My phone has never vibrated so violently in its life. I answer before it explodes in my hand.
‘Are you for real?’ she exclaims. ‘You sure it wasn’t just a nightmare? I had a nightmare once that my mum tried to punch me, but her hands were made of marshmallow and so was my face.’
‘Nope, no dream. It was her and her new boyfriend. She acted like I’d turned up on purpose or something. Then came the wholewhy are you travelling alone, you need a manbullshit.’
I hear Naomi laugh.
‘And then, when Ellis turned up, she was allI thought you were alone, you terrible,secretive—’
‘Wait. Captain Ellis was there?’
‘Oh God, not you too!’
‘What? I was only enquiring.’
‘We were on the same excursion,’ I inform her. ‘We hung out. That’s it!’
‘Well, I for one am glad you’ve made a pal.’
‘Thank you.’
‘Philip was once my pal. You know, before we shagged each other into—’
‘Don’t you have dog water to attend to?’
She obviously finds herself very amusing this evening. I wait for her to stop laughing.
‘I’m kidding,’ she insists. ‘It’s cool you have someone to kick around with. I’m saying no more.’
I say goodbye before she has the chance to take that last statement back.
Chapter 35
I could have napped for longer but after an hour, I throw on a simple yellow dress and make my way down to dinner. I’ve booked the seafood restaurant, La Mer, which is also the name of the extortionate skin cream I bought last year and threw away after it made me break out like a fifteen-year-old.
For the first time this week I’m alone for dinner. I sit at a small table by a porthole-shaped window, overlooking the very sea that my dinner was plucked from. Like the main dining room, it has a classier vibe than the buffet or lunch bars. There are fewer tables and private booths, making it feel more exclusive with a wooden, nautical theme running throughout.
I’m handed a glass of prosecco while I look over the menu. This restaurant wasn’t my first choice, but seafood and Japanese were the only two available. As much as I enjoy seafood, I find it difficult to get overly excited by fish. It’s either bland or bony or both.
The menu is broken down into three courses and it doesn’t quite match the vibe of the restaurant. While the interior hints at fine dining, some of the menu looks like it was planned by Popeye. Buckets of prawns, fish sandwiches and clams with fries. For a surcharge there are other options like lobster, a seafood platter and of course the catch of the day which is. . . well, fish. I decide to pay the surcharge and choose from the pricier options. If I wasn’t wearing my pretty yellow dress, I’d be rolling up my sweatshirt sleeves and fisting a bucket of prawns.
‘Good evening. My name is Lola and I’ll be looking after you this evening.’
Lola’s wearing a waistcoat and tie. She looks like she’s been crying.
‘Are we waiting for someone else?’ she asks. I hear her sniff quietly.
‘No,’ I reply, ‘Just me. . . Um, are you all right?’
‘Oh yes, I’m fine,’ she replies. ‘It’s just hay fever. I’ll clear these extra dishes and then come back for your order.’
Lola lifts the place setting opposite and I watch her walk back towards the chef’s station in the middle of the room. She returns as quickly as she left.
‘What can I get you?’
‘Could I have the marinated crab salad to start and then the seafood platter for one, please?’
‘Of course. Water for the table?’
