by Judy Leigh
Cassie waved her pint. ‘I’ll drink most things.’ She noticed Denise’s sharp glance of surprise. ‘But I don’t think we should write the others off as philistines just yet.’
‘Oh, no, not at all,’ Ken agreed.
‘I didn’t mean…’ Sue began. Denise was shaking her head in horror.
‘For instance—’ Cassie waved a hand, always ready with an opinion ‘—young Emily’s an engineer who designs submarines. Jake is a plumber and he’s also a part-time artist; he sketches incredible likenesses. And DJ…’ She leaned forward to make her point. ‘He has a degree in animation. Pat works with his father in the family business, carpentry, but he also makes and paints little models of soldiers. He has a keen eye for detail. And…’ Cassie glanced at each face ‘…my mother is not without her talents, I can assure you.’
‘Indeed – I was chatting to your mother briefly down on the car deck,’ Ken chipped in. ‘A most interesting woman. I’m looking forward to getting to know her better. It might provide a fascinating insight into past times, you know, primary research for a book.’
Cassie raised an eyebrow. ‘Oh, Lil’s interesting all right.’
A whoop went up from the table where Pat was balancing an empty beer glass on his forehead and Lil was on her feet, waving her arms and trying to distract him, to make him lose concentration, while Maggie applauded. The plastic glass fell on Pat’s lap and everyone cheered again.
Sue leaned forward, preening. ‘Well, I wanted to share this with you, my dears. The tennis club has a social fund and, as social secretary, I’ve been allocated a small contribution to buy everyone a meal when we’re in France. You know, a way of bonding and sharing food, breaking bread together on behalf of the tennis club.’
‘What a wonderful idea, Syoo.’
‘Of course, I’ll make up any shortfall myself,’ Sue added in a loud voice.
‘I’d like to contribute too.’ Ken scratched his ear. ‘I don’t do enough within the tennis club nowadays, as I’m so busy writing. But I can help you to select the perfect place for us all to dine, somewhere the cuisine is top rate. It would be a tremendous experience, sitting together, sharing the best that France can offer us on a plate.’
‘And as I’m also hoping to be a long-term club member, I’d like to chip in too – a gesture of warmth, friendship and bonding.’ Denise glanced at Ken, checking his expression for approval. ‘The three of us could be hosts.’
‘It might be just the way to start the holiday, my dears?’ Sue suggested, folding her arms neatly.
‘Or even a good way to end it, Syoo?’ Denise added enthusiastically.
Cassie watched her mother place the empty plastic beer glass on her forehead and attempt to balance it there while Pat was gurning into her face to break her concentration. She met Sue’s eyes.
‘That’s a really lovely idea. I’m sure we could all bond together over some nouvelle cuisine.’ She watched the glass tumble from Lil’s head and onto the table with a crack. ‘I think this holiday is going to be an interesting journey for us all.’
7
Three hours later, the minibus, packed with weary travellers, descended the ferry ramp into the sunset and headed for the centre of Cherbourg via the bridge. They arrived at their hotel, L’Etable, where they were welcomed by a tall man with huge forearms, wearing an apron, who introduced himself as François. He showed them to their rooms, after which the five-a-side-team, Duncan and Albert went to the bar for a beer and a burger, despite the protestations of the three members of Salterley tennis club, who wanted them all to accompany them to a great little restaurant two streets away. Lil complained that she was tired and her hip was killing her, so François kindly offered to bring sandwiches to the room she was sharing with Maggie and Cassie. They sprawled on single beds, their cases unpacked, ate cheese and onion rolls and shared a bottle of red wine. Suddenly, Lil’s hip was much improved.
‘You should’ve gone with the tennis club, Cass, or at least had a burger with the others in the bar.’ She winked at Maggie. ‘We aren’t going to allow ourselves to be a burden to you this week. You enjoy yourself. I intend to, even if it does mean I have to get an early night every so often. All that travelling was quite tiring today.’
‘It was balancing the beer glasses on your head that wore you out, Lil,’ Maggie mumbled, half a cheese roll in her mouth. ‘It made me laugh though. I feel a bit guilty that we’re not all eating out together on the first night of our holiday.’
