“Isn’t this lovely, Dad?”
“Yes.” He glanced around. “But the downstairs dining room is very nice too.”
“I know. I was thinking more about it being only the two of us.”
“Of course.”
His gaze shifted to the big front-facing window beside their table. The night was black beyond it and their reflections were mirrored back at them in the glass. The restaurant was on a high level at the front of the ship and Christine was more aware of the rolling motion here. She’d not felt unwell since the first few days at sea and now she found the movement comforting.
“How’s your back?” Bernard’s question drew her attention.
“It’s not too bad.” She felt hardly a twinge now but it wouldn’t hurt her case to rustle up some sympathy.
“What about you and Frank, Princess?”
“We’re both well. I was only queasy at the start of the cruise.”
“I don’t mean your physical health.”
Christine frowned.
“You don’t seem very happy together.”
“We’re fine.” She fiddled with her cutlery. “Work’s crazy at the moment. The kids are involved in lots of things. Life gets so busy.”
“You have to make time for each other.”
“We do, Dad. We’re fine, don’t worry.”
Christine was relieved the waiter arrived at that moment with their wine. She didn’t want to defend her current relationship hiatus.
The waiter poured then watched as Bernard tasted. They had ordered steak for main and were sharing a bottle of red. Once their glasses were filled he raised his and she did the same.
“Cheers, big ears,” he said.
“Ciao, Dad.” She took a sip and the peppery taste rolled around her tongue. “Mmm, that’s good.”
“So it should be. It’s one of their better ones.”
“You spoil me.”
“I like to.”
Christine’s chest swelled with warmth. At least her dad made her feel special and valued. She’d have to work carefully tonight to make sure it stayed that way.
“Miss Clift, I’d heard you were injured.” Carlos drew her aside from the line of people entering the dining room for dinner.
“Not badly, Carlos. I’ll live. The doctor insisted on a sling for a day or so, he’s being cautious. It’s a nuisance that’s all.” Ketty was aware of the scrutiny of the other passengers passing behind Carlos. “I mustn’t keep you.”
He made a dismissive gesture. “Tonight has been uneventful. Everyone knows their seating and I haven’t had any requests for table changes for a couple of days.”
“That’s good then.” She leaned in closer. “Calm waters.”
“Indeed. We must have that chat.”
Ketty felt torn. She wasn’t sure what the night would bring. They would probably go on to the after-dinner show and then maybe drinks. Every moment with Leo was intriguing; she felt alive in his presence and yet a little on edge, uncertain of where it might lead. It was unsettling and yet on the other hand exciting. Something that had been lacking in her life for a while. “Perhaps tomorrow?”
His look was sage, as if he understood her prevarication. He offered his arm. “Let me walk you to your table.”
“That’s not necessary, Carlos.”
“I know but it would be my pleasure.”
Ketty accepted. When Carlos did things for her it made her feel special rather than bossed about. Leo was charming but a part of her railed when he held out a hand, or ordered a drink, or made way for her on a seat. She frowned at that, feeling a little disloyal. After all Leo was simply being thoughtful.
He leaped to his feet as they approached. “Kathy, I could have come to collect you.”
“I didn’t need collecting.” She smiled as Carlos pulled out her chair and draped the napkin across her lap. “Carlos thought I might trip over my sling.” She waggled her bandaged arm and glanced around the table. Only five of them tonight. “Is this us?” she asked.
“Bernard’s dining out with his princess tonight.” A muscle in Josie’s jaw twitched.
Leo leaned closer to Ketty. “Josie says she doesn’t mind but she’s in a mood.”
“I can hear you, Leo,” Josie said. “You’re lucky Ketty has no one else aboard to demand her attention.”
Leo smiled indulgently and patted Ketty’s hand. “I got you a G and T,” he said.
She slid the sling from her neck and picked up the glass. “That was kind of you.”
“And we don’t know where Frank is.” Celia shifted in her seat.
