few years ago we were on the Mermaidia and, as usual, Zander and I weren’t talking, so I went to see a show by myself and then had a drink and ended up sitting on the top deck by myself until very late. I was just about to go back to the cabin and I looked down and saw this lovely old couple dancing together on the deck, totally lost in each other. Quite adorable. They inspired me. I took myself off for some dancing lessons and I loved them. I’m good enough to be on Strictly. You were always very good at stripping the willow, I seem to remember,’ she said with a grin. ‘Does Gil dance?’
Angie raised her eyebrows. ‘To a fashion. We had some lessons a few years back too. He was very keen, but he’s not exactly a natural. We look a bit weird on a dance floor with him being two feet taller than me, but he doesn’t care.’ A picture of Gil cha-cha-cha-ing sprang into her mind and with it a huge surge of affection for the dear, sweet man. She’d dance with him in the middle of the atrium and not give a stuff how funny they looked at the first available opportunity. She couldn’t wait to see him and his lop-sided happy grin. She couldn’t wait for his long arms to fold around her.
‘I suppose we better get some sleep. Big day tomorrow. Especially for me,’ said Selina.
They paid the bill and walked slowly up the hill, arm in arm for support as they’d had a lot of wine. King was asleep on the patio chair outside the front door like a large ginger sentry. Emerick’s flat was cosy and inviting, the beds were soft and clean, a breeze stirred through the wooden slats of the window shutters. They both slept like logs.
DAY SEVEN
Chapter 15
They drifted awake within minutes of each other to the sounds of a town rousing, and rooms filled with slices of bright sunshine.
There was only an hour before Emerick collected them so they sat on the patio and waited, King hopping from one knee to another in a bid to test who was the most comfortable. They lifted their faces and felt the sun’s warmth caress their skin. An evening in Korčula, though not quite the one Selina had planned in her head, had been every bit as lovely as she had imagined. It would always stay in the box in her heart where all her most special memories were kept. And she was determined to have more to add to them now.
‘I will see you on board, won’t I?’ asked Angie.
‘Aren’t you afraid I’ll run off with Gil?’ Selina turned to Angie, shielding her eyes.
‘Don’t be daft.’
‘I’d love to meet him.’
‘You will. Don’t ever lose contact with me again.’
‘I promise. I could do with a friend, Ange.’ Selina’s smile began to waver. ‘I’m a bit scared.
‘I’m here,’ smiled Angie.
Emerick arrived early.
‘Ah, look at my boy, King. He has found two queens,’ he said, giving the cat a scrub on his head.
‘Emerick, here is your money and there’s some extra for you to buy yourself a very nice bottle of wine,’ said Selina, handing over a roll of euros.
‘Thank you, that is so kind. Has everything been all right for you?’ he asked.
‘Wonderful,’ replied Angie. ‘Just wonderful.’
‘Come on then, my queens, we will get you back onto your ship. It is in the harbour waiting for you.’
As they crested the hill, they could see the huge white ship floating leisurely on the sun-speckled water. It was at anchor and small chirpy orange and white tender boats were ferrying passengers to and from the island. But first they had to call in at the police station where Emerick spoke in rapid Croatian to two policemen.
‘It’s all right. We can go next door now,’ said Emerick and led them to the customs building where more energetic conversation took place. A woman in uniform gave their dresses a hearty study as if they could have been smuggling kilos of cocaine around their middles. Then she smiled and said, ‘Enjoy the rest of your holiday.’
‘And that is it,’ said Emerick, opening the door for
Angie raised her eyebrows. ‘To a fashion. We had some lessons a few years back too. He was very keen, but he’s not exactly a natural. We look a bit weird on a dance floor with him being two feet taller than me, but he doesn’t care.’ A picture of Gil cha-cha-cha-ing sprang into her mind and with it a huge surge of affection for the dear, sweet man. She’d dance with him in the middle of the atrium and not give a stuff how funny they looked at the first available opportunity. She couldn’t wait to see him and his lop-sided happy grin. She couldn’t wait for his long arms to fold around her.
‘I suppose we better get some sleep. Big day tomorrow. Especially for me,’ said Selina.
They paid the bill and walked slowly up the hill, arm in arm for support as they’d had a lot of wine. King was asleep on the patio chair outside the front door like a large ginger sentry. Emerick’s flat was cosy and inviting, the beds were soft and clean, a breeze stirred through the wooden slats of the window shutters. They both slept like logs.
DAY SEVEN
Chapter 15
They drifted awake within minutes of each other to the sounds of a town rousing, and rooms filled with slices of bright sunshine.
There was only an hour before Emerick collected them so they sat on the patio and waited, King hopping from one knee to another in a bid to test who was the most comfortable. They lifted their faces and felt the sun’s warmth caress their skin. An evening in Korčula, though not quite the one Selina had planned in her head, had been every bit as lovely as she had imagined. It would always stay in the box in her heart where all her most special memories were kept. And she was determined to have more to add to them now.
‘I will see you on board, won’t I?’ asked Angie.
‘Aren’t you afraid I’ll run off with Gil?’ Selina turned to Angie, shielding her eyes.
‘Don’t be daft.’
‘I’d love to meet him.’
‘You will. Don’t ever lose contact with me again.’
‘I promise. I could do with a friend, Ange.’ Selina’s smile began to waver. ‘I’m a bit scared.
‘I’m here,’ smiled Angie.
Emerick arrived early.
‘Ah, look at my boy, King. He has found two queens,’ he said, giving the cat a scrub on his head.
‘Emerick, here is your money and there’s some extra for you to buy yourself a very nice bottle of wine,’ said Selina, handing over a roll of euros.
‘Thank you, that is so kind. Has everything been all right for you?’ he asked.
‘Wonderful,’ replied Angie. ‘Just wonderful.’
‘Come on then, my queens, we will get you back onto your ship. It is in the harbour waiting for you.’
As they crested the hill, they could see the huge white ship floating leisurely on the sun-speckled water. It was at anchor and small chirpy orange and white tender boats were ferrying passengers to and from the island. But first they had to call in at the police station where Emerick spoke in rapid Croatian to two policemen.
‘It’s all right. We can go next door now,’ said Emerick and led them to the customs building where more energetic conversation took place. A woman in uniform gave their dresses a hearty study as if they could have been smuggling kilos of cocaine around their middles. Then she smiled and said, ‘Enjoy the rest of your holiday.’
‘And that is it,’ said Emerick, opening the door for
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