“What are you going to do?” Leo asked.
“I want to wash that broken skin with my bottled water. Then I’m going to bind it,” she said. “Just in case.”
“In case what?” Ketty frowned. All this fussing wasn’t necessary.
“It could be broken.”
“It’s not,” Ketty snapped. The pain was making her irritable.
“Better to be safe and I’m sure it will be more comfortable regardless.” Josie rummaged in her bag and pulled out her water bottle. Then she climbed out of the car and came round to the open door. “You fellows can leave us a minute.” She shooed Leo and Bernard away. “Now Ketty, can you lean out a little for me?”
Ketty did as she asked and Josie poured the water and wiped gently with a clean tissue, glancing at Ketty’s face as she did. Ketty’s lips tingled and she could feel perspiration forming on her brow. Her stomach still swirled with nausea and she concentrated on keeping it at bay rather than the pain of her arm.
Josie worked quickly. “There are a few cuts but I don’t think they’re deep. Doesn’t look so bad now the grease is gone.” She looked around. All three men stood together only a few metres away. “Is there any ice here?”
“Ice?” Delmar said.
“Cold.” Bernard waved his hands. “Frozen water.”
“Yes, ice.” Delmar nodded eagerly then frowned. “No. No ice here. Maybe one of the others.” He dashed off towards the group of drivers.
Josie reached across Ketty for her tote bag and pulled out a sarong. “How are you feeling?”
“I’ll live.”
Josie passed her the water bottle. “It’s clean. Take a sip.”
Ketty did as she suggested and they both looked around as Delmar called excitedly.
“My friend has ice.” He held up a small esky triumphantly.
Leo looked inside and his face creased with distaste. “It’s only muddy water with a few chunks of ice.”
“Thank you.” Josie beckoned the driver towards her.
“You can’t use that,” Leo said. “Ketty could catch anything from that water.”
“She’s not going to drink it, Leo,” Josie said. “Just drain off the water and keep the ice for me.” Once more she rummaged in her tote. This time she pulled out a small plastic cosmetic bag. She tipped the contents back into her tote and then held the smaller bag out to Leo. “Put the ice in here.”
Leo did as he was bid and handed it back. Josie gave Ketty a reassuring smile. “Nearly done.” She placed the makeshift icepack carefully on Ketty’s arm at just below the elbow, which appeared to have been the part gripped in the car door. “Can you hold that in place for me, Ketty?”
“Of course.”
Josie proceeded to fold the sarong then worked carefully, binding the arm to Ketty’s chest. When she was finished she helped Ketty to ease back more comfortably in the seat, well away from the door.
“Right.” She turned to Delmar. “You must get us back to the ship quickly.” She put a restraining hand on Delmar’s arm. “But carefully.”
“Yes, missus. I will take good care.”
Leo climbed in and settled cautiously beside Ketty with Josie on his other side and Bernard took the front seat.
“Thank you.” Ketty looked past Leo to Josie. “It feels much better already.”
“That’s good.” Josie shot a glare at the back of Delmar’s head as they bounced over a pothole on the way out of the carpark.
“Were you a nurse?”
“No.” Josie laughed. “But I keep my first aid up to date, just in case.” She gave Ketty a quick smile. “You’re my first ever real patient.”
Leo shook his head.
“Look out, Ketty,” Bernard teased.
“How’s the pain now?” Leo asked.
“Bearable,” Ketty said but couldn’t help wincing as they swept around a corner.
“As soon as we get back to the ship we’ll have the doctor take a look at you,” Josie said.
“That’s not necessary.”
“Yes it is.”
“Even if it’s only to check she hasn’t done any further damage with her first aid attempts,” Leo said.
The three of them kept up their banter. Ketty clenched her jaw against the pain and the rocking of the vehicle and wished she was back aboard ship with a glass of whisky in her hand.
