Chapter 23 #2
After a quick shower I’m dressed and ready for dinner with the Unlucky in Love Travel Club.
Tonight’s theme is ‘Cosy Christmas’. Pyjamas, fluffy slippers – we’re encouraged to don whatever we feel most comfortable in.
I’ve opted for a pair of Grinch PJs and Ugg boots.
If only we could dress like this every evening, although I bet Princess won’t be impressed by the thought of dressing so casually.
I lock my cabin door and make my way down the hallway to the dining carriage.
Sabrina pops out, startling me with her green face. ‘Nice PJs!’
‘Thank you. Wow, that Christmas tree costume is somehow even more… vibrant.’ I give her a wide smile.
Her costume flashes and pulses to the music as if the festive Christmas lights share the same beat.
Was it only this morning she showed us her practice run in it?
Feels like light years ago. The days and nights are deliciously slow on the Winter Wonderland Express.
Her lips purse in disapproval. ‘I can’t wait to get this monstrosity off. Gift-box shoes should be outlawed, and that sleazy guy Silas from table three keeps squeezing my baubles and yelling ho, ho, ho.’
I pull a face. ‘Eww. What makes him think that’s acceptable?
’ The mention of him reminds me that I forgot to tell the Unlucky in Love Travel Club that he might be in contention for our splitsville mystery…
and if so, I can see bloody well why. He’s the letch who won the ugly Christmas jumper competition and gave every woman the winky face.
Sabrina shakes her head; at least, that’s what I think she’s doing.
It’s hard to tell with her costume hiding the bulk of her frame.
‘He’s actually a pig. And strangely he’s coupled up with that statuesque blonde Gigi, the supermodel type with the cool gaze.
Like, in what universe does a man like him get the love of a woman like her? He is punching well above his weight.’
Silas and Gigi haven’t been as blatant with their PDAs as the other passengers; if anything, the tall cool blonde has been a little cold and I can see why if he’s being inappropriate with other women.
‘Why do women settle for men like him? She’s lovely and he’s… not.’
Sabrina lifts her tinsel-wrapped arms. ‘It’s a mystery.’
I decide not to wait to confer with the group. I have to know now. ‘It’s got to be them. The couple heading for splitsville?’
Sabrina shakes her head. ‘Unfortunately not. She’s stuck by him as far as I know.’
I deflate at the thought. ‘Well, at least that means Silas won’t be joining our table, I couldn’t cope with that.’
‘Somehow I can’t see Jasper putting up with a guy being handsy around you.’
I stop short. ‘What do you mean?’
‘Haven’t you noticed how protective of you he is?’
Have I? A few times he’s put an arm around me, like in the Louvre to stop me from being jostled forward, or that time in Hamburg he grabbed my hand to guide me through a horde of tourists. ‘That’s just Jasper being Jasper.’
‘Oh, you poor lovesick fool. Why is the love interest always the last to know?’
‘The love interest? Me?’
‘You must have blinkers on, Aubrey. The man is smitten with you. Smitten. He can’t take his eyes off you.
Even when you were doing the robot and everyone else was gasping at how bad you were, he had this look on his face that I can only describe as wonderment, and that’s really saying something.
If a man can find the way you dance cute, then the sky is the limit. ’
‘I’m trying not to take offence as I untangle that, Sabrina. How can the robot dance be bad? It’s the robot. It’s meant to be robotic.’
‘Your robot short-circuited! There was a system failure and a malfunction in the motherboard.’
‘Wow.’ I promptly dissolve into giggles. ‘You paint a tragic picture of my skills, Sabrina. Was I really that bad?’ I mean, it tracks. I absolutely hate being in the spotlight, and that hatred is magnified when you add a dance battle into the mix.
‘Worse. And despite that, the man stared at you like you were a goddess come to life.’
Did he? ‘And he joined in with my dance, what – to save me from further mortification?’ I remember the crowd calling for Jasper, wolf-whistling, so I’d just presumed he wanted more of the limelight.
‘To save you and to be close to you.’
‘Oooh, maybe I do see it now.’ Jasper has been looking out for me this whole time.
It’s in the little things he does. He’s considerate, aware.
The type of guy that’s always on your side.
I’m not used to a man like that, so much so that I didn’t even recognise it in him until now and that’s only because Sabrina’s pointed it out.
Could I really let myself fall for Jasper though? Risk it all again, so soon?
Sabrina blanches when she spots another staff member coming our way. ‘Oh shoot, there’s my manager. I’m supposed to guide you to the Elfie-Selfie Station and encourage you to pose for an “elfie” that you can share on social media.’
