Page 84 of The Cruise

‘Whoever would have thought it?’ Anne grinned. ‘She’s transformed herself.’

‘This is the life,’ Harold added. ‘It beats Britain on a wintery day.’

‘Not for long.’ Nancy killed the moment. ‘This time tomorrow we’ll all be heading back.’

In a synchronised line, hands reached out, drinks were downed, and Harold went for refills.

Jane and Selwyn came out of the water and walked hand in hand to join the group.

‘I read somewhere that once you’ve been to Barbados, the island gets into your bones, and you never forget it,’ Kath mused. ‘The locals have an expression that means you will always return.

‘Please enlighten us.’ Bridgette stared at Kath.

‘They say, “My bellybutton is buried in Barbados,”’ Kath informed everyone.

‘I think my bellybutton is buried on theDiamond Star,’ Anne nodded.

‘And I can’t find my bellybutton!’ Jane added and prodded her tummy.

Harold returned and everyone chinked beakers. ‘Happy New Year!’ they called out.

* * *

The evening cabaret had a party-like atmosphere as the passengers, dressed in movie-themed fancy dress, enjoyed a spectacular show by theDiamond Starentertainers. Dicky, as host, was at his most comical as he introduced acts. Playing Danny to Melissa’s Sandy, he wore jeans, a white T-shirt, a leather jacket, and his hair greased into a quiff. They sang a medley from the musicalGrease, as Melissa gyrated in a Bardot body suit and red high heels, her blonde hair bouncing. The audience was on their feet as Danny and Sandy told each other that they were ‘The One That I Want!’

The finale saw the band join with all the artistes as they sang their farewell song. The Marley Men linked arms with the dancers, and Melissa and Dicky invited everyone to raise their arms and sway.

‘We’ll meet again, don’t know where don’t know when...’

There were tears in the eyes of many as they all sang along.

‘Now don’t be sad,’ Dicky called out, ‘it’s almost midnight and don’t forget that the party continues after the countdown.’

‘Are you ready?’ Melissa encouraged the audience.

‘Ten, nine, eight…’

Together with Dicky, to a drumbeat, they counted down the seconds.

‘Three, two, one… HAPPY NEW YEAR!’

Everyone was on their feet, turning to their partners and friends to embrace.

Anne hugged Kath, and they turned to reach for Jane. But their friend was wrapped around Selwyn and unlikely to come up for air anytime soon.

‘Happy New Year!’ Harold and Nancy cried out.

The pair were unrecognisable as Morticia and Gomez fromThe Addams Family. Nancy tripped on the hem of her long black gown, dislodging her jet-black wig and smearing ruby-red lipstick.

‘Steady on, lass,’ Harold, wearing a pinstriped suit, spluttered on an unlit cigar as he caught her.

With Nancy back on her feet, Harold turned to stare at Armani, who’d appeared on rollerblades wearing a visor and with a glow stick in her hand.

‘By heck, it’s Barbie!’ He grinned and stared at Armani’s low-cut leotard worn over baby-pink biker shorts.

‘Down, Gomez!’ Morticia roared.

Nets on the ceiling parted to send balloons and golden confetti cascading onto the partygoers, and, under a spinning disco ball, the dance floor filled as the band began to play.

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