lady. I hope I’ll rise to the challenge.’ Theo gave me a mock bow. ‘So, what about the next few days? I’m taking what I’d like to think
is a well-earned holiday at my family’s summer home. It’s only a few hours’ sailing from here. Then, of course, I’m off to the Isle of Wight to prepare for the Fastnet.
Would you come with me?’
‘For the holiday or the Fastnet?’
‘Both. Although, being serious for a second, I know you’re an experienced sailor, but the Fastnet is something else. I crewed on the last one two years ago and we nearly lost one of
our crew as we were going round the Rock. Matt was literally blown off the boat. It’s dangerous and’ – Theo breathed in deeply – ‘to be honest, I’m now starting
to wonder if it’s a good idea for me to have suggested you join the crew.’
‘Why? Because I’m a girl?’
‘For God’s sake, Ally, get over yourself! Of course it’s not that. It’s because I love you and I couldn’t live with myself if something happened to you. Anyway,
let’s think about it over the next few days, shall we? Preferably with a drink on a terrace overlooking the sea. Tomorrow morning, I’ve got to hand the Hanse back over to the owner down
at the harbour, which is where I’ve moored the
Neptune
, so we could head straight off. What do you reckon?’
‘Actually, I was thinking I should go home,’ I said. ‘Be with Ma, and Maia.’
‘I totally understand if you feel you should. Although being selfish, I’d love it if you could come with me. It sounds as though this next year will be crazy for both of
us.’
‘I really want to come, but I’ll need to call Ma first and make sure everything’s okay, then take it from there.’
‘Why don’t you do that while I take a shower?’ Theo dropped a kiss on the top of my head, before hopping out of bed and heading for the bathroom.
When I called her, Ma assured me that everything at Atlantis was fine, and there was absolutely no need for me to return. ‘You take a holiday,
chérie
. Maia has decided to
go away for a while, so she’s not here anyway.’
‘Has she? I’m amazed,’ I commented. ‘But are you sure you aren’t lonely by yourself? I promise that this time my mobile will be on at all times if you need
me.’
‘I am fine and I won’t,
chérie
,’ she replied stoically. ‘Sadly, the worst has happened already.’
I ended the call and felt suddenly low, as I did every time I allowed myself to remember Pa was no longer here. But Ma was right. The worst
had
happened. And I wished for once that I
belonged to a religion with set rules to cope with the bleak aftermath of death. Even if I’d considered such rules archaic in the past, I now saw they were a ritual designed to help human
beings through their darkest moments of loss.
The following morning, Theo and I checked out of the hotel and walked down to the harbour.
After a celebratory drink on-board with the owner of the Hanse – who was delighted with the win and was already talking to Theo about future regattas – we walked along the harbour
and climbed aboard the
Neptune
. Before setting sail, Theo charted our course on the navigation system. He refused point-blank to tell me where we were heading, and as he helmed the boat
out of Vouliagmeni harbour and once more onto the open sea, I busied myself restocking the fridge and the cooler box with beer, water and wine.
As we cruised through the calm aquamarine waters, no matter how hard I tried to concentrate on the beauty of the seascape, the dichotomy of emotion I’d experienced on my last voyage aboard
the
Neptune
came flooding back. I found myself thinking that there were similarities between Pa Salt and my lover: they both enjoyed mystery, and most definitely liked to be in
control.
Just as I was contemplating whether I’d fallen in love with a father figure, I felt the
Neptune
slow down and heard the anchor being dropped. When Theo appeared on deck next to
me, I
is a well-earned holiday at my family’s summer home. It’s only a few hours’ sailing from here. Then, of course, I’m off to the Isle of Wight to prepare for the Fastnet.
Would you come with me?’
‘For the holiday or the Fastnet?’
‘Both. Although, being serious for a second, I know you’re an experienced sailor, but the Fastnet is something else. I crewed on the last one two years ago and we nearly lost one of
our crew as we were going round the Rock. Matt was literally blown off the boat. It’s dangerous and’ – Theo breathed in deeply – ‘to be honest, I’m now starting
to wonder if it’s a good idea for me to have suggested you join the crew.’
‘Why? Because I’m a girl?’
‘For God’s sake, Ally, get over yourself! Of course it’s not that. It’s because I love you and I couldn’t live with myself if something happened to you. Anyway,
let’s think about it over the next few days, shall we? Preferably with a drink on a terrace overlooking the sea. Tomorrow morning, I’ve got to hand the Hanse back over to the owner down
at the harbour, which is where I’ve moored the
Neptune
, so we could head straight off. What do you reckon?’
‘Actually, I was thinking I should go home,’ I said. ‘Be with Ma, and Maia.’
‘I totally understand if you feel you should. Although being selfish, I’d love it if you could come with me. It sounds as though this next year will be crazy for both of
us.’
‘I really want to come, but I’ll need to call Ma first and make sure everything’s okay, then take it from there.’
‘Why don’t you do that while I take a shower?’ Theo dropped a kiss on the top of my head, before hopping out of bed and heading for the bathroom.
When I called her, Ma assured me that everything at Atlantis was fine, and there was absolutely no need for me to return. ‘You take a holiday,
chérie
. Maia has decided to
go away for a while, so she’s not here anyway.’
‘Has she? I’m amazed,’ I commented. ‘But are you sure you aren’t lonely by yourself? I promise that this time my mobile will be on at all times if you need
me.’
‘I am fine and I won’t,
chérie
,’ she replied stoically. ‘Sadly, the worst has happened already.’
I ended the call and felt suddenly low, as I did every time I allowed myself to remember Pa was no longer here. But Ma was right. The worst
had
happened. And I wished for once that I
belonged to a religion with set rules to cope with the bleak aftermath of death. Even if I’d considered such rules archaic in the past, I now saw they were a ritual designed to help human
beings through their darkest moments of loss.
The following morning, Theo and I checked out of the hotel and walked down to the harbour.
After a celebratory drink on-board with the owner of the Hanse – who was delighted with the win and was already talking to Theo about future regattas – we walked along the harbour
and climbed aboard the
Neptune
. Before setting sail, Theo charted our course on the navigation system. He refused point-blank to tell me where we were heading, and as he helmed the boat
out of Vouliagmeni harbour and once more onto the open sea, I busied myself restocking the fridge and the cooler box with beer, water and wine.
As we cruised through the calm aquamarine waters, no matter how hard I tried to concentrate on the beauty of the seascape, the dichotomy of emotion I’d experienced on my last voyage aboard
the
Neptune
came flooding back. I found myself thinking that there were similarities between Pa Salt and my lover: they both enjoyed mystery, and most definitely liked to be in
control.
Just as I was contemplating whether I’d fallen in love with a father figure, I felt the
Neptune
slow down and heard the anchor being dropped. When Theo appeared on deck next to
me, I
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