Nineteen
Celia tagged along at the rear of the group as they all trooped up to the pool deck. She’d run into Maude and her friends as they’d crossed the atrium. They’d only just come back on board whereas Celia had been back for a couple of hours. She’d showered and had a nap in the cabin and, now refreshed, had decided to wander the atrium in the hope of finding Ketty or even Jim. He’d been good company today. The sad shadow that hovered over him had been almost non-existent and when he’d helped her escape the snake she’d seen a different side to him altogether. They’d shared a water taxi back to the ship then gone their separate ways. Unfortunately, in her search for company it had been Maude she’d found. The only relief for Celia was that Nigel wasn’t with them.
Anne waved to them from a table with vacant chairs. Pete rushed over, hugged and kissed her, and was asking all about her day when the rest of them arrived. It made Celia want to puke. What a sleaze he was. And Maude was no better. She joined in the attendance as if she was Anne’s best friend.
“Hello, gorgeous.”
Celia clenched her teeth at the sound of Nigel’s voice. In her efforts to keep away from Pete and Maude she’d sat in a chair at the end of the table with an empty seat beside her and now he was sliding onto it. Damn, she should have known he’d turn up. He’d stuck so tight to her during the morning that at one point he’d even gone with her to the primitive ablutions to stand guard outside her door.
“This is for you.” He pressed a plastic bag with something firm inside it into her hands. “Sorry about the wrapping paper.”
She glanced at the others but they were all still busy chatting. She turned to Nigel. “What is it?”
“Take a look.” His face twisted into a sloppy grin. “Something special for a special lady.”
Celia’s heart sank. She felt as if she were in some terrible nightmare that she couldn’t wake up from. She opened the bag and looked in. One of the pretty turtle souvenirs she’d admired at the stalls, but had thought too expensive, was inside. “Oh.”
“I knew you’d love it.” He leaned in closer as if he was going to kiss her.
Celia twisted sideways in her seat. She’d avoided the brush of his lips but it meant she was facing Nigel full on now and she had her back partly to the others.
“Take it out.” He took the bag from her hands and reached inside.
She had to put a stop to this. Now that she’d given up on her ‘make Ed jealous’ quest she felt stronger.
“Nigel.” She hoped her voice wasn’t too loud but carried some authority. “I can’t accept this.”
“Why not?” He looked at her with such adoration she was reminded of a puppy. Her resolve wavered.
“You’re a nice man, Nigel.”
“I think you’re more than nice.” Once more he leaned in.
Celia turned away quickly to see if the others were paying them any attention. Pete was telling a story, holding the limelight as usual.
“I didn’t come on this cruise to find a partner.” Celia let out a sigh. There, she’d said it.
“Neither did I.” His smile widened and he took one of her hands in his and squeezed it. “Then I met you.”
Celia groaned inwardly. He hadn’t understood what she was trying to tell him.
“Please, Nigel, you must listen.” She extracted her hand from his sweaty hold.
“At your command, my lady. Speak on.”
Celia thought she was going to gag.
Nigel filled the space she left. “I’ve something to tell you when you’ve fin—”
“I’ve met other people on this cruise who I’d like to spend
time with.” The words blurted out. “I’m not looking for a man and even if I was…” She took a breath. “Nice as you are Nigel…” She blew out the breath. “You are not my type.”
The smile stayed on his face a moment then changed to puzzlement as he digested what she had said. He opened his mouth, closed it again then shook his head.
“You’ve been very kind.” Celia felt terrible now. “Looking out for me and the gift was lovely.”
His face brightened. “You do like it then.”
“Yes, but—”
“Please keep it.” He pressed the bag into her hands.
Celia didn’t have the heart to reject it again.
“You’re probably tired.” Nigel stood. “I’ll see you tonight after dinner.” Without a word to the others he walked away.
Celia collapsed back against her seat. Nigel was right about one thing, she did feel exhausted but not because of her day, because of him.
She turned to the group. They were all still chatting animatedly, filling Anne in on their travels. She caught Maude’s eye and indicated she was going down to the cabin. Pete saw her and looked around.
“Where’s Nige?” he asked.