‘It’ll be a busy day tomorrow, so it’s a good idea to rest tonight.’ Cassie slid from her bed to the floor and stretched out her legs, then reached for the wine bottle. ‘Tommy said we’re visiting the beaches of World War Two. Then we’re travelling north and staying in a lovely little hotel in Amiens. We’ll all eat together there tomorrow, when we’re all rested. There’s plenty of time to get to know everyone well.’
Lil closed her eyes for a moment. ‘Ah, it feels so nice to be away from home.’ She sighed. ‘Don’t get me wrong – I love my little flat and the Kaff and Keith’s toast and sneaking in the office to do random acts of kindness for Jenny Price, but it’s just so nice to remind myself that there’s a world beyond the front doorstep of Clover Hill.’
‘And it’s nice to be away from Brian.’ Maggie folded her arms determinedly. ‘The air is cleaner. It’s not just the cigarettes and the fried stuff – it’s the way the smell of him occupies every corner. His clothes and the stench of his body fill every space. I’m just a lodger who does the cleaning and the laundry and makes tea in the kitchenette. I’m fed up and unappreciated.’
Cassie agreed. ‘I have a feeling this break is going to do us all good, Maggie. I’m glad Lil persuaded you to come.’ She took a sandwich from the plate on the bed in front of her mother. ‘I think we all needed a holiday.’
‘They are such nice kids, too,’ Lil observed. ‘I was enjoying the game with Pat in the bar. He says it’s even better after a few pints and chasers, but I only had the one drink. They’ve all got a good sense of humour, those youngsters. I noticed you were entertaining the tennis club on the ferry, Cassie.’
‘Do you think they might be a bit snooty?’ Maggie asked. ‘I haven’t really spoken to any of them yet.’
‘Aloof?’ Lil suggested by way of interpretation. ‘I’m not sure the women like each other much, or anyone else for that matter, and that man, Ken, is definitely too keen on himself.’
‘Oh, they’re fine, once you get to know them. I think it will be a nice mix of people. We’ll all get to know each other better over the next ten days,’ Cassie decided. ‘The tennis club members have offered to buy everyone dinner on the last night of the holiday. I think it’ll be a lovely celebration.’
There was a knock on the door. Maggie stiffened; the fear in her eyes made Cassie wonder if she thought it might be Brian, who had somehow followed her and was here to take her home. Cassie answered softly, ‘Just coming,’ and opened the door to see fresh-faced Emily, wearing a jacket, jeans and a T-shirt, smiling broadly.
‘Hi, Cassie. DJ, Jake, Pat and I are just going into the town for a stroll. We thought we might pop into a supermarket if there is anywhere open and pick up a few snacks for the journey tomorrow: crisps, cans of cola. Was there anything you wanted?’
‘That’s kind,’ Cassie said.
‘Chocolate triangles,’ Lil yelled from the bed.
Maggie swallowed a mouthful of wine. ‘I’d like a bar of chocolate – or some crisps. Or both, if you don’t mind.’
Emily pushed back a wisp of hair. ‘Anything for you, Cassie?’
‘No, thanks.’ Cassie smiled. ‘But it was kind of you to ask. I think Lil and Maggie plan on getting an early night. I’m going to find a quiet space and ring home. I’ll see you tomorrow. Sleep well, Emily.’
Half an hour later, Cassie was on the landing, holding the phone to her ear. ‘So, how’s it going?’
Jamie’s voice came back to her as clearly as if he were standing at her shoulder. ‘I’m fine, Cas
s. How was the journey?’
‘After the initial collision with Jenny Price’s car, it was fine.’
‘What happened?’
‘Ah, no real damage was done. Tommy’s not a bad driver. We had lots of stops on the way for Lil and Maggie to go to the toilet and buy sweets and move about a bit.’ She smiled. ‘It’s like taking kids on holiday.’ Cassie was thoughtful for a moment. ‘Not that I’ve had any children to take on holiday myself.’
‘What about all those children you taught when you worked abroad?’
‘The kids in Senegal and Guangzhou didn’t really have trips out with me and, anyway, they were much more polite and self-disciplined than Lil could ever be.’
Jamie’s voice was warm with affection. ‘I want you to make sure that you have a great time. Relax, enjoy yourself, write a few poems, drink some wine.’
Cassie made a soft sound through her lips. ‘You make it sound idyllic. There are twelve other people on the bus, all with their own idea of what a good time looks like.’ She sighed. ‘Maybe we should have just had a holiday, the two of us.’
