Page 40 of The Cruise

‘Stop waffling,’ Kath said. ‘Have I won?’

‘Er … well, Kath.’ Dicky paused. ‘St Croix is … in fact … the correct answer.’

Kath was on her feet, and the audience was cheering. Dicky nodded as though pleased for her win. A spotlight shone on Dicky and Kath just as the ship’s photographer took a photo of the prizewinner and host. When the applause died, Dicky asked Kath if she was happy with her prize.

‘Oh, yes,’ Kath said. She stood next to Dicky and stared at his face, her eyes studying the large orange blotches that had suddenly appeared all over his skin. ‘But I think you need a spa treatment far more than I do. In fact, I hope that whatever is wrong with your face isn’t contagious.’

Peter heard the word ‘contagious’ and rushed forward to Dicky, who stood glued to the stage. ‘Get off!’ Peter hissed, stumbling away from Dicky, and shaking his head back and forth. He grabbed the microphone from Dicky’s hand, where the skin was also glowing with orange blotches.

Melissa’s pills had paralysed Dicky, not perked him up, and he also appeared to be experiencing an allergic reaction. Dicky glanced at his hands, then felt the bumps on his face, and as the photographer snapped again, his eyes were wide with horror. Kath reeled back and held up her hands, making it clear that she didn’t want to catch anything.

‘Off!’Peter snarled and shoved in front of Dicky to take over.

Dicky left the stage, where he saw Melissa darting behind a curtain. ‘Come here!’ he yelled to her disappearing body. Stagehands stood back, heads turned, and palms raised as if to push Dicky away. ‘Melissa!’ Dicky screamed, his face distraught and angry. ‘Just wait till I catch you.’ He shook a blotchy fist. ‘Your meddlesome magic potions have ruined my career!’

ChapterSeventeen

The following morning as the ship docked, theDiamond StarMarine & Wellness Spa hosted three eager new clients. Wearing comfortable robes and towelling turbans, Kath, Jane, and Anne sat with their feet resting on footstools, enjoying a manicure and pedicure.

‘Isn’t it heavenly to have all day to relax before we sample a festive feast in Martinique?’ Anne said. Her sunburn had settled down, and they had decided to skip a beach excursion and opted out of a trip to another rum distillery.

‘It certainly is. This was a great idea of Kath’s,’ Jane agreed. She studied a Christmas tree decorated with plastic globes that held samples of the spa’s creams and lotions, tied with silver and red ribbons. Picking up a list of treatments, she read, ‘“The spa is an oasis of calm and uses marine active products that will heal, revitalise and rebalance your life.”’ I’ll have a double dose of all that.’

‘I’ve never known such luxury, and I love being pampered.’ Kath smiled. She’d opted for the De-stress & Revive treatment which began with an energising plasma shot followed by a body scrub using brown sugar and citrus oils. ‘My skin feels years younger and silky smooth,’ Kath said as she sipped bitter orange tea and studied a copy of theDiamond StarDaily. She gazed in wonder at the headline on the front page.

Mrs Taylor Wins aDiamond StarTreat!

For the fourth time that morning, Kath re-read the article that supported the headline, and a relaxed smile crossed her face as her cheeks turned pink with pleasure. She carefully ran her fingers over a photograph to avoid smudging her newly polished nails. Her own image beamed back as she stood beside Dicky Delaney. To everyone’s astonishment, Dicky appeared to have contracted some sort of disease. His skin was the colour of custard, and vivid orange blotches covered his face.

‘Do you think that’s what the plague looked like?’ Jane leaned over Kath’s shoulder to study Dicky’s face. ‘He looks close to death, if you ask me.’

‘I spoke to him this morning and he said he has an allergic reaction to a painkiller,’ Anne said.

‘Severe enough to be put in isolation in the infirmary.’ Jane giggled. ‘That buggers up the rest of his cruise.’

‘Not at all.’ Anne shook her head. ‘The doctor thinks it will settle down today and he’ll only be out of action for forty-eight hours.’

‘I thought Peter was going to faint last night, when he saw Dicky’s face,’ Kath added. ‘It was as though a dreaded lurgy was about to sweep through the ship.’

‘Which would have cost the company a fortune.’ Jane nodded. ‘No wonder he was upset.’

‘Dicky will be fine.’ Anne was adamant. ‘Hopefully, he will return to host the cabaret on Christmas Day.’

‘He could have a part in a pantomime,’ Jane said, ‘as Captain Hook without the need for makeup.’

‘Very funny.’ Anne sighed and reached out to finish her blackcurrant tea.

‘I can’t believe I’m in print.’ Kath ignored her friends’ banter and re-read the article. ‘It says,“Mrs Kath Taylor, from Garstang in Lancashire, is the first Diamond Star Millionaire quiz contestant to get three correct answers in a record time.”’ Kath’s eyes gleamed. ‘All those wretched quizzes on TV that Jim insisted on watching have paid off.’

‘You were lucky to receive such a lovely prize,’ Jane said, nodding, ‘and it’s very kind of you to invite and pay for Anne and me too.’

‘Isn’t it great? I feel like a millionaire after the facial, and I want you both to enjoy and share the experience with me.’ Kath touched her skin and ran her fingers lightly over the faint lines around her eyes. ‘I’m polished and plumped and totally hydrated.’

‘You look ten years younger,’ Anne said, ‘and I feel fantastic after my anti-ageing treatments, especially the massage with aloe vera, which has soothed my sunburn.’

‘I think you’re bonkers having Botox,’ Jane said with a shudder, ‘and injecting all those chemicals into your body.’

‘No worse than the craving you have for sugar,’ Anne retorted, ‘which is known to be as addictive as cocaine.’

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