Celia froze as all eyes looked her way. “Ah. I’m not sure. He might have gone to his cabin.”
“Trevor’s on a diving tour.” Pete dug his elbow into Maude and winked. “Won’t be back till just before we sail.”
Trevor was another of their friends and he shared Nigel’s cabin. They all laughed. Even sensible Freda sniggered.
Celia felt heat warm her cheeks. “I’m off to see if I can catch up with Ketty. See you later.” She almost tripped on the chair leg in her hurry to get away. She prayed she’d run into someone else she knew. She certainly didn’t want to give the slightest impression she might be following Nigel to his cabin. All the same she was relieved. She’d spoken up to Nigel and made her feelings clear. Now there was only Maude to put straight and then Celia could truly relax.
Christine spied her father as soon as she stepped out onto the pool deck. He was sitting with his back to the bar, alone she was pleased to see, watching the passing parade of people.
She came up beside him. “Hello, Dad. I wondered if I might find you up here.”
“Hi, Princess.” He patted the seat next to him. “Just waiting for Josie.” He indicated a glass filled with swirls of lime and yellow liquid, topped up with ice and a slice of lemon perched on the rim. “She loves her cocktails. This one’s called Illusion.”
Christine swallowed her annoyance, winced and eased onto the stool.
“What’s the matter?”
“I hurt my back today while Frank and I were visiting a waterfall. Just a twinge. I’m fine.” Her back was hardly hurting at all now. She’d had a shower as soon as they’d returned to the ship and that, along with some painkillers, seemed to have done the trick but Frank had remained attentive. It wouldn’t hurt to lay it on a bit thick for her dad.
“Have you seen a doctor?”
“No need for that,” she said. “I’m sure it will get better of its own accord.” She shifted on her stool and winced again for good effect.
Bernard lifted his beer. “Can I get you a drink?”
“That’d be great, thanks, Dad. I’d better stick to a nojito though. I’m taking tablets for the pain.”
Bernard ordered her drink then turned back to peruse the pool area again. “Maybe waterfalls are bad luck. We went to one today too and Ketty got her arm jammed in the car door.”
“Oh?” Christine wasn’t interested in Ketty’s problems.
“She’s still with the doctor as far as I know.”
“I guess when you get older things get hurt more easily.” She put a gentle hand on her father’s arm. “I hope you’re not overdoing it.”
“I’m having the time of my life. Apart from Ketty’s accident we had a great time together with Josie and Leo,” he said brightly. “I hope Josie turns up soon, her drink will be warm.”
Christine swirled her straw in her fingers. “She’s very attractive, isn’t she?”
Bernard paused about to take a mouthful of beer. “Nothing wrong with a good-looking woman.”
Christine leaned closer. “You’re always a sucker for a pretty-faced damsel in distress, Dad.” She saw the start in his eyes and knew she’d hit her mark. After her mother had died he had taken up with a woman called Gloria who had been deserted by her husband with barely any money in her account. She’d latched on to Bernard and his money.
“Josie can stand on her own two feet,” he said.
Christine took another sip of her drink. Bloody Gloria was the reason he’d moved to Brisbane leaving his family behind in Melbourne. He had even thought he might marry her but it hadn’t worked out in the end. Only trouble was he’d taken to Brisbane life and decided to stay.
“I hope she’s at least single,” Christine said, studying her father closely. After Gloria he’d taken up with Kath until Christine had done some digging and discovered she wasn’t divorced as she’d said but had a husband who worked away a lot. She’d had a lot of disposable income though, one of the reasons Christine suspected her father had been attracted in the first place.
“Josie is divorced.” Bernard glanced around as if he was watching for someone.
“And you believe her?”
“Of course I do. Leave it alone, Christine.”
She pursed her lips. She was sure Josie was a gold-digger like the others had been but decided to change tack for now. “Why don’t we have dinner together one night, Dad. Just the two of us. We so rarely get time alone.”
“We’re alone now.”
