Table For Eight

by Tricia Stringer

  “But you knew each other well? I hardly saw Leo in his early Adelaide days. Our family were from Melbourne and I was just out of high school when he married and moved to South Australia. I was doing my training, living it up and giving our parents grief. Were you a friend of Marjorie’s?”

  “No.” Ketty had decided to tell it as close to the truth as she could without revealing the finer details of her relationship with Leo. Unless he chose to tell his sister, she wouldn’t hear it from Ketty. “Leo was part of a group I met at a jazz concert. We ran into each other from time to time – Adelaide was a small place for people who liked the same things – but I never met his wife.”

  “Poor Marjorie. They had such a beautiful wedding, I always thought Leo adored her. We were all shocked when they divorced. Still I’ve learned for myself that those watching usually have no idea of what really goes on in a marriage.” Josie gave a snort. “All I know is, after two divorces of my own, I’m not going down that path again.”

  “We’d better get going.” Ketty turned to collect her bag, desperate to change the subject. She felt sure her guilty conscience was displayed on her face.

  “I know I joked about setting you up with my brother, Ketty, but if you were friends once…well I just thought you might be again and maybe you could cheer him up. Our parents are gone, he’s my only sibling and he’s on his own. I feel I must do what I can for him.” Josie’s look was hopeful. “Maybe you could work some of your Ketty magic.”

  “It was all a long time ago when I knew your brother. We’re quite different people now but we have agreed to meet ashore later for a chat.”

  “Oh, Ketty, that’s fantastic.” Josie’s eyes sparkled.

  “It’s only a chat.”

  “I know, but it might be all he needs to brighten him up. Goodness knows I’ve tried. Things can’t be any worse.”

  Ketty pulled open the door, not wanting to see the expectation on her friend’s face. They stepped out into the corridor and walked together.

  “Bernie’s getting our tickets,” Josie said. “He wants to get ashore early too. I can’t believe someone as confident as Bernie wants to hide from his daughter.”

  “She doesn’t appear to deal well with her father’s…friendship with women.”

  Josie threw her head back and laughed. “Ketty, you are always so discreet. He’s a bit of a hunk, don’t you think?”

  “He’s certainly aged well.” Ketty took in Josie’s radiant smile. “Just watch out for Christine.”

  They paused at the bottom of the stairs.

  “Don’t worry about me, Ketty.” Josie’s look was steely now. “I’ve dealt with my share of Christines.”

  “Here you are.”

  They looked around at the sound of Bernard’s booming voice. He walked towards them, arms outstretched. He was hard to miss in his colourful Hawaiian shirt.

  “You’re up bright and early too, Ketty.”

  “I love Champagne Beach.”

  He drew Josie against him, his large arm draped casually across her shoulders. The three of them made their way to the lower atrium level where groups of people were waiting to go ashore. Ketty found herself searching the faces, wondering if Leo might be among them, but she saw no sign of him.

  “There are a lot of people waiting already,” Josie said. “How long will this take?”

  A voice over the loudspeaker interrupted them, asking for their patience – there had been a delay but the tenders would be ready to depart soon and people with tickets numbered from one to one hundred and fifty should prepare to be called.

  “Oh, here’s Christine.” Bernard’s smile didn’t match the annoyance in his voice.

  “I think I’ll get a coffee,” Josie said. “Would anyone else like one?”

  Bernard and Ketty shook their heads and watched Josie weave her way to the cafe.

  “Dad.” Christine had spotted her father and was headed his way.

  “If they haven’t got their tickets yet they’ll not be on the same tender as you,” Ketty murmured.

  Bernard gave her a grateful smile. “You’re a trouper, Miss Ketty.”

  “Dad, there you are.” Christine arrived with a bag hanging from each arm and her dark glasses firmly in place. “Hello, Ketty. You’re an early riser too, it seems.”

  “Yes, I like to get to the beach first thing.”

  “What do we have to do?” Christine asked.

  “You need tickets for the boat.” Bernard nodded over her shoulder. “Frank’s got the idea. He’s in the line.”

