Page 24 of The Cruise

‘The chef is from Trinidad,’ Selwyn whispered. A fact Jaden confirmed as he detailed two of the dishes he was about to prepare. A tasty roti and Buljol on a coconut bake, using fresh ingredients from the island that was his home.

Jane’s mouth watered as she watched the chef grate fresh coconut. The aroma of saltfish frying gently with tomato, onion and peppers was tantalising. As Jane shared her treats with Selwyn, she felt a surge of happiness. A working chef, cooking and chocolate. Jane had stepped back into her world.

Jaden explained that everyone could try these dishes at home to remind them of their holiday, and recipe sheets would be handed out at the end of the demonstration. Jane thought of the many chefs she’d worked with over the years. Not all were as handsome or talented as this olive-skinned expert, and she longed to wander into the kitchens and watch his teams at work.

But soon, the session was over, and Jane stuffed the empty box of chocolates into her bag. Selwyn was talking to Diane, who was distributing recipes. As Jane watched his tall figure stand confidently, body language in tune with Diane’s, the rapport they’d shared during the demo dissolved. The companionable cosiness whilst jointly munching on Jane’s chocolates had gone. Selwyn unnerved her, and she wasn’t sure why. Over lunch, Kath had asked Jane why she didn’t talk to him. Receiving a grunt in response, Kath had surmised that Jane was uncomfortable with any man who wasn’t part of her previous working environment. It was as though she pushed them away.

As Jane crept out of the auditorium, she thought Kath was probably right. At work, Jane had hidden her size behind aprons and concentrated on doing what she did best. She was respected by chefs because she was a perfectionist, and the only weight that mattered was the weight of ingredients and perfectly prepared portions of mouth-watering food. But away from work, Jane’s size had been her downfall. The monkey on her shoulder had been with her since her teens. It nagged that she wasn’t good enough and whispered that no one wanted a plain fat woman as a companion or lover. No matter how many diets Jane tried, she always grew heavier than when she began. It was a burden that she carried, accepting her ever-increasing size, knowing that singledom was her lot in life. Men like Selwyn were merely being kind, and she didn’t need sympathy in the guise of polite conversation.

Jane breathed a sigh of relief as she escaped and headed through the ship. She knew Kath had gone to lie down and was probably still asleep. Kath had misplaced her bag before lunch, and all hell had let loose. They’d found it in the Neptune Lounge. The Captain, still napping, had hooked the handle of his walking stick around the bag. ‘Pirates!’ he’d shouted as Kath woke him and gently eased her possession away.

As Jane walked along an open deck, she wondered if Anne was still by the pool. She’d look like a fried tomato if she’d been sitting out all day. Had Anne really been entertained by Dicky, as Selwyn mentioned? Or was it just two people passing pleasantries whilst enjoying the sunshine? Jane smiled. Knowing Anne as she did, it would be far more than that. Her friend’s husband-hunting had begun.

ChapterEleven

The Mermaid Theatre, at the stern of theDiamond Star, differed from the tiered banquette seating of the Neptune Lounge. Instead, guests could sit at circular tables grouped around the stage. The room was large, with two generous platformed areas and a well-stocked bar. At night, blinds were drawn over windows that offered stunning views during the day. The theatre’s theme blended with the ship’s colour palette, and both bright and bold blues reflected the sea and sky. Tiny ceiling lights twinkled, and two decorated Christmas trees stood on either side of the stage.

‘Isn’t this lovely,’ Kath said as they took their seats at a table facing the stage. Her eyes were wide as she studied the room. ‘I feel like I’m in a festive grotto and Santa is going to pop out at any moment.’

‘You have to be a good girl if you want a visit from Santa.’ Anne reached across the table to study the wine list.

‘That removes you from his Christmas list,’ Jane commented as she selected a chair without arms. Easing herself down, she wished she hadn’t had a second helping of dessert. ‘I heard that you were cavorting with a comedian for most of the day?’

‘You’ve been listening to idle gossip,’ Anne said and avoided Jane’s penetrating stare. ‘I had a relaxing day by the pool, chatting to other passengers.’

‘Like hell, you were knocking back cocktails with Dicky Delaney all afternoon.’

‘That’s for me to know and you to find out.’ Anne grinned. ‘I fancy some prosecco, will you both join me?’

Jane waited for Anne to place their order and then asked, ‘What’s Dicky like?’

‘Charming, funny, kind...’

‘He’s singing tonight before the main act,’ Kath said. ‘That’s what it says in theDiamond StarDaily.’ She’d remembered to wear her earrings and fiddled with two sparkly silver Christmas trees.

‘Anne will know Dicky’s timetable off by heart,’ Jane added.

Not to be outdone, Anne gave as good as she got. ‘I think it just goes to show that I still have the power to pull,’ she said, stretching out her hand to admire her perfectly polished nails. ‘Dicky is the most fanciable man on the ship, and we’re meeting later to go to the casino.’

‘Oh, Lord…’ Kath and Jane groaned, exchanging anxious glances.

‘It will be fun to have a flutter on the tables, and you never know, we might enjoy a winning streak.’

‘Do be careful; it’s not as though you are in a position to squander money,’ Kath implored. Her voice was low as she leaned in and touched Anne’s arm.

Jane was about to issue her own warning, but a man approached the table and, pulling out a chair, asked if he could join them. Tall and lean, he was smartly dressed in a neat shirt and linen trousers.

‘Of course,’ Kath said and shuffled her chair to make room.

He winced as he sat down, with a sharp intake of breath.

‘It’s Harold, isn’t it?’ Anne asked, ‘I saw you with your wife at the pool today.’

‘Aye, lass, it is, but Nancy won’t be joining me tonight.’

‘Oh dear, I hope she isn’t ill?’

‘She’s suffering from her motion sickness, after all that jogging about in the aqua aerobics class, and is lying down.’

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