The Afternoon Tea Club

by Jane Gilley

  ‘What?’

  ‘It’s true, Marjorie. I’ve simply come downstairs to your flat. So after we’ve eaten I’d really like it if you’d all come upstairs to my place for coffee and chocolates, if you want? How weird is that? Ha, ha! It’s incredible, isn’t it?’

  Dora and Raymond exchanged glances.

  ‘It’s bloody bizarre!’ said Dora, taking a swig of her drink. ‘Goodness, Marjorie. This wine is slipping down a real treat. Is it Italian?’

  ‘I think so, yes. Well, Stacy, that’s a complete surprise, I must say. I’ve only met a couple of our neighbours in all the time I’ve been here. There’s that lovely man on the second floor. Think his name is John and his neighbour Terry, who’s been most helpful – oh, they’re on your floor, then! Right, well I’ve prepared a buffet for you all so just help yourselves as and when you see fit. Plates and napkins on the end there. Hope there’s something you all like.’

  Raymond beamed. ‘Well, it all looks quite delicious, Marjorie. I do like those curried vol-au-vents and, oh look, I like those chicken satay things as well. You have been busy.’

  ‘Yes, well, I’ve been dying to fill this flat with some friendly faces since Gracie left, you see. It’s been quite lonely even though I’ve been finding out about things as I’ve gone along. You’ve helped too, of course. But I suppose these things take time, don’t they? But I’m getting there now. And it’s marvellous to be able to watch all my favourite TV programmes, like EastEnders, when I feel like it. It wasn’t Gracie’s cup of tea. So that’s a bonus.’

  Stacy giggled.

  ‘That’s what I’ve always loved about living by myself. I can do anything I want. At home my parents were so controlling it got stifling and then I was scared in case I said or did something wrong and Dad would yell. So it suits me being single,’ said Stacy, helping herself to a bit of everything off the buffet table and piling her plate up. ‘I know it doesn’t suit everybody, though.’

  She sat on a chair by the table and became very engrossed in her food. The doorbell rang again.

  ‘Oh, hi, Eileen. Hiya, Taynor. So pleased you could make it. Come in. Yes, I’ll get you a drink but help yourself to the buffet and please sit anywhere.’

  Eileen laughed. ‘Oh, that’s funny. You sound just like I did when you all came to afternoon tea on that first occasion, do you remember? Everyone looked baffled and I was telling them they could sit anywhere. A good few months have ticked by since then, haven’t they? Oh thanks, Marjorie, I’ll just have an orange juice, if you’ve got one. I’m driving. Taynor, do you want a very small white wine or some juice? Thank you so much, Marjorie.’

  ‘Hi, Eileen. It’s lovely to see you here,’ Stacy said.

  ‘Actually I don’t usually accept party invites but then I thought, why not? None of us would’ve met if it wasn’t for the Afternoon Tea Club, would we? And I’ve never been to a house-warming party before. So there you are. I haven’t been out in a while. I’m usually torn between family and work, as you can imagine.’

  ‘That’s right, Eileen, so it’s lovely to see you out of work, as it were,’ said Raymond smiling. ‘Anyway I hope your bosses appreciate the terrific job you do for them. We certainly do. Our lives were very predictable and actually quite empty until we saw that flyer, I must say.’

  ‘Yes, well this is what my mother said, you see, Raymond. And with the turnout for the Bournemouth trip and the afternoon tea sessions, my bosses can see this is the way forward. We’ll be having a meeting just before Christmas to adjust some of our plans, according to the take-up of the activities we’ve provided and we also want to catch up with everybody to see how they feel it’s all going. We’ll probably touch base with you all every now and then for that reason. Then we won’t get stale you see,’ said Eileen, chewing on a chicken satay skewer.

  ‘Good idea. So are there any changes to be had yet?’ queried Raymond.

  ‘Ah, well, one of the computer courses doesn’t seem to be working out,’ said Taynor. ‘We don’t know if it’s because people don’t like to be doing it on a Friday or feel they don’t need both classes. So we might just do that once a month or alternatively change the days. But this is the sort of thing we’ll discuss with everyone to see what they want to do going forward. But just to let you know because I’m so excited, my husband and I are expecting our first child!’

