Page 79 of The Cruise Club

Carmen, however, was a source of frustration and it occurred to him that if he really wanted to get to know Carmen, he should man up and ask her to have a drink with him. Never mind working on her novel or any conversation over the requirements needed to pen a good story, he should heed her words that she wanted to enjoy the final days of the cruise and finish her novel once she arrived home. What harm could it do to share a cocktail or two?

There was only one way to find out.

Despite his intentions to stay celibate and alone, Carmen filled his thoughts, and until she turned him away in person, he wouldn’t be free of her hold on his mind. And if she said yes, he might find himself ripping up his romantic rule book and risking everything to see where it led.

With his mind made up to track Carmen down as soon as he returned to the ship, he felt comfortable in the café and sipped his wine, savouring the soporific effect. Ruskin’s eyes felt heavy, and with his sunglasses shielding him from the sun’s rays, his lids began to close.

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

Ruskin felt his body freeze. With a suppressed dread, he slowly looked up to see Venetia standing before him.

‘Imagine findingyouhere!’ she said, leaning in. She cupped Ruskin’s face and began to kiss him.

‘Venetia, what the hell are you doing?’ Ruskin said through gritted teeth.

‘That’s no way to greet me,’ Venetia replied, pulling out a chair she pouted as she made herself comfortable. ‘You could at least smile.’

Venetia ordered wine and began to speak, the words tumbling out like a faucet Ruskin couldn’t turn off. She spoke as though they were still married, oblivious to Ruskin’s new single life. He stared at her hair, which fell in loose waves, and noted that it was streaked heavily with grey, and despite the playful hibiscus tucked behind her ear, his ex-wife was showing her age. The short, embroidered off-the-shoulder dress wasn’t flattering and appeared far too young for a woman in her sixties. The depth of her tan was ageing her skin beyond her years.

Venetia’s incessant rambling about their shared memories droned on, and Ruskin knew that he had to end the situation he didn’t want to be a part of.

‘Venetia. Stop!’ he suddenly announced. ‘Why are you stalking me?’

‘Well, I knew theDiamond Starwould be in Ibiza today and thought it would be nice for us to meet up.’

‘Are you deliberately going out of your way to antagonise me?’ Ruskin was aghast. ‘Are you telling me that you’ve flown out here just to sit and chat?’

‘Er, sort of, well no, I mean… I have my jewellery in several shops and am going to check on sales.’

Ruskin recalled the silversmith course that he’d funded for Venetia after they’d parted. He’d hoped that it would inspire her to settle down and channel her energy into somethingmeaningful rather than pursuing her harebrained schemes that had occupied their lives up until the divorce. He had to admit that her silver pendants were marketable, and he knew that she still had connections to several outlets in Ibiza, remnants of her hippy days before they met. But checking on sales was something she could do with a phone call from home.

‘Venetia…’ Ruskin removed his sunglasses and, leaning forward, spoke quietly. ‘We are divorced, we are not together, nor will we ever be a couple again.’ He looked into her misting eyes. ‘You are a talented woman with much to offer, but not to me.’

‘How can you be so cold?’ Venetia crossed her arms, then childishly scrunched her nose. Reaching for her wine, she took a long drink.

‘I’m not cold, I’ve been as kind as possible, but you must stop this ridiculous stalking.’

‘I don’t know how to live my life without you,’ she muttered, twisting the stem of the glass in her fingers.

Ruskin thought that Venetia had lived her life exactly as she wanted when she was with him and wouldn’t find it too difficult to continue doing so.

‘Why don’t you stay out here for a while? You love Ibiza,’ he said.

‘Oh, it’s all so commercialised now with superstar DJs, electronic music and luxury hotels, I’m far too old for all of that.’

‘Nonsense, there are wellness retreats, yoga centres and cultural experiences that you love.’

‘I want to be with you, Ruskin.Please, won’t you give me another chance?’

Ruskin took a deep breath. He chose his words carefully, his voice low and gentle. ‘I need you to hear me, Venetia,’ he began. ‘We had good moments, moments I’ll always remember, and we have two wonderful sons. We are blessed with grandchildren, our precious little girls. But our life together is a chapter that is closed.’

Venetia opened her mouth as if to protest, but Ruskin raised his hand. ‘You are talented, creative, and much stronger than you think.’ His voice was tinged with genuine admiration. ‘You have so much to offer, but not with me.’

Her eyes glistened, and Ruskin felt a pang in his chest but knew he had to press on. ‘I want you to find someone who makes you truly happy and will let you shine in the way that I know you can. But to do that, you must let me go.’

Leaning back, Ruskin gave her a moment to absorb his words. Then, standing, he reached into his pocket and drew out enough euros to cover the wine.

‘Take care, Venetia,’ he said softly, and, turning, began to walk away. As Ruskin crossed the plaza, he kept his gaze fixed forward and he didn’t look back.

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