Page 87 of Escape to the Sun

‘You’re suggesting a passenger for a role on board, one which you haven’t even discussed with her? Have I got that right?’ he said.

‘Well, when you say it like that, it sounds even crazier than I thought, but yes. Why not? I get the feeling Hannah needs a change in direction.’

April looked pleased with herself, and Louis hated to burst her bubble, but he supposed he should fill her in.

‘Hannah?’ he said.

‘Yes – Hannah Maynard. I think you know who I’m talking about, Captain…’

‘I’m sorry, but I think you’ll find Hannah Maynard is very keen to get home, April. She’s planning on reuniting with her partner, getting her relationship back on track – she has a whole life to get back to.’

‘You haven’t heard, then?’

Louis had no idea how he was supposed to react when April updated him, explained what Ian had done, how Hannah had found out. Part of him felt a powerful tug to head along the corridor and knock on Hannah’s door, right now. To pull her into a hug and tell her it would all be OK. That he would make sure it was.

And yet, she’d thrown him over, in effect, to try again with a partner who was clearly a cheat. It wasn’t exactly a glowing recommendation for how deep her feelings for Louis had been, was it? If she’d found it so easy to dump him, what was to stop her doing so again? Maybe he had been nothing more than a rebound.

And what had happened to his decision to allow her to find someone who would be totally focused on her – rather than his lack of care for her when she’d been left behind in Bridgetown? The Blue Line bosses might have been impressed by his handling of the emergency, but he’d still left her behind. Alone and stranded until Martin and the other crew members had found her.

He shook his head and April looked confused.

‘I don’t think it’ll work,’ he said.

April frowned. ‘Well, I’ve spoken to Marianne Neilson and she thinks Hannah should apply. She suggested I talk to Hannah about it. So, that’s what I’m going to do. I just hoped it would work for you, too, Captain.’

Louis sighed. ‘Go for it, April. Sounds like you have it all organised.’

‘I just don’t want to let the opportunity slip past, for any of us,’ April said, and although she had to be talking about the job opportunity, Louis could have sworn there was a twinkle in her eye, a sense of promise behind the words that was, in his opinion, completely misplaced.

45

Hannah would have been content to remain in her cabin for the remainder of the cruise. She’d wanted to do so right at the start, to be given the opportunity to wither away and be found, desiccated, no longer in need of anything from anyone. Ready to be tidied up with a dustpan and brush and forgotten about.

And yet the knocks on her cabin door kept coming. Mostly from Ruth, or Ruth’s children, attempting to coax her out. But when April knocked, on a pretence about the painting she was supposedly still working on in the gallery, before explaining about the job opportunity on the Ballygowan, Hannah finally allowed herself to be led back into the wider environment of the ship.

April’s idea was ludicrous. At least, it was now. Had it been suggested when Hannah had been having crazy thoughts and feelings about Louis, it might have offered the possibility for her to have everything – the man and the new direction in her life she thought she wanted, alongside the ability to submerge herself in art. Something she’d always dreamed about but had never achieved.

Hannah heard April out, regardless, as they walked the promenade deck and admired another fantastic view.

‘I will miss this bit so much,’ April said, a dewy fondness in her eyes as she gazed out over the ocean. Then she frowned. ‘Actually, do you know what – I’m going to miss every single part of the job. But I think you could be exactly what the Ballygowan needs, Hannah. A fresh brush with a new palette of colours – you can bring all new ideas into play.’

Hannah shook her head. ‘There will be applicants who are far more qualified. And it would be too big of a change for me. I promised to go back and work in the deli. Plus, I’m not sure I should leave my brother for such a long time. It’s too big, April. It’s not me…’

‘Nonsense,’ April replied. ‘It was the same when I took the job. Everyone at home thought I was crazy, told me I’d regret it, I’d lose my roots back home, what about my friends… Tried to frighten me into conforming. They thought I’d be back with my tail between my legs but look how it’s turned out for me! It’s been brilliant.’

‘Yes, but⁠—’

April held up a hand. ‘This is not too big for you, Hannah. I’d say it was perfect.’

Working alongside the man she’d burned? Anything but perfect, in Hannah’s mind. Not that she was about to explain that to April. ‘I can’t work with Captain King, April. It’s as simple as that.’

‘It’s never that simple. Listen, I’ll leave you to have a think. There’s no rush. Applications are still open. Consider all of it, Hannah, not just your present challenges with Louis. There’s no saying he’ll remain captain of the Ballygowan anyway – when Captain Crowther returns, he might take control. Louis could end up on a different ship – this is about more than you and him. This is about you. Doing something you never thought you’d have the chance to.’

Hannah frowned. It sounded more appealing couched in those terms.

‘I’m holding a New Year’s Eve drinks party in the gallery tomorrow night, starting at six. Let me know then what you think. Marianne Neilson will be there, too. If you like the idea, I could introduce you. I’m sure it wouldn’t do your chances any harm.’

‘I’ll try to make it.’