looked as if she had stumbled on heaven as she wandered along the stalls soaking up the scents and tracing petals with a light touch. And so the week went on, view after glorious view massaging out the kinks in our souls, soaking our spirit in calm.
The cruise ship provided a counterpoint to this grandeur with its on board entertainment. By day we had all the sights that our eyes could manage, by night, back on the boat, it was time to exercise our taste buds in the restaurant and our ears in the theatre as we listened to the ship’s cabaret.
Seats were quickly taken in the lounge that hosted the main show and on one occasion we were lucky to get a seat at all. A middle-aged woman and her teenage daughter squeezed together to allow us some room. The daughter almost shone with youth and wore the flush of early womanhood with an acceptance that would have every middle-aged woman on the ship give a quiet groan of envy. Her mother was an older version; the firm line of her jaw and her trim physique evidence of how she took care of herself. The line, you could be sisters almost tripped from my mouth, but I successfully edited it before I looked a fool.
The mother began speaking to us about the cruise, telling us how much she and her daughter were enjoying it. Her daughtermeanwhile, sat side on to us and rolled her eyes as her mother spoke, probably wishing that she was back home in a nightclub in England.
As the woman talked, clearly pleased to have someone listen to her, she addressed most of her comments at me, only occasionally looking at Anna. Sensing Anna’s boredom, I attempted to draw her into the conversation but each time Anna simply smiled and deferred to me. Not a moment too soon the curtain rose and the young crew, as eager as a litter of pups, set about entertaining us.
Their energy was amazing, their talent impressive, and after what seemed only moments, the show was over. Anna stood up straight away, before we could get drawn into another conversation, and walked briskly to the door. I followed her, aiming a smile at my new friend over my shoulder.
‘God, who does that woman think she is?’ Anna turned to me as soon as we were out of the door.
‘She was just lonely,’ I answered, surprised by the irritation that flared in Anna’s eyes. ‘She probably just wants someone to talk to.’
‘Well, she needn’t think she can have you ,’ she emphasised this last word by stabbing a finger into my chest. She paused as if she regretted her response. ‘Sorry, honey. Think I’m just a wee bit tired. I’m going to bed,’ she said and with a wave walked towards the stairs. When she got there she turned and offered me a wicked grin. ‘Coming? Or do you want to go and chat up your new best pal?’
T his was the first night of the holiday that we went to bed on anything like a disagreement. Once we were inside our narrow cabin, Anna stripped wordlessly, jumped under the covers and turned to face the wall.
‘We’re ok?’ I asked, surprised not to be welcomed into the bed by her open arms.
She turned, gave me a small smile. ‘Just worn-out, honey.’
‘That woman’s just lonely, babe. And I’m probably the only male on board with all his own teeth.’
She snorted. ‘Aye, you’re a catch, right enough.’ She yawned.‘Stop worrying, Andy. It’s nothing. She’s nothing.’ She lifted a hand out from under the covers, found mine and gave it a squeeze. ‘Now sleep.’
But I lay awake for what seemed like hours, going over Anna’s reaction to the woman in the ship’s theatre. She didn’t think for a moment I was interested, did she? This was as close as we’d come so far to a cross word during a holiday that I’d determined would be perfect. Sleep eventually won me over and I knew nothing till I was woken by a pressing need to pee. Eyes still closed, I moved from my side of the bed and walked towards the toilet, which was only four steps away.
After two steps I fell over something large.
The cruise ship provided a counterpoint to this grandeur with its on board entertainment. By day we had all the sights that our eyes could manage, by night, back on the boat, it was time to exercise our taste buds in the restaurant and our ears in the theatre as we listened to the ship’s cabaret.
Seats were quickly taken in the lounge that hosted the main show and on one occasion we were lucky to get a seat at all. A middle-aged woman and her teenage daughter squeezed together to allow us some room. The daughter almost shone with youth and wore the flush of early womanhood with an acceptance that would have every middle-aged woman on the ship give a quiet groan of envy. Her mother was an older version; the firm line of her jaw and her trim physique evidence of how she took care of herself. The line, you could be sisters almost tripped from my mouth, but I successfully edited it before I looked a fool.
The mother began speaking to us about the cruise, telling us how much she and her daughter were enjoying it. Her daughtermeanwhile, sat side on to us and rolled her eyes as her mother spoke, probably wishing that she was back home in a nightclub in England.
As the woman talked, clearly pleased to have someone listen to her, she addressed most of her comments at me, only occasionally looking at Anna. Sensing Anna’s boredom, I attempted to draw her into the conversation but each time Anna simply smiled and deferred to me. Not a moment too soon the curtain rose and the young crew, as eager as a litter of pups, set about entertaining us.
Their energy was amazing, their talent impressive, and after what seemed only moments, the show was over. Anna stood up straight away, before we could get drawn into another conversation, and walked briskly to the door. I followed her, aiming a smile at my new friend over my shoulder.
‘God, who does that woman think she is?’ Anna turned to me as soon as we were out of the door.
‘She was just lonely,’ I answered, surprised by the irritation that flared in Anna’s eyes. ‘She probably just wants someone to talk to.’
‘Well, she needn’t think she can have you ,’ she emphasised this last word by stabbing a finger into my chest. She paused as if she regretted her response. ‘Sorry, honey. Think I’m just a wee bit tired. I’m going to bed,’ she said and with a wave walked towards the stairs. When she got there she turned and offered me a wicked grin. ‘Coming? Or do you want to go and chat up your new best pal?’
T his was the first night of the holiday that we went to bed on anything like a disagreement. Once we were inside our narrow cabin, Anna stripped wordlessly, jumped under the covers and turned to face the wall.
‘We’re ok?’ I asked, surprised not to be welcomed into the bed by her open arms.
She turned, gave me a small smile. ‘Just worn-out, honey.’
‘That woman’s just lonely, babe. And I’m probably the only male on board with all his own teeth.’
She snorted. ‘Aye, you’re a catch, right enough.’ She yawned.‘Stop worrying, Andy. It’s nothing. She’s nothing.’ She lifted a hand out from under the covers, found mine and gave it a squeeze. ‘Now sleep.’
But I lay awake for what seemed like hours, going over Anna’s reaction to the woman in the ship’s theatre. She didn’t think for a moment I was interested, did she? This was as close as we’d come so far to a cross word during a holiday that I’d determined would be perfect. Sleep eventually won me over and I knew nothing till I was woken by a pressing need to pee. Eyes still closed, I moved from my side of the bed and walked towards the toilet, which was only four steps away.
After two steps I fell over something large.
Similar Books
