by Shari Low
She could feel the anger rise again. ‘Come on Patsy, pick up,’ she murmured into the phone as it rang. And rang. And…
‘Hello!’
‘Yay, you’re there – I was beginning to think you were ignoring me,’ Sarah said with a cheeriness that definitely didn’t go all the way to her toes.
‘I was in the bath, doll,’ Patsy replied.
‘Sorry. Anyway, too much of that relaxation stuff isn’t good for you. Thank God I got you out of there,’ she joked.
‘I wasn’t alone.’
‘Oh my God, I’m so sorry. I’ll call you back tomorrow.’
‘It’s fine!’ Patsy cackled at her friend’s embarrassment. ‘To be honest, I was looking for an excuse to get out. I don’t get the whole romantic bath thing. The water ends up freezing and there’s no way I’m wobbling my bits about in a confined space. Could end up getting stuck in there for days. So tell me the latest. Has the cowboy line-danced you up the aisle?’
‘Oh, bugger, the cowboy! I was supposed to meet him tonight. Shit! I’d forgotten all about that. He’s going to think I stood him up.’
‘Why?’
‘Because we missed the boat. We got stranded in Sorrento – me, Tess, Max and Piers. And there’s been a bit of a development.’
‘Oooh, tell me.’ Sarah could see Patsy in her mind right now. She was standing in the kitchen in her pink fluffy robe, she’d just poured a black coffee from the pot that was on morning and night, lit a cigarette, then sat down at her big old pine table, eager to hear the gossip.
‘Got your coffee and cig?’
‘Absolutely. Now shoot.’
‘Piers told me he has feelings for me today. Says he misses me when I’m not around. Wanted to buy me jewellery.’
There was a choking noise on the other end of the line.
‘Fuck me sideways, didn’t see that coming,’ Patsy eventually gasped.
‘Me neither.’
‘So what did you say?’
‘I got completely furious, told him he was an idiot and stormed off. I haven’t spoken to him since.’
‘But did you take the jewellery? You should have. Never say no to anything that can be returned for cash.’
‘Patsy, that is not the bloody point here,’ Sarah demanded, exasperated.
‘You’re right, you’re right! Sorry. Focus. So let me get this – your ex-husband’s ex-wife’s husband has hit on you. I love this. It’s like a soap opera gone wrong.’
‘Patsy…’ The warning in Sarah’s voice was as stern as she could possibly make it. It’s just that it was difficult not to laugh when talking to Patsy, even when all around her was going to hell.
‘I’m focussing! It was wrong of him to do that. Definitely. But then he’s married to Mona – I’m surprised the poor bloke isn’t clutching on to the ankle of every woman he meets, begging for some love and affection.’
‘Patsy, you’re not helping.’
‘Sorry. Look, take the positives. He likes you. No wonder – you’re fabulous. And it’s not exactly the end of the world when a guy who you’ve been having a great time with decides to tell you how great you are. Just let it be. Stay friends. Don’t get mad. And if Mona ever finds out and comes after you, don’t worry – I reckon I can take her.’
As Sarah smiled with amused exasperation, she heard a knock at the door. The surprise almost made her topple off her chair. ‘Patsy, there’s someone at the door, I have to go. Bugger, my heart’s racing. It had better be Tess, not Piers.’
‘Keep me on the line, I want to listen!’ Patsy screeched.
‘No, my battery is about to…’
The phone went dead. Tess could just picture Patsy lighting up another cig while muttering in outrage at having her fun spoiled.
Crossing the room, her stomach was fizzing with anxiety. Please make it be Tess. Tess. Or maybe even Max. But no-one who came with drama or silly bloody notions.
This was exactly why she was better off happily pottering away in her kitchen with a bowl of cake mix, not having to deal with the complications of relationships.
When she swung open the door, deep down, she already knew who would be standing there.
‘I’m sorry.’
She didn’t know how to reply. He looked so thoroughly miserable that her first instinct was to give him a hug and make him a cup of tea.
