Page 46 of Escape to the Sun

Ruth clapped her hands together, eliciting a couple of sideways glances from neighbouring tables. ‘I knew it! Pearl acquired. Is he coming with you again today?’

It was childish, but Ruth couldn’t help sniggering at her own double entendre. She apologised, but Hannah was trying to hide her own smile as she shook her head.

‘He needs to stay on board today, but we’re meeting up later.’ Hannah leant forward, a frown clouding the sunshine of her expression. ‘Actually, I might have to cut today a bit short. His shift patterns mean we can only see one another this afternoon. Do you mind?’

Millie arrived back at the table, clattering a plate and assorted cutlery in front of Hannah, and Nathan slid into his seat with a leaning tower of toast in one hand, and half a block of butter in the other.

‘Morning,’ he said, pushing hair out of his eyes as he gave Hannah more of a smile than Ruth ever got – or certainly had received since she’d broken the news that she and Trev were getting a divorce.

‘Good morning, Nathan,’ Hannah said.

‘I don’t mind a bit,’ Ruth said, hands wide as Millie asked what she didn’t mind.

‘I’m only visiting St Kitts for a while today,’ Hannah said. ‘Then I’m heading back on board.’

‘Is that so you can work some more on your new project?’ Millie asked, shifting a couple of pancakes onto the empty plate and completely oblivious to Hannah’s increasingly amused expression when Ruth’s features fell into an approximation of horror.

How on earth could Millie have known – and who had taught her such an oblique reference to sex? She darted a stare at her son – bloody Nathan, she’d put money on it being something to do with him – her mounting panic evaporating when Millie passed across the plate and said, ‘Your new painting, I mean. I saw it the other day and April told me all about what you have planned. I think it’s going to be ace.’

Ruth’s shoulders dropped a good three inches in relief.

‘April is very kind,’ Hannah said. ‘And, yes, I might do some more painting. But actually, I’m hoping to spend some time with Captain Louis.’

Millie’s eyes widened as she licked at a syrupy finger, then her expression morphed into something more usually seen on Question Time, it was so adult and serious.

‘Yes. I expect you’re hoping to have sex with him, aren’t you?’

Ruth felt the entire world fall away as she caught her breath, then burbled something approaching an apology, scolding Millie while trying to bury her own embarrassment. She wasn’t sure she managed any of them successfully as she insisted Millie should also apologise to Hannah for being completely inappropriate.

For her part, Hannah hid her shocked expression masterfully, turning it into a grin, which eventually gave way to laughter.

Millie remained defiant. ‘What’s wrong with that? It’s what people do when they fall in love, isn’t it? I saw an episode of Yellowstone at Dad’s, and they did it up against a chest of drawers. I asked Dad if that was comfortable, because it didn’t look it to me, but he just laughed. So, I suppose it must feel better than it looks.’

Ruth stuck fingers into her ears, begging Millie to stop, which only made Hannah laugh harder.

‘I might go and get some more syrup for you, Hannah,’ Millie said. ‘Otherwise I’m going to have to spoon it off my plate and onto yours and I’ll make a right mess of it. Back in a mo.’

Seemingly oblivious of the furore she’d stirred in her mother’s otherwise ordered countenance, Millie headed off and Ruth apologised to Hannah all over again.

‘At least she didn’t say she’d seen her father and Janey, and that was how she knew,’ Ruth said.

‘No,’ said Nathan, giving his mouth a rare break from chewing. ‘But I have, and Janey likes being on top. They don’t always close the bedroom door.’

‘Kill me now,’ Ruth said, and Hannah began to laugh all over again.

Hannah did her best not to feel guilty about imposing her plans for the day onto Ruth and the kids – especially on Christmas Eve. Ruth had been so kind, scooping her up like she was a stray puppy they’d found behind the bins, setting her back on her feet and ensuring she wouldn’t be alone on the cruise unless she wanted to be. And how had she repaid Ruth’s kindness? By asking that they didn’t stray too far from the Ballygowan so she could have inappropriate sex with the captain.

Ruth said she didn’t mind a bit. Apparently, Millie had held on to Hannah’s guidebook and announced they would have plenty to do in Basseterre itself. There would be special Christmas markets and stalls to browse.

Nathan seemed keen to remain near the ship, too. Ruth told Hannah it wouldn’t be the end of the world if he was given the freedom to do his own thing for the day, so long as he was sure to be back on board in good time for the evening sailing.

‘I want to get the kids some bits and bobs for Christmas, too,’ Ruth said as they headed down the gangplank into the bright sunshine of the pier, which led from the ship to the terminal complex.

‘I heard that, Mum,’ Millie said, her backpack banging up and down on her back as she overtook them and spun a circle on the concrete walkway.

‘You were supposed to. We might as well choose things you actually want, don’t you think?’ Ruth frowned at Millie’s wide grin. ‘Within reason, young lady. Don’t go getting any wild ideas.’

‘I know, I know. Look at all those trees,’ Millie said, pointing past the immediate muddle of concrete and buildings, higher into the island’s mountainous interior, coated with a myriad of green rainforest. ‘Looks a bit like broccoli, doesn’t it? Wonder where they grew all the sugar cane, then? It said in the book that this was a British colony until 1983. There used to be slaves and everything working on the sugar cane farms.’ Millie’s voice took on a hushed tone.