“Well, I’m sorry I was late.” Ketty lifted her arm. “This bothersome elbow slowed me down.”
“I could have helped you,” Celia said.
“Or me,” Josie said. “I’m only down the corridor.”
“Thank you both but I’ve been managing.”
“I don’t think Frank’s coming.” Leo tapped the menu that had been placed in front of Ketty. “Let’s order.” He sat back, arms folded across his chest. He’d obviously already decided what he would eat.
Ketty picked up the menu and began to peruse it slowly, determined to take her time.
Christine had thought of little else but this dinner with her father and how she was going to bring up the discussion of money but now that she was here she wasn’t sure how to begin. “So you enjoyed Lifou?” she asked.
“I did, yes.”
“It’s a pity we didn’t keep in touch today. We could have spent the afternoon together.”
“We’re together now.”
“I meant the four of us.”
Bernard put his head to one side. “I thought you wanted it to be just you and me.”
“Now, yes, but earlier…well…” Her words dried up. In actual fact she wanted it to be the three of them, her father, her and Frank but she couldn’t say that. She decided to take a different approach.
“Did you love Mum?”
Bernard almost spluttered into the glass of wine he’d lifted to his lips. “Why would you ask that now?”
“I sometimes wonder if she loved us.”
“Of course she did. Della was the love of my life and I know that love was reciprocated.”
Christine hung her head. “Until I came along and spoiled it.”
“Don’t be ridiculous, Chrissie. How could you say you’re not loved?”
“I think Mum would have preferred it had stayed the two of you.”
“We were deliriously happy when you came along.”
“But I cramped your style.”
“Never.”
“Well, Mum’s anyway.”
Bernard’s face softened. “Your mother was a good wife and mother. She was devoted to you and a talented homemaker.”
“But she didn’t like to share that talent.” Christine let the familiar ache of her mother’s remoteness work its way to her core. Della had loved her but Christine had never felt the closeness she saw with her friends and their mothers. “I never learned to take up a hem or sew on a button, and when she cooked I had to keep out of her way. She didn’t let me help like my girlfriends’ mums did.”
“We entertained a lot. Your mother was a fabulous cook.”
“A skill she didn’t want to share with her only child.”
Bernard rubbed at his head and took another sip of wine.
“I thought perhaps you weren’t so special to her either,” Christine said. “You’ve had so many women since she died.”
His gaze narrowed. He shook his head and then he leaned towards her, his voice low. “First of all, I did love your mother and she loved me but she’s been dead for over twenty years. And second, I have not had so many women. You make me sound like a gigolo.”
“Goodness, there’s no need to be so defensive.”
“I’m a man, Christine, and I enjoy the company of women.”
“But you don’t have to marry them.”
“Who said anything about marrying them?”
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“You were headed that way a couple of times.”
They were staring at each other in a stalemate across the table when the waiter arrived with their entrées. He offered cracked pepper for their scallop mousseline with prawn sauce, and topped up their wine glasses.
Christine enjoyed the creamy scallops before she tried again. “Frank has his eye on a new a job. He wants to move.”
“He said.”
“Did he?” Christine wondered when they’d had that conversation. It seemed Frank was telling everyone. “I know you have concerns but I’d rather stay in our current place, extend it, build up. It’s in a good area.”
Bernard didn’t reply to that but carefully replaced his napkin in his lap.
Christine had to press home her point. Get him onside. If he gave them the money for renovations she knew Frank wouldn’t try to move them. “Anna’s very musical and she wants to take up piano. They’re expensive and we’ve nowhere to fit one. Lucca has his drums in the shed so we can’t park the cars in but if we did the renovations on our current house we could stay where we are.”
“I’ve already said you’d be crazy to renovate—”
“It’s my family home, the only one I have.”
“You’re not still pining for our old place, surely?”
She felt a stab of anger. She’d never forgiven him for selling her childhood home and auctioning off most of the contents. “Perhaps if you’d kept one of Mum’s wall hangings for me.”
