We sort of shuffled around each other a bit then, both of us slightly embarrassed and yet rather pleased too.
‘I’d better go, now I really am getting cold,’ I said, and I shrugged off his jacket and handed it back to him.
‘The weather will be better tomorrow,’ he said.
And yes, I thought, everything will be better tomorrow, because this was the start of my new life. And it wasn’t because of him; it was because of me. Perhaps I was learning to be mature and sophisticated after all.
And then I turned away and immediately bashed my head on one of the steel hawsers which I had been so careful to avoid.
Flipping hell, it hurt, and for an instant I was a bit dizzy and actually did see stars. I had the terrible feeling I was going to fall over or pass out or something, and I steadied myself against the ship’s rail, leaning against it while I took a deep breath.
‘Gosh, are you all right?’ he said, his face worried. ‘Here, sit down for a moment. Let me have a look. ’
I rocked back on my heels for a second and there was a moment when I seriously wondered if it would be possible to actually fall over the rail and into the sea. If that were the case it wouldn’t matter if the life jackets had lights on them or not.
‘I can’t see any blood,’ he said after a few seconds. ‘Are you going to pass out?’
‘No, honestly, I’m fine,’ I said. The feeling of shock had passed and been replaced by one of acute embarrassment. I just wanted to get back to my cabin as fast as possible and inspect the damage to my forehead.
* * *
Ben
Buzz threw up a little bit on the stair carpet so Jenna came round to help me clean up
Hope you’re having a good time.
This was accompanied by a selfie of him and Jenna in front of the wood burner in my sitting room. They were looking very cosy indeed with what looked like the remains of a takeaway on the coffee table and two full wine glasses.
Did it take both of them to clean up after one small kitten? Good heavens.
I gingerly touched the lump on my forehead.
Me
Yes I am having a marvellous time
22
When I woke up, the ship had docked in Cres.
I think I had been aware of something going on late the previous night. The sound of the engines stopping, the occasional shout from someone on the quayside, but it wasn’t as though I was needed to help, so I had gone back to sleep.
When I opened my curtains the morning was bright and beautiful, the view out of my window tantalising. In the distance I could see dozens of little craft moored in the harbour, one or two stout little fishing boats chugging out towards the sea. Behind the harbour walls there was a tempting view of pastel houses and shops with terracotta roofs. Some with glassed-in seating areas outside them, just waiting for people like me to pay them a visit.
I quickly got ready, patting a bit of extra makeup over the small bruise that had formed on my forehead overnight, and wondered what this day would bring. There was going to be a guided walk in the afternoon, perhaps to the Franciscan monastery, or the shingle beach we had been told about, although sitting on a beach wasn’t something I was inclined to do.
When I reached the dining room I saw Evelyn sitting with Marjorie enjoying some coffee and croissants. She waved me over to join them.
‘Good morning, and is it a good morning?’
‘Oh, I think so,’ I said, trying to ignore the quizzical looks from her companions.
‘Come and tell us all about it,’ Marjorie said, patting the chair next to her, ‘and don’t leave anything out.’
‘I don’t know what you are expecting me to say,’ I said, trying not to laugh. ‘I’m going to get some coffee and something to eat.’
‘Hurry back,’ Evelyn trilled.