  Christine slid her bags to the ground. Ketty saw her wince as she lifted her head. The younger woman was looking particularly pale this morning. Perhaps she was still recovering from the large number of drinks she’d consumed last night.

  “I thought you might have got tickets for us, Dad.”

  “No, I haven’t, I’m sorry.” Bernard shook his head. “You can only get them if the people are present.”

  “That’s ridiculous.”

  “I think they just try to make it fair for everyone,” Ketty said.

  Christine sucked in a breath, clearly annoyed.

  “I would have been gone by now if there hadn’t been a hold up,” Bernard said.

  “I’ve got the tickets.” Frank joined them and nodded a greeting. “Hello Bernie, Ketty.” He turned back to his wife. “We may as well go and get some breakfast after all. The purser said it will be an hour before we get called.”

  “But we want to go when Dad goes.”

  “You can’t, Princess.”

  Christine glared from her father to her husband. “Give them to me.” She snatched the tickets from his hand. “I’ll sort this out.”

  She stalked away to the line of people waiting and moved straight to the front. No sooner had the next person finished than Christine pushed up to the desk. The man behind her complained but she simply lifted her shoulder and kept her back to him.

  Frank and Bernard turned away. Both wore pained expressions, Ketty noted.

  “I’ve got my tickets already.” Christine’s demanding tone carried easily. “But I need to change them. My father has earlier tickets and we want to travel together.”

  “I’m sorry, madam.” The young officer spoke in a clear English accent, polite but firm. “We can give you all a later ticket but I can’t change any that have already been issued.”

  “Of course you can—”

  Christine’s voice was lost in the call of the overhead speaker for tickets one to one hundred and fifty to board.

  “That’s us,” Bernard said. “I’m sure you’ll find me when you get there, Frank. Let Christine know I’ve gone.”

  He put a guiding hand in Ketty’s back, propelling her forward. Josie met them as they left the atrium.

  Bernard smiled. “Just in time.”

  “What about your daughter?” Josie looked back.

  “She’s coming later.” Bernard paused as they reached the narrow stairs leading down to the tenders, his grin wide. “After you, ladies.”

  “Isn’t this great.” Pete smiled across at Celia. “We’re all on the same tender so we can hang out together when we get to the beach.”

  Celia hoped she managed a smile. ‘Hanging out’ was something she hadn’t done since she was a teenager. She gripped the seat beneath her hands as the boat accelerated away from the ship. She was seated between Nigel and another of Pete’s friends, Bob, and trying hard not to make body contact with either. Pete and Maude were seated opposite with Bob’s wife, Freda.

  “It’s such a shame Anne can’t join us,” Freda called above the noise of the boat.

  They were crammed inside the cabin of the tender with a large number of other passengers. Celia felt claustrophobic.

  “Her knee’s like a balloon and quite painful,” Pete said. “I’ve had her to the medical centre. The doctor said the stairs on and off the tender and the long walk from the jetty to the beach would be too much for her.” He patted the camera hanging aro
und his neck. “I’ve promised to take lots of photos.” His hand dropped to his side and Celia saw it rest on Maude’s hand a moment.

  Maude was busy staring out the window and took no notice. He gave her hand a pat. She turned back and smiled. Celia looked away and came face to face with Nigel.

  “Do you like to swim, love?” he asked.

  She shuddered at his use of the word love. It was a pet hate of hers when people used that word for someone they barely knew. Like one of the checkout operators at her local supermarket. Celia was old enough to be her mother and didn’t know the younger woman personally but she always asked Celia if she had any bags and added the ‘love’. She swallowed her distaste. “Sometimes,” she said. “I’m more of a pool person but I have been known to swim in the sea when the temperature’s high enough.”

  “Me too. They say the water’s quite warm here. And I’ve got my snorkel and goggles.” He patted the bag he clutched to his chest. “I’ve never used them before but it shouldn’t be too hard to learn.”

  “I’ve got a pair of swim goggles so I can look at the coral from the surface. I’ve never used a snorkel before. I didn’t want to drown myself.”

