Page 51 of Escape to the Sun

‘If I remember correctly, last time you were the one who ran away, Ruth.’

She studied her canvas shoes, then nodded. ‘Not without good reason, Ted.’

‘Anyway. That was a million years ago – lots of water has flowed under the bridge since then. And you never told me – is your husband here somewhere with you?’

‘I messed that up, too,’ Ruth said. ‘Decree absolute in the bag and he’s already moved on. Seems that’s my MO where relationships are concerned, doesn’t it?’

Teddy frowned, and Ruth wondered if her self-flagellation had sounded like a criticism of him.

‘Why don’t we go and get something to drink. Take some time and have a chat?’

Ruth smiled – she’d not forgotten how level-headed he was. ‘I’d like that very much. Yes, please.’

With Millie in tow and Nathan messaged to update him that they were heading back to the Ballygowan – and, shockingly, with a reply received saying he’d be heading back soon too – they made for the ship.

Ruth dropped Millie off at the ship’s art gallery on their way to Teddy’s choice of bar. Near the back of the ship, The View had an excellent panorama of Basseterre and beyond, right up into the canopy of the rainforest.

‘I’m not sure I’ve got my head around a hot Christmas,’ Teddy said as he squinted at the beverage choice. ‘It seems weird choosing a “South Pole scotch on chips of iceberg” when we’re in the tropics.’

Ruth grinned.

‘And I thought icebergs were at the North Pole?’

‘Must be some at both ends, I suppose,’ Ruth said. ‘The kids are having such fun with it all, they don’t seem to have an issue with the names – Millie ate her own bodyweight in Christmas croissants the other day.’

‘Your daughter is so like you,’ Teddy said as they ordered, then took their drinks to an empty open-air table with a fantastic rainforest vista.

‘What, you mean she never stops talking and is, at times, incredibly irritating?’ Ruth said with a rueful smile.

‘You said it.’ Teddy’s gaze twinkled as he glanced at her, his expression edged with amusement.

Ruth tilted her head. ‘Fair enough.’

They sat quietly; Ruth kept her gaze on the view as she tried to dampen down the thoughts bubbling up in her head. Tried to stop herself from recognising how easy it was to be in his company – how easy he was making it for her, even after everything.

Eventually, Teddy lodged his glass on the small table between their chairs and let out a long, contented sigh.

‘Good scotch,’ he said.

‘Why are you being so nice to me?’ Ruth said, the words hurried and cutting through her ridiculous thoughts. ‘Why are you even giving me the time of day?’

‘Why wouldn’t I?’ he said, shifting in his seat to face her.

‘Because I’m someone you should hate, that’s why.’

She was being self-indulgent. She shouldn’t load her lifetime of regret onto him – that was exactly what she’d wanted to avoid – but now she’d opened the floodgates, she feared she wouldn’t be able to stop.

Teddy frowned. ‘I don’t hate you, Roo. Why would I hate you?’

And then it struck her. He was being magnanimous because, even though he still meant everything to her – a realisation dawning hard and fast as she sat beside him – he truly had moved on. Had nothing invested in her, not any longer. That explained his calm demeanour.

‘No. I suppose that was a bit of a ridiculous thing to say.’ She frowned. ‘I heard you’d met someone, not long after I got my transfer to the office in Portsmouth. I was glad you’d moved on.’ His eyebrows did their thing again. ‘No, really. I was. And then I heard you were married and expecting a baby, and…’

It was Teddy’s turn to frown, his chunky eyebrows dipping like crows on the breeze. ‘It happened quickly; I wasn’t expecting to find someone like Mai. I thought that kind of a bolt only came once in a lifetime. And you’d made it very clear we were done. I needed her at first – that’s the truth – she picked me up when I was at my very lowest. And then I wanted her. And then I loved her and continued to love her for the rest of her life. It’s that simple.’

‘And she never let you down, I’m guessing,’ Ruth said.

Teddy’s frown deepened. ‘No. But I would have loved her even if she had. Just like I tried to do with you.’