WEEKLY SOAP Riverside

Preparations for the wedding are finalised.

COMMUNITY centre’s booked and confirmed? The catering’s all arranged?” Mary asked.

“Check,” Susan said. “Cars organised? Taxis booked? Everyone knows where they’re going?” “Check.”

“Vicar at St George’s has been reminded?”

Susan glanced over at her dad and a smile passed between them. “Check, Mum!” “Dave’s best man won’t lose the ring, will he?”

“Mum, will you stop worrying?”

“Are you sure there’s nothing we’ve forgotten before the big day next week?” Mary asked.

“Dad, have you written your speech?” Susan asked.

“Don’t you worry about that. It’s all taken care of,” George said.

When Susan’s attention turned back to her wedding check-list, George winked at Mary and she rolled her eyes. He hadn’t made a start on writing the father-of-the-bride speech yet.

“And we’re all still going for dinner tonight, right?” Susan asked her parents.

“Wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Mary said.

“Ruby asked if her aunts could come, as they’ve arrived early for the wedding. I said she could bring them along. Dave’s reserved the long table by the window for us.”

George smiled at the mention of Ruby’s aunts from London. They really were a joy to be around.

He hadn’t been looking forward to a night out in the deli eating food he couldn’t pronounce. And the thought of having to be polite to Mike Brennan had been rubbing him up the wrong way, too. But if Ruby’s aunts Beryl and Pearl were going, then the night might be bearable.

****

“Hello, Jim! Didn’t expect to see you here,” Mike said. The two men shook hands. “Come to check out the competition, have you?”

Jim stopped reading the menu, laid it down on the table and slowly stirred sugar into his coffee.

“Just taking a friendly interest in my local eatery.” He smiled.

“If you need anything, let me know,” Mike said.

Left alone at the table, Jim picked up the Old Engine Room menu again and scanned the pages of food and drinks.

He took his phone from his pocket and, glancing around to ensure Mike couldn’t see what he was up to, he started taking pictures.

Once he’d photographed every page of the menu, Jim snapped his phone shut and sipped his coffee. Now that he knew what was on offer at the deli, and at what price, he could work out exactly what he should be offering in the Ship.

Jim knew his pub needed to move with the times to attract new custom, but he also knew enough not to try to compete with the deli. Whatever was on their menu wouldn’t be on his.

But if he wanted the Ship to survive as the local pub that everyone loved, he had to know what he was up against, and adjust things to fit.

As he headed out of the deli, Jim was met by George and Mary on their way in.

“Been doing a spot of market research, Jim?” George laughed.

“Something like that,” Jim replied. “You’re looking smart, the pair of you.”

“It’s a family meal,” George explained. “Before Susan and Dave’s wedding next week. Although I don’t know why we couldn’t have come to the pub instead.”

“Come on, George,” Mary said. “See you at the wedding next week, Jim.”

Once inside, Mike ushered George and Mary to the table by the window. They were first to arrive, followed by Susan and Dave, then Ruby with her aunts Beryl and Pearl.

After he closed up the deli counter, Mike was the last to join the table and had to make do with the only seat left. Somehow, Beryl and Pearl had once again managed to sandwich Mike Brennan cosily between them both.

As both families sat down to dinner, they chatted and laughed and toasts were made to the future.

Mike and Ruby exchanged smiles every time their eyes met across the table, and Beryl and Pearl told uproarious tales of their travels around the world.

There was so much to look forward to. A future for them all, two families being joined together in love and in friendship.

Susan felt happy. She glanced around the table, noting the smiles on everyone’s faces.

As she basked in the love that she felt for her family and for Dave, she didn’t notice the look that had clouded Dave’s face.

She didn’t notice that he was gazing out of the window, to the side of the deli, where a black car was parked.

Dave was staring at the driver of the black car. He hoped it wasn’t who he thought it was, but he knew he recognised the man and the car. They belonged to a part of his life that he thought he’d left behind.

Inside the car, the driver brought his phone to his ear. Staring through the window, looking straight at Dave, he spoke into his phone.

“Yeah. I’m at the deli place. Looks like he’s doing well for himself. We’ve finally found Dave Brennan.”

More next week.