  Nigel laughed. “Pete’s going to teach me.”

  “Nothing to it.” Pete grinned and nudged Maude. “I’m looking forward to teaching you too.”

  Maude laughed, a little bit too loudly, Celia thought, in spite of the engine noise. The boat slowed.

  “We’re here,” Maude called. “Isn’t it divine?”

  Celia could only nod in agreement as they tied up at a small jetty. She took the hand of the crew member helping her to step ashore, but her attention was taken by the aquamarine ocean sliding onto the dazzling white sand. Beyond the beach were palms and broad-spreading trees sheltering umbrellas and little huts with brightly coloured fabric fluttering in the breeze. Behind it all was the lush green backdrop of a foliage-covered mountain reaching up to the brilliant blue sky. The tension slipped from her shoulders. She felt as if she’d stepped into paradise. “It’s like a postcard,” she murmured.

  “Let’s go.” Pete led the way along the jetty, a guiding hand at Maude’s back.

  The rest of the group followed. Celia sighed. She looked down at a gentle pressure on her arm. Nigel had cupped her elbow with his hand.

  She strode ahead and out of his clammy grasp. Her plans to relax on the idyllic beach evaporated with every step. How was she going to get through the day? It was hard enough keeping an eye out for Ed, she’d not seen Bernard, and now she’d have to spend her day trying to avoid Nigel. On top of that Pete was making eyes at Maude. He was a married man and Celia didn’t take kindly to cheaters.

  Ketty sat with her back against one of the palm trees and looked out over the beach and bay in front of her. Her fellow passengers were spread in every direction and beyond them the tenders were still busy traversing the sparkling blue water between the jetty and the ship.

  Bernard and Josie had stayed with her for a time. They’d swum, and Bernard had snorkelled while Ketty and Josie had floated in the temperate water, but then the other two had wanted to hire one of the taxis and see more of the island. They’d offered to take Ketty with them but she’d declined. Apart from not wanting to be the third wheel, she had said she’d meet Leo and she was determined to do so. Josie had given her arm a squeeze along with a smile before she left.

  Normally Ketty enjoyed nothing more than soaking in the warmth, content to swim, wander among the stalls or sit in the shade, but today nothing about her favourite beach was helping her relax.

  She’d thought she was ready but now she was nervous about meeting Leo. What would they talk about? How to begin? They’d known each other intimately, but for such a short time. He’d always come to her little flat if they were staying in. He’d told her he lived in a shared house with no privacy. Ketty shook her head recalling how gullible she’d been. Shared house all right. What he’d neglected to say was it was his wife he was sharing with. She sighed and looked out over the bay but she hardly took in the view. The swim had been refreshing. It had washed away the final cobwebs of her broken sleep but now she fought her seesawing emotions as the time to meet Leo drew nearer.

  Raucous laughter attracted her attention further along the beach to where a group of people were settled on the sand. A man had donned a set of the coconut bras and a colourful grass skirt that were on sale from the huts behind. He was doing a very bad imitation of a hula dancer. He reached down and pulled up one of the women in the group to join him. Ketty recognised Celia’s friend, Maude. She stared harder and saw Celia was sitting beside another man. It appeared as though he was talking in her ear while Celia gazed out to sea. Perhaps he was the chap she had said Maude was trying to set her up with.

  Ketty glanced at her watch, stood and shook out her towel. She didn’t have time to ponder Celia. All she could think about was meeting Leo and what they might say to each other.

  She took a deep breath of the sweet-smelling air and set off. The sand was hot beneath her feet and the sun warm through the turquoise blue shirt dress she had thrown over her bathers. When she drew level with Celia, the others in the group were hooting with laughter except for Celia who looked up at that moment, a pained expression on her face.

  Ketty nodded a hello as she passed and was surprised to see Celia leap to her feet and pick up her bag. The others were still distracted by the joke except for the man she’d been sitting beside. He began to get up but Celia waved him back.

  Maude also noticed her friend’s movement. “Where are you off to?”

