‘No? Let me guess, you’re into hair metal. Maybe some old-school gangsta rap.’
‘I happen to have a very eclectic taste in music and, as it happens, I have both Dre and Bon Jovi on my playlist. Amongst other things.’
‘I’m just messin’,’ he assures me, grinning. ‘You just don’t look like you’d listen to either of those, but kudos. “Living on a Prayer” is a classic.’
We continue walking the perimeter of the theatre, moving around other tourists. I see Camilla and her group all looking as sun-drenched as we do.
‘What was the last song you listened to? Show me. I don’t want to hear that it’s some cool, highbrow band when it’s actually Vanilla Ice.’
I take out my phone. ‘“Lautar”. Pasha Parfeni.’
‘No idea who this is.’
‘He’s a Moldovan singer,’ I reply. ‘He’s quite good.’
I also love him. Deeply.
‘What about you?’ I ask.
He shows me his Apple Music. ‘Jackson’. Johnny Cash and June Carter.
‘Ha!’ I reply. ‘I have this on my playlist too. You don’t look like a Johnny Cash fan. . . but kudos. This is a classic.’
‘Touché.’
‘Anything else that would surprise me?’ I ask. ‘Taylor Swift? Stray Kids? Some Beyoncé before bed?’
‘I have a teenage daughter,’ he replies. ‘These are all staples in my house. I’m not pretentious about music. It’s subjective. If I like it, I’ll play it.’
I like his answer. It’s refreshing to hear that. ‘Your daughter has good taste.’
‘Sometimes,’ he replies, smiling. ‘My son is a closet Elton John fan. To the outside world, it’s all Kendrick Lamar and Post Malone but when he’s home, he’s Yellow Brick Roading himself all over the house. I’m not even sure his girlfriend knows.’
I laugh. ‘How old are your kids?’
‘Chris is twenty-one, third year at university. Lena is seventeen.’
‘What’s he studying?’
‘Law at UCL. Lena wants to get into medicine, though she also wants to study piano, so we’ll see how that turns out.’
‘Impressive! You must be proud.’
He smiles. ‘I am. They’re good kids. What about you? Any other Bon Jovi fans in your house?’
‘No,’ I reply. ‘Just me.’
Part of me is glad that I’m now at the age where strangers don’t follow up my answer withwell, there’s still time.Ellis just smiles.
Chapter 34
The first thing I do when I’m back on the ship is collapse on the bed, face first. Not only am I exhausted, but my head is still spinning from seeing Mum. I’m aware that more than one cruise ship exists at any time but did our ships have to dock at the same place at the exact same time? Some would call this a sign. I call it really bad fucking luck. I text Naomi.
You around?
Not really. Just washed both dogs and now dealing with the aftermath. You OK?
I just met Mum in Italy with her new boyfriend. I’m still in shock. If you need me, I will be at one with the sea.
