‘Those pesky Latin gerunds,’ he agreed, ‘and if I had to sit O level Maths again I would be very disappointed.’
‘Isn’t it wonderful not to be in school?’ I said, unfolding my napkin.
With something as messy as croissants I really should have tucked it into the top of my T-shirt, but because he was there I placed it in my lap.
‘I liked school,’ he said, ‘it’s the last time I can remember knowing exactly what was expected of me. Since then, life has got more and more complicated.’
In what way, I wanted to ask, but it was the beginning of a brand new day, we were having a light-hearted chat and I didn’t want to spoil the mood by plunging into the dreary depths of adulting and its pitfalls.
Outside, the buildings and houses were coming closer as we neared the dock, and I could even see people walking along a pleasant-looking pathway next to the sea. A couple hand in hand, a family with two children eating ice cream even though it was only eight thirty in the morning. But then, why shouldn’t they? They were on holiday, when the normal restrictions went out of the window. Perhaps I should adopt that way of thinking. It might be fun.
A thin strand of white sand ran along the coast; I could see houses and churches more clearly now. A lot of little boats and smart yachts moored in a neat little harbour. And around them a tantalising selection of canopies and parasols which spoke of cafés and restaurants.
Evelyn, resplendent in a bright blue dress and sparkly sandals, her grey hair garlanded with a red silk scarf, appeared in the doorway, her face brightening as she saw us.
‘Good morning! I am desperate for some coffee. I had tea earlier on with Marjorie in her cabin and it was disappointing. Other countries don’t do tea bags like we do. I think next time I will put two in the cup. Now, am I being a gooseberry if I join you?’
‘Not at all,’ Jack said, standing up and pulling out a chair for her. ‘Shall I fetch some coffee for you?’
‘You’re a gent,’ Evelyn said with a smile.
She winked at me as he went off towards the buffet.
‘Looks like someone’s getting friendly,’ she said. ‘I hope I wasn’t interrupting anything?’
‘Absolutely not,’ I said.
‘Pity,’ she said, with a rather mischievous look. ‘Now then, what shall I have? It’s so easy to be greedy when there is a buffet, isn’t it? One starts with something predictable and then carries on to something else which normally would not be on one’s radar at all.’
‘Try the croissants,’ I said, ‘they are still warm.’
Mila, looking surprisingly refreshed and perky after what had probably been a late night pouring drinks for Roy and Craig, appeared at the door to the galley, bringing with her a tray of cheese, ham and other cold meats, arranged artfully into various shapes and attractive patterns.
She had changed into the crew uniform of a navy polo shirt emblazoned with theAtalantaname, and some smart knee-length navy shorts. Her hair was golden and glossy, a smattering of freckles across her cute nose, and she looked about nineteen.
‘Ideal, thank you,’ Evelyn said, taking the metal serving tongs and helping herself.
Mario followed with large jugs of fruit juice.
‘Apple. Orange,’ he said, his mouth turned down to convey his regret. ‘The pineapple is gone.’
‘Hmm,’ Evelyn said, ‘perhaps it’s gone off with the chicken and the spareribs from last night. I hope Roy won’t be too vexed. So, what are the plans for today? Harriet said something about churches. She always was very keen on old stones. She was my only godchild to actually ask to go to the Bodleian. And of course, in those days places were not child friendly with interactive displays and buttons to push. She would stand for hours peering in through the display cabinets.’
‘I’m ashamed to say I have no plans at all,’ I said. ‘Perhaps I should have done some research.’
It was true, I had looked up a few things and even watched a couple of YouTube videos to see what theAtalantawas like. And I had done some desultory searches on the Dalmatian Islands, but if I was honest our trip from London to Paris and then to Venice had taken up most of my time and attention. It was, after all, the part that held the most allure for me, the one on which I had pinned my greatest expectation after waiting for so long to do it.
So comparatively, I was poorly prepared for this part of the journey.
I suppose I had vaguely imagined myself wandering around some picturesque streets, sitting at a waterside café and enjoying the sunshine. Perhaps eating ice cream, drinking an espresso with an accompanying glass of iced water.
When I had actually achieved my ambition and done the longed-for trip from London to Paris, I had to admit it had been interesting but not as thrilling as I had expected. Was life just like that all the time? Maybe the things we looked forward to the most were unlikely to meet expectations, and true enjoyment could be found in more subtle, unexpected places. Perhaps it was my age?
I’d found getting here so draining, not that exciting after all if I was honest. Even Harriet and Anna, squabbling and bickering over silly things, had admitted it wasn’t what they had expected, that things had changed since they were last here, that they now saw this sort of adventure from a different perspective. With older eyes. And knees.
Maybe this was a metaphor for my life. The way I had always dealt with things, which in the past really hadn’t been at all sensible.
Where do you want to be in ten years? In twenty?my father had once said. And I had laughed, unable to think of myself at forty or fifty or retired. It had seemed impossible.