“We’ve gone over this, Chrissie. You were travelling when I had to move out. I wanted a fresh start. I was never one for those wall hangings your mother made.”
“She wove the one in my bedroom specially for me.”
“I’m sorry that I can’t go back in time and fix this.”
“Keeping the home Frank and I have made together is important to me, Dad.”
He sighed. “If it’s what you really want.”
She smiled, sure he was coming round. “It is, Dad.”
“I thought money was an issue.”
“It is of course, but—”
“Have you ever heard of saving?” Bernard cut her off. “That’s what your mother and I had to do. We worked hard and we saved. It wouldn’t hurt for your kids to learn that too.”
Christine’s jaw fell open. She sat back suddenly as the waiter placed her filet mignon with its side of garlic and herb French fries in front of her then she leaned forward again as Bernard received his spice-rubbed rib-eye. “There’s always something to pay for with two kids, the council rates have shot up and my car needs new tyres.”
“The car I put money up for?”
“That was a big help, Dad. My old one kept breaking down.”
“And you’re enjoying the balcony cabin?”
He looked at her steadily across the table. He didn’t say it but she understood he was reminding her he’d paid for the room upgrade.
“Of course.”
“And the necklace you had to have so badly.” He wiggled his knife towards her throat. “I haven’t noticed you’ve worn it since the first night I bought it.”
Christine put her fingers to the pearl Frank had bought her. “It’s been stolen.”
“What?” His cutlery went to his plate with a clatter. “From where?”
“From our cabin.”
“Have you reported it?”
“Frank won’t let me. He thinks it’ll turn up but I think the maid took it.”
Bernard frowned. “You mean the steward, Maria? It surely wouldn’t be worth her job to steal it. She seems like such a nice woman.”
Christine sniffed at that. Maria had all the men wrapped around her little finger. With Frank she was always smiling, and it was “yes, Mr Frank, no, Mr Frank”. As soon as she saw Christine coming she would duck away.
“You’ve searched everywhere?” Bernard asked.
“Turned the room upside down.”
“Perhaps you should report it.” He picked up his cutlery again.
“I’ll get it back one way or another.” Christine softened her voice. “I do appreciate all the things you’ve done for me…for Frank and the kids and me.”
“Mmm.” Bernard murmured through a mouthful of steak. “This is good.”
She glanced at her plate and gave a brief thought to the grilled asparagus side she should have chosen instead of the fries. She no longer felt hungry anyway. This wasn’t working out as she’d hoped. Even though her father had said no the last time she asked she wasn’t giving up.
“You could loan us the money for the renovations.”
Bernard cut another piece of his steak and put it into his mouth. He chewed thoughtfully then once he’d swallowed it he looked at Christine. “Interest free, I suppose? Or maybe a gift you don’t have to repay?”
She sat forward eagerly. “That would be fabulous, Dad.”
To her dismay he shook his head.
“You don’t need my money, Christine. You and Frank both have good jobs. I’ve told you I think Frank’s idea of a move would be for the better rather than to plough more money into your old place. You should give it some thought, but whatever you decide, make the best of it.”
Christine put down her cutlery, her food untouched. “That’s easy for you to say. You don’t have the responsibilities we do.” She willed the tears to form in her eyes and then she blinked them back.
“But that’s it, Princess. At your age I did. Your mother didn’t bring in an income. I had both of you to support. It hasn’t been till my later years that I’ve become more comfortable financially and I can enjoy the rewards of my hard work.”
Instead of leaning forward to comfort her he took another bite of his rib-eye. Christine reached for her purse as a tear dribbled down one cheek and then the other. She took out a tissue and dabbed at her face while her father continued to eat.
“It’s good steak,” he said. “Don’t let it go cold.”
She took up her cutlery again and cut a piece, all the while thinking about a different way to tackle her father. Usually he saw things her way but she was making no progress tonight. He had plenty of money. He could easily give her some for renovations and not miss it. She looked up just as he glanced at his watch.
