Page 72 of The Cruise

‘I look forward to the day you cook for me.’

Jane wanted to know what Flo was like, and Selwyn had been thoughtful before he answered. ‘She was a decent woman,’ he eventually replied. ‘A good mother, careful with money, a person who lived for her religion and the congregation at her church.’

He failed to tell Jane that Flo was narrow-minded and mean-spirited. A person who believed that she’d go straight to hell if she didn’t stand by her faith and practise it daily. There had been little warmth between them as the years passed, and the attractive girl who’d flirted and teased before marriage had slapped away any cuddles or comforts as they aged. Flo had no sense of adventure and never went far from home. Selwyn knew he should have left years ago and fulfilled his dreams of finding true love and travelling. But responsibility weighed heavy, and Flo would never have lived with the shame of divorce or been able to stand on her own two feet.

‘How did she die?’ Jane whispered.

‘She passed in her sleep,’ he replied. ‘The doctor said it was her heart. It was a peaceful way to go.’

Selwyn had gone through the motions of mourning his wife, but Flo’s death had opened the door to freedom, and within days, he felt reborn. The cruise was the beginning of the rest of his life, and now he hoped that Jane would share the journey with him.

Yesterday had been a wonderful day, and Jane, relaxed and at ease with herself, was excellent company. Their time at Demon’s Bridge had been exhilarating, and it had felt good to share the experience with someone he now cared about. They stood arm-in-arm in awe as they watched the geysers and the blowholes, and the Atlantic waves crash into the rocks. Jane asked a guide how the bridge got its name and had tears in her eyes when she learnt that it was where enslaved Africans would commit suicide to escape the horrors of slavery. With no land between the bridge and Africa, the hope was that the raging current would carry them home to their motherland.

In the evening, the Marley Men had performed in the Mermaid Theatre, and to Selwyn’s delight, Jane had taken his hands and pulled him to the dance floor. As they moved and grooved, Toots sang Selwyn’s favourite songs, and he felt the music embrace him.

Humming softly as Jane laid her head on his shoulder, he wrapped his arms around her and smiled, at last a happy man.

* * *

In the Deck Café, the breakfast brunch was busy. With a full sea day ahead, the mid-morning meal was popular. After rising late, Kath and Anne sat at a corner table sipping coffee and people-watching as diners arrived and took a seat.

‘Is Jane going to join us?’ Anne asked. She wore a polka-dot sundress and giant sunglasses, and licked cappuccino froth from her pouting lips.

‘Yes, I got a message to say she’ll be along presently,’ Kath replied, ‘but you were very late coming to bed last night. Did you go to the casino again?’ She put her cup down and began tucking into a selection of pastries.

‘I had a nightcap in the bar.’

‘With anyone we know?’

‘Er, yes, you do know him.’

Kath tore a croissant and spooned apricot jam. She knew that the smug expression on Anne’s face explained the discarded La Perla underwear in the bathroom, and it wasn’t rocket science to work out where Anne had been until the early hours.

‘Were you with the Captain?’ Kath played along. ‘Or perhaps you enjoyed a brandy with Bridgette or drinks with Harold and Nancy?’

‘Nope.’

‘I give up,’ Kath said. She continued to eat and waited for Anne to enlighten her.

‘You won’t like it...’

‘Not if your nightcap ended up in a comedian’s cabin below deck.’ Kath shrugged. ‘But you are old enough to be aware of what you are doing. I just don’t want you to get hurt.’

‘How did you guess?’ Anne lifted her sunglasses and stared at Kath.

‘Please, give me some credit.’ Kath shook her head. ‘I may have lived like a hermit for the past forty years and be losing my marbles, but I’m not completely without intuition.’

‘It’s just a bit of fun, I like him.’

Kath patted Anne’s hand. ‘Good, enjoy yourself, but remember Dicky is the ship’s gigolo and don’t let him take you for a ride. Emotionally or financially.’

Anne smiled as a server took her empty coffee cup and she ordered another. ‘Oh, he won’t be doing that, I think we have the measure of each other.’

At that moment, the friends were distracted. Bridgette entered with Harold and Nancy in tow, and they headed straight for their table.

‘Good morning, girls,’ Bridgette said and flung her bag down. ‘Our penultimate day – what are your plans?’

Before they could answer, Harold pulled out a chair for Nancy. She raised an eyebrow and studied Kath’s croissants. ‘Any going spare?’ she asked.

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