Page 86 of Escape to the Sun

Hannah sighed. ‘Is there a good way to find out the person you thought loved you only wanted you around as cover for an affair?’

‘I thought I’d heard them all, but honestly this tops the pile. I’m so sorry.’

‘It’s about as incontrovertible as it gets, though. And this time I won’t be hiding anything from my family when I get home. They can hear the whole sordid tale.’

‘But you’ll go back to the rest of it – working in the deli and everything?’

‘I suppose so. It’s not like I have anything else, is it?’

Once they were back on board, Hannah said she needed some time alone, and Ruth promised to check on her later. Hannah made a weak joke about making sure she hadn’t thrown herself overboard, but her laughter was thin, tinged with sadness. They’d both found magic on board this ship and lost it. Both were ending the cruise feeling worse than they had before it began.

Ruth walked Hannah to her cabin, then deposited the kids in the Harvest Basket, with instructions to eat their own bodyweights in whatever they wanted while she decided if she had the nerve to meddle one more time before the cruise came to an end.

Back on the Ballygowan, Hannah took to her bed as the tears she thought she’d finished with came again, clouding her vision as they formed, then trailed warm lines down each side of her face.

With two days of the cruise to go, and a brand-new year on the horizon, Hannah was back to square one, back to almost the same place as when she’d climbed aboard the Ballygowan, all those days ago.

She was back to turning her phone off, hiding from the world – but this time without even her silly imaginings of pirates and what the captain of a ship like this would be like. Because she knew. He was awesome, and she’d thrown him away.

He would find someone far better than her. That was Hannah’s only consolation. Louis deserved someone who wouldn’t mess him around like she had, wouldn’t give him a moment of doubt, or confusion, or complication.

Someone who would love him properly.

Ruth headed for the art gallery. She was admiring the new pieces of art strung across the centre of the space when April flowed across to chat.

‘Beautiful work, isn’t it?’ she said, voile scarves taking their time to catch her up – the woman did wear some fantastic outfits. Probably went with being artistic, Ruth assumed.

‘The turtles look like they’re actually alive,’ she said, swallowing as she made her decision. Teddy had asked her not to meddle in his son’s life, but Hannah had mentioned that April was retiring, and meddling in Hannah’s life wasn’t the same as meddling in Louis’…

‘April, was Hannah right in thinking you’re retiring soon?’

‘Yes. Pastures new beckon, with my son and his young family.’ She folded her arms, studying Ruth. ‘It’s funny you should mention it, because I’d had a thought about my replacement here – and it probably should be filed away with the rest of the crazier stuff I come up with, but I got the distinct feeling Hannah was looking for a change in direction. She mentioned working with art had been an aspiration when she was young, that she’d volunteered in galleries and so on. Completed a fine arts degree. Worked in the service industry for years. All good stuff. And I know it’s a bit out of the blue, but it occurred to me she could be perfect for this.’

April waved an outstretched hand across the gallery space, and for the first time in a while, Ruth realised someone else had had the exact same meddling idea as she had.

‘You mean Hannah could become the Ballygowan’s gallery director?’ Ruth said.

‘That makes it sound very grand, but yes. Essentially that’s what I’m saying. If she wants the opportunity. I mean, she’d have to apply like everyone else, but I would be able to give her a personal recommendation. And some of the Blue Line Cruising family are on board. I’d be happy to introduce her to them, if she wanted… I could mention it when I next see her. Where is she, by the way? I haven’t seen her since we set up these pieces of art.’

Ruth explained why. Told her about the phone call in which Hannah had found out the undeniable truth about Ian. She was neck-deep in meddling, again, she realised – but it was too late to stop now.

‘Oh, the poor child,’ April said, shaking her head. ‘Sounds like a year or two sailing the world is exactly what she needs. Leaving it all far behind her. Physically and mentally.’

Ruth smiled.

‘Leave it with me,’ April said. ‘I’m not promising anything, but let’s see what we can do, shall we?’

Louis was on the bridge – putting his all into his career, as usual. It was paying off, in terms of this captainship. He’d had a couple of video calls with the powers that be in Blue Line Cruising who were delighted with the way he’d handled the crisis in Bridgetown. They were thinking of extending his time in the role, possibly making it permanent. It was everything Louis wanted.

So why did he still feel hollowed out?

April floated onto the bridge, and Louis smiled.

‘Can I beg a moment of your time, Captain?’ she said. It sounded very formal, not at all April-like. He ushered her into his office.

‘How can I help, April?’

He already knew she was retiring at the end of the season, but the rest of what she had to say had Louis torn between emotion and practicality.