Page 30 of The Cruise Club

‘Now, now, Neeta!’ Kyle wriggled his finger in mock annoyance as he endeavoured to get his session back on track. ‘Let’s all do a jumping jack!’ His megawatt smile encouraged the oldies but was soon replaced with a frown as everyone ducked to avoid flying limbs.

‘The medics will be busy if he keeps this up,’ Don said toa red-faced Debbie, who gripped her noodle as she jumping-jacked up and down.

Kyle moved on to water-bound arm curls and exaggerated hip twists. With each knee-high, Carmen stared anxiously at other participants and wondered if joint replacement waiting lists were still achingly long. As the session cooled down, Kyle instructed his class to shimmy like chorus line stars. Bosoms and bottoms wobbled as everyone attempted toshake it, shake it, shake it, as Kyle sang along.

‘Fabulooous!’ Kyle called out, clapping his hands. ‘Same time tomorrow everyone, don’t be late!’

As the pool emptied of bathers and Carmen began to enjoy a swim, she watched Kyle towel down his neon Speedos and comb his immaculate hair. Kyle’s body was that of an athlete, tanned, toned, and sprightly.Oh, to feel and look so well, Carmen thought, and wondered how many swimmers would be up to another Senior Splashdown. She knew that there was an excellent medical facility onboard and felt that after today’s session, some might be making good use of it.

As Carmen leisurely made her way through the water, a voice called out. ‘Well done, you survived!’ Looking up, she saw Theo sitting beside the pool. Wearing casual shorts and a T-shirt, he held a cocktail in his hand. ‘All a bit too energetic for me.’ He smiled.

Carmen felt pleased to see Theo and paused in her swim. ‘Hello, did you have a good nap?’ she asked.

‘Ah, I’m sorry about that, I struggle to sleep at night and sometimes find myself dozing during the day. I hope I didn’t drown out the talk with my snores.’

‘Not at all, I was engrossed,’ she replied, tilting her head. ‘You look happy, are you feeling brighter?’

Theo chuckled. ‘I am,’ he said, ‘there’s no smoke in my eyes now, and this drink is helping things along nicely. Why don’t you hop out and join me?’

Carmen doubted that she could hop anywhere after her recent exertions. She wondered if Betty was awake and was about to turn down the invitation but as she looked at Theo’s kind face, she decided that Betty could wait. Carmen couldn’t remember the last time a man had wanted to share her company, and she wasn’t about to let Betty spoil things. It would be churlish not to enjoy a drink with Theo.

‘Give me a minute while I fetch my robe.’ Carmen hoped Theo wouldn’t see her aged costume as she moved through the water and climbed out of the pool.

‘I took the liberty of ordering for you,’ Theo said when Carmen joined him.

‘Lovely,’ she replied as she lifted a fruit-filled cocktail stick and took a bite. ‘This looks interesting, what is it?’ She lifted her glass and began to drink.

‘A pina colada, made with rum and pineapple, it’s my favourite. Now tell me, what’s a delightful lady like yourself doing on a cruise full of old codgers?’

Carmen was about to insist that she was an old codger too, but realising that she was thirsty, she gulped the drink. The sudden effect of almost half a glass of rum made its way swiftly into her bloodstream and, for the first time since she’d boarded theDiamond Star, Carmen felt herself fully relax.

‘I write cosy mysteries,’ Carmen blurted, ‘my leading man is called the Rainbow Sleuth.’

Theo clapped his hands together. ‘I love it!’

‘Well, I’m afraid the Rainbow Sleuth has done a disappearing act and I’m having a bit of a writer’s block.’

‘You mean you stare at the screen, and nothing happens?’

‘Exactly,’ Carmen nodded. ‘I thought that this cruise would help clear my mind and having Ruskin Reeve onboard, to give a talk and workshops, might inspire me.’

‘And has it?’

‘Yes, after the talk I rushed to my laptop and found that words were filling the page.’

‘Excellent. Mission accomplished.’

‘Not really, my mother interrupted and now I’m back to the writing block.’

‘Here, let me clean your glasses,’ Theo said, reaching for a napkin, ‘you’re all steamed up.’ He began to polish, turning the heavy rims between his fingers. ‘Are these varifocals?’ he asked.

‘Yes, I’m as blind as a bat without them.’

‘It sounds like your mum is a problem,’ Theo said.

‘I came on the cruise to get away from my mother.’ Carmen finished the creamy cocktail, and Theo ordered another.

‘And did you?’

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