‘I shouldn’t have said what I said earlier. I got carried away and blurted it out and it was stupid. Trust me, it wasn’t something I planned.’
She sighed as she leaned against the doorway. ‘And I probably overreacted,’ she admitted. ‘It’s not the kind of thing that happens to me every day.’
‘Well, it should,’ he said simply.
‘Piers, don’t. This is so many different levels of wrong. Even if there was an attraction, I would never, ever go near anyone else’s husband. It’s just not in my makeup to do that.’
‘And is there? An attraction?’
This was what it all came down to. It was up to her. Everything that Mona had ever done to her could be repaid with what happened next. She’d wondered about revenge so many times, contemplated whether it would make her feel better. It probably would – but only until her conscience kicked in and she had to answer to herself for what she’d done. The truth was that it didn’t matter how she felt, the only thing she could do was what was right.
‘No, Piers. I’m really sorry, but there isn’t.’
14.
Catching Up
Sarah
Sarah was relieved that most of the journey to Civitavecchia passed in small talk and silence, and even then it was Tess and Max who were doing most of the chattering. It was good to see them getting along so well. Tess deserved some light relief from the problems that she was having with Drew. What a bloody fool he was. Speaking of fools… Piers had barely said a word other than to make idle chitchat with Leo, who had borrowed his cousin’s jeep to drive them north. Sarah suspected that they were all spending their quiet time wondering if Italy had a reliable version of the AA, because there was a strange rattling sound coming from the engine. Wouldn’t that just top it off? A breakdown on the way to the ship, causing them to miss it again.
It was a huge relief when they pulled into the port town. The literal translation of Civitavecchia was ‘ancient town’ and it looked like a wonderfully eclectic mix of the old and new. Normally Sarah would be dying to stop off and have a wander around, but for now it was probably best just to get back to the ship.
The security staff at the top of the gangplank processed their return and welcomed them back on board and, to her surprise, Sarah realized just how happy she was to be back. First priority was to see Eliza, then John, Penny and the twins, then she had a sinking feeling that an explanation to a cowboy was in order.
After friendly goodbyes in the elevator, she headed to her cabin only to find it exactly the way she’d left it yesterday. Good. Drew had obviously come through on his promise to keep Eliza in his suite overnight. She had no doubt whatsoever that her daughter had been hugely miffed not to have been allowed to stay on her own. Or more worryingly with Kai. Yes, it had been absolutely right to get Drew to step in.
Sliding the wardrobe open, she pulled out a pretty pale blue sundress and removed the tags. The more she thought about it, the more she realized she should keep all the new clothes she bought instead of returning them when she got home. Maybe her wardrobe did deserve to be updated once every decade.
She checked her watch. Two o’clock. John and Penny and the kids would probably be finishing off lunch. After a quick wash to freshen up, she headed up to Waterfalls, the self-service buffet restaurant on deck ten. On the way there, she made a decision – all she wanted to do was spend time with her family. That was it. No more exploits. No more flirtations. No more reckless adventures. Except maybe a wee line dance with a certain cowboy. But definitely no more time alone with Piers. Family. That’s what this trip was all about.
It didn’t take her long to f
ind John, Penny and the twins, and, to her surprise, Eliza was with them too, looking predictably fed up, something that wasn’t helped in any way by Sarah giving her a huge hug.
‘Sorry about last night, darling. Did you have a good time with your dad?’
‘Yeah, but now I’m on, like, lockdown or something.’
John and Penny found this highly amusing. ‘Dad asked us to keep an eye on her today, but unfortunately my little sister doesn’t seem to relish the thrill of spending time bonding with her big brother. Apparently we’re depriving her of Kai time.’
Eliza just tutted and rolled her eyes, setting them all off again.
‘I know, I know – we’re, like, so lame,’ John said, ruffling her hair.
Even a temperamental sixteen-year-old couldn’t help but laugh. ‘OK, Mum, so you’re back now – can I get out of jail, please?’
‘Oh, but honey, I thought we could have the day together, go for a wander in the port and do some sightseeing. Spend some time with just the two of us to make up for yesterday.’
