Page 62 of Escape to the Sun

There weren’t many people Hannah took an instant dislike to. Her years working in the deli had provided her with a certain level of acceptance for people and their foibles, but occasionally she met someone who had her wanting to take a literal step back. And Tim Price was one of those people.

Before she had to formulate an answer, Louis swooped in, all smiles and greetings as he passed other guests and headed in her direction.

‘There you are,’ he said, easing past Tim. ‘I’m so sorry I was delayed.’

Hannah held his eye, reassured him all was well.

‘You’re due on the bridge, aren’t you, Tim?’ Louis said.

‘On my way, Captain. Wanted to take the opportunity to say hello to a few guests – wish them a happy Christmas from the people doing all the work. That sort of thing.’

Eventually Tim took the hint.

‘There aren’t many of the crew I struggle with, but he’s one of them,’ Louis said once Tim was out of earshot. ‘But never mind any of that. You look sensational this evening.’

‘As do you,’ she replied, running her fingers down the crisp edge of his dress uniform jacket.

Just like everything aboard the Ballygowan, the meal was incredible. Prepared especially to reflect the region past which they were sailing, the Christmas feast was bursting with Caribbean flavour. As well as turkey and ham, glazed and roasted in ways Hannah recognised, there was jerk pork and curried goat. Macaroni cheese and yams, plantains and sweet potatoes replaced roast potatoes and sprouts in a riot of flavour. For those who had room left, there was black cake for dessert. Made with dried fruits soaked in rum and wine and blended into a spiced batter, it was far more pudding-like and boozy than traditional fruitcake.

‘So much for me staying away from alcohol while I’m on board,’ Louis joked as he tucked into a portion.

‘It’s worth it, though,’ Hannah said, attempting to lick the sticky traces of cake from her spoon.

Louis leant into her, whispering directly into her ear. ‘Can I be that spoon later?’

‘Maybe. If you play your cards right,’ she said.

‘Whatever you want me to do with the cards, I’m doing it,’ he said, gazing at her as though there was nobody else in the room.

The view of the Pitons, like a moving canvas as they sailed past the World Heritage Site, was very impressive.

‘They’re a kilometre tall, from the seabed,’ Louis said as they mingled with some of the guests. ‘They were created about thirty to forty million years ago, if my research is correct. Hard to believe, isn’t it?’

Hannah lost track of the people she was introduced to, the rest of the evening passing in a warm blur, her focus remaining on not drinking too much so she could fully enjoy the rest of the night with Louis.

And she wasn’t disappointed. Eventually, they escaped, headed for her cabin, and finally Hannah was able to unbutton the starched fabric of his jacket, push it from his shoulders and do as she had promised. No cards required.

Afterwards, lying in the crook of his arm, Hannah had one last thing to say before she nodded off to sleep.

‘Happy Christmas, Louis.’

‘Best Christmas ever,’ he replied, voice heavy with fatigue and contentment.

Louis woke in the small hours of the morning to an insistent buzzing coming from a phone. Scratching around to locate the offending noise, he picked up one handset, then the other from the bedside table. Both had gone dark again, and in all honesty, he was so comfortable it felt impossible to move. Hannah spooned against him, fast asleep and breathing rhythmically. And he was really tired. Even as he had the thought he should check more carefully, his eyelids sank, far too heavy to hold open any longer, and he slipped back into the abyss.

With no idea how much time had passed, the buzzing came again. This time Louis thought it was a swarm of insects in a sudden and unsettling dream as he surfaced from sleep. It was still night, no light yet dared to disturb the edges of the curtains as he fumbled again for a phone and this time looked more carefully to see a text message bannered across the screen.

Captain needed on bridge asap

Shit.

He checked the time on the message – it had only just been sent. Why hadn’t anyone used the radio? It might have been an indelicate way to wake him, but it would have been more effective.

Had they already knocked on his cabin door? Maybe he should have suggested he and Hannah spend the night there. Too late to second-guess now.

Dressing hurriedly, he pressed a kiss against the small part of Hannah’s forehead visible between her hair and the duvet she’d snuggled beneath without stirring, letting himself out of her cabin and shooting along the corridor towards the bridge.

Concern was written across the faces of those he saw on his arrival.