Maddening sometimes, but beautiful.’

  ‘Like his mum,’ Owen said, kissing Maggie’s pale shoulder.

  ‘You charmer,’ she said, shaking off the compliment. ‘So, no regrets about settling down with me and this little guy?’

  ‘Of course not,’ Owen said, smiling broadly. ‘Having Stan in our life has turned it upside-down, yes, but absolutely for the better. In fact that’s something I’ve been thinking about.’

  ‘You have?’

  ‘Yes. Maggie, I don’t want to be one of those dads who only catch up with their children at the weekend, if that. That’s what mine was like, occasionally back home to read us a story after work, if we were lucky. I want to be as big a part of Stan’s life as you are.’

  ‘Oh yes?’ she asked, curious.

  ‘The new Devon job made me consider what my priorities really were. I turned it down, even though it would have been good for the business. I love my work, but I’d like it just as much if I limited the amount of projects I took on. When you start working again, I’ll be able to afford to do that.’

  ‘So how do we make this work?’

  ‘I could go part-time, and you could too – or we could get a childminder for the days I’m working.’

  Maggie pictured herself back behind the counter at Bluebelle du Jour – distraction-free, knowing that Stan was with his dad – and felt a flicker of excitement. She’d be home for Stan’s bath, but she could start to get back to her business, and to being the old Maggie again.

  Stan gurgled happily, as if he had some understanding of what his parents were talking about. Owen picked him up and held him high overhead, then brought him down close to blow a raspberry on his belly. Stan erupted in giggles.

  ‘I don’t want to miss this,’ Owen said. ‘Not a minute of it.’

  Alison

  Tuesday, 1st October

  Tonight, Alison thought gratefully, the weather actually seemed to be cooperating. It was a warm evening, perfect for her and Jamie to throw the café doors open, and kick off the late-opening celebration of Charlesworth’s independent shops. A fortnight after Maggie had first suggested it, they were ready to go.

  Maggie was stringing bunting up between the lampposts, and Jenny was writing out chalk signs to direct villagers to the shops, gallery and cafés that were participating.

  ‘I’ve got the gramophone working!’ Anna called out to her boss from the doorway of Bluebelle du Jour. The smooth tones of French jazz drifted into the street, transporting Charlesworth back to another time.

  Maggie had put a dozen or so pot plants and some flowers out for sale, but for the most part she’d handed the shop space over to stalls. Alison’s daughter Sophie would be selling hand-printed greetings cards, and Anna had a selection of embroidered cushions on display.

  Alison and Jamie had joined forces with the other small business owners over the past couple of weeks – first sharing tips on clearing up after the flood, then planning tonight’s event. All of the shopowners had embraced the idea of a communal celebration.

  That evening Alison had put on a new dress with a cherry print and a full, fifties-style skirt. She’d had her dark hair dyed that day, to cover up the strands of grey, and styled it in a top ponytail with a quiff.

  ‘Hey, Ali,’ Jenny said, putting her blonde head around the door of the café. ‘I’m nearly done with the signs. What can I help you with in here?’

  ‘Hey, Jen,’ Alison replied. It was good to see her old friend back in the shop, and with a smile on her face again. ‘Hmmm.’ She glanced around. ‘Buns! You can help with those. We’ve got loads of them. Jamie’s been baking all morning. Could you help arrange a stand here, with the flapjacks?’

  ‘Sure.’ Jenny took the box of buns and started laying them out. ‘Everyone in the village has been talking about tonight, you know. After the flood, I think Charlesworth has really needed something like this to look forward to.’

  ‘Good. And it’s quite satisfying I must say, to watch this happening.’ Alison pointed to the chain coffee shop over the road, empty apart from one man on a laptop, sipping a drink. The customers who had filled it half an hour ago had spilled out on to the street to see what was going on, wandering into the local shops, following the music.

  ‘I know that Love Latte isn’t going anywhere,’ she continued. ‘Coffee shops are here to stay. But that doesn’t mean we can’t live alongside each other, does it?’

  ‘I for one won’t be swapping my custom,’ Jenny said. ‘Nothing beats a Blitz cup of fine chai, or builders’ tea, for that matter, in one of your pretty teacups.’

  ‘There’s always one here for you,’ Alison said. ‘I’ve missed you, Jen. How’s Chris doing?’

  ‘Really well, actually,’ Jenny said. ‘It’s a slow process, he’ll have to rest and stay off work for another three weeks – although you should see how hard it is trying to prise that laptop away from him. But he says he’s already felt a lessening in his back pain, which is a good sign.’

  ‘That’s good to hear. And Chloe?’

  ‘Over the moon,’ Jenny smiled. ‘They haven’t set a date yet, but she’s thrilled, and loves the ring that Chris chose. She’s coming down tonight, actually – she wasn’t going to miss this – so you’ll have a chance to see her yourself.’

  ‘Fantastic,’ Alison said.

  ‘Ooh, things are picking up,’ Jen said, nodding at the door.

  A stream of customers came in, excitedly approaching the cake table, cooing over the flapjacks and buns and loading up their plates. Breakfast at Tiffany’s played on the projector screen in the background, but Alison had a feeling there was going to be more chatter than movie-watching this evening.

  ‘Aloha, Teacup Club!’ Maggie called out, stepping into the café. She was dressed in a pale gold blouse and fitted trousers, her hair swept up with sparkling grips and her make-up imma
culate.

  ‘Maggie,’ Jenny said, taking a breath. ‘Wow, you look like …’

  Maggie raised an eyebrow waiting for her to finish her sentence. ‘Like … I used to?’

  ‘Yes. I mean you always look great, but …’

  ‘I normally have sick on my shoulder, bags under my eyes and no make-up on,’ Maggie said. ‘There’s no need to pretend.’

  ‘You look like you feel like you again,’ Alison said. ‘If that makes any sense.’

  ‘It makes perfect sense,’ Maggie said. ‘And thank you. God bless Owen, the babysitter tonight. Bluebelle’s heaving, by the way. We’ve had quite a few people in from out of town, too. Sophie’s cards are selling really well.’

  ‘That’s great,’ Alison said, beaming proudly. So finally her daughter was putting some of that rebellious energy into something positive.

  ‘Jenny,’ Maggie said. ‘Now that Chris is on the mend, when are you off doing publicity for the book?’

  ‘Next week, and I can’t wait. I’m so relieved the publishers agreed to reschedule. I can’t quite get my head around it – but I’m going on tour.’ She let out a little squeal.

  ‘You lucky thing,’ Maggie said, squeezing her arm. ‘Enjoy it. You deserve it.’

  ‘I will. You two will still be here when I get back, won’t you?’

  ‘We’re not going anywhere,’ Alison said, and Maggie nodded.

  A wave of laughter came from the crowd of friends in the corner, women picking up cakes and dropping coins into the honesty jar, pouring themselves cocktails into the pretty china cups and drinking and talking together.

  ‘It’s strange, isn’t it?’ Jenny said, nodding at the other women. ‘I guess the Teacup Club isn’t just about us any more.’

  She smiled at Alison and Maggie, and saw in their eyes that, as always, they knew exactly what she meant.

  Find out how The Teacup Club began…

  The Vintage Teacup Club

  is available for download right now.

  At a car boot sale in Sussex, three very different women meet and fall for the same vintage teaset. They decide to share it - and form a friendship that changes their lives …