Page 42 of The Wedding Proposal

Joseph sucked his teeth, gazing ruminatively at Carmelo. ‘I think he was a big help to you, moving machines in the computer room?’ He raised his eyebrows at Carmelo. ‘Perhaps four items, for the help that you gave to Elle?’

Hesitantly, Carmelo hovered closer to the clothes rack, watching as Lucas worked through the hangers. Slowly, Carmelo began to smile as he chose two brightly coloured T-shirts and a pair of black shorts. And, lastly, a pair of jeans. ‘I cut them off,’ he declared.

After Carmelo had slipped behind a curtain to try his new clothes and Maria had OKed their fit, Kayleigh and Lucas went up to the activity room with Carmelo to seek out Axel, who was in charge of scissors, to perform surgery on the jeans, and Elle headed back to her computer room.

With translation help from one of the minotaur crowd, Elle settled down to assist a shy nine-year-old, Natasha, with creating a new e-mail account, thinking about what Lucas had done for Carmelo. Evidently, Lucas-present was a more mature and thoughtful man than Lucas-four-years-past. Lucas four-years-past might have wondered why nobody told Carmelo that his clothes didn’t fit, without realising that Carmelo had very few clothes to choose from. He certainly wouldn’t have created a scenario calculated to provide Carmelo with additions to his wardrobe without hurting his pride.

Natasha had fallen into inactivity, gazing at the screen. Elle tapped it. ‘Click. Hawnhekk.’ Aileen had taught her a few new Maltese words, including the one for ‘here’. And one thing that made Elle’s lack of Maltese less of a handicap in the IT stakes was that most words from the world of computers were understood in their English form. Face clearing, Natasha moved the cursor to the spot that Elle had tapped, and clicked her mouse. ‘Good. Tajba.’

Then she glanced up as Carmelo slipped into the room, looking like a mini Lucas in denim cut-offs and a T-shirt. He smiled self-consciously as he took up station at the machine closest to the one where she sat with Natasha.

‘You look great,’ Elle said. Carmelo’s smile stretched into a huge grin.

A couple of hours later, Elle hit the sweltering streets. Late afternoon usually offered a softening of the heat, but today sweat prickled down her back and it felt as if the soles of her feet were scorching even through her sandals.

The visit of Kayleigh and Lucas to the centre had been unsettling. Lucas had done something really useful in getting Carmelo to accept donated clothes, a feat that neither Joseph nor Maria had been able to pull off.

But, in turning up with Kayleigh, he’d aroused Oscar’s curiosity.

Waiting to cross the road, she felt as if the passing traffic was coating her with dust. It would be so good to get on the Shady Lady and shower. Or go off somewhere and swim. She imagined the cool blue water closing over her. She was so hot she’d probably sizzle.

Finally making it through to the gardens, she was able to see two figures on the Shady Lady’s flybridge. Her sore feet didn’t falter. Elle could only be glad that at least she liked Kayleigh. How much worse would it have been if Lucas had hooked up with someone who’d mounted a campaign to oust Elle from the boat?

She discarded her bag and her sandals at the foot of the steps to the flybridge and made her way up.

Lucas lounged comfortably, the jeans from the donated clothes rail folded on the deck. Kayleigh was at the table with her feet up, reading a magazine that fluttered in the breeze.

‘Good trick with Carmelo,’ Elle commented, taking off her hat and using it to fan herself.

Lucas shaded his eyes. ‘He’s a nice kid.’ He got up with an easy rolling movement and opened the fridge, gesturing to Elle to help herself.

She knew that water was better for both hydration and thirst-quenching, but her hand went to the Cisk as if magnetised. In seconds she had removed the top and gulped down the entire contents of a bottle, finishing with a sigh of satisfaction.

Lucas laughed, reached for another bottle and whisked off the top. ‘Treat this one with a little more respect.’

‘Cheers.’ Elle took the fresh bottle as she dropped down onto a seat in the shade of the bimini.

‘Lucas seems reluctant to share the strategy that got Carmelo to accept the new stuff,’ observed Kayleigh. ‘My guess is that he’s arranged to make a donation and just made up the story about agreeing to help at the centre to make Carmelo comfortable.’

Elle retorted without thinking. ‘Made up? Lucas? You don’t know him very well.’

Kayleigh turned a gaze on her that was full of curiosity. ‘I suppose I’d sort of forgotten for a moment that you’ve known him for longer than I have.’

Lucas stepped in. ‘What I suggested to Joseph is that Dive Meddi do a Bubblemaker Session for the kids, which involves a fun presentation at the centre and then a sort of mini scuba taster in the pool. I haven’t asked Vern, my boss, yet. What do you think, Elle? Would some of the volunteers from the centre get involved?’

Elle turned the idea over. ‘I’m sure they would. There are kids there who would love it so I’m a bit worried that you might be inundated.’

‘Usually, we’re not. They come to the presentation but not everyone likes the idea of the actual scuba.’ He glanced at his watch and rolled quickly to his feet. ‘I’ve got a night dive, so I have to get off.’

He patted his pockets to check his possessions, blew a kiss to Kayleigh, skimmed his way down the steps, jumped off the boat and ran into the gardens, appearing only in glimpses as he headed for the bus stop.

It was quiet in his wake. Kayleigh seemed lost in thought and Elle wasn’t sure what the etiquette was when your ex left his present girlfriend with you. She sighed.

Kayleigh looked up. ‘Am I in your way?’

‘No,’ answered Elle, quickly. ‘It’s just that I’ve been promising myself a swim. You’re welcome to hang on here for Lucas.’

‘He’ll be gone for hours.’ Kayleigh dismissed Lucas with a wave. ‘A swim sounds fantastic. My hotel’s only just along the Strand; I could pick up my stuff.’

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