She stopped beside the chair Rupert pulled out for her. Celia leaped up from the seat at the head of the table that Ketty had occupied last night. “I’ve taken your place.”
“Not at all.” Ketty motioned her to sit. “There are no set seats at the table.”
“Only I thought you weren’t going to be here.” Celia still hovered over her chair.
“I changed my mind.” Ketty draped her napkin across her lap. “It doesn’t pay to make one’s life too rigid in routine.” She turned a brilliant smile on Celia. “I thought tonight I would break with tradition.” The truth was, her chat with Jim earlier had unsettled her. She wanted to observe him some more, but she’d also decided she didn’t want to eat alone.
“Good evening, ladies.” Bernard’s welcome oozed charm and Celia nearly fell off her chair, leaning over to pat the empty one beside her.
“Do sit here, Bernard. I want to hear all about your day.”
He did as she bid. “How delightful you both look tonight, ladies.”
Celia gave a stuttering giggle and Ketty raised an eyebrow. She sounded almost girlish.
“That’s very kind, Bernard,” Celia said. “You’re looking rather dapper yourself.”
Ketty tore her gaze from Celia’s blinking eyelids to Bernard. Tonight’s shirt was covered in swirls of vivid blue, pinks and oranges on a white background. Few could pull off wearing a shirt like that but it suited him. She could tell from the fit and the fabric it was expensive. Bernard obviously enjoyed quality.
“Are your family coming?” Celia asked.
“Christine and Frank will be along shortly, I expect.” Bernard took a sip from the water Rupert had poured.
“That’s lovely,” Celia said, but her facial expression looked anything but pleased.
Another figure caught Ketty’s eye.
“Good, Jim’s coming.”
“So, my company isn’t enough for you?” Bernard put a hand to his heart. “I’m devastated.”
“I’m sure you’re not,” Ketty said. “I’m just pleased to see he hasn’t stayed in his room.”
“Ahhh, so Jim is the real reason you’ve joined us,” Bernard teased, not realising the truth in his words. “Welcome, Jim.” Bernard indicated the chair beside him as Jim drew level with the table. “Thanks for evening up the numbers.”
Christine and Frank arrived next and she took the spare seat beside Ketty while Frank took the one beside Jim, leaving the two empty spaces at the end of the table between them.
Hmm, Ketty thought, still trouble in paradise.
“Are you feeling better, Princess?” Bernard asked.
“Yes.” Christine settled herself in her chair and let out a long sigh.
“Seasickness?” Ketty asked.
“Exhaustion more like.” Christine gave Ketty a haughty glance. “Seasickness is mind over matter.”
“She’s been drinking ginger ale,” Frank said. “She’s feeling much better.”
Ketty pursed her lips to harness her smile.
“I wouldn’t mind something stronger now.” Christine leaned forward and fiddled with the pendant at her neck.
“Oh, is that new?” Celia’s question and her wiggling finger pointing in Christine’s direction drew everyone’s attention to the pendant around the younger woman’s neck. It was a rose gold chain, and a sparkling heart dangled from it.
“Dad bought it for me.” Christine gave her father an adoring look.
Once more Ketty had to contain her smile. She laid it on thick, that one.
“It was a late Christmas present,” Bernard said.
“That should cover a few Christmases,” Frank muttered.
Christine glared at him but Frank sat stiffly studying the menu.
“It’s very pretty,” Celia continued. “I did see you as I was leaving the jewellery shop this morning.”
“They have some beautiful things, and this will be my memento of this special holiday.” Christine beamed at her father.
Ketty noticed Celia slip the blue glass pendant she wore inside her shirt.
“There are several jewellery shops in Port Vila worth a look,” Ketty said. “It’s duty-free and they have some lovely pearls.”
“Perhaps you could buy me a pearl, Frank.” Christine turned her wide smile on her husband but he ignored her.
“I promised to buy the wine,” he said. “Shall I order a red and a white?”
Bernard raised his glass as soon as it had been placed in front of him. “Cheers, my dears.” Everyone toasted with a drink of some kind. Bernard swallowed half of his before placing it back on the table. “Did you win at trivia today, Ketty?”
“No. I joined another couple who were on their own. None of us knew the sport questions.”
“Dad’s good at those,” Christine said. “Not that you’re a fan of trivia games, are you?”
“I don’t mind testing the grey matter from time to time. What about you, Jim?”
“Pardon?”
“How are you with trivia?”
“Oh, not so bad, I suppose. I enjoy doing crosswords and the quizzes in the weekend papers.”
The conversation faltered as Phillip and Rupert arrived with the first course. While the food was consumed and the wine drunk Ketty noticed Frank interacted little with his wife or his father-in-law but managed to have a few words with Jim. She wasn’t sure about the relationship between Bernard and his son-in-law but there was still tension between Frank and Christine. Celia and Ketty both chipped in from time to time but it was Bernard and Christine who did most of the talking.
Bernard was the first to sit back from his empty plate. “I am going to put on weight if I keep eating at this rate. How do you cruise often and stay so trim, Ketty?”
“I don’t eat between meals, I rarely eat sweets and I take the stairs.”
