Table for Eight by Tricia Stringer

Author:Tricia Stringer [Tricia Stringer]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781489246905
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2018-10-02T04:00:00+00:00

Twenty

Night Five – At Sea

Jim leaned over the rail of the smaller front deck intent on watching the men on shore cast off the ship’s ropes. He was bemused by the whole process. The three men hefting the thick ropes that held the ship to the shore were casually dressed in t-shirts, shorts and thongs. Not a fluoro vest in sight or boots of any description. Beyond them families gathered outside the fence to watch and wave as the ropes were cast aside and farewells were called, echoing from the vegetation-covered cliff behind, and the ship swung away from the wharf.

The door behind him opened and Celia stepped out. He hadn’t been sure if she’d come.

She’d changed into a long red shirt over white pants and the gentle scent of a sweet perfume wafted with her arrival. She smiled and Jim brightened in response. He offered the glass of wine he’d been holding in his left hand. “I got you a drink but it might be a bit warm now. You don’t have to have it. I wasn’t sure what you’d feel like.”

“That’s very kind of you. Wine’s perfect, thank you.”

Celia took the glass and he held his beer towards her.

“Cheers,” he said. “Happy cruising.”

She tapped the glass against the neck of his bottle and took a sip. She sighed. “That’s good. Just what I felt like.”

“I’m glad.” Jim took a sip of his beer and realised he meant it.

“Look at that view.” Celia was watching the port as the ship slowly swung out to turn its nose to the sea. “It’s a beautiful place. I’d love to come back again.”

“And swim?”

“Don’t remind me.”

They both grinned and leaned on the rail, silently enjoying the changing vista until they were past the islands and moving towards the golden rays of the setting sun and the open sea.

Jim took his phone from his pocket and snapped a picture. He hadn’t taken many but the sunset over the water was certainly noteworthy. He needed a few more snaps to show Tammy when he got home.

“Oh, I forgot to tell you,” Celia said. “I ran into Christine on the way here. It seems she’s done something to her back and is in a lot of pain but she also mentioned Ketty had been taken to the medical centre. Something about hurting her arm but Christine didn’t think it was bad.”

“I wonder what happened?”

“I thought I’d pop down to her room in a while to see if she’s there.” Celia looked out over the ocean. “She was so good to me the other night. I feel a little guilty.”

“Why?”

“I thought her a bit of a busybody to begin with. I was so caught up in…well, in my own problems, I thought her conversation too personal.”

“We had a long chat this morning before you joined us. She’s not a widow but lives alone.”

“I think she had an affair a long time ago and it’s burned her for life.”

“From what she told me she’s moved on. I wish I had some of her self-determination.

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