I keep my face neutral when the sucked-lemon-faced manager swings her gaze to us, and I say quietly, ‘They’re really big on photos around here.’
‘It’s the way of the world, is it not? If you don’t take a photo, did it even happen?’
I laugh. ‘True. Are you allowed to come and get an “elfie” with me?’
‘Sure, as we’re supposed to be encouraging shares to social media!’
As the manager walks past, she shoots Sabrina a dark look and says to me, ‘I hope Sabrina is assisting you with whatever you need?’
I give her a wide smile. ‘She is, in fact, and has ever since I stepped on board. I commend you on hiring such friendly staff, such as Sabrina, who has gone above and beyond for us passengers and truly made this trip unforgettable. You’re lucky to have her.’
The manager’s jaw unhinges before she quickly collects herself. ‘Thank you. That’s lovely to hear.’
When she leaves, Sabrina screeches. ‘Oh, that was priceless! Thank you, Aubrey.’
‘I meant every word.’
We find the Elfie-Selfie Station and pose, pulling silly faces. ‘I’m going to miss you all at the end of this journey,’ Sabrina says when we finish, handing our props to the next passengers.
‘I’m going to miss you too. I guess it’s an ongoing stream of goodbyes for you in this line of work?’
Sabrina smiles. ‘It is. Some are harder than others. It’s always surprising how close you can grow to a group over a short amount of time.
Being together like this, in a bubble almost, fast tracks those friendships.
And then the dreaded goodbyes come and, as much as you plan to catch up again one day, that day never comes.
You must find that too the way you live? ’
It’s a little soul crushing to think I’ll never see Sabrina or the rest of the group again.
She’s right – we’ve grown close over such a short time, aided by the fact we’re confined to the train for half the day.
It’s a wonderful way to travel, in that respect.
‘Yes, I find goodbyes difficult too when I travel, but someone is always leaving for the next adventure, and then I find myself with itchy feet, inspired to explore further. I’m not sure where to next, though.
Maybe Paris? Maybe I’ll work my way down France…
’ I can then meet Jasper for the Camino in March.
‘Sounds bloody good to me.’
‘What about you? Do you plan to stay on the Winter Wonderland Express long term?’
‘It was the plan, but now I’m not sure. I love the train but my manager has it in for me.
You saw the way she looked at me. According to her, I can’t do anything right.
I’ve been offered a job crewing on a yacht in the Maldives, so I might go for that.
I’m just… not sure. You ever feel like that?
At a crossroads, let down by people and just meh?
’ It’s a big change from Sabrina wanting to get her boyfriend a job on board to suddenly wanting to leave.
I’m sorry that her manager is dulling her shine. It’s not right.
I give her shoulder a squeeze. ‘Yeah, hard relate.’
‘You better head to dinner so you don’t miss out. All I have to do is protect my baubles from being squeezed and all will be well. If I knock any more wine off the table, I might actually get fired, so wish me luck.’
I smile. ‘Princess would never allow that, there’d be mutiny on board.’
Sabrina grins. ‘God love her. Have fun at dinner, I’ll be along later.’
At the table, I sit with the group who are gossiping hard behind their hands.
‘What have I missed?’ I ask Jasper, wrinkling my forehead. It must be good because even Princess has lowered her voice.
CJ leans close, brackets her hand around her mouth, and whispers, ‘Do you know the couple who call each other Jellybean and Gummy Bear?’
I bite down on my lip to stem laughter. I mean, it’s cute and all but really? ‘No, I don’t know them. Which ones are they?’
‘They always wear the matching couples’ outfits, you can’t miss them.’
I nod. ‘Ooh, the ones from Hawaii? The young couple.’
‘Yeah. Well, apparently the girl?—’
‘Is she Gummy Bear?’
‘No, she’s Jellybean.’
We exchange a grin. ‘I’m going to have to make notes to keep track.’
‘Actually, this is Jasper’s story to tell…’ CJ motions her head to Jasper, who covers his face with his hands. I none-too-gently pry them away for him. I need answers, not another delay in what looks to be a juicy story.
‘So tell it, Jasper.’
‘It’s really nothing. Jellybean…’ he starts and promptly stops.
‘What? Don’t leave me hanging. What did Jellybean do?’ My mind spins with ideas. Maybe she followed Jasper into his cabin and propositioned him! Maybe she threw herself at him and kissed him!
‘I’m not sure why we’re even discussing this. It’s nothing. Jellybean asked me if I… if I…’ Poor Jasper looks uncomfortable in his own skin, and how can that be?
‘Oh God, can someone please fill me in because at this rate we’re going to arrive in Lapland before I find out.’