Page 65 of The Cruise Club

‘Make way!’ a voice called out moments later, and Kyle appeared. He wore bright red spandex Speedos, his sliders slapping as he sprinted down the deck with a medical kit slung over his shoulder. Gripping his two-way radio,he yelled, ‘Medics, to the viewing deck! Starboard side. Passenger down.’

Don leaped back, wide-eyed, and stared at Kyle. ‘I feel like I’m on the set ofBaywatch…’ he said as Kyle reached Sid and flung a rainbow-coloured towel to the floor.

Theo knelt beside Sid and looked up at Carmen, who gave a shrug and whispered, ‘He was the first crew member I could find…’

‘Don’t worry darling, I’ve got you,’ Kyle soothed as he knelt beside Theo and leaned over Sid, padding the towel beneath his own knees. ‘First things first, you need to breathe in and breathe out.’

Theo thought Kyle was stating the bleedin’ obvious and resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Was that the best that he could come up with? He scanned the fitness instructor’s face for a hint of medical expertise, knowing he’d heard more inspired advice on daytime TV.

‘Is it his heart?’ Fran whispered.

‘Without a doubt,’ Kyle replied. ‘Prepare yourself…’

Fran almost collapsed, and Theo could scarcely believe what he’d heard. If there was any more loose talk from Kyle, Fran would need medical assistance, too. He reached out and gripped Fran’s hand and smiled encouragingly, resisting the urge to fling Kyle to one side. ‘It’s fine, Fran,’ Theo said, ‘stay strong, your man is going to be okay.’

Passengers watching the unfolding scene stood back as two uniformed nurses appeared. Relinquishing his role, Theo breathed a sigh of relief as he let the professionals take over. He stood beside Carmen as Sid was examined with swift efficiency and wired up to a portable monitor. Thenurses asked if the wheelchair by the railings might be used to transport Sid to the medical facility, and Theo moved forward to assist.

‘Good job I was here,’ Kyle said and neatly folded his towel.

Theo raised an eyebrow and stared at Kyle. ‘I don’t know what we’d have done without your towel-folding skills,’ he said. ‘You’re the unsung hero of the day.’ Placing his arm around Fran’s shoulders as Sid was secured in the chair, he nodded as Carmen picked up Fran’s bag, both knowing Fran would need their support.

Sid’s eyes were closed. He held a hand to his chest and as the passengers parted, the nurses moved ahead with Sid, to a door halfway along the deck. Everyone else turned when a voice suddenly screeched out:

‘CARMEN! Where are those people going with my chair?’

Chapter Twenty-Six

Ruskin was aware that there had been a commotion on the viewing deck. News of a passenger collapsing swept through the ship like wildfire, igniting speculation as guests gathered in groups, exchanging fragments of what they’d heard. As the whispers built, some said that Sid was struck by molten lava from the volcano and would need to be airlifted to hospital on the mainland, while others muttered that a giant seabird had crashed against his head, rendering him senseless.

Sitting on a steamer bed by the side of the pool, Ruskin wondered if a body would be removed from the ship at their next port of call in Ibiza. Deaths on cruise lines, he knew, were not something a company openly reported. However, given the average age of the passengers on theDiamond Star, Ruskin thought such an incident would inevitably occur, and it was a plot he might use in his novel.

With his pen poised and notebook open, Ruskin couldn’t help but think about the ailing passenger. No one wanted their holiday to be marred by illness, especially on a cruise,which was a dream come true for many. But despite the commotion on the viewing deck, he felt that the atmosphere onboard that day was leisurely, and a sea day was the opportunity to relax beside the pool, sip a cocktail in an outdoor bar, and enjoy casual conversations.

Ruskin was hosting a workshop that afternoon but had decided to use his free time to think about Peter’s dilemma. Missing jewellery was a delicate matter, and Ruskin thought that without any concrete evidence, the items may simply have been misplaced or accidentally overlooked. Peter had given him the names of the passengers who’d lost items, and now, to Peter’s despair, one more missing item was added to the list. Neeta had reported that she couldn’t find her silver and emerald earrings.

Taking his pen, Ruskin jotted down his preliminary thoughts.

When was their last sighting of the piece and had the jewellery been lost on a shore excursion?

He knew that Peter was having the public rooms checked again in case anything had been left behind, but so far there was no sign of the missing jewellery. The situation required diplomacy to avoid panic amongst the passengers and as his thoughts formed, he caught glimpses of the calming turquoise waters stretching out to the horizon. ‘I shall enjoy this investigation,’ he mused, as an occasional fishing boat sailed by and a cruise ship could be seen on the horizon. He decided to make a start by discreetly speaking to those who’d suffered a loss.

A steward approached, and Ruskin ordered a beer.

As the ice-cold nectar refreshed his thirst, his thoughtsreturned to the earlier session with Carmen. Ruskin was aware that he’d been too tough with her. Foolishly pacing in his suite like a caged lion as they worked, he was aware that he was overly critical and that tearing apart each chapter of her book was unnecessary. But whatever he threw at her, Carmen seemed to soak it up. She was like a sponge, keen to improve, never buckling under the weight of his harsh comments. He couldn’t help but admire her resilience when every cutting suggestion was met with a quiet nod of acceptance.

But in his heart, Ruskin knew there was more to it all.

When Carmen entered his suite, he felt like a light had been turned on. Senses that had been dormant for years suddenly woke up, and he saw past the eager student to the woman stealing his heart. As she hesitantly took her place at his desk, he’d noted her features softened by the frame of perfectly styled hair. A faint blush coloured her cheeks as she tilted her head to avoid his gaze. Carmen had a quiet allure that drew him in, and when she looked up to listen to his harsh critique, her eyes held a hundred unspoken thoughts. What was she thinking?

He wondered if she hated him for how he’d treated her that morning. No one had to put up with rudeness but perhaps by overlooking it she was using him to achieve her goal?

Ruskin was battling with his feelings. Venetia had deadened his longing and lust, but Carmen’s vulnerability stirred it, despite his decision to lead a solitary life free from the demands of romance.

‘Sort yourself out, man,’ Ruskin told himself. He mustn’t let a longing for Carmen take control or complicate his life.

Draining his glass, he lay back and, enjoying the tranquillity, closed his eyes to nap. A little while later, voices from the side of the pool suggested that Kyle was about to start a Senior Splashdown session and as Ruskin slowly roused himself, he realised that someone was hovering by his bed.

‘What on earth are you doing?’ Ruskin asked as he opened his eyes and stared at the crouched figure of Dicky Delaney, who was flailing his hand beneath Ruskin’s bed.

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