Page 68 of The Wedding Proposal

As Vern talked, Lucas put up an underwater shot on the screen.

Vern glanced at it. ‘Anyone know what that is?’

‘Starfish!’

‘You’re too good.’ The slide changed. ‘And this?’

‘Sea urchin! Rizzi.’

Another change. ‘Octopus! Qarnita.’

Vern made an enlightened face. ‘I can see that I’m going to learn the Maltese names for lots of things that live in the sea, this afternoon.’ For several minutes the kids oohed and aahed over marine life with Vern and Lucas.

Then came cartoons of a bony-looking man holding a snorkel and scratching his head. ‘This is Scooter the Scuba-nut,’ explained Vern. ‘I wonder if you can help him? He wants to swim under the water but he knows he’s missing some things—’

‘Fins!’

‘Air!’ the children called.

‘You obviously know a lot already.’ Vern glanced around at the kids with a congratulatory grin. ‘Yes, he’s not a fish so he needs air. “Scuba” stands for “self-contained underwater breathing apparatus” but you don’t need to worry about that. What does Scooter need over his eyes so that he can see underwater?’

‘Mask!’

Lucas put up an image of Scooter wearing a mask, his eyes magnified to fish-like proportions behind the glass. The audience laughed.

Elle’s attention was on Lucas as he took his cues from his boss, moving through what was obviously a well-organised presentation, however nonchalantly it was rolled out. As if becoming aware of her regard, he shifted his gaze straight to where she sat on the end of a row close to the back.

Swiftly, she winked.

One corner of his mouth quirked up, before he transferred his attention back to Vern.

Once Scooter the Scuba-nut had been seen through the entire process of equipping, learning technique in enclosed water and then in more open water in the company of shoals of fish, Vern began to unpack and discuss various pieces of scuba equipment from the big black bags and soon a couple of the children were trying things on and everyone was giggling at how they looked in fins and masks and BCDs.

It was right at the end of the ‘show’ when Vern demanded, ‘OK, hands up everyone who thinks they want to try scuba in our pool at StJulian’s?’ About half of the children waved enthusiastically; the others shook their heads or pulled nervous faces. ‘OK, those of you who think you might like a go, Joseph has some letters to go to your parents. They have to sign a form to say it’s OK for you to visit Dive Meddi and take part in the Bubblemaker session. It’s very important that we do that.’ Vern went through what happened at a Bubblemaker, calling on Lucas for corroboration, talking about safety and following instructions, putting up slides of the instructors working with learner divers in and around a pool cut from rock.

‘And’ — Vern grinned around conspiratorially — ‘I think we need some of the adults from the centre, don’t you?’

‘Yes!’ shouted the children.

Elle waved both hands. ‘I’d love to!’

‘And me also,’ said Oscar, immediately.

Joseph nodded. ‘I’ll drive the minibus and stand on shore to watch everyone in the pool.’

‘That’s great,’ said Vern. ‘Two in the water and one on the side is exactly what we need.’

* * *

That evening, Elle and Lucas went out with Charlie and Kayleigh. Charlie was grouchy because Kayleigh was moving on to her convention on Sunday and she’d no longer have a hotel room for him to share. He’d spent three hours in a cyber cafe hunting for accommodation, but nothing he could afford was available this far into the summer season. He wasn’t sure he had the cheek to try and invite himself on board Seadancer.

Kayleigh was equally glum at the prospect of him flying back to the UK.

Elle touched the back of Lucas’s neck. The zing that shot down his spine got his attention. ‘If I moved in with you, Charlie could have the guest cabin,’ she mused nonchalantly.

Lucas glared at her in mock exasperation. ‘I thought I’d get to tell Charlie.’

Charlie and Kayleigh’s reciprocal grouchiness paused. Charlie looked from his brother to Elle and back again. ‘Move in with . . . ? Are you two . . . um?’

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