“The stairs!” Christine patted at her chin with her napkin. “Don’t talk to me about them. I don’t know how many times I’ve been up and down today. I thought I was fit but I’m quite puffed and my legs are aching. And the maid seemed to be in our room a lot. Does anyone else find her a bit strange?”
“Do you have Maria?” Celia asked. When Christine nodded, Celia went on to say how helpful she’d been. Bernard agreed.
“They’re called stewards aboard ship,” Ketty said. “And my chap is very helpful.”
“Well, I think Maria is rather lazy if you ask me. It took her forever to finish our room today. Twice she was still there when I went back. I had to send her out so I could use the bathroom.”
The waiters came to clear the table and Ketty thought it best to steer the conversation away from a discussion of the staff. In her experience they all worked very hard for their passengers and didn’t earn much to support their families at home. “What did you do today, Jim?” she asked.
Jim twisted his water glass slowly then glanced up. “Not a lot. Took it easy mainly.”
“That’s what cruising’s for.” Ketty gave him an encouraging smile.
“I couldn’t find you this afternoon, Dad,” Christine said. “What did you get up to?”
“Moved from one sunny spot to the next, had a spa, sat at the bar.” Bernard shrugged his shoulders. “Relaxed.”
Ketty thought his reply evasive. He’d been in a hurry to go somewhere this afternoon. She wondered what he’d really been up to. “It’s so easy to do that,” she said.
“Frank and I are going to the show.” Christine rose from her chair. “Would you like to join us, Dad?”
“Oh, Bernard.” Celia leaned over so that she was almost in his lap. “I was hoping we could have that drink we missed last night.”
For once Bernard looked a little startled. “I’d love to but all this relaxing has worn me out. I’m having an early night. Perhaps tomorrow?”
“See you at breakfast then,” Christine said. “Eight o’clock at the buffet?”
Bernard nodded.
“Goodnight, all.”
Murmurs came from
around the table as Christine strode ahead of Frank across the dining room.
Bernard stood as soon as his daughter was out of sight. “I’m off too.”
“I plan to be at the afternoon trivia session tomorrow.” Ketty made eye contact with Jim who was still sipping the last of his red wine. “I could do with some help if anyone else is keen.”
“Perhaps.”
“Maybe.”
Celia and Bernard spoke at once.
They all looked at Jim.
“I’m not sure what my plans will be tomorrow,” he said.
“Well, you know where I’ll be if you’re at a loose end in the afternoon. The information is in the cruise newsletter.” Ketty rose. “Goodnight.”
She crossed the dining room with barely a nod at Carlos, keen to see which direction Bernard had gone. She had a rather strong feeling he wasn’t heading to his cabin.
Jim swallowed the last of his wine. Now that the others had left he felt Celia’s scrutiny keenly. He looked up to make his excuses to leave but she had such an anxious look on her face.
“Is everything all right?” he asked.
“Yes.” She folded her napkin into a neat square, placed it purposefully on the table and glanced at her watch.
“Are you going to the after-dinner show?”
“No, I’m supposed to be meeting my friend.”
Jim nodded. She was being polite, waiting with him.
“Only I don’t want to,” she blurted. “I don’t mean I don’t want to meet my friend. I just don’t want to go dancing and she’s insisting.” She twisted the corner of the napkin then flattened it again with a firm pat. “I’m being silly.”
“Surely your friend will understand.”
“Maude can be quite…emphatic.” Once more the napkin got a work-out. “She’s trying to set me up with someone.”
Jim could relate to that situation. “I’ve had friends who’ve tried that with me.”
“What did you do?” Her look was desperate.
“Mostly I simply didn’t turn up. Sounds a bit rude but I’m not looking for anyone and after the first time it was all so awkward I couldn’t face another evening like it.”
“Maude’s so determined I should meet this Nigel fellow.” Celia picked up her bag. “I’d better go.”
“Would you like to do something else instead?” Jim surprised himself, and Celia too by the look on her face.
“Have my toenails extracted by hot pincers?”
Her expression was so comical Jim laughed. It felt good. “I slept quite a lot today,” he admitted. “Now after that big meal I’m not at all tired. Would you like to get some fresh air?”
“As long as it’s nowhere near the ABBA dance floor.”
They set off across the dining room. Jim walked a few steps behind.
“Goodnight, Mrs Braxton, Mr Fraser.” The maître d’ inclined his head as they passed. “Enjoy your evening.”
Celia nodded then leaned a little closer to Jim as they walked away. “He’s quite clever remembering our names, isn’t he? Truth be told I’m a little scared of him though.”
“I suppose he has to run a tight ship, if you’ll excuse the pun.”
They made their way up the sparkling staircase and the golden sounds of a piano reached his ears. He hesitated, one foot mid-air then lowered it to the step and stopped. The tune was ‘Moon River’, one of Jane’s favourites. What was he doing here without her? It had been her dream to cruise, not his. Celia had reached the top of the stairs ahead of him and he was about to make an excuse to leave her when she turned abruptly, hurried back down the stairs and stood behind him. The horror on her face as she passed shook him from his own despair.
“What’s the matter?” he asked.
