“Oh…yes…well,” Celia mumbled. Jim had been very kind to her but there was nothing more to it than that. “We’re both lame ducks in one way or another.”
“You’re not a lame duck, Celia, and neither is Jim.” Ketty opened the door. “Enjoy your night.”
Celia stepped into the corridor and turned back. Ketty was framed in the doorway. She looked small, vulnerable perhaps.
“I don’t like to leave you.”
“I’m fine. The staff have been very helpful and Leo, Josie and Bernard are calling in later to check on me. All this fuss over a bump on the arm.”
Celia noticed Ketty’s jaw tighten as she lifted the arm in the sling. “Shall I call on you in the morning? See if you need a hand with anything?”
“I’m sure I can manage.”
“For my peace of mind then.” Celia smiled.
So did Ketty. “See you in the morning,” she said and closed the door.
Celia’s footsteps, muffled by the carpet, receded. Ketty let out her breath and looked back at the trolley loaded with dishes. She’d ordered for two but she didn’t want to tell Celia that Leo was dining in with her. Silly really, as she’d probably find out at dinner from Josie or Bernard.
She moved around to the mirror, leaned in and flicked her hair into place then reapplied her lipstick. She had been more than happy to dine alone after she’d been cleared by the doctor. They had wanted to take her to her room in a wheelchair but she was having none of that. Then Leo had reappeared as she was leaving the medical centre and he’d walked with her to her cabin. She’d mentioned room service was being organised for her and he’d suggested he join her.
She looked up at a tap on her door. And that would be him.
She opened the door. He waved a box of chocolates and a bottle of wine at her.
“Hello.”
She stepped back to let him in.
“I know you’re not supposed to drink when you’re on medication,” he said. “But I thought one little glass wouldn’t hurt and the chocolates are mandatory.”
“Thank you, Leo. That’s very thoughtful.”
They sat on the balcony, or at least Ketty did while Leo rearranged furniture, bringing the trolley outside and setting it between the two deckchairs. When he was satisfied everything was organised he sat, passed her a glass of wine and raised his.
“Here’s to the marvel of us meeting again after all this time.”
“Indeed,” Ketty said as she touched her glass to his. Marvel wasn’t quite how she’d put it, perhaps more disbelief, but it was all semantics. Here they were, almost thirty-five years on from when they’d last seen each other. She took a small sip of wine and set the glass back down.
“Purple is your colour,” Leo said. “You looked so pale when I brought you back to your cabin but you look…well, you look beautiful.”
“It’s amazing what a bit of make-up can hide.” Compliments were rare these days and she wasn’t sure what else to say. She began lifting lids from the dishes Leo had set out in front of them. “I must say it’s quite a while since I’ve had dinner alone with such a handsome man.” She glanced up. He was watching her closely and the intensity of his gaze sent a warm shiver through her. It had been risky to agree to dinner with him, on their own with no others to keep their conversation on neutral ground. She thought it best to change the topic to something practical. “Would you like some of these prawns? They look good.”
He studied her a moment longer then dished some for her and then for himself. He peeled her prawns, cut the slices of salami and ham into small bites and served her some salad. She could have managed but she let him do it and kept the conversation on cruising, where she’d been, which ships she’d liked the best. He talked about a trip he’d taken to New York and one to Japan. They didn’t discuss family or work – Ketty felt it easier not to. She had decided that being with Leo was like meeting someone for the first time. She wanted to start as if from new and not spoil it with conversation that might lead to the past and things she’d prefer not to recall.
Leo had several glasses of wine to her one and finally they could eat no more. Ketty sat back and Leo stacked their dishes before resting against his own seat. They both stared out into the night, cocooned in the warm tropical air and lulled by the soft sounds of the waves against the hull.
It was Leo who broke the silence. “Your business must be doing well.”
She hadn’t expected that.
“I looked you up today when I was in Port Vila. Made the most of the free wi-fi. Your online shopfront is very professional.”
She frowned. “You must have looked at someone else’s. Mine’s terrible. Has hardly been touched since a young chap set it up for me, years ago. I get feedback saying how awful it is.”
He gave her a puzzled look. “Surely there can’t be two Ketty Clift Coutures?”
“I don’t believe so.”
“I can’t understand how you don’t know you’ve got such an expert site.”
Ketty bristled. “Online has never been a priority. I’ve built my business by making sure each of my customers have been made to feel special. The personal touch has always come first and I can’t see how that can be achieved via a computer…” Her voice trailed away as she recalled Lacey’s parting words and giving the go-ahead for the website makeover. “I have a very capable young assistant. I gave her free range to make some changes.”
“Is that wise?”
“Obviously if the website is as good as you say it is.” Ketty was full of curiosity to look at it herself now. Had Lacey somehow managed to transfer the ‘special’ from the shop to its online presence? “I have full confidence in my staff.”
“What about a financial manager? Or do you do that yourself?”
“I do, with the help of an accountant.”
“Finance is my thing, you know.” He leaned closer, his look intense. “I could help you.”
She tried to imagine what that might be like, to share the responsibility of managing the finances. She opened her mouth and closed it again. Looked away.