“Somewhere else to be?”
“Not yet.” He smiled. “Josie and I are meeting up outside the theatre later for the show.”
Christine sat back, the steak a lump in her throat. Josie again. The witch had her hooks in him already. She was the reason Bernard wasn’t as amenable as usual. Christine hadn’t wanted to play tough but she was going to have to.
“Josie appears to be well off.”
“I think she’s comfortable. We haven’t discussed it.”
“Haven’t you?” Christine stared at him but he was intent on his plate. “I thought how much money she had would have been one of the first things you found out.”
He looked up now and frowned. “You’re not going to rake up the past again, are you? Why can’t you let things be, Chrissie?”
“You only started making your fortune after Mum died. Her life insurance was what set you up.”
He patted at his lips with his napkin and sat back, his expression unreadable.
“Poor Gloria didn’t last because she was a drain on your finances, wasn’t she? Then came Kath who had plenty of cash.” She watched the hurt flick across his face and then the bland expression returned, set like rock. Christine had come this far, there was no turning back now. She took a deep breath. “I know you fleeced Kath, Dad.”
His eyes widened, his mouth opened a little.
“The kids and I were staying with you not long after you broke up with Kath.”
“That was after you did some dirt-digging.”
She flinched. “She wasn’t divorced like she said.”
He gave a soft snort. “I wasn’t going to marry her, Christine.”
She was momentarily baffled then she got his meaning. She steeled herself and pressed on. “I s
aw the forms for that house you sold for a small fortune. Kath’s name was on the paperwork as well as yours but she didn’t see any of the profits, did she? And after Kath came a string of other women and your fortune kept growing. How many of them did you fascinate and then fleece, Dad?”
His eyes darkened and the muscles twitched along his jaw.
“What do you do? Convince them something’s going to be a great investment then tell them it didn’t make as much as you’d thought? Have you asked Josie to invest in something yet?”
This time she saw him flinch.
The waiter came to take their plates. “Would you like to see the dessert menu?”
“No, thank you.” Bernard answered without so much as a glance at Christine.
The waiter poured the last of the wine into their glasses and moved away.
Bernard took a sip. Sat the glass down again carefully and folded his large hands on the table in front of him. “I have to take my hat off to you, Christine. You never give up on something. I assume in return for your silence, I am to fund your renovations?”
“You have plenty to spare.”
He shook his head. “You have no idea of my financial situation. It isn’t what you’ve imagined.” He held her gaze a moment, his eyes narrowed. “Unless you’ve been going through my paperwork when you come to stay. Is that what brings you to visit me?”
“Dad.” That stung. “Of course not.” She looked down at her lap. She had come across bank statements though and she knew he was a very wealthy man.
He raised his glass to her. “One day, what’s mine will all come to you.”
She felt a twinge of remorse. “Don’t be morbid, Dad.”
“It’s true. I’ll drop off the perch one day but I’m making bloody sure I’ll enjoy myself until I do. There might not be much left for you.”
She looked up, shocked to see the scathing look he gave her. “Dad…I…” Her words dried in her throat under his scrutiny.
“I like Josie a lot. I’d go as far as to say I feel a love for her I haven’t felt since your mother.” He leaned across the table, pinning her with his glare, his voice low. “Don’t you dare spoil it. Not this time.”
“What do you mean this time?”
“I knew you didn’t like Gloria but I thought you’d get used to her. Then I thought moving to Brisbane would be the answer, putting some space between us, but you wouldn’t let me have my happiness. I didn’t need her to have money. I had enough for the both of us, but my fun-time Gloria became irritable and snitchy. You drove a wedge between us. I didn’t know it at the time, of course. She never let on but I ran into her a few years later. She was happy with someone else and she told me why it hadn’t worked out with me. You wore her down with your snooping and bothering phone calls.”
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