  ‘Oh congratulations!’ gushed Marjorie. ‘How far along are you?’

  ‘Only about four or five weeks and we’ve decided to be happy with whatever we’re graced with, so the grandmothers are already knitting white or pale lemon onesies so we won’t be caught out either way. We’re going to call him Danny, after my dad, if he’s a boy or Adele if she’s a girl. So it’s going to be very easy.’

  ‘When’s your baby due?’ said Dora.

  ‘Well they gave us the date of 22nd April or mid to end of April. A spring baby. We’re thrilled.’

  ‘Oh, it will be truly wonderful,’ said Raymond wistfully, remembering his and Dianne’s joy at discovering she was pregnant with Simon. ‘We only had the one but he was a complete delight!’

  Marjorie noticed that Dora seemed to be drinking a lot. She wondered if she was thinking about Lauren, with all the talk about babies. Perhaps now was time to switch the topic of conversation.

  ‘So do you get much time for your own family, Eileen, with the amount of work and organising you have to do for everybody else?’ Marjorie asked.

  ‘Well, I’ve got two boys, although they’re hardly boys any more. Problem is they’re in their early twenties and still at home. They say they’ll go when they each find the perfect woman to marry. But let’s be realistic – I’m probably stuck with them for life!’

  That made everybody laugh, even Dora. Marjorie could see that everybody got on so well. It was as if they’d been friends for years. People like Eileen and Taynor clearly had the knack of bringing an unrelated group of people together in a way that encouraged blossoming friendships.

  After they’d eaten they took up Stacy’s offer and traipsed up to her flat where she’d laid out mugs for tea or coffee and petit fours that she’d bought from M&S. The interior layout was an exact replica of Marjorie’s. But it had a more eclectic feel about it. The table had four very different chairs around it. The curtain in the lounge was a cheesecloth-type drape, swept back across the window like a swag and secured with a brass holdback. There was one two-seater low-backed black leather settee with a colourful throw and a multi-fabric armchair, laminate flooring and off-white-painted walls. They all thought it would make a great party room.

  ‘Okay, Dora, here’s your tea with milk and one sugar,’ said Marjorie, helping out. ‘Eileen, did you say no sugar with your coffee?’

  ‘I did, thanks.’

  By the time the clock had ticked over to 9.30 p.m. everybody had started saying goodnight and thanking their hosts for a wonderful evening.

  ‘Until we meet again,’ Raymond said dramatically, kissing all the ladies’ hands to the sound of giggles, especially from Dora, who looked as though she was just starting to enjoy herself!

  ‘Thank you all so much for coming.’ Marjorie smiled at everyone, as they collected their jackets from her flat.

  As Dora walked towards the door Marjorie stopped her.

  ‘How are you getting home?’

  ‘Not far. Two streeths away so I’m walkin’,’ she slurred.

  ‘No, you’re not. Anything could happen to you. Go sit in the lounge a minute while I say goodbye to everybody and then you’re going to be having a large glass of water and sleeping in my spare room. No arguments!’

  ***

  Dora didn’t surface until gone 10.00 a.m. the following morning and when she did appear, her face was creased, one eye was bloodshot and her hair, normally in a bun, was loose and straggly around her shoulders. She looked teary. And she looked a lot older than forty-nine, in Marjorie’s opinion. However, Marjorie was proud of herself for not saying a word about any of it!

 
‘I’ll do toast for you because you need to eat something. I used to fancy toast the next morning, after a bender, when I was in my teens,’ Marjorie said with a smile.

  ‘You? Never!’

  ‘Just because I’m an old bird doesn’t mean I haven’t lived. In fact, I liked it when my Oliver was down the pub and pissed off his head because he’d come back too drunk to take a swing at me. Usually he’d crash on the sofa or in the hall where he fell. I’d know if he wasn’t back by around 9 p.m. that he hadn’t fallen out with anybody. I’d also know it was safe to get his vodka bottle out and have a couple of little sips of it, myself. Being as it was his drink, I topped it up with water afterwards and he never seemed to know.’

