‘Well thanks for getting it the hard way and giving it the easy way.’
‘You’re welcome.’ Sofia had forgotten how lovely that first flush of friendship was. It had been a while since she had enjoyed the comfort of it at work, and she was grateful for it.
Petra closed her eyes for a moment and when she opened them, Sofia saw a look of resignation. ‘She has to go.’ She was decided. ‘It is one thing to have to steward this boat on my own, it is quite another to have to do it on top of playing nurse and babysitter. We just don’t have time for her to get a prescription sorted and that over-the-counter stuff never works.’
Sofia nodded reassuringly. She felt bad for Tabitha, but she wasn’t about to put her neck on the line for her. ‘Sounds like good reasoning to me.’
‘Thanks, Sofia, I’m really glad to have you on the team.’
She hadn’t realised how much she’d needed to hear those words until that moment. As Petra marched off to find Tabitha, Sofia’s eyes welled up with gratitude and she hastily swiped a tear from her eye. Her sentimentality would have to wait. She had an afternoon snack to present.
When she entered the main saloon with a large chopping board of cheeses, charcuterie and savoury pastries, Brian could hardly wait until she’d placed them on top of the bar.
‘I’m bloody starving,’ he said, systematically hoovering up one, two, three parmesan puffs in quick succession.
Sofia watched him with satisfaction. ‘Welcome aboard. I’m very much looking forward to cooking for you both.’
‘You’re very pretty.’ This came from Milly, who had looked up from her phone and was walking over. ‘I bet you’ve got gorgeous hair. Shame it’s all tied up.’
Sofia laughed nervously. ‘Oh, thanks, I kind of have to, hairnets in the kitchen and all that.’
Milly was still staring at her intently. Sofia felt like she was being appraised by some sort of knowledgeable dog breeder, or an antiques specialist, each angle of her face being evaluated.
‘Isn’t she pretty, Brian? Doesn’t seem right for you to be trapped down in the kitchen.’ Brian looked anxious, as if a trap had been set and he was trying to work out how to avoid it.
‘You have very nice...’ he paused, looking panicked ‘...teeth.’ He froze as Milly glanced over at him. When she smiled, he smiled back, relieved.
‘She does, doesn’t she,’ said Milly. ‘Do you want a selfie?’
Sofia had never been a big fan ofThe True Courseof Love. She found the format degrading and often cringed at how exposed people were in front of the cameras. But she was not about to out herself as a non-believer.
‘Um yeah, are you sure?’ But Milly already had an arm around her shoulders, pulling Sofia toward her as she grinned, astonishingly naturally, into the outstretched lens.
‘OMG, cute. You look great,’ said Milly although Sofia thought that the picture was distinctly unflattering. Milly actually did look good though, and Sofia supposed that was probably the point.
‘Anyway, I had better head back down. Pleasure to meet you both. I’ll have dinner on the table at eight.’
‘Thanks... um...’ Milly was engrossed in her phone again, pinching and swiping. It was Brian who spoke.
‘Sofia.’
‘Thanks, Sofia, these nibbles are mega tasty.’
Back in the kitchen, Sofia made final preparations for dinner. Eyeing up the lobsters in the tank up against a giant saucepan felt a little cruel.
A voice came through on her radio. ‘Anchors up in fifteen minutes.’ It was Captain Mary. The lobsters would be enjoying a stay of execution. She wanted to be up on deck.
As she walked to the stairs she passed an open door. Inside was a sorry sight. Tabitha was crying as she stuffed her belongings into a suitcase. After just two days of being confined to her cabin she looked an unnatural shade of grey, bags framing her eyes, and her hair developing a sheen of grease at the roots.
‘Hey, sorry to see you go. I hope you feel a bit better soon.’
Tabitha sniffled. She wouldn’t meet Sofia’s eyes. ‘Yeah, thanks. Bon voyage, I guess.’
There was nothing more Sofia could say or do to help Tabitha. She made her way up to the top deck.
From her vantage point she could see Milly and Brian below. It seemed they were trying to recreate theTitanicpose at the bow of the boat.
Declan walked over to where Sofia was standing. ‘It’s so weird to meet them in real life,’ he said, joining her to peer over the railing.