Eliza’s expression flipped straight back to horror.
Sarah was too amused to be hurt. ‘Well, I suppose if you’ve got a better offer…’ she said with a smile.
Eliza was out of the chair like a speeding bullet, and this time the hug she gave Sarah had true feeling. ‘Thanks, Mum, you’re the best. See you later. Love you.’
She was gone, leaving Sarah shaking her head. ‘You know, with that speed we should really have channelled her into athletics.’
‘Only if there’s an Olympic category in the one hundred metre chase of a boy,’ John added.
‘Penny, you’re looking great,’ Sarah told her daughter-in-law.
‘I know,’ Penny replied, bashfully. ‘I’m never getting off this boat. Never. I thought it was going to be so stressful having two toddlers on holiday, but this is paradise. The twins are absolutely loving it and they’re doing so many things that they’re exhausted and sleeping through every night. I’m getting eight hours sleep, a nap in the afternoon, twenty-four-hour help if I need it, some sun, good food, and I even had a spa treatment yesterday. My body may still be in shock. You’re going to have to bring in a task force to get me off when we dock.’ Her eyes flicked quickly to her watch. ‘John, we have to go. It’s time for our pamper package.’
‘Your what?’ Sarah was beyond surprised. Her big tough West of Scotland son wouldn’t normally have the word ‘pamper’ in his vocabulary.
‘Don’t ask, Mum. I had nothing to do with this. I’ve only agreed to go along on the condition that it becomes one of those family secrets that we all take to the grave.’
‘I solemnly swear never to repeat it. Shall I take the twins? We could go swimming or down to the play area for the afternoon.’
‘Thanks, Sarah,” Penny replied, “but they’ve got yoga in ten minutes, then they’re going to swim club and they really love both. You don’t mind, do you?’
‘No, not at all! I’m thrilled that they are having such a great time. Come here, you two, and give gran a huge hug.’
The twins were delighted to oblige, before John and Penny scooped them up and headed off in a flurry of excitement. Sarah’s heart melted with another flashback to when John was small. Drew would lift him in those huge strong arms and sweep him off down to the sea to paddle or to the grass to play football and they’d laugh all day long. Watching John with Penny, she wondered if she should have worked harder at keeping her marriage together. Maybe she should have overlooked the affair, begged him not to leave for the sake of the children.
She hadn’t.
She’d let Mona take him, determined that she wouldn’t hang on to someone who no longer loved her. She and Drew should be sitting here now, with their children and grandchildren, planning what to do with their day. But he’d blown it and she knew she was right to cut him loose, even if it meant she was now left here on her own and her earlier resolution to focus all her time with the family now seemed redundant. The truth was that they didn’t need her. Her first dip of the toe in the waters of independence hadn’t gone particularly well. But maybe she was being too rash about deciding never to go back in the water. It was time to make a new life.
A figure over at the dessert stand stopped, turned, and caught her gaze, a flicker of uncertainty crossing his face.
Sarah stood up and made towards him. Perhaps it was time to put both feet in the pool and be damned.
Tess
Tess’s lip was red raw by the time the elevator opened on deck twelve. With a chorus of goodbyes, Max and Piers got out and turned right while she turned to the left to see… did Colita ever go home? She seemed to be at that desk twenty-four hours a day.
‘Ah, Mrs Gold, how are you? We were very worried about you yesterday. Glad to see that you made it back to us safely today.’
‘Thank you, Colita.’ Please don’t say anything else. Nothing. Just let me go in peace.
‘Mrs Gold, I also have another letter for you. Would you like to take it now?’
No. Absolutely not.
‘Yes, of course, Colita, thank you.’
She took the white envelope and headed through into the corridor, letting it sear the inside of her hand. Why couldn’t she just ignore it? She shouldn’t even open it. She should just toss it away. This was all complicated enough. No doubt Drew was furious with her for missing the ship yesterday and she was going to have to do some serious making up. Maybe it would be good to have a row. Perhaps that would clear the air and they could find some way to hash out the problems and sort this out.
