Page 51 of The Cruise

At least he looked human again.

ChapterTwenty-Two

For a mere seven dollars per passenger, a water taxi could be hired to whisk sunseekers to the glorious Maho beach on the tropical island of St Maarten. Described by Diwa and her customer service team as one of the most unique beaches in the world, it is situated close to the island’s Princess Juliana International Airport. Popular with windsurfers and skim-boarders, the stretch of long white beach is edged by bars and stalls selling local crafts.

For Kath, Jane, and Anne, a couple of hours swimming and sunbathing was the perfect way to start their Christmas Day, and the friends were excited as they left the ship. They waited by a jetty, a boat arrived within minutes, and they climbed aboard.

The water taxi driver assisted them onto the beach, and soon, they found a smooth stretch of sand to sit on.

‘I’m surprised there are no sunbeds,’ Anne complained as she spread her beach towel out and slipped out of her shorts and top to reveal her pink bikini.

‘Enjoy the natural surroundings,’ Kath replied. Wearing a large straw hat, she perched sunglasses on her nose.

‘I’m not so sure that a beach so close to an airport runway can be classed as natural surroundings,’ Jane said. ‘Still, as it’s Christmas Day, there won’t be any planes landing.’

‘Ignore the runway and look at the gorgeous sea,’ Kath said and slathered lotion on her skin.

The beach formed a semicircle and sloped down to water the colour of emeralds as waves broke in white crests, creating layers of frothy foam that fluttered to the shore.

‘Oh look,’ Kath called out, ‘the crew have brought refreshments.’

A short distance away, Armani and several crew members reached into cool boxes. Dressed inDiamond Starvests, shorts, and Santa hats, they summoned other passengers, who’d also arrived at the beach, to come and enjoy a Caribbean Christmas cocktail.

‘I don’t need to be asked twice,’ Jane said and strode over. She wore a bright yellow sarong over her swimsuit and silently thanked Kath, who’d insisted that Jane purchase two from the ship’s boutique, and a colourful kaftan. The cotton enveloping her body was crisp and cool, and as it draped over her curves, she knew that it flattered too.

Armani set up a speaker, and Christmas songs began to play above the sound of gently breaking waves.

‘It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas!’ Kath, Jane, and Anne swayed together and sang as they sat on their towels and sipped their drink.

‘What is it?’ Kath asked. ‘It’s delicious.’

‘Ponche de crème,’ Jane replied, ‘a rum and cream concoction.’

‘Yummy,’ Anne muttered and licked her lips.

‘Good grief,’ Kath said, lifting the brim of her hat. She squinted and leaned forward to watch passengers step off a water taxi and head up the beach. ‘We’re being invaded by elves!’

‘Got room for a few more?’ a voice called out, and Bridgette, wearing a short green and red dress with a matching hat and bobble, bounced towards them. Two spots of rouge coloured her cheeks.

‘It’s Santa’s little helper,’ giggled Jane.

Following close behind, in similar attire, came Nancy, her voluptuous dress gathered with a wide belt and buckle. She stumbled as she reached the friends and held her hand to her mouth. ‘It’s my motion sickness,’ she groaned. ‘I should never have got in the boat.’ Nancy was as green as her elf’s hat, and Anne leapt up to hand her a bottle of water.

‘How’s your back?’ Kath asked Harold with concern.

‘Clicked in of its own accord,’ Harold replied and laid out a towel. ‘I’m as right as rain again.’

‘You look very fetching,’ Jane told Harold as he took a cocktail from Armani’s tray. ‘I like your costume.’

Harold wore tiny, tight striped shorts in green and red, a tunic top and pixie boots. ‘We thought we’d get in the spirit of things,’ he replied. ‘Cheers!’

Kath looked at Jane and shrugged. There was too much of Harold on show.

The last to arrive was Selwyn. Handsome in beach shorts and sliders, Selwyn wore little else but a smile and his red Fedora. After Bridgette’s protestations, because he had been reluctant to don a Christmas outfit, he’d compromised and accepted her offer of a sprig of mistletoe pinned to his hat.

‘I’m first!’ Anne called out. She leapt to her feet to stand on her toes and plop a kiss on Selwyn’s lips.

Suddenly embarrassed, Jane looked away. She hoped that Selwyn wouldn’t do the rounds of the ever-increasing group.

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