Riverside

Hunky Henry is ready to entertain Anna and her hens . . .

IT was the night of Anna’s hen party in the Ship Inn, and Chelsea raised her glass of fizz. “To Anna, who’s not only the best boss I’ve ever worked for, but has taken me under her wing and become my best friend.

“It’s an honour to be your bridesmaid.”

The hens at the party raised their glasses.

“To Anna and Mike,” Mary added. “May you and Mike be as happy as I’ve been with George.”

“Except for that time you kissed Mike!” Ruby giggled.

Anna shot Mary a puzzled look, while Mary bit her lip and looked away.

Ruby took a sip from her glass, then looked expectantly at the door.

“What time’s the entertainment?” she asked Chelsea.

Chelsea swiped her phone into life.

“Any moment. He’s just texted to say he’s arrived.” Anna gulped.

“I’m not sure I’m ready.” Chelsea held the door, encouraging the women to join in a countdown.

“He’ll be here in ten, nine, eight . . .” Chelsea began.

Anna shifted nervously in her seat, wondering how wise a decision she’d made in leaving Chelsea in charge of hen night arrangements.

“Seven, six, five . . .” Chelsea chanted.

Ruby’s aunt Beryl opened her handbag to remove a silver monocle.

“I’m not going to miss this,” she whispered to Pearl.

“I’m ahead of you,” Pearl replied, setting her phone to record a video.

“Four, three . . .” Chelsea continued.

Mary and Ruby smiled at each other.

“Two, one . . . Here he is! Say hello to Hunky Henry!”

Chelsea pulled the door open and the women held their breath with anticipation.

Then their faces dropped and puzzled expressions replaced the excited looks of moments before.

Chelsea popped her head around the door. “Henry?” she called. With the door open, noise from the pub drifted into the back room.

“What’s going on?” Beryl asked.

Her question was answered when a man, much older than anyone had expected, made his way into the back room.

“I’m sorry. The back room is booked tonight and we’re expecting someone,” Chelsea told him.

The man turned towards Chelsea. There was something familiar about his blue eyes and the way his face lit up when he smiled, but Chelsea couldn’t put a name to his face.

“Do I know you?” she asked.

“No, but you know my son, Henry.” He smiled.

“Hunky Henry?” Chelsea asked, peering round the door again. “Where is he?”

The man cleared his throat.

“He’s been cancelled.” “Cancelled?” Chelsea shrieked. “What do you mean?”

“Anna’s fiancé cancelled my son and booked me to entertain instead.”

“You?” Chelsea cried. “But you’re not . . .”

“Hunky?” the man returned, his face breaking out into a charming smile.

“Sorry,” Chelsea said. “It’s just we were looking forward to seeing Henry tonight.”

“And Henry you’ll see,” the man said. “I’m Henry senior.

“I might not be what you were expecting, but you’ll get your money’s worth, and I’ll give the ladies a night they’ll never forget.”

Henry whipped a harmonica out of his pocket, put it to his lips and began to play an old Motown tune that everyone recognised.

“That’s our song!” Anna cried. “It’s the song that played in the Old Engine Room when Mike asked me out on our first date.”

As the music drifted around the room, Anna made her way to the centre of the room to dance.

At that moment, Mike walked into the room and straight into Anna’s arms. The two of them held each other, swaying to the music.

“Thanks for cancelling Hunky Henry,” Anna whispered in Mike’s ear.

“It’s a good job Henry’s dad is an old friend of mine from our shipyard days. He could get a tune out of anything.

“From now on, your every wish is my command,” Mike replied.

“I’ll hold you to that.” Anna laughed.

“It’s been nice seeing Henry again,” Mike added. “He and George were good friends back in the day.”

The room began to fill with the men from Mike’s stag night – George and Bob, Sam and his uncle Jim, Clive and Chelsea’s brother, Graeme. Chelsea’s face dropped. “No! No men are allowed in here tonight.”

Anna laid her hand on Chelsea’s arm.

“Yes, they are,” she said, winking at Mike.

Henry began another song on the harmonica – this time a rock and roll tune that everyone knew. George sidled up to Mary. “Are you dancing?” “Are you asking?” George took Mary by the hand and led her into a jive.

Anna took Mike to one side and looked him straight in the eye.

“I have a question,” she said sternly.

“What is it, my love?” Mike said.

“Is it true you and Mary once kissed?”

More next week.