Or maybe she was kidding herself on. The last couple of days with Piers and Max had really given her some breathing space and she’d enjoyed it. In fact, it had been a real treat last night having dinner and not wondering if the man across from you would get a call any minute, then dash off into the night to chase some story, leaving you to nurse a glass of wine and pay the bill. It had been a real novelty sitting relaxing for hours, swaying from serious subjects to light-hearted nonsense. She’d almost told Max about the letters. Almost. But it hadn’t felt right to tell him when her own husband knew nothing about them and she was still so undecided about how she felt about them or the guy who was sending them.
Stuffing the letter in the bag, she decided that she’d read it later. The most important thing now was to check in with Drew and sort out the rest of the day. It was probably wishful thinking, but perhaps they could go lie by the pool or maybe even have a late lunch and go explore some of the areas of the ship that they hadn’t been to yet.
The cabin door clicked as she slipped her key in the lock and she exhaled, then forced on a sunny expression.
‘Darling, I’m home,’ she shouted, to deafening silence. No doubt he was out on that balcony again, hunched over the laptop as usual. At this rate, the only way he’d have a souvenir from this trip that really meant something to him would be if he took home that chair from the balcony.
Nope, not there either. She searched upstairs, in the bathroom, nothing. He must have gone up for lunch with Eliza and John. Perhaps taken the twins swimming. Or, God forbid, maybe he was just lying out somewhere relaxing and switching off from the rest of the world.
A quick change and she’d go find him, but first she needed a drink.
The note was lying on top of the fridge. A scrawled few words on the ship’s stationery. It took her a minute to decipher his scrawl and then she read it again, sure she must have been mistaken. But no.
Gone to Rome. Be back by nightfall… if we don’t miss the boat. Drew x
Her first thought was to wonder if the last part of the sentence was a gentle joke or a nasty dig. How sad was it that she really wasn’t sure? Did she know her husband at all? Her second thought was one of surprise – it was now a well-established fact that he hated sightseeing. Thought number three was disappointment that he’d gone to Rome without her. It was only when she got to thought number four that her nerve endings began to bristle. He’d written ‘
we’.
She doubted very much that John and Penny would make the long trip into Rome with the twins, and they wouldn’t leave them for a whole day. She couldn’t see Eliza being prised away from the boy she was seeing. So that left… argh! Bloody Mona. That woman was everywhere. And meanwhile she and Drew were the proverbial ships passing in the day and night!
Furious, she swapped her bottle of water for a beer and then plumped down on the couch, where she spent the next ten minutes running through every insulting name she could think of for both of them. She was up to ‘bastarding fucknuggets’ when she remembered the letter in her bag.
Gingerly, she opened it and almost melted as she read…
Missing you. No one to share my donuts with. Meet me in Monaco. I’ll bring the ones with sprinkles. Cxx
Her conflicting emotions went to war, beating the crap out of each other – she missed him, he was pressurizing her, she loved her husband, she hated her husband, she would meet Cameron, she wouldn’t meet him, she wanted off this boat, this was the most wonderful place on earth, she hated Mona – no, there was no opposition to that one – until she slumped into a torpor of numbness.
When the phone rang, she decided it was probably a bad idea to answer. If it was Drew, she couldn’t trust herself not to blurt out ‘fucketing traitors’. It would probably be a good idea to spend some time developing her swearing skills.
On the other hand, it might be Sarah looking for company and she could do with that right about now. She picked up the handset.
‘Hey Tess, it’s Piers. Can you believe those two have buggered off? I reckon we’re definitely in the bad books, love.’
‘Yep, I expect to see our faces on WANTED posters all over the ship,’ she replied, trying not to sound bitter. So Mona was with Drew. She was right, but that thought gave her no satisfaction at all. An uncharacteristic wave of fury engulfed her, and it took every ounce of self-discipline not to blurt out a random profanity. Thankfully, Piers didn’t notice, as he went on, ‘Yeah, well, I suppose we deserve it after last night.’