He tilted his wine glass towards me.
‘Here’s to being happy as we are.’
‘As we are,’ I echoed.
And yet as I said it I knew I was changing too. Getting to the next bit of my adulting journey. Which considering my age was a bit weird. I mean, when did we actually know everything we needed to know?
As the evening shadows began to lengthen across the sea, and the lights began to glow around the harbour, and other people came in, looking for meals and drinks, somehow that moment was a special one. A moment that confirmed something within me. I was doing fine; I was learning something about myself and liking it. And I liked him.
23
I got back to my cabin just after six o’clock that evening and ten minutes later, as I was thinking about having a nap before dinner, I heard Anna banging on my door.
‘So,’ she said, coming in without ceremony, ‘how did you get on? We had such a great time. The talk only lasted for an hour. Evelyn and her friends came back to the ship for a little rest because they had got rather overheated, and then Harriet and I went for a little wander on our own. I have to say, it’s gorgeous here, isn’t it. We had a little fantasy about buying a place here to come to when the English winters get too awful, and then we had an ice cream. She had double chocolate and I had banana mango chip. We are getting on much better than we did. So how did you get on?’
I laughed; her enthusiasm was so infectious.
‘I had a very nice time, thank you.’
‘And? And?’
‘We went to see all the places you’ve mentioned and then we had a late lunch down by the harbour. I am not sure I need any dinner.’
Anna plonked herself in the chair by the window.
‘What did you have?’
‘Seafood risotto.’
‘Nice. Rupert won’t eat seafood unless its lobster or langoustines at a pinch. And he hates risotto because he says it’s like baby food. I say it’s easy eating and since he had his new dentures he does find some things a bit of a struggle, but he won’t listen. How did you get on?’
‘That’s the third time you’ve asked me.’
Anna tutted her irritation. ‘Yes, and if you gave me a straight answer I wouldn’t have to repeat myself.’
‘We got on very well; at least, I think we did. We talked about family and he had already done a lot of research about this place, so he knew lots of interesting details. Did you know there is a huge freshwater lake inland, Lake Vrana, which is supposed to hide a castle which was drowned when one rich sister refused to help her poorer sister? On windy days you can still hear her desperately ringing the bells in the tower for help.’
‘The Greeks were always a bit harsh with their legends, weren’t they?’ Anna said. ‘Prometheus having his liver eaten every day and someone else pushing a rock up a hill forever. No slap on the wrist and twelve months’ probation back then. And then what did you do?’
‘Nothing particular. Just strolled around and then he said he had work to do and I came back here for a rest. Okay?’
‘Oh. Nothing else?’
I laughed. ‘What were you expecting? That we would fall into each other’s arms and declare undying love?’
‘No, of course not. But Harriet and I were talking about it and she said?—’
‘What did I say?’ Harriet came into my cabin at that point, evidently not wanting to be left out of anything.
‘That we thought you two made a nice couple,’ Anna said.
‘Yes, we did.’ Harriet nodded. ‘Are you going to see each other when you get home?’
‘Oh, we’ll see,’ I said.
Anna rolled her eyes and, evidently disappointed with my answers, opened the balcony doors and stepped outside to look at the view. Harriet immediately sat in the chair she had vacated.
‘So go on. Are you seeing him again?’ she said.