“Oh.” She dipped her face and put a protective hand to her forehead. “There’s someone I’ve realised is on this cruise that I’d rather not see. An old acquaintance, we had a falling out…”
Jim took a deep breath and turned his back on the melancholy sounds of the piano. “Right,” he said. “This calls for evasive action. We’ll take the back stairs.”
“That’s good of you but you don’t have to stay with me.” She peered over his shoulder, the worry still on her face.
“Let’s go.” He took her arm, careful not to get too close, and drew her down the stairs.
“Thanks, Jim. This is very kind.”
He nodded, surprising himself with his action.
Ketty ambled along at a discreet distance behind Bernard. As she’d suspected he hadn’t headed for his cabin. She stopped and smiled as he turned into a doorway ahead of her. Unless the sports bar was his new bedroom he was definitely not having the early night he’d said he was. Ketty strolled up to the door. The vibrant sounds of band music filtered out into the walkway. She continued on, sure there was a solos and singles get-together in there tonight. She’d made her fair share of visits to that group over the years. It started out for all ages in the first days of the cruise, then seemed to break up as different age groups collected for their own fun or, even better, you found someone to pair up with. She’d had several shipboard romances and yet here she was alone.
She sat in one of the soft lounges of an intimate bar and closed her eyes. Why was she looking back so much? And sad for lost love, if she admitted it. She had her brother and his family, and along with her dressmaking team they were her nearest and dearests, and her scallywag Patch, of course. Add in a few holiday flings and she’d always told herself that had been enough for her. She’d be sixty-five in a few days and yet never since Leo had she found someone who ignited the same passion and who she thought she might want to spend her life with. Josie had been encouraging but surely it was too late for Ketty now. While she still had her business and the women who worked there she was happy but what did the future hold? Even if her business was booming she couldn’t work forever.
“Blast it!”
“Are you all right, Ketty?”
Her eyes flew open. She must have spoken out loud. Celia and Jim were watching her with concerned expressions.
She drew in a breath and rose to her feet. “I’m perfectly fine. I just remembered something I forgot to do before I left home,” she lied. “What have you two been doing?”
Both of them looked flustered by her question.
“A walk on the promenade deck,” Celia said. “It was kind of you to go with me, Jim, but I think I’ll call it a night now.”
“The same,” he said.
They said goodnight to Ketty, walked towards each other, stopped then walked in opposite directions.
“Well, well.” Ketty smiled then glanced at her watch. Time for her to collect a couple of drinks and take them back to her cabin. She was rather looking forward to sitting out on her balcony with company tonight. A comfortable chat with Carlos catching up on all that had happened since they last met would do her the world of good.
Twenty minutes later, back in her room, Ketty replaced the phone headset and looked out the open balcony door to the two drinks she’d placed on the table. It seemed she would have to drink them both. There had been a message on her stateroom phone, the voice was Carlos’s, his tone polite; he’d obviously been still working. The message said her friend was unable to come tonight but hoped to catch up with her again the next night instead.
Ketty moved the deckchairs so that they were opposite, sat in one, kicked off her shoes and put her feet on the other. She reached for the first glass of Tinto de Verano and took a sip. Carlos had introduced her to it and she only ever drank it when she was with him. Ketty savoured the taste on her tongue. Poor man’s sangria, they called it, but she preferred the mix of chilled red wine, lemon juice and soda to the real thing.
“To you, Carlos, my friend.” She raised the glass to the part moon and took another sip.
Nine
Day Three – At Sea
“You should read this newsletter.” Christine waved the ship’s daily paper at Frank, who was sti
ll propped up in bed, a sheet draped over his naked body. “There’s so much on you’d never know about otherwise.”
He dragged his gaze from the television. “I can think of plenty to do without adding all of that.”
Christine felt a wave of irritation. “Lazing around all day.”
“We’re on holiday. That’s what holidays are for.”
“That and spending time as a family, with Dad.”
Frank flicked the channels with the remote control. Christine moved between him and the television.
“Let’s sit out on the deck.” She glanced towards the glass doors. The curtains were open and the sun sparkled off a dusky blue sea. “Get a few minutes private fresh air.”
He dropped the remote and reached for her, a silly lopsided look on his face. “I can think of something else that’s private, Chrissie.”
Even though her heart thudded in response she side-stepped and blew out a sharp breath. Why did he have to be in the mood now? “I’ve just showered and dressed. It’s nearly eight o’clock. We said we’d meet Dad.”
“Why did you make it so early?”
“We’re usually up well before this at home.”
He flopped back against the pillows and took up the remote. “My point exactly.”
Christine stared at her husband who remained doggedly focused on the television and tried to remain calm. They were snapping at each other again. She knew she had to try harder with Frank but she also needed to spend this time with her father if she was to make any headway on her plan to renovate their house. It was more than a house, it was the place she’d put her heart into making a home. And she had. It was so full of memories of the fun she and Frank had had as newlyweds: they’d made love in every room, they’d spent hours on weekends finding furniture in op shops and markets. Then they had babies. Lucca and Anna knew no other home. Bernard had sold her childhood home too soon after her mother had died and Christine was determined her children would never be forced to leave the home that she’d created for them.
Table For Eight Page 10