“I am sorry for the pain I caused you, Kathy.”
His voice was soft, contrite. She reached for her glass but it was empty. He poured the last of the bottle into it. She took a sip. “It’s all so long ago and best left there, don’t you think?”
“If that’s what you want.” He reached for the hand she rested on the table. “I’m glad I did end up meeting you again. At least I could be of some help today. Take care of you. I could continue to do so.”
Ketty slid her hand from his. “I don’t need a carer. I’ve managed much worse than a bung arm on my own.”
He looked surprised and she immediately felt sorry for being so sharp, reminding herself how grateful she’d been for a shoulder to lean on getting back to the ship.
“I’m used to fending for myself,” she said more gently this time. She’d learned the hard way not to burden anyone. Perhaps that’s why her other relationships hadn’t worked out. She’d been in love since Leo. There had been other men who she’d thought could be his replacement but it never worked out. She’d always thought it was because they hadn’t measured up but maybe it had been more about her needing to show she could manage alone. Had she pushed them away? The realisation startled her.
“I’m sorry, Kathy.” His voice was full of remorse. “I don’t know what else to say. I know I can’t go back and set it right.”
She looked up to find him studying her, a slight frown creasing his brow.
He leaned in again. “I’ve a lot to make up for, I know, but I had this small hope that we could at least be friends, get to know each other again…see what happens.”
Ketty’s shoulders sagged. For years she had managed on her own, made every major decision alone, now she wondered what a difference it would make to be able to share the load.
“Is it possible, Kathy?”
Ketty thought about that. She’d overcome great sadness, grief and disappo
intment to build the life she had now. A life where she hadn’t shied away from challenges, new ideas. She drew herself up again, gathering her inner strength to form the protective layer she always kept close and smiled. “Anything’s possible, Leo.”
Twenty-one
A loud laugh came from the table beside Celia. She looked around at the group who were intent on the man speaking. They all looked so animated and she was acutely aware of the silence at her table. The nightly dining was in full swing all around them and she was used to the routine now, but tonight was different with only herself and Jim. Rupert had cleared Ketty’s place as soon as Celia had told him the older woman wasn’t coming and then the other places when Jim finally announced they probably weren’t coming either.
“Oh, you are all alone tonight,” Phillip said. He moved the silver vase with tonight’s flower, a red rose, closer.
Celia took in his cheeky grin, then focused on the water he was pouring into their glasses.
“I will be back with your entrées very soon,” he said with enthusiasm.
She took a sip from her water glass and glanced along the all-but-empty table. “I wonder where the others have got to? It feels strange to be only the two of us.”
“It won’t be so busy.” Jim’s smile was tentative. “It gets noisy when everyone’s here. Hard to get a word in sometimes.”
They both took sips of wine and lapsed into silence. Celia felt as if they were playing charades. Guess the movie. She immediately thought of When Harry Met Sally then imagined the look on Jim’s face and other diners if she suddenly started writhing and moaning, imitating Meg Ryan’s famous fake orgasm scene. She’d truly be Celebrity Celia then.
She pressed her fingers to her mouth to stop the giggle that burbled up just as Phillip arrived with their entrées. They’d both chosen the smoked duck carpaccio with orange cranberry relish, which he set before them with a flourish. Jim gave an enthusiastic moan. Celia strangled her laugh with her napkin. Not daring to look Jim’s way, she snatched up her cutlery. The first mouthful was a mixture of tart and smoky and melted in her mouth, a welcome distraction from her crazy thoughts.
“I hope Ketty’s all right,” Jim said.
Celia took a calming sip of water and composed herself. “She’s recovering but a bit fragile. Something like this could spoil her holiday.”
“Somehow I don’t think Ketty will let a wounded arm slow her down too much.” Jim sat back from his empty entrée plate. “That duck was delicious. Another good reason to come to the dining room.”
“The trip’s half over already.” She pulled a sad face. “I’m not looking forward to going home and cooking for one.”
Rupert whipped in to remove their plates.
“I don’t know how I’ll go back to stir-fries or meat and three veg.” Jim grimaced too.
“Were you always a cook, or out of necessity?” Celia asked.
“Jane always got the meals in our younger days but once the kids left home I developed my rather crude skills to perhaps a bit more than basic. And then when she got sick…well…”
“I’m sure your wife appreciated it. Ed never cooked. Except the barbecue but that was only the meat and only ever sausages and chops. If we had steak or shasliks I did it and I made the salads.”
“My insurance work kept us in the country, we moved around a lot so barbecues were a good way to meet people.”
“More often I would prepare three or four-course dinner parties for staff or clients. He selected the wine. Always made sure there were plenty of drinks. Didn’t matter what the event, he stood there and took single-handed praise for the result every time.”
“What’s his line of work?”
“He runs a firm that looks for people to fit jobs. Headhunts for clients. Mainly engineers in mining.”
“I have to admit it was more my forte to cook the meat but the meal was a joint effort. When we moved back to the city Jane made some friends who held regular dinner parties. It was a good way to meet new people and I added to my skills. We always cooked for guests together.”