  “Catching up with Ketty.” She slipped her arm through Ketty’s. “Back later.”

  Their feet sank into the sand as Celia dragged Ketty along the beach.

  “You’re a lifesaver.” Celia glanced over her shoulder but kept walking. “They’re nice people. I especially like Bob and Freda but Nigel won’t give me a minute’s peace.”

  Ketty glanced back. “Was he the man sitting beside you?”

  “Yes, and if he calls me ‘love’ one more time…ohhh! I’ll scream!” Celia squeezed Ketty’s arm tighter. “But what really bothers me is the way Pete’s playing up to Maude. He’s married and he’s acting like a single man.”

  Ketty hadn’t been able to get a word in. How was she going to get rid of Celia in time to meet Leo?

  “Thank goodness you came along,” Celia said and looked at her with such relief Ketty felt as if she could have just saved her life. Then Celia’s mouth dropped open. She was staring at something over Ketty’s shoulder but before Ketty could turn she was being dragged up the beach to where throngs of people wandered between the colourful stalls.

  “Have you bought any souvenirs?” Celia babbled as they merged with other passengers. “You’ve done this before. What do you recommend?”

  They were heading along the path between the huts at such a pace they could barely look at any of the souvenirs on offer let alone purchase any. Finally, Ketty stopped, Celia did the same, and with a glance over Ketty’s shoulder she turned to one of the stalls and picked up a shell necklace. “What about this?”

  “You have to be careful of Customs when you get home.” Ketty wasn’t sure what to do now. Celia had commandeered her and it would be such bad manners to desert her but—

  “Oh, look who’s coming. Isn’t that the man who joined us at the table last night? You know him don’t you? Leo?”

  Ketty turned and once more the sounds around her receded for a few seconds and then came flooding back. It was Leo, just mere metres away moving towards them. He wore a plain white polo shirt and loose blue shorts, looking at ease and staring straight at her.

  His smile widened, self-assured. He was obviously not feeling the turmoil inside that she felt. He stopped beside them. “I saw you coming this way so I thought I’d meet you.”

  “How lovely,” Celia gushed, obviously assuming he was including her. “Ketty and I were just going for a walk. Why don’t we go together?” She
reached for Leo’s arm. “You can escort us.”

  Ketty’s stomach lurched as Leo’s other arm slid through hers. He looked at her, a quizzical smile on his face, then he turned back to Celia.

  “I’d be delighted,” he said.

  They moved off together, Celia talking to Leo as if she’d known him for longer than one night and Ketty lost in the whirl of thoughts being so close to him brought on. Not able to say anything personal and yet still unsure how she would have begun, she was relieved that she had some respite.

  Thirteen

  Josie leaned back against the cracked vinyl seat of the four-wheel drive and smiled. “This has been a lovely day, thank you Bernie.”

  “I’ve enjoyed it too.” He knew he was acting like a besotted schoolboy but it was how he felt.

  Today they’d spent their time swimming and touring the island with only the taxi driver as their guide. They’d bought fruit at a roadside stall and ate it on a small secluded beach, marvelling at the sweetness of the small bananas and the beauty of the scenery. They had talked about where they lived, both in Brisbane as it turned out, and what they liked to do: swimming, tennis, movies, wine. They had a lot in common.

  He studied her now as she looked out the open window. Her blonde hair flicked in the wind and her white shirt ruffled around her shoulders. She’d reapplied her lipstick but much of her makeup had washed off during their swims, first at Champagne Beach then at a lagoon further inland and finally at their picnic stop. She was an attractive woman with or without the paint.

  She turned suddenly and caught him studying her. Her lips turned up slowly in a smile. “I think I’ll be ready for another swim at the beach when we get back.”

  “Yes.”

  “Is something wrong?”

  He looked into Josie’s eyes shaded by her sunglasses. He knew they were pearly blue and they sparkled when she laughed, which she did easily. And not a nervous half-laugh, Josie’s laugh was vibrant, full.

  “No, it’s nothing.”

  “Tell me.”