“Meet you in half an hour?” He scratched at his temple. “Oh, that’s probably not long enough is it? Jane always said I hurried her.”
“Half an hour is fine, Jim.” She waited for him to open the door.
He was staring at her. “Oh, the door, yes.” He opened it and peered out. “Coast clear.”
She stepped briskly passed him and heard the door close behind her. It was as if she was being propelled along the corridor, she moved so fast, anxious to put as much space between her and Jim’s room before she ran into anyone. Her next hope was that Maude might already be up and gone. She didn’t want to face her. Not just because of Maude’s own indiscreet behaviour but neither did she want to explain to her roommate about her own compromising night.
Maude was fast asleep when Celia crept in. She managed to gather some fresh clothes and shut herself in the bathroom, hopeful of escaping again before Maude woke. That hope was short-lived. Maude was waiting when she re-opened the door.
“Where were you all night?” Still dishevelled from sleep, hands on hips, she was a forbidding sight. “You’re making a habit of staying out.”
Celia gripped her discarded clothes to her chest and lifted her chin. “A friend offered me a spare bed. I didn’t want to spend my night in the corridor.”
“So you stayed all night.” Maude wiggled her eyebrows. “With who?”
“I wasn’t with anyone. I was on the couch.”
Maude’s look soured. “Humph. You didn’t have to. Pete and I—” She looked down. “We—”
Celia held up her hand. “Stop please. I don’t want to know.”
Maude gave Celia a steely look and sniffed. “Do you have plans for today?”
“Not as yet.”
“I’m going with Pete and Anne and co again.”
“Anne?” Celia didn’t know how Maude could have the front to look the woman in the eye.
“She’s a lot more active now.” Once more Maude’s look was sour. “You know you’re welcome to join us.”
“Thank you but I don’t think I will.”
Maude opened her mouth, obviously changed her mind about what she was going to say, and shrugged her shoulders instead. “Please yourself. Have you finished with the bathroom?”
“Yes.”
Celia stepped out and Maude took her place, shutting the door without a backward glance.
“Do you mind if I join you, Miss Clift?”
Ketty looked across the table where she’d been enjoying a late breakfast to find Carlos studying her.
“I’d be delighted, if you have time.”
“You are not going ashore today?” he asked. He positioned himself at the head of the six-person table where he would have a good view of the dining room.
“I am but not for a while yet. It would be lovely to chat.” She leaned in a little. “We still haven’t managed a catch-up.”
A waiter came with the coffee pot and poured a cup for Carlos, who watched the procedure with his maître d’ face on.
“Thank you, Terry,” Carlos said. “Would you like a cup, Miss Clift?”
“I think I might, thank you.” She smiled up at the waiter, who departed quickly to get a fresh cup. Ketty took the opportunity to lean even closer across the table. “You must call me Ketty if we are to coffee together.”
“Once the staff are out of earshot.” Carlos poured milk into his coffee. “I am already breaking the rules.”
“We’ve dined together before.”
“A quick bite at the end of a shift is hardly dining, Ket—Miss Clift.”
The waiter was back. He carefully placed the cup and saucer in front of her and poured.
Ketty studied her friend while she waited for the waiter to leave. “How are you, Carlos?”
“Feeling rather old these days.”
“I see a little silver sprinkling that dark hair of yours but you look the same as the fine young head waiter I met all those years ago.”
“Ha.” Carlos laughed and smoothed the perfectly flat tablecloth with his fingers. “I think you may need to put on those glasses I’ve seen you wear for reading the menu.”
Ketty sensed something more serious lurked beneath her friend’s jovial exterior. “We’ve plenty of life left in us yet, Carlos.”
“You are quite right. I am thinking now the time has come to retire.”
“Retire?” Ketty felt a pang of sadness to think she’d never come across her friend aboard ship again. Given her financial situation may not allow her the opportunity to cruise anymore, it was possibly going to be the last she’d see of Carlos anyway. Then another thought hit her. It was the last cruise of the Duchess too. The end of an era for all of them.
“Have you thought about what you will do? Will you stay in Spain?” She knew his marriage had floundered years ago, one of the downsides of the job he loved, there had been no children and the last she’d heard, his aging parents were becoming very frail.
“I’m not sure.”
“You’re not too old to try new things.”
“I know.” He clasped his large hands together on the table. “I think I’ll travel. Not cruise,” he added quickly. “I’ve seen a lot of what the world has to offer from many ports but I’d like to visit places cruise ships can’t take me. Australia of course. My cousin is keen for me to come and stay.”
“Then you must visit me again.”
“I will.” He met her look with an equally steady one.
They fell silent a moment, perhaps both pondering the uncertain future.
“So how is your table of eight going?” he asked.
Ketty found herself faltering under his keen stare. She lifted her chin. “I haven’t had a chance to reprimand you.”
“Ah, Ketty.” He put his hand across his heart. “Why on earth should you wish to do that?”
“You have given me too many people to sort out.”
“But that makes it all the more interesting.”
“Bernard has fallen for Josie. It was he who brought the Kellers to our table.”
“I know, and the brother, Leo, is very taken with you.”
