Page 87 of The Cruise Club

‘I’ve led such a sheltered life,’ she said, dabbing at her eyes. ‘Who would have thought there was such a thing as the Upside-Down Pineapple Pensioner Club?’

‘Apparently, upside-down pineapple parties are a global phenomenon, and we shouldn’t be surprised that they happen on cruise ships,’ Theo said. ‘Where better for people to relax and enjoy these… er… activities?’

‘Beware the upside-down pineapple,’ Carmen giggled, ‘I doubt my mother will ever buy one again.’

‘I heard a story that in Spain, a supermarket chain encourages shoppers who, on certain nights, place a pineapple upside down in their trolley as a sign that they’reavailable.’

Carmen’s eyes widened. ‘When you say “available,” do you mean…?’

‘Absolutely,’ Theo said with a mischievous smile. ‘Supermarket seduction or whatever else takes your fancy.’

‘My goodness.’ Carmen shook her head. ‘I need to get out more.’

‘But more importantly, dear girl, tell me about Ruskin.’

Carmen sank back in the pillows, her expression softening as she thought of her time with Ruskin on the promenade deck. ‘It was… nice,’ she admitted.

‘Nice?’Theo raised an eyebrow. ‘Carmen, please spill the beans.’

‘Well, we talked, walked and held hands and…’

‘Oh, pleeease…’ Theo rolled his eyes. ‘Get to the point. Did he take you back to his suite and ravish you?’

‘No, of course not.’ Carmen blushed. ‘But we did kiss.’ Carmen remembered their kisses and quietly wished it had led to something more.

‘Well, it’s a start, and I couldn’t be happier for you.’ Theo sat up. ‘Now, what’s on your agenda for today?’

‘Ruskin invited me to visit the Roman Theatre with him. There’s a tour that includes tapas tasting too.’

‘Perfect, your last day of the cruise spent together.’

‘But I can’t, can I?’ Suddenly anxious, Carmen swung her legs over the side of the bed, ‘I need to make sure Mum’s all right, and I can’t leave her alone after everything that’s happened, especially on the last day.’

Theo rose and took Carmen’s hands in his own.

‘Here’s what I suggest. I will take Betty to guest services to report her missing pearls. You must also tell Ruskin about Betty’s necklace, while you spend the day with him.’

‘But I can’t leave Betty.’ Carmen sighed.

‘Of course, you can.’ Theo tugged her to her feet. ‘You’ve spent most of your life taking care of Betty. Today, it’s my turn to sort her out and keep her amused. Go and enjoy yourself. You deserve it.’

Carmen stared at Theo. ‘Are you sure?’ she asked.

‘Positive, no arguments,’ he said with a reassuring smile. ‘After all, what are friends for?’

As they wandered around the Roman Theatre, Ruskin and Carmen were struck by the size of the amphitheatre as their guide explained that this was one of the most significantand well-preserved examples of Roman architecture on the Iberian Peninsula. Together with a group of passengers from theDiamond Star, they learned that the seating area in the theatre would have accommodated around six thousand spectators. Carmen was fascinated as she gazed up at the three seating tiers, which were divided by aisles and staircases, then, turning to look at Ruskin, she saw that he was engrossed in the wide semi-circle where an orchestra would have played.

‘There would have been marble flooring there.’ Ruskin pointed and read from a tourist pamphlet. ‘The stage’s backdrop has decorated columns, with sculptures created from locally sourced stone.’

‘It’s magnificent. Do you think it’s still used?’

‘Yes, cultural events are held here, and modern entertainment too, I imagine.’

Their guide informed the group that they had an hour to spend in the theatre and to wander at leisure before reconvening. Ruskin took Carmen’s hand, and they climbed to the top. There, they paused to catch their breath and take in the stunning view of the modern city of Cartagena amidst ancient ruins.

‘Look, we can see the sea in the distance,’ Carmen said, reaching for her phone to capture the moment.

‘Let’s take a selfie.’ Ruskin hugged her.

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