I take your coat?’ she asked, practically manhandling him out of it. ‘And do help yourself to cake. Do you prefer tea or coffee?’
‘Tea, please,’ he replied, sitting down self-consciously and taking a copy of Tess out of his battered old satchel. ‘Milk, two sugars.’
‘Oh, I’m terribly sorry, I didn’t introduce myself,’ Estelle apologised, looking extremely flustered as she dashed over with his tea, a piece of shortbread balanced precariously on the saucer. ‘I’m Estelle,’ she said, wiping her hands on her skirt then holding one out to him.
‘Reggie,’ he replied, as they shook hands.
‘Oh, you’re Reggie,’ said Estelle, bustling round the table to cross a name off her list. ‘You know, I expected you to be older.’
Reggie forced a smile. ‘That happens a lot,’ he said tightly. ‘It’s the name.’
‘Yes, well …’ Estelle instinctively felt that she’d said something wrong. ‘It’s lovely to have you here, Reggie,’ she clumsily tried to change the subject. ‘Very lovely to have a man here tonight. Oh!’ Estelle clapped a hand over her mouth and blushed scarlet. ‘I didn’t mean … Well, I meant … Book clubs are usually full of wom— Oh!’
Fortunately for Estelle, the bell clanged again, and a woman entered. She looked to be in her sixties, her silver-grey hair cut into a short, sleek crop. She was dressed elegantly, in a smart camel-coloured coat and expensive-looking scarf.
‘Good evening, and welcome to the Cafe Crumb book club.’ Estelle moved towards her, recovering herself. She was determined to behave more professionally this time. ‘My name’s Estelle, and this is Reggie,’ she said, indicating Reggie sitting at the table.
‘Very pleased to meet you Estelle, I’m Sue. And Reggie,’ she nodded at him. ‘That was my grandfather’s name,’ she added with a smile.
Reggie didn’t smile back, simply raised an eyebrow. He looked distinctly unimpressed.
‘May I take your coat, Sue?’ Estelle leapt in, trying to defuse the situation. ‘And what would you like to drink?’
‘Coffee would be lovely, thank you,’ Sue smiled graciously, as she slipped off her coat to reveal a cream silk blouse and smart navy trousers.
‘Do help yourself to cake,’ Estelle told her, barely having the chance to hang up Sue’s coat before the door swung open once again.
‘Hello everyone, I’m Gracie,’ announced the newcomer, smiling round at everyone. Her jet-black hair was styled in Victory rolls at the front, but tumbled in loose curls down her back, and her lips were painted with bright-red lipstick.
‘Ooh, it’s lovely and warm in here, isn’t it?’ she continued, as she took off her jacket to reveal a fifties-style polka-dot dress. There was a small rose tattoo by her collarbone, and a much larger one of a Betty Grable-type pin-up girl on her upper arm.
‘Gracie, it’s lovely to meet you. I’m Estelle,’ said Estelle, rushing forward to introduce her to everyone. They all waved their hellos, as Estelle hurried off to get her a drink.
‘So what did everyone think of the book?’ demanded Gracie, pulling out her copy and slamming it down on the table.
‘Are we starting already?’ asked Sue.
‘Well … perhaps we could wait a few more minutes,’ Estelle suggested, glancing at the clock to discover it was now 7.15 p.m. ‘There was one more person who said she would be coming …’ she broke off as she checked her list. ‘Gracie – you’re here. And Sue … Yes, a lady called Rebecca said she would definitely be here. Perhaps we could wait for her?’
Everyone murmured their agreement, then went back to what they were doing. Sue sipped her coffee awkwardly; Gracie was skimming through her book, underlining certain phrases with a purple glitter pen; and Reggie was tapping his foot irritably. The silence was fast becoming unbearable.
‘Anyone for more brownies?’ Estelle called out desperately, thrusting the plate under Reggie’s nose.
She span round as the door opened once more and Rebecca burst through.
‘I’m so sorry,’ she panted, pulling off her woollen beanie and cosy parka. ‘I stayed late at work, but then the bus got stuck in traffic. Have I missed anything? Have you started yet?’ she asked, barely pausing for breath.
‘You’re fine,’ Estelle reassured her, as she brought over a pot of tea and a jug of coffee so everyone could help themselves to top-ups. ‘Rebecca, is it?’
Rebecca nodded breathlessly as she slid into a seat, quickly pulling out her copy of Tess.
‘We decided to wait for you,’ Estelle smiled kindly. ‘This is Sue, by the way. And Reggie. And Gracie,’ she finished.
‘Oh!’ Rebecca exclaimed, as she noticed the woman she’d sat down next to. ‘I saw you outside here the other week, looking at the poster. I’m so glad you came,’ she beamed. ‘I love your dress, by the way.’
‘Thanks,’ Gracie grinned. ‘It’s from Lola’s Vintage, on Park Street. Do you know it?’
Rebecca shook her head, as she helped herself to a square of carrot cake.
‘You should check it out. It’s really cool.’
‘Thanks, I will,’ Rebecca smiled back.
‘Are we expecting anyone else, or should we get started?’ Reggie asked, and Estelle detected a touch of impatience in his tone.
‘No more definites,’ she told him.
‘And it is twenty past seven,’ Sue added. ‘If anyone else turns up, I’m sure they could just join in.’
‘Yes, good point,’ Estelle agreed, feeling a little apprehensive now that they were actually about to start. She’d never been to a book club meeting before, let alone chaired one, and the fact that she desperately wanted tonight to be a success made her far more nervous than she would otherwise be. From a financial perspective, Estelle couldn’t help wishing that a few more people had turned up, but the small, cosy group was intimate and unthreatening – perfect for making her debut as a book club host.
‘Right, let’s get going,’ Estelle began, clapping her hands together authoritatively. ‘Who’d like to start?’
She looked expectantly around the table, but everyone stayed silent. ‘Anyone?’ Estelle pleaded, trying to keep the note of desperation from her voice.
Reggie scratched his nose, and the sudden movement caught Estelle’s attention.
‘Reggie? Perhaps you’d like to give us your thoughts on Tess.’
‘Um …’ Reggie shifted awkwardly in his seat. ‘Well, if you don’t mind, I’m actually just here to observe.’
The four women looked back at him in confusion.
‘Observe?’ Estelle repeated.
‘Yes.’
