‘Okay. Okay. Right, I’ve got to go.’
‘I’ll let Soraya know the news, and don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.’ I can hear Carol giggling down the phone as I put it down.
Elias has been so patient waiting for my reply, although I’m sure he must have heard every word. Carol always talks so loudly.
‘Will we be moored at the marina? Or out in the middle of the sea?’
This makes all the difference since I would prefer that people aren’t too far away if anything goes wrong in the middle of the night.
‘At the marina,’ says Elias.
‘Okay then. Thank you. But it’ll only be for a couple of nights. I promise I won’t outstay my welcome.’
‘I’m sure you’d never outstay any welcome.’
Elias looks at me, and something tells me that this is either going to be the best decision or the worst decision I ever make. I can’t quite decide which. But I do realise that I need a bit of an adventure to write this book and inspire my writing, so I really want to do this. However, I unblock Michael’s number just in case there is some kind of terrible emergency, and they were right after all.
Chapter Fifteen
As Elias opens the wardrobe doors for me to hang my clothes and shows me where everything goes in the master bedroom of theLady Jane, I can’t quite believe my luck. I’ve gone from being kicked out on the streets to staying on a yacht in just a few hours! Let’s hope it doesn’t end up as much of a disaster as the apartment did.
Elias leaves me to unpack, and I pop some of my bits in one of the drawers. As I am putting my things away, I open the last drawer and immediately find a photo in a frame. I can see it is Elias with a woman. I listen around for footsteps and realise that Elias is safely on another deck, so I pull out the wooden frame to take a closer look. The photo seems fairly recent, as he looks much as he does now. Elias is standing with his arm around a pretty, petite woman, who looks as though she is his age. Suddenly, I hear footsteps coming fast down the stairs and hurriedly shove the photo back in the drawer.
‘Did you want a coffee?’ asks Elias, poking his head around the door.
‘Umm, yes, that’d be fab. Thanks.’
As I go upstairs for my coffee, I can’t stop my thoughts running away with me. Is the woman in the photo his late wife? Or someone else? Perhaps he has a partner and has quickly hidden her photo in a drawer. So many scenarios go through my head, but then I wonder what I am worried about. It’s not exactly like we are dating. He hasn’t even hinted at anything like that. He is merely a friendly British face around Monaco who has been incredibly kind to me. As Elias sits closer to me and we sip our coffees on the big comfy sofa on deck, I try to remember this.
‘By the way, don’t mind me if you want your space to do any writing, or anything. I don’t want to stifle your creativity.’
‘No, you won’t. You’ve helped inspire me more than anyone has in a long while.’ I stop short from saying he is fast becoming my muse.
‘My wife used to paint, so I know what it’s like being around someone creative.’
‘Oh? That’s great.’
I think of Michael who would come in shouting and asking what was for tea when I was in the middle of trying to write a short story all those years ago. How nice that she had such a supportive partner.
‘Some of her artwork is here. See that one?’
I look straight ahead at the painting of a yacht sailing on a brilliant blue sea.
‘It’s magnificent. She was obviously very talented.’
‘She was. Yes.’
‘That’s incredibly kind of your boss to hang her work. Although it is a wonderful piece of art.’
‘Yes, I was proud of her. She had a lot of potential.’
Elias looks a little lost and so I quickly turn to thanking him again for letting me stay.
‘I’m so grateful you let me stay on this beautiful yacht.’
‘You’re so welcome. I’m relishing the company, and it’s so lovely to…’
Before he can say anything further, Elias’s phone starts ringing on the table. He taps my knee as he gets up to answer the call.