  Dora grinned. ‘Okay I’ll have a couple of pieces of toast. White bread please and, um, yes, a large glass of water might help, too.’

  ‘Good. Right so, er, what’s happening with you at the moment? Sorry I didn’t get much chance for a natter last night. Parties are like that though, aren’t they? You only get the chance to have a few words with each person.’

  ‘Well, my mother has finally sold the hotel. There were a few hiccups regarding right of way down one side of the property that somehow hadn’t even been picked up on when we originally bought it. So we thought the woman might pull out over that. But it’s all gone through now and we’ve been paid. That’s the main thing. So now my mum lives with my Aunt Philippa a few streets away from here, actually. But how funny! You and Stacy, neighbours!’

  Marjorie nodded. ‘Must say that was a bit of a shock. But I’ve noticed Stacy seems to be coming into her own a bit more now, since her accident. And I think she’s benefitted from touching base with her parents again. She needed to do that. But from what she says they’re not a very loving family.’

  ‘Unless they show it in other ways?’

  ‘Yes, could be. Her father sorted her flat out and that can’t have been cheap.’

  The toaster pinged.

  ‘Right, well, here’s your toast, madam. And I’ve got honey or plum jam. Either of those suit?’

  ‘Great, I’ll take the plum jam please.’

  ‘Okay. And what about you? Where are you living now?’

  ‘Well I’m going to be staying at my friend Jodie’s for a while. But I’m staying with Mum and Philippa at the moment because Jodie’s on holiday. And you’ll be pleased to hear that I’ve already made a start looking at flats around Southampton.’

  ‘So we could all end up being neighbours then?’

  Dora nodded, smiling. ‘Now that would be funny! But I’ve started meeting people, like yourself of course. My family is originally from around these parts, as you know, anyway. And it’s something that’s starting to feel right for me now. Like my mother says, I can’t be a wandering minstrel all my life.’

  ‘No, I suppose not.’

  As Marjorie chewed her toast an idea popped into her head. ‘Well, Dora, now it’s just a thought, this. But I have an offer for you. Would you like to stay in my spare room rent-free while you get yourself sorted out? I know you have friends and family but sometimes that sort of thing doesn’t work out. You don’t have to answer straight away. But it would also be a little company for me, although you can come and go as you please, of course. Might just give you some breathing space. It’s only an idea and I won’t be offended if you say no. But just have a think about it, okay?’

  Chapter 26

  It was a crisp Sunday morning at the beginning of October and Marjorie was humming to herself as she was finishing tidying the flat. She was quite enjoying living by herself these days and didn’t need to keep ringing her daughter for advice about everything now she had Raymond on the end of the phone. Plus there was usually something going on with the Afternoon Tea Club. So that was a bit of a lifeline for her. And she’d found she was quite good at drawing, like she had been as a youngster. In fact, Eva had been very encouraging with all of them now they were able to dump their worries at the door before entering the class. And the results were speaking for themselves since even Dora’s chimneys no longer looked like giraffes!

  ‘See? You can ALL draw now! You could draw before, of course. But your nerves got in the way,’ she’d told them last time.

  Marjorie, Raymond, Dora and Stacy still went to the drawing classes. It was something they enjoyed doing together. Other people had joined and then left. But the four of them were the mainstays. In fact, Marjorie had started drawing on a regular basis when she was at home, alone, with nothing much else to do. She hadn’t continued with the painting, though. It hadn’t really been her thing. But she knew Raymond and Michael still went. It was great for the both of them having a bit of man-time together.

  After a bit of practice she’d managed to sketch the outside bird table with a couple of blue tits pecking crumbs that she was going to show Eva the next time she went to class. She’d been to town and bought a couple of new pencils. She’d asked the shop assistant to advise her which were the best ones for how she wanted to draw the birds. It had taken her a couple of days doing the rough sketches before tackling the finished picture. But she’d thoroughly enjoyed doing it. And she was thrilled she’d finally found something else that she could do when she was home alone in the afternoons. And if Eva sang her praises she was going to attempt a vase of flowers next!