Ketty glanced up to meet Carlos’s penetrating stare again. “We knew each other a long time ago.”
He nodded. “This morning they dined separately.”
“All of them?”
“No. Bernard came early, ate alone and left. The Kellers came later, you barely missed them but they appeared to be arguing when they left.”
“Oh?”
“Something about Leo not wanting his sister to…tag along, was how I think he put it.”
Ketty frowned at that. “I wonder what’s happened? Bernard and Josie were having such a good time. Last night he had dinner alone with his daughter and didn’t arrive to meet us to go to the show. Josie was pretending it didn’t matter but I could see it did. Now you say they dined separately this morning when they’ve been practically in each other’s pockets.”
“Perhaps a lover’s tiff?”
“Perhaps.” Ketty pondered that. Both Josie and Bernard had been so happy, so well suited. “I hope Christine hasn’t been meddling.”
“Bernard’s daughter?”
Ketty nodded. “She has her father wrapped around her finger so tightly. And her relationship with her husband is rocky. They are struggling to be civil to each other. And then there’s Jim who’s a widower, desperately sad and mired in guilt.”
“Even on this beautiful ship.” Carlos spread his hands wide in amazement.
“Even here, but I think Celia is the woman who could change that.” Ketty wriggled forward and lowered her voice. “She came on this cruise to make her ex-husband jealous.”
Carlos raised his eyebrows.
“The night she fell outside the dining room she was trying to avoid him. It’s all rather complicated.”
Ketty was about to start explaining further when Carlos drew a small parcel from inside his jacket.
“Happy birthday, Ketty.”
“Oh,” she tutted. “Nothing gets past you. Don’t you tell anyone else.”
“You should celebrate.”
“I don’t like fuss, Carlos, you know that.” Ketty tapped the table lightly with her fingers. She’d forgotten it was her birthday this morning when her waking thoughts had gone straight to Leo. It wasn’t until after her shower while she was choosing what to wear that she remembered she turned sixty-five today.
“But surely you came on this cruise as a treat for yourself.” He waved at the gift he’d put in front of her. “Open the parcel.”
She did as he bid and pulled back the gold paper to reveal a small, flat velvet case. It was stiff to open and she paused as she did. Nestled inside were a pair of dainty scissors, the metal around the finger holes decorated with an intricate flower pattern. The scissors were attached to a chain to enable them to hang around her neck. There was also a needle holder, a thimble and a retractable tape measure, its outer covering fashioned in the same design as the scissors. “Oh, Carlos, they’re beautiful. How kind of you. Wherever did you find them?”
“On one of my trips to the Mediterranean. They reminded me of you. I’ve been sailing with them ever since.”
She looked up quickly. His deep brown eyes bored steadily into hers but gave nothing away. She glanced down at the gift again, overcome at the thoughtfulness of it. Cruising had brought some of the happiest times of her life and Carlos, if he had been aboard on her trip, was part of that – but he would come across so many other passengers.
“That looks like Madam Keller now. Would you rather avoid her?”
Ketty glanced up to see Josie peering around the dining room. Her hands were gripped together and she was obviously evading the waiter who was trying to turn her away. “I should find out what’s going on but it’s getting late. Breakfast is finished, I suppose.”
“For you, my friend, we can always make an exception.”
Once more Ketty looked into his eyes, and this time she could see they twinkled with friendship. “Thank you, Carlos.”
He stood, looking grand as always in his uniform, and waved a hand at the waiter who ushered Josie in their direction.
“You haven’t finished your coffee.” Ketty felt torn between her two friends but she knew he wouldn’t stay once Josie joined them.
“Another time.” He pulled out a chair as Josie reached them.
“Oh, Ketty.” Josie slid onto the seat with barely a nod at Carlos. “I’m glad I’ve found you. I’m not sure what to do.”
Over Josie’s head Ketty saw Carlos’s assessing look before he turned and walked away. She watched him a moment then gave her attention to Josie.
“What’s happened?”
“I think I’ve misread Bernie.”
“In what way? He’s totally beguiled by you.”
“I looked everywhere for him last night.”
“He was probably caught up with his daughter.”
“I don’t think so.” A waiter appeared with coffee and pastries. Josie chose one with custard and fruit and waited for him to leave before she spoke again. “When I got back to the cabin last night, Bernie had left me a note to say he’d been out late with Christine.”
“There you are then.”
“But I went back to my room a couple of times between searches, the note wasn’t there until quite late and I’d seen Christine and Frank in the spa together an hour before. I’d stuck my head in there because Bernie and I had been to the bar there several times.” She popped a piece of pastry in her mouth and washed it down with coffee. “The note also said he couldn’t meet this morning and for me to enjoy Noumea and he’d probably see me at dinner.”
Ketty wasn’t sure what to think about that.
Josie lurched back in her seat. “I’ve been such a fool.”
“I don’t think so.”
“I do.” Josie lunged forward this time.
“You’re going to have to stop this lurching about or it will bring on seasickness.” Ketty smiled but Josie still looked anxious and lowered her voice even though there were no passengers besides them in the dining room and the waiters were busy across the other side. “The night before last I shared his bed.”
Ketty was not surprised. “Good for you.”
