I turned and twirled in front of the full-length mirror, holding the caftan in front of me, and the bike chain necklace jingled rather pleasingly. And then I tried on the purple shift dress, which was also immensely stylish and flattering, even with me in it.
Back home I would never have considered such a purchase, but here with my determination to do things differently, and to try things out, it seemed perfectly okay. Would I ever wear these dresses back home? Probably not, but here they suddenly seemed just the thing. I had paid for them and they were in one of the lovely, shiny carrier bags before Anna had even emerged from the changing room. I felt very liberated and glamorous, and I liked it.
‘Ta-dah!’ Anna said as she pulled back the white curtain like a magician’s assistant and struck a pose, one hip stuck out sideways. ‘What do you think?’
‘Well, if we didn’t know you’d had a boob job before, we know it now,’ Harriet said.
‘It does rather show off your assets,’ I added.
‘Good,’ Anna said, ‘Rupert will love it, it’s just the thing to wear to the golf club summer fayre and Captain’s Drive Off. I’m definitely having it.’
‘We also have it in pink, madame,’ the assistant said hopefully.
‘Not my colour I’m afraid,’ Anna said, still admiring herself in the mirror. ‘It’s more yours, Harriet.’
Harriet gave the same raucous laugh I remembered from our school days.
‘I’d have someone’s eye out, or I’d have to wear a vest underneath it and I rather think that would spoil the effect.’
‘You have to buy something,’ Anna said, picking up a minute shirt covered in ruffles. ‘What about this? That’s pink.’
‘I don’t think so. I’ll pace myself and buy something later. Now, let’s get back to the ship and have something to eat. That ice cream was a very long time ago.’
* * *
Lunch was set out in the dining room on two long tables and instead of the usual beige buffet, there were huge ceramic bowls filled with all sorts of salads, wicker baskets filled with several sorts of bread, kebabs on wooden skewers and some very appetising-looking savoury tarts. Plus, a beautiful display of cheeses and pâtés and the most luscious-looking olives.
We made our selection and went to sit down next to a window where we could see the people on the quayside, wandering about and enjoying the sunshine.
‘This is perfect,’ I said, ‘and it looks as though the new chef has appeared after all.’
‘Just as well,’ Harriet agreed, ‘otherwise Don and Craig would be kicking up a fuss. Did you try those chocolates last night? They are fabulous. I’m halfway through my box.’
A waiter came to ask if we wanted drinks and after some dithering we agreed the three of us would share a bottle of Malvazija Istarska, which the waiter assured us was a very popular white wine which went with everything. We didn’t argue, took his advice and discovered he was right.
‘This has been a splendid start to the holiday,’ Anna said, raising her glass in a toast. ‘Here’s to more of the same.’
Yes, it was. I felt jauntier and happier than I had for a very long time. And the food was lovely too.
‘Your Jack is right. I really am going to need a bigger suitcase,’ Anna said after a while. ‘I’m never going to get all these new things in my backpack. In fact, I never want to see that backpack again. I’m going to dump it somewhere.’
‘He’s not my Jack,’ I said, ‘I don’t know why you think that.’
‘Because it’s obvious he fancies you,’ Harriet said. ‘You really are out of things if you can’t see that.’
‘Tragic,’ Anna agreed.
‘Men of his age don’t fancy women of my age,’ I said, ‘they go for younger versions. Blondes with taut figures and irritating giggles.’
Perhaps even after all this time, the hurt was still there bubbling under the surface.
Anna rolled her eyes. ‘Just because dear old Freddo did, it doesn’t mean they are all like that. And anyway, that relationship didn’t go the distance, did it?’
‘Bruce did much the same,’ Harriet mused. ‘He’s living in Cheadle now with his new wife, her daughter who he says hates him and won’t talk to him, and his wife’s mother who is the same age as him.’
Anna and I burst out laughing at this, and after a moment Harriet joined in.
‘Talk about karma,’ she said.