  She’d just put the vacuum cleaner away and switched the washing machine on to do her bed linen when the doorbell rang. And there, much to her surprise, stood Dora with a cabin-size suitcase.

  ‘I know it’s been a good few days since you asked but my ox of a mother has been getting on my nerves. So the answer’s yes, if you’ll still have me?’ Dora said, with a smile. ‘Just for a few weeks until I find my new home.’

  Marjorie’s jaw dropped open. Well, after her and Dora’s rocky start she hadn’t really thought Dora would have taken her up on her offer. But since that day at the community centre they now had a much better understanding of each other. So why not? Dora was obviously happy with the offer, otherwise she wouldn’t be here. But Marjorie looked down at Dora’s bag, puzzled.

  ‘Is that all you’ve got?’

  ‘Well I’m a traveller, through and through, Marjorie. I have no furniture or anything of that nature. At the hotel we lived in the owner’s flat, which was fully furnished from the get-go. So I’ve never had to buy that sort of thing. And I don’t have any knick-knacks of any description either. Wherever I’ve gone I’ve always travelled light. So all I have is just a few items of clothing. I don’t have any long dresses or fancy evening wear because I never go anywhere fancy. So this is me.’

  ‘Well, come on into your new temporary home then! Oh, but just one thing: I’m off to my daughter’s in the next hour because it’s her birthday. I’m quite excited because I’ve held off going to see where they live until now. I wanted them to have some proper time together before I came trotting along. But her lovely boyfriend Steven is taking us out for Sunday lunch and he’s coming to fetch me any minute now. I can’t wait! But let’s get you settled. So, this is your room through here. It’s a nice bright room. The bathroom’s there. I did my Saturday shop, yesterday, and the fridge is full, so just help yourself to whatever you fancy. There’s a spare drawer in the bathroom you can use for all your toiletries. I’ll be out until about 5 p.m. today. Have you got my mobile number?’

  ‘Yes, you gave it me at your party, remember?’

  ‘Okay grand. Right, so can I make you a cuppa whilst we’re getting you settled in?’

  ***

  Stacy was pacing the room. She was not one for biting her fingernails but both her forefingers were now bitten down to the quick and she was randomly biting her others.

  Her mother’s cryptic voicemail message was: ‘Prepare yourself, Stacy. We’re all going off to see Peter and Marvin for lunch today. Dad and I will pick you up around 9.30 a.m. so get ready and be waiting. Oh and I’ve smoothed things over with your father, so please don’t worry.’

  That message could mean a
nything or it could mean nothing but Stacy did not want to spend any time in her father’s presence if there was going to be an almighty row when Marvin and her father came face to face later that day. She also didn’t want to spend time in their car for a couple of hours en route not knowing what to say; not sure if something might start him off thinking about things and then a huge argument ensuing between them all.

  She couldn’t stand the uncertainty of it so she rang her brother.

  ‘Peter?’

  ‘No, it’s Marvin. That future sister-in-law? Oh hiya, Stacy.’

  ‘Hello, Marvin. Look, um. My mum said we’re supposed to be coming over to yours for Sunday lunch. Is that true?’

  ‘It is, sweetheart. Apparently your mum has, what she terms, “sorted your father out”, whatever that means.’

  ‘Yes, she can be cryptic sometimes, which is worrying. I must say, you’re taking this very well, Marvin. But I’m sure Peter’s told you about our family, by now, and you certainly know from last time what Dad’s like?’

  ‘Uh-huh. Look, don’t worry. Pete and I have spoken about this at length. I know he’s as worried about this as you are. But the reality is that there are homophobic people out there. Always will be. Now, I don’t like it any more than you or Pete, but sometimes in life you have to acknowledge that we’re not living in a fairy story where everything will always work out okay. Pete and I have encountered prejudice before and we have to accept that’s the way it will be for some folk. However, we try to avoid trouble whenever possible. And we know it’s naïve to think you can do exactly as you please in life. Life doesn’t work like that. But anyway, this is a first step towards some sort of acceptance, I suppose. So, look, we’ll see you later and see how it all goes. But, sweetheart, it’s not your bad if it doesn’t work out.’