Page 72 of Escape to the Sun

‘You didn’t go ashore?’ The fact she hadn’t visited St Vincent hit him like a spray of liquid guilt.

‘No. April was there, and we chatted for a while. She says she’s retiring when the season ends.’

‘I believe so. She’s been with the Ballygowan longer than I have. It’ll be sad to say goodbye to her.’

Hannah frowned, twisting her glass by its stem between her thumb and fingers. ‘Also, I had some news. About Ian, actually.’

‘Oh?’

Chatting about Hannah’s ex-fiancé wasn’t what Louis had had in mind for this evening. He’d been thinking more about discussing next steps, how to stay in meaningful contact once the cruise ended – how to take things forward between the two of them.

‘He was in a car accident – a bad one. He needed surgery to sort out a broken leg, and he’s got a cracked shoulder and damaged ribs. I phoned him.’

Hannah glanced up from her glass, held his gaze, her expression difficult to read.

‘Will he make a full recovery?’ Louis said, aware it sounded starchy and formal, but unsure how Hannah was expecting him to respond.

‘You don’t mind?’ she said.

‘Why would I mind you showing concern for someone you cared about for so long? It’s not up to me to tell you who you can and can’t phone, is it?’

‘No. I suppose not.’ She smiled. It was a thin version of the smiles Louis had grown used to, but Hannah’s intense gaze remained.

‘You look like you have the weight of the world stacked on your shoulders tonight, Hannah. I’m glad he’s going to be all right, but to be honest, I’d rather talk about other things.’

‘I suppose,’ she said.

Not the ringing endorsement he had hoped for. Hannah stared at him, then sighed.

‘It hit me hard, hearing him like that. That’s all,’ she said.

It was Louis’ turn to frown.

‘It’s not going to be plain sailing, getting over the end of such an important relationship. I do understand,’ he said, wondering if he really did, or whether he’d been guilty of hoping the bloke might just evaporate.

‘It’s such a mess,’ she said as she reached again for her wine. ‘And it’s my fault for not dealing with any of it properly.’

‘Nobody knows how to do this stuff, Hannah. The bloke cheated on you, but that doesn’t mean you won’t still have feelings for him, or about him, running around your mind. It will take time for you to deal with all of that – but it’s not unconnected to what I wanted to talk about this evening. What comes next, for us…’

Hannah shook her head, drained her glass and set down the glass. ‘I’m not sure I’m up to this tonight, Louis. I’m sorry.’

‘Do you want to eat, then, or…’

Hannah drew in a long breath, then frowned. ‘Actually, I think maybe I should just head to my cabin and call it a day. Do you mind?’

‘Well, yes, of course I mind…’ Louis was about to clarify the meaning behind his words, that he was worried about her, and them, and how the interjection of her past into their present was throwing everything off kilter, but Hannah’s frown intensified as she stood.

‘The last thing I need right now is someone forcing me to eat a dinner I don’t even want. Your crew might have to do what you say, but I don’t. Who do you think you are?’

The intensity of her sudden fury had him reeling.

‘No – all I meant was that I⁠—’

‘Maybe Ruth was right after all. Maybe I have been too hasty with everything…’

Louis stood as Hannah glanced at the flowers and left them on the table, a final apology swirling in the air as she grabbed at the wrap on the back of her chair and left the restaurant.

Louis retook his seat, aware of the waitstaff and the sommelier staring, the rest of the restaurant guests whispering. How had the situation gone from fine to Defcon 5? And what did Ruth have to do with it?