“You’re expecting Josie at any moment. If we had dinner together in one of the restaurants we could have some uninterrupted time… to ourselves.” Christine shuffled on the stool and sucked in a breath. She could barely feel a twinge but she could see she needed to play the sympathy card to get her father’s full attention.
“Okay, Princess,” he said. “But not tonight.”
“Oh no, I’ll need an early night with my back.” She grimaced. “Perhaps tomorrow night?”
“Why don’t you have a decent drink?” Bernard said. “It might help.”
“I suppose one won’t hurt. Thanks.” She gave a feeble smile and nodded towards Josie’s glass. “I’ll have one of those Illusions, and would you book us at that nice restaurant at the front of the ship for tomorrow night?”
He barely hid his sigh. “Of course.”
When her drink arrived, he slid from his stool. “Can you stay and keep an eye for Josie? I need to go to the mens.”
“Sure.” This time she gave him a proper smile and he strode away.
She felt much better now that she’d arranged to spend some time alone with her father. She was sure this time she’d be able to convince him to help with the renovation costs. By one means or another he would have to hand over some money.
And things were getting back on track with Frank, or at least had been except for the blip with the phone call to the kids. When they’d first arrived back in their cabin he had left her for a while then he’d come back with a smug smile on his face and presented her with an appointment for a massage. She’d already seen the expensive price list for treatments. That, along with the pearl-drop necklace he’d bought her at the duty-free shop in Port Vila, would blow out their expense sheet but she didn’t want to think about budgets when he was being so very attentive. It reminded her of their early married days before children, and she liked being the centre of his world again.
Frank had wanted to go to the gym and they’d decided to put in a call to the kids before he did. It had been so good to hear their voices. They were full of what they’d done on their beach holiday with their cousins. For a while it had been hard to get a word in. They’d told the kids a few of the things they’d seen and done and when Frank had told them about all the swims he was having Lucca had mentioned wanting to join a surf club.
“
A surf club.” Christine shook her head at that. “We’re nowhere near any surf and I’m not driving you to another thing.”
“Dad said we might be shifting and we’d be closer to the beach.” Lucca’s reply was full of teenage outrage.
“Did he?” She glared at Frank over the phone they’d put on loudspeaker. He stared back giving nothing away.
“I don’t want to join a surf club,” Anna whined.
“No one’s joining anything at the moment.” Frank reached for the phone. “We’d better go. Calls are expensive.”
Lucca had said a quick goodbye but Anna’s voice sounded teary and Christine spent a few minutes jollying her daughter along. Mentioning the surprises they’d bought today for them had helped, then Frank had joked with her and she was laughing by the time they ended the call.
“You told them we were moving?” Christine hissed as soon as she disconnected.
“I told them we might.”
“You had no right going behind my back.”
“I didn’t go behind your back. I talked to the kids about it just before we left to sound them out, knowing I’d talk to you while we were away.”
“But what’s the point if we’re not moving anyway.”
“We might.”
“It’s not an option.”
She’d put her hands to her hips and he’d slammed out of the cabin to go to the gym. It was then that she’d known she couldn’t fail in her next attempt to get her father to hand over some money. She’d pinned her father down to dinner alone and that’s when she’d put her plan into action. Frank might still want to go for the job but if they renovated he wouldn’t go on about moving.
The deck area was getting busier now and the bar was crowded as it got closer to sailing time. Music played from the speakers and voices began to rise. She took a slug of the cocktail, tapping her feet in time to the music. Among the crowd she saw a familiar figure. Josie was headed towards the bar but she hadn’t seen Christine, who took the opportunity to study her. She was tall and wore long white pants with a bright floral top. It had an off-the-shoulder neckline and the hem hung at hip level but it was gathered at the waist on a drawstring. Begrudgingly Christine had to admit she was attractive in a flashy kind of way. She had expensive tastes, judging by her clothes and jewellery. There was a small fortune hanging off her arms and neck and she was heavy-handed with the make-up. Christine gave a wave to catch her attention. Perhaps they’d actually get a few minutes alone so that she could find out a bit more about this woman who was making a play for her father.
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