‘One day, perhaps.’ He was quiet at the other end for a moment, then he spoke softly. ‘I made dolmades tonight. What did you have for dinner? Oysters? Escargots?’
Cassie shook her head. ‘A cheese sandwich and a bottle of cheap red with Lil and Maggie.’
He tutted. ‘Seriously, I want you to have a fab time. I want you to come back refreshed and revitalised.’
‘I will.’ She wanted to be sure, so she asked again. ‘Are you going to be all right?’
‘I’m the one who is eating good food – you’re the one with the butties and plonk,’ Jamie replied. ‘But, please, don’t worry about me. What are you doing tomorrow?’
‘Cemeteries and the beaches where the Americans landed in World War Two.’
‘That sounds really quite grim,’ Jamie murmured. ‘Is that your sort of thing?’
‘Yes, I don’t see why not. It’s fascinating. I might write a poem or two about it. It’ll be inspirational, I’m sure.’
‘Well, just make sure you have a good laugh too – it shouldn’t be all doom and gloom. Are all the other people on the trip nice?’
‘Lovely,’ Cassie purred. ‘But not as lovely as you.’
‘You can be such a flirt,’ Jamie chided gently.
Cassie thought he sounded flattered. ‘Well, I’ll call you tomorrow, Jamie – and tell you all about it.’
‘I’ll do my best to keep body and soul together until then.’ She heard him laugh softly.
‘I’ll bring you a tacky souvenir home,’ she retorted.
‘Make it a nice bottle, and we’ll share it.’ There was warmth in his tone. ‘Seriously, though, have some fun.’
She heard the phone click at the other end. Cassie put her mobile phone in her pocket and turned back to the room. She hoped that her mother and Maggie were already tucked up in bed but, as she creaked the door open, she could hear Lil regaling her friend with the story about the time when she ran the B&B and she had to throw one of the guests out, a Mr Ernest Postlethwaite from Pontefract. Cassie pushed open the door to see Lil and Maggie huddled on one bed, drinking red wine from the toothbrush glasses, chattering like schoolgirls.
‘What did he do wrong, your Mr Postlethwaite?’ Maggie asked, eyes wide.
‘What, other than complain about the over-fried bacon and steal my cutlery?’
‘He did that, Lil? That’s terrible.’
‘Oh, yes, but worse was yet to come…’ Lil licked her lips, enjoying her own performance. ‘One night when I was asleep, he pushed through the door marked Private, came into my room, and got into bed with me.’
‘Oh, no! What did you do?’ Maggie was alarmed.
‘Well, he was hardly Omar Sharif or I’d have let him stay.’ Lil slurped wine. ‘I was in my shortie nightie. He had hairy ears. So, I asked him what he thought he was doing and he said he’d been sleepwalking and he’d taken a wrong turn and he couldn’t help it as the poor lighting on my landing made him very disorientated. So I told him he could just sleepwalk back to his own room or he’d be sleeping for a very long time.’
‘You didn’t.’ Maggie gasped.
‘Oh, she did.’ Cassie pursed her lips. ‘Lil was no pushover. Never has been.’
‘You never married though, Lil?’
‘No, I had a lucky escape,’ Lil joked, then she sighed. ‘I kept myself busy instead. Even when Cassie left I – I don’t know, maybe I didn’t find the right man, maybe I was too independent.’
‘Too independent, yes, and stubborn, like me, too set in your ways.’ Cassie smiled.
‘Do you think men prefer a woman to be a pushover, like me?’ Maggie asked sadly.
‘Never.’ Lil shook her head. ‘Love’s a lottery though – sometimes the right one gets away. I decided I’d avoid getting my fingers burned a second time.’
‘Or maybe we just haven’t met anyone who is equal to the job?’ Cassie laughed, defiant.
‘Cassie, love.’ Lil patted the bed next to her. ‘Come and sit here, pour yourself another glass and tell us the one about when you were performing your poems in London and you met that politician and he made an improper suggestion…’
‘He wasn’t a politician, Lil, he was a banker.’ Cassie moved over to where Lil was holding out the bottle.
‘I love these stories.’ Maggie rubbed her hands enthusiastically. ‘I’ve really missed out on all this stuff, you know, romance and fun and frolics. Sometimes, I think my life has been a bit boring.’
