Page 60 of The Cruise

‘I propose that we disembark and have a day out too.’ Kath looked at Anne. ‘So get your skates on because the weather forecast is for a storm later in the day.’

‘It will only be a shower,’ Anne said, ‘soon over.’

But as the friends enjoyed their breakfast and made plans for the day, none knew of the storm that was brewing.

ChapterTwenty-Six

Selwyn carried a rucksack as he stood by the gangway and waited for Jane to disembark and join him for a day he’d carefully planned. As he left the ship, he took note of the crew, who told passengers that heavy rain was expected later in the day, and they were advised to be back on board before it came.

Selwyn checked his watch. They could enjoy everything he’d planned if he kept to his schedule. He began to pace and hoped that Jane wouldn’t be late, but moments later, he saw her walking towards him. She wore a colourful flowing gown and pretty sandals. Her braids were loose, and she carried a large straw hat and matching beach bag.

‘You look lovely,’ Selwyn said, but Jane looked flustered, unused to compliments. ‘Did you pack a swimsuit?’ he asked.

‘I have a complete survival kit in here.’ Jane pointed to her bag. ‘Kath made sure I’m prepared for everything.’

‘You won’t need to survive.’ Selwyn laughed. ‘But you may find that you come out of your comfort zone during the day.’

Selwyn ignored Jane’s look of panic and took her arm to walk along the pier until they came to the cruise terminal at Heritage Quay, where the port security checked their boarding passes. Before stepping onto the street, they wandered through a busy food court and a variety of duty-free shops displaying everything from internationally recognised brands to local arts and crafts.

Outside, a man held up a placard with Selwyn’s name.

‘Here’s our driver,’ Selwyn said, and together they climbed into an air-conditioned vehicle.

The driver, Curtis, handed them each a bottle of chilled water. Jane took her fan, flicked it open, and then glanced sideways as Selwyn took a drink. Condensation dripped onto the crisp cotton of his shirt, and she thought how good he looked in pristine white shorts and leather sandals. Selwyn had styled his dreadlocks into a knot on the top of his head, and Jane considered the style for herself.

‘This is the northwest coast, and your first stop is Runaway Beach,’ Curtis said and came to a halt beside an endless stretch of coastline.

‘Goodness, the sand is almost pink,’ Jane gasped as Selwyn helped her out. ‘Why is it called Runaway Beach?’

The driver grinned. ‘If you don’t know what he has planned today, now is your chance to run away.’

‘Touché.’ Jane grinned.

‘Shall we swim?’ Selwyn asked.

Jane hadn’t expected to endure the humiliation of stripping down to her swimsuit quite so early in the day, but the beauty of the beach and the inviting turquoise water were too tempting to resist. ‘To hell with it,’ she mumbled and kicked off her sandals, then slipped out of her kaftan, folding it over her bag.

‘Ready?’ Selwyn asked.

‘Whatever is he doing with me?’Jane thought and bit her lip as she stared at Selwyn. He was handsome, fit, and muscular in his swimming shorts, and she remembered that he’d told Kath he regularly swam back home in Lambeth. He held out his hand, and taking a deep breath, she moved forward until his warm fingers entwined with her own.

‘Last one in buys the drinks,’ Selwyn called out and together they ran towards the sea.

‘Oh, my word,’ Jane called out as hot sand burned the soles of her feet. Her lungs felt as though they were going to explode, but as the water engulfed her, she let go of Selwyn’s hand and dived under a wave. ‘I won!’ she called out.

Laughing with the joy of being in such beautiful surroundings, Jane began to frolic and play in the water. ‘I feel like a child again,’ she said as she stretched her arm and splashed Selwyn.

‘That’s good,’ he said and swam towards her. ‘Believe in yourself, and not just while you’re swimming but throughout life itself.’

Jane thought about his words as they sat on the beach a little while later to dry off in the sunshine, and Curtis produced cold beers.

If only she could believe in herself.

Studying the label on her bottle, she asked, ‘Wadadli?’

‘Local beer, it’s good,’ Curtis replied.

The beer was excellent, and Jane thought she’d never tasted anything so refreshing. The sun and salty spray of the sea must have heightened the hops’ taste, and delicious froth foamed with each gulp.

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