Page 77 of The Cruise Club

‘If I’m being truthful, Iwaswondering what he might be doing?’

‘Oh, Carmen, when will you ease up on yourself and let go a little?’ Theo shook his head. ‘The man told me that he is divorced and not in a relationship, so what have you gotto lose?’ Theo omitted to add that Ruskin had also told him that he had no intention of beingina relationship.

‘But he isn’t very nice to me.’ Carmen’s excuse sounded lame, even to herself.

‘He was all over you when you had a drink with him in the piano bar, until you stood up and left. It’s only in a classroom environment that he pushes you – can’t you see that he wants the best for your writing?’

‘Well, I sent him a note saying I didn’t want any more tuition and would enjoy the time I had left enjoying the cruise.’

Theo took Carmen’s arm and began to march her through the cobbled, zigzagging alleyways until they found a bar overlooking the central plaza. They’d almost finished a carafe of sangria and several plates of tapas when Theo looked up and saw Ruskin sitting at a café on the opposite side of the square.

‘It’s a sign, now’s your chance!’ Theo said excitedly. ‘Go over and offer to buy him a drink in return for help with your novel.’

Carmen hesitated as she listened to Theo, her mind swirling with unspoken thoughts. Would Ruskin notice her if she walked by his table, and more importantly, would he make his excuses and leave if she offered to buy him a drink? As Carmen studied Ruskin, she could see that he was lost in thought, seemingly miles away from the buzzing atmosphere all around. The afternoon sun caught his face, highlighting the charm that Carmen found so appealing and as Carmen heard Theo ask her what she had to lose, she suddenly felt a sense of excitement, and with her nervessoftened by the sangria, she grabbed the sides of her chair and stood.

‘Atta girl!’ Theo grinned. ‘Go for it!’

‘Do I look all right?’ Carmen asked, reaching out to tidy her hair.

‘You look beautiful. Sun-kissed and sexy in your gorgeous outfit.’

‘Okay, here goes.’

Carmen’s heart pounded as she stepped into the open plaza, each footfall heavier than the last. She rubbed her clammy palms against the fabric of her sundress and whispered a prayer that Ruskin wouldn’t turn her away. Rehearsing her words, she felt a knot of fear in her stomach.What if he says no and laughs at the suggestion of sharing a drink with me?But Theo’s encouraging words drummed in her ears and urged her forward.

Carmen was behind Ruskin and close enough to catch the leathery scent of his cologne. Her voice felt trapped, and she forced herself to swallow her fear. But just as Carmen was about to step forward into Ruskin’s vision and ask her question, a woman hurried through the crowd to his table.

‘Darling, darling!’ the woman called out. ‘I’ve missed you so much!’

Carmen froze. Her breath caught in her throat as she watched the woman embrace Ruskin with unguarded joy, her laughter ringing out. Her sun-kissed hair fell in loose waves, streaked with silver, and she’d tucked a red hibiscus behind one ear. A flowing off-the-shoulder dress, patterned with embroidery, displayed deeply tanned skin, and huge, heavy amber beads were draped around her neck. Thewoman epitomised the island’s soul, and as Carmen stared at the timeless beauty, she suddenly felt frumpy and old.

Carmen quickly looked away. Tears dampened the corner of her eyes as she began the agonising walk back to Theo.

No wonder Ruskin never noticed her furtive glances! Or her quiet attempts to be near him. He had a partner! A bitter inner voice told her that she’d been foolish and suddenly she felt stupid and hurt for letting her heart chase something so clearly out of reach.

As she reached the café, Theo was waiting. ‘Come here, sweetheart,’ he called out.

Theo’s face bore the pain she felt as he stood with his arms outstretched, and as he embraced and stroked her softly, Carmen buried her head into his shoulder and whispered, ‘At least I know now that there’s no hope…’

Chapter Thirty-One

Fran and Sid stopped in the old town to enjoy refreshments, and found a spot, shaded from the sun under a brightly coloured parasol at a café in the plaza’s centre. The sunlit haven was encircled by bustling shops, colourful stalls in a fresh produce market, and buildings where balconies spilt over with vibrant pots of sweet-smelling herbs.

‘It’s grand to be here, despite the climb to get to this spot,’ Sid said as he drank a glass of sparkling water and then topped it up from a bottle on the table. ‘I feel like we’ve stepped back in time, sitting and watching the world go by.’

A nearby fountain trickled softly, its gentle sound mixing with the hum of conversation from tourists and locals. As the smell of freshly baked bread and rich espresso drifted over from a table nearby, Sid gazed longingly at the fluffy white dough.

Fran noticed Sid’s expression and reached into her bag. ‘Have a banana,’ she said, ‘keep your heartburn at bay.’

‘This is a lovely place,’ Sid said as he watched childrenchase each other around the fountain. ‘Can you imagine all the history over the years?’

They stared at the sturdy stone walls of the Dalt Vila, where from this vantage point, the shimmering Mediterranean could be glimpsed in the distance.

Sid, intrigued by the town’s rich history, reached for his guidebook. Flipping through the pages, he began to read aloud, ‘The old part of Ibiza spans more than two and a half thousand years and is one of Europe’s oldest towns.’

‘I expect lots of cultures have left their mark,’ Fran commented as she drained a glass of orange juice.

‘They certainly have, from the Romans, Byzantines, Arabs and Catalans. The book says that the architecture reflects all those different cultures.’

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