“That sounds like fun.” Celia drew in a breath. “I sometimes wonder if that’s where Ed and I went wrong. I managed the home and he led a totally separate life at work that I knew little about.”
Jim studied her and Celia found herself fiddling with her glass to avoid his scrutiny.
“I must sound bitter,” she said. “I don’t mean to be. We had a lovely home, two great boys, and I enjoyed entertaining.”
“Why did it end?”
She lifted her gaze from the glass and this time he looked away.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “That was very nosey of me.”
Celia hardly heard his apology. She was back at that restaurant in Sydney again and Ed was telling her it was over. “I was traded for a younger model.”
“I’m sorry, Celia. I didn’t mean to—”
“In my case it was true the wife was the last to know.” She gripped the stem of the glass. “When I look back there were signs, personal things of course, and Ed was away more often and the dinner parties that I was so good at were moved to restaurants and I was invited less often. Then one weekend Ed had to go to Sydney for business and I remember being so excited. The boys had left home and I saw it as a new beginning. Ed travelled all the time for business but I didn’t go often and here he was taking me to Sydney.
“We stayed in a beautiful hotel overlooking the harbour. The first night he took me out for dinner and in the middle of the restaurant surrounded by strangers he told me clearly and succinctly he was leaving me.”
She looked up, steeling herself to the horror on Jim’s face.
“Our two sons had both set off, one overseas, the other to a job in WA. My parents are dead, and my brothers and their wives thought I must have done something to make him stray. I believed it myself for a long time. Most of our nearby friends were his friends. I felt so terribly alone.”
“What a cad.”
It brought a smile to her face to hear Jim use the old-fashioned word.
“Yes,” she said. “That describes Ed to a tee.”
Phillip set a plate in front of her. She’d ordered the beef wellington with truffle madeira sauce for mains, and the aromatic scent of it made her mouth water. She glanced over at Jim who was looking equally enraptured over his lobster tail and king prawns in lemon and caper butter. She’d been tempted by the lobster but the beef had won. Rupert topped up their glasses and Jim picked up his knife and fork.
Celia felt a sudden wave of remorse. “Listen to me prattling on. Your wife died. That must have been so terrible.”
He paused, a forkful of lobster part way to his mouth. “No point in saying which is the more awful thing. We’ve both lost our partners and been through the wringer.”
They ate in silence for a moment. Celia’s delight in her food soured a little as she thought about her failed marriage and the way Ed had treated her. It hurt still but not as much. She hadn’t poured it out to anyone like she’d just done with Jim for a long time.
She looked up as he did. “It probably seems odd to say it but there were times in those first months after he left me when I wished Ed had died.”
“Understandable after the way he treated you.”
“No, not because of that.” She drew in a deep breath. “It was because…in spite of everything I still loved him. If he had died I could have at least believed he loved me and mourned that loss. It’s so hard to move on when you know the person you love is living a different life without you.”
Jim studied her a moment. “Celia, I feel as if I might be speaking out of place.” Now it was his turn to fidget with his wine glass. “We haven’t known each other long but you seem to be a happy person, content.”
She thought about that a moment. “I don’t love Ed anymore.” She said it with conviction knowing it was true. Then she recalled her reason for booking the cruise and her spectacular tumble on the stairs. She pressed her fingers to her
lips but couldn’t stop the laugh that erupted.
Jim looked at her in surprise.
She took a sip of water and composed herself. “My ex is on this cruise.”
“Really?” Jim glanced around as if he was about to meet Ed.
“The thing is I knew he was going to be here with his new wife.”
Jim remained silent, his eyebrows rising a little.
“Do you fancy another wine while I explain?” Celia said.
The bottle was empty. Jim ordered them a glass each and Celia talked as they ate, amazed at first that she wanted to share her sorry tale and then strengthened by it. By the time she got to her embarrassing slide across the floor they were both laughing.
“So you see what a mad woman I truly am,” she said.
“Celia Braxton.” Jim had laughed so hard he was dabbing tears from his eyes with his handkerchief. “That is the best story I’ve heard in a long time.” Then he looked contrite. “I hope you realise I’m laughing with you, not at you.”
“Please don’t worry, Jim. I’m past caring either way. And you know the strangest thing, since I no longer care about running into Ed, I haven’t seen him once.”
“And it was Ketty who helped you to face facts?”
“Yes. I’ve come to truly like her, you know.”
“She’s a good woman.” He smiled at her. “As are you.”
“I don’t know about good but I’m certainly feeling a lot more settled.” Celia sat back, sated from the delicious meal and at ease from sharing her story.
“You’ve come through it stronger.”
She snorted. “Unless it’s Maude I’m talking to.”
“Perhaps it’s not in your nature to enjoy confrontation.”
“No, but tonight I must talk to Maude. I promised Ketty.”
“She’s a determined personality too.”
“But in a good way.” Celia lifted her chin. “And she’s been right so far. I’ve had much more fun since I gave up on my project to make Ed jealous.” Another giggle erupted as she thought of the stupidity of her plan. “Now it’s only Maude I have to set straight. I’m determined to sit her down and have a talk soon.” Fortified by alcohol, she actually believed it.
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