“But now…oh, this is ridiculous, I feel like I’m sixteen again instead of sixty, waiting for a boy to notice me.” Josie took another slurp of coffee. She sat the cup carefully back on its saucer and looked at Ketty. “It’s just that I can’t help feeling now that we’ve…” she twirled her hand in the air. “Now that Bernie’s got what he wanted, he’s going to avoid me for the rest of the trip.”
Ketty shook her head in disbelief. Josie had always struck her as self-assured and carefree, especially where men were concerned. She had a vague recollection of Leo saying his sister had made some poor choices with men but surely Bernard wasn’t a poor choice. “I’m certain that’s not what this is about.”
“We had such a good night. He made me feel…” Josie’s shoulders slumped. “Very special.” Her last words came out in a whisper and her face crumpled. “I know it sounds ridiculous after such a short time but it’s more than a flirtation. Bernie and I like the same things, laugh together, we’re a good fit…we both mentioned love.”
Josie looked straight at Ketty and her face, although made up as usual, was stripped bare of confidence, replaced by a vulnerability she’d rarely shown before. How could it be that at this stage of their lives, when both she and Josie had experienced so much, that they could become so insecure over relationships? Ketty was still unsure of her own feelings for Leo, one minute excited at the prospect of taking things further and the next wanting to back away.
“Let’s not talk about Bernie,” Josie said. “I’m glad you and my brother are getting along. I owe Leo so much. He was such a help when I left my first husband. Carl was a drinker and prone to lashing out. He was getting worse and I feared for the boys as much as myself. Our father was a…well, a hard man and our mother was in poor health. I couldn’t go to them for help. Leo got the boys and I away and helped me financially until I found work.” Josie snatched up the last of the pastry and popped it in her mouth.
Ketty studied her friend. Her only other experience of domestic violence had been with Judith, and she was grateful Leo had been able to support his sister to leave the troubled marriage as Ketty had done for Judith.
“Leo mentioned he’d helped you.”
“Did he? I’ve paid him back of course. In fact I was able to help him financially only recently but that’s what family’s for, isn’t it?”
Ketty was puzzled by that. She felt sure Leo had said he’d been the one to help Josie out on several occasions, not the other way around.
Josie clapped a hand to her forehead and groaned. “I can’t believe I’ve been such a fool.”
Ketty had no time to worry about who’d said what. Josie needed her support. She reached out a hand and gripped her friend’s. “You’re no fool, Josie. There will be a reasonable explanation for his absence and I’m betting it will have something to do with Christine. Today you’re sightseeing with Leo and me until we come across Bernard and get to the bottom of this.”
“Oh no.” Josie snatched her hand away. “Leo and I have already had words over my ‘tagging along’ with you two, as he put it. I can amuse myself.”
“Nonsense.” Josie was Leo’s sister and Ketty’s friend. They couldn’t just abandon her. “Noumea is an experience and we shall see it together.”
Twenty-nine
Christine sat in the coffee lounge waiting for Frank. By the time she’d returned to their cabin last night he was in bed, his back to her. She’d done a lot of thinking before sleep had claimed her and this morning she’d resolved that today she’d get his assurance they would stay in their home but she’d not mention extensions. Rather, she’d do her best to be fun, make sure they had a terrific day and when they got back to the ship, well, it was day seven and she was determined to f
inally seduce her husband. And in the afterglow, she would slowly work him around.
He could take his new job if he so badly wanted it but they would stay in their current house. After all they’d done to make their home a special place for their family, she was not giving it up to start again.
“Good morning, Christine.”
She looked up, startled from her thoughts. Ketty was looking down at her, a sugary-sweet smile on her face. “Hello.”
“The tropics are so moisturising for the skin aren’t they?” The older woman peered closely at her. “You’re positively glowing this morning.”
Christine’s smile remained on her face but she didn’t know whether to be offended or not. Had she looked so terrible before?
“And your back? It’s not troubling you anymore?”
“No. How is your arm?”
“Much better, thank you. I’m on my way to have the bandage replaced and I hope I’ll be able to rid myself of the sling. It’s rather a nuisance.”
But good for the sympathy vote, Christine thought. Ketty seemed to like being the centre of attention. Right now she wished she’d move on. They had too little in common to keep up a conversation.
“Have you seen your father this morning?”
“No, why?”
“No reason. I’d hoped to catch up before we went ashore, that’s all. Have you got your day planned?”
Ketty’s piercing look made Christine shift in her seat. She wished Frank would hurry up. “We’re going to do the tourist train tour.”
“That’s a good way to have a look around. Perhaps your father will do the same.” Ketty smiled benignly. “He and Josie seem well suited and they obviously get along.”
Christine seethed. Her good mood was disappearing fast. Ketty was such a busybody. What did she know about Bernard and what suited?
“He thought he liked the previous women he got along with and he thought he knew them but that didn’t turn out well.”
Ketty’s smile remained. “It must be worrying for you but I’m sure you realise he’s an adult of sound mind who can make his own decisions.”
“And when it all falls to pieces and he’s penniless, what will become of him then? I’m his only child and I’ll have to carry the financial burden.”
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