Page 48 of The Cruise Club

‘Holden has asked me to join him,’ Betty said, ‘but only if my poor old bones can bear to be upright for a few minutes.’ She raised her cane, ‘Come on, hurry up, we don’t want to miss the boat.’

Carmen was at a loss for words, and Theo, sensing her confusion, took the handles of Betty’s chair. ‘I’ve got this,’ he said, tilting his head to indicate that they should be making their way.

‘She’s beyond belief…’ Carmen muttered as the trio went along the bumpy path that led to the jetty.

‘Holden Jackson seems like a gentleman,’ Theo said as Betty’s head slumped and she dozed. With the sun beaming down and the jetty in sight, Theo remembered the pineapple print he’d noticed on Holden’s shirt and grinned as he thought about Betty and the American.

Was Colin and Neeta’s UDPPC about to get a new member?

Chapter Twenty

When Theo, Carmen and Betty got back to theDiamond Star, they realised that there was a commotion taking place on the side of the quay. The coach that had taken passengers to the beach was emptying, and a crowd surrounded a woman lying prostrate on the ground.

‘Move back!’ Peter said, thrusting his clipboard to one side. The crowd, like a flock of startled birds, dispersed, giving the woman more space. ‘Let her get some air,’ he added, removing a towel from his bag to roll up and place under her head.

Betty, now wide awake, poked about with her cane. ‘Let me through!’ she called out, prodding the backside of a woman in tight Lycra shorts.

‘Mother, behave yourself!’ Carmen hissed and apologised to the furious-faced woman who was rubbing her rear.

‘I want to see what’s going on.’ Betty’s voice was as sharp as a knife. ‘Someone’s probably caught something terminal on that island, and we’re all about to drop like flies.’

‘Don’t be ridiculous,’ Carmen snapped. Thinking itbest to manoeuvre Betty away and head towards the ship, Carmen turned when Fran came hurrying towards them.

‘Cooee!’ Fran called out. ‘Have you had a lovely day?’

‘Yes, it’s been wonderful, but what’s happening here?’ Carmen asked.

‘Don’t worry, dear,’ Fran said softly, patting Carmen’s arm. ‘It’s Debbie, she’s had a drop too much.’

As Fran was speaking, Don appeared and marched towards them. ‘Drop too much?’ he angrily scoffed, ‘She’s three sheets to the wind and singing like a sailor.’

True to his words, a sound echoed across the quay.

‘I DID IT MY WAAAY!’ Debbie, now hauled into a sitting position, belted out the famous Frank Sinatra number and several cruisers who’d also been to the beach joined in.

‘They’re saying that she had neat ouzo in her water bottle,’ Fran confided, her voice lowered. ‘Don hadn’t a clue and thought she was keeping herself hydrated.’

Theo began to laugh as the singing sunbathers chorused. ‘And through it all… She took the fall… and did it… HER WAAAY!’

‘She’ll be doing it her own way when she sobers up,’ Don huffed, ‘all the way to the nearest flight home.’

‘Oh, come on now,’ Theo said, reaching out an arm and giving Don a playful punch. ‘Your woman is on holiday, she’s been having fun, and let’s face it, we’ve all been where she is.’

Carmen wasn’t so sure about that as she stared at Debbie, who now had a paper bag in her hand and was retching violently.

‘Disgraceful,’ Betty mumbled.

‘Debbie’s singing is the most I’ve heard her say all cruise,’ Theo whispered to Carmen.

‘That’s true.’ Carmen nodded. ‘Don is always the mouthpiece for both of them.’

‘Nothing to see here!’ Peter called out. He flapped his hands to disperse the crowd and winced when Debbie projected two olives and a half-digested cherry onto his towel.

‘Does Debbie need a hand?’ Carmen asked.

‘Probably not,’ Theo said, ‘it looks like the cavalry has arrived.’ He pointed to two medics who were hauling Debbie to her feet. ‘A rest and a black coffee and she’ll soon be dancing again.’ Theo grinned.

‘Not likely,’ Don complained, ‘she’s as wobbly as a three-legged stool.’ He stared at the medics who were now red-faced as Debbie’s weight fell against them. ‘It’s like lifting a sack of tatties…’ Don added.

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