Lil smacked her lips together. ‘Well, Cassie certainly hasn’t missed out. My girl has travelled the world and she’s done so many interesting things. She tells a good story too, our Cass – she knows how to keep the best bits back until the end, don’t you, love?’
Cassie watched Lil fill up her glass to the top before emptying the last of the wine into the other two glasses. Lil fished out a second bottle from next to the bed and grinned wickedly. Cassie noticed the soft gleam in her mother’s eye; it was going to be a long night.
The next morning, in the huge breakfast room, a quiet couple in their early twenties were holding hands across the table, and a smart woman in a suit was talking in fast French on her phone as she sipped black coffee, her legs crossed neatly. François, still wearing the apron and his shirt sleeves rolled showing huge forearms of Popeye’s proportions, was carrying a loaded tray to a table covered with a white cloth, where Pat, DJ, Tommy, Emily and Jake were eating rolls and drinking coffee. At the table next to them, Sue, Ken, Denise and Duncan were spreading jam on bread and slurping tea while Albert stared around, still in his huge overcoat. Cassie breezed in, offering a cheery good morning to everyone. She was followed by Lil and Maggie, both wearing huge sunglasses, walking precariously and sitting down without scraping their chairs. Ken leaned across.
‘Good morning, ladies. I can recommend the soft rolls.’
Lil pulled a sour face. ‘I can’t eat anything. Just black coffee for me, and lots of it.’ Her voice became a croak. ‘Never again…’
Maggie adjusted the sunglasses and groaned. ‘We were up until two, telling stories and drinking wine.’ She forced a smile ‘I feel like a film star, boozing until the early hours and laughing. It beats watching Charlie’s Angels and The Sweeney with a cup of cocoa and going to bed at nine.’
DJ was impressed. ‘Massive respect, Lil, Maggie,’ he called out. ‘We should have come over to your room and brought a few cans, made a session of it. We just played cards until midnight. Pat lost every time.’
Tommy reached for a bread roll. ‘You have to have the knack with cards, like I do. I’m your man when it comes to the winning hand.’
Lil piped up from behind her shades. ‘I doubt it, Tommy. I think you and I should have a few games of poker. But I have to warn you – I don’t lose, ever.’
‘A challenge.’ Tommy beamed.’ I’m up for that, Lil.’
‘A fool and his money…’ Cassie muttere
d beneath her breath.
Ken gave a small cough, his eyes sweeping over everyone. ‘We’re visiting Omaha Beach today. I’ve been reading about it. And the cemetery isn’t far away from the beach. It should be edifying.’
‘And the weather is perfect, too, my dear – bright and sunny,’ Sue added, crossing her legs.
‘Oh, I think it will be quite chilly on the beach, Syoo.’ Denise shivered. ‘I’m taking a warm coat.’
Duncan nodded. ‘It’s the beach where all those poor soldiers battled. I imagine it will be quite eerie there.’
Lil glanced across to Albert, whose soft eyes closed imperceptibly for a moment as he reached for his teacup.
‘I’m looking forward to it.’ Ken waved a hand. ‘My next historical novel is about a young man called Private Pattison who is in action in World War Two, an American hero. He’s in love with a beautiful nurse who dies in his arms.’
‘Very Hemingway,’ Cassie agreed, not noticing Ken’s horrified expression.
‘It will be an original – I’m going to set it on Omaha Beach and I’ll research it today,’ he insisted. ‘He will be injured, Pattison, and the beautiful nurse will tend to his every need in the military hospital.’
‘Every need? Do they have a bit of how’s your father in the hospital bed behind the curtain?’ Lil chimed from behind the sunglasses. She was beginning to perk up.
‘Oh, good grief, no.’ Ken was aghast. ‘It’s not that sort of book.’
Lil disagreed. ‘Either Pattison is too wounded to woo the nurse or he’s not a believable soldier.’ She muttered to herself. ‘He should have some love on the night rounds with Nursey. Then two months later, Pattison goes back to Oklahoma and Nursey finds herself all alone with a baby on the way… that would be a good story.’
Maggie nodded. ‘Oh yes – there’s no stopping these men once they get that gleam in their eyes.’
Denise agreed. ‘My experience exactly. And then, several years later, they change. All they want to do is dig the garden and read the newspaper.’