Page 69 of Escape to the Sun

‘No need to be sarcastic – I just wondered.’ Edward paused, then glanced around before he said, ‘She’s a cracker. Meet her for a coffee or something. Don’t mess it up. That’s all.’

‘Thanks for the words of wisdom.’

Louis felt himself bristle – not something he wanted with such a tentative ceasefire in place between them.

‘Don’t get all defensive. I understand you’ve got a lot on here. If you really can’t get a minute away, message or phone her; let her know you’re missing her. That’s all.’

Louis nodded. ‘I will.’

Millie sauntered over, black cat hair speckling her white T-shirt. ‘Portus is all done, Teddy. We’d better get going.’

‘If you say so, little lady.’

It was weird hearing his father talking to a child in such a relaxed way. It hadn’t ever felt like he’d spoken to Louis like that when he’d been growing up.

‘See you soon, Captain Louis,’ Millie said, leading the way as they left the bridge.

‘Can I phone you later?’

Ian’s parting words ran loops in Hannah’s brain as she decided what she wanted from her day. And she was beginning to think it was as well Louis was caught up with the ship. She wasn’t sure how easy it would have been for her to spend time with him with so much uncertainty flooding her thoughts.

She’d told Ian he could phone her any time – and not for the first time on this trip, Hannah sought refuge in the art gallery, receiving a warm welcome from April.

‘Not going ashore today?’ she said, offering Hannah a coffee when she said she wanted to spend some quality time with a paintbrush.

‘Great idea. It’s your holiday, after all.’

April drew up an extra stool alongside Hannah’s.

‘How long have you been working on cruise ships?’ Hannah asked, as she sipped at her coffee and tried to decide which aspect of her painting to tackle next.

‘Coming up twelve years. It doesn’t feel that long, though. I’ve loved it.’

‘Why did you choose this life?’

‘Look around you,’ April said. ‘I travel the world in luxury, surrounded by fabulous art, and get paid for the privilege. I did my best to teach art to teenagers in Slough for twenty-five years – and I can tell you there’s absolutely no comparison. Although I do miss the kids.’

Hannah smiled as April quirked up one side of her mouth, then clarified her statement.

‘Well, some of the kids… I think I had a midlife crisis, to be honest.’

April paused, sweeping one of her long scarves across her neck. ‘For so long my life followed a traditional path. I did all the usual things – got married, had a couple of kids – a boy then a girl. Lived in a nice enough semi with a decent garden. Went to book club. Ticked all the boxes, you know? I felt like I had it all under control, even when my mother and then my father got ill and died. But then I lost my husband, too. Heart attack. Absolutely shocking. It’s an unnerving feeling to eventually admit you can’t cope.’ April sighed. ‘I’m not sure I’ll ever properly recover from that time. I don’t think it’s only soldiers and people caught up in natural catastrophes who end up with PTSD, I think it happened to me, too.’

‘I’m not surprised. I’m so sorry,’ Hannah said, setting down her coffee to give April her total concentration.

‘Anyway, my kids were old enough to fend for themselves – uni or working, – and on a whim, I saw an advert for an arts director for Blue Line Cruising, and I thought, “Why not?” And so here I am.’

‘You don’t miss the life you had?’ Hannah said.

‘Of course. I miss my children, and now the grandchildren, especially at this time of the year – actually, that’s why this season will be my last. I’m retiring, going to live in my son’s annexe so I can help with his twin boys. I’m not convinced either of us quite understand what we’ve let ourselves in for, but it’s a new chapter – and I think they’re always exciting, aren’t they?’

Hannah wasn’t sure. Yesterday she would have agreed wholeheartedly with April – what a difference a day could make.

‘There was a time when I would have leapt at an opportunity to work somewhere like this. Or at least an art gallery somewhere.’

‘But not now?’ April asked.

‘Bit of a waste of a degree in fine art, I suppose. But sometimes that’s life…’ Hannah managed a thin smile, couldn’t bring herself to elaborate further.