Chapter 4 #2
We turned at the sound of the voice and bustling towards us was a woman around my age, with an olive complexion and the most glorious long, dark, curly hair.
She was dressed in navy shorts and a white tailored shirt, the Aetheria logo adorning the pocket.
A young Asian guy trailed behind her, wearing the same uniform and lugging a camera bag.
‘Hi, everyone, I’m Niki Fragoulis,’ she said in a broad Australian accent, ‘guest services director.’
Trudy and Dale said hello and Dale introduced them both.
‘And I’m Ally,’ I said, stepping forward. ‘You’ve been liaising with Maya from my team.’
‘Great to meet you, Ally,’ she said. ‘Really excited about working together and if you haven’t guessed, I’m wearing two hats – I’m also heading up PR.
That’s what I did back in Brissie. But when this opportunity came up…
I couldn’t say no. You know, thirty-something Greek woman, living at home with Mum and Dad, and your cousin’s cousin hears about this great job in the Cyclades and your family’s from there – way back, I mean. So, it’s a no-brainer, right?’
‘Absolutely,’ I agreed.
She was certainly… effervescent. Maybe before working in PR, Niki was one of the Wiggles.
‘Oh, sorry,’ she said, slapping her forehead dramatically. ‘This is Minh, Aetheria’s photographer and videographer.’
Minh nodded. ‘Hey, everyone,’ he said quietly, his accent American.
‘Right,’ said Niki, ‘now before we chuff off, let’s get some footage of you arriving at the boat.’
Minh may have been the total opposite to Niki – softly spoken and with considered gestures – but he was clearly experienced. Without hesitation, he directed us into position, explaining precisely what he needed.
Now I’m used to this sort of thing – photoshoots, filming – but Trudy was a deer in headlights from the onset. We had to film our approach to the boat several times because she kept flubbing her one line, What a beautiful sailboat!
In the end, Niki gently asked Trudy and Dale to step aside and for me to deliver the line, which I did – perfectly in one take.
‘Great job, Ally!’ said Niki. ‘Now, let’s go aboard.’
I was still basking in the glow of Niki’s praise when Tommy called out, ‘Hello, everyone!’
Only two words but they hurtled straight at me, obliterating any hope of breezing through the day with cool-headed professionalism.
Hah! I was further from cool-headed professionalism than a newsreader doing shots on air.
But I had a job to do, and I could not allow myself to get distracted by Tommy’s voice. Or any other part of him. Especially other parts of him.
Only, then I caught sight of him and my remaining shreds of self-control flew out the window.
Gah! Get it together, Ally!
It would be challenging, that was for sure – like climbing Mount Everest in stilettos.
For one, that uniform really suited him, the bright white of his shirt offsetting his tanned skin and dark hair.
And he was barefoot, and Tommy has beautiful feet.
Even the statue of David has ugly feet compared to Tommy.
But most of all – worst of all? – he looked so at home on that boat, it was as if he’d always sailed. Whatever was going on with him – whatever reasons he had for this dramatic lifestyle change – he seemed to be on to something. It clearly agreed with him.
He stopped in the cockpit, regarding us with a broad smile.
‘You must be Trudy and Dale. I’m Tom,’ he said, flashing that smile at Trudy. I swear, she almost swooned and I readied myself to catch her.
‘Hello, Ally. Nice to see you again,’ he said, as if we were acquaintances who’d only met last night. Which was exactly what we were pretending to be.
‘Hi, Tom, good to meet ya,’ said Dale. ‘Shoes off, I’m assuming?’ he asked as he undid the buckles of his sandals.
‘That would be great.’
Trudy and I exchanged a look, then stepped out of our shoes, letting them dangle from our fingertips. Dale climbed aboard, then Trudy stepped closer to the boat, eyeing the gap between it and the pier.
‘I’ve got you, babe,’ said Dale, reaching for her hand.
Trudy placed her hand in Dale’s and peered at him adoringly. I thought back to what she’d said on the golf cart, about Dale driving her mad sometimes – that she’d even fantasised about divorcing him from time to time. Yet here they were after decades of marriage, and he still called her babe.
‘Ally, need a hand?’ asked Tommy.
I didn’t want to fall between the pier and the boat either, but I also didn’t want Tommy to hold my hand. I mean, I did but I also didn’t.
‘All good,’ I replied brightly, carefully stepping aboard. Do not fall. Do not fall. Do not fall. I made it, prouder of myself than I should have been.
Tommy reached out his hand, which confused me for a sec – I was already aboard – but he was asking for my shoes. Feeling foolish, I handed them over and he put them away with the others under a bench in the cockpit.
‘So, let’s just go over some safety procedures,’ he said, indicating that we should sit. We all sat except Minh, who scampered over the deck snapping photos. Tommy lifted his hand, commanding his attention.
‘You’ll need to hear this too, okay?’
Seeming chastened – or perhaps even embarrassed – Minh plopped down next to Niki. Then Tommy took us through the safety briefing. Believe me, I tried to pay attention. But with Tommy being all ‘skippery’ – i.e. in charge and sexy as fuck – I kept getting distracted.
He showed us where the lifejackets were and how to put them on.
Me: God, his biceps look good in that polo shirt.
He instructed us to shout out person overboard if anyone fell into the sea.
Me: His voice is so commanding. He could literally command me to do anything right now and I’d do it.
He demonstrated how to toss the lifebuoys if someone fell overboard.
Me: Stuff the lifebuoy. If I fall overboard, I want Tommy to rescue me, wrapping me in those strong arms of his.
On and on it went. I was ridiculous. I was crushing on my ex-husband. Hard. I just hoped there wasn’t an emergency. I’d be about as useful as a screen door on a submarine.
Still, crushing on him was far better than being crushed by him – which I would be if I let my guard down.
‘And that’s about it,’ he said, concluding the briefing.
I came back to the present when a woman appeared from below deck carrying a tray of plastic cups filled with something fizzy.
‘Hello, everyone. I’m Elsa,’ she said in accented English. ‘Who would like some sparkling wine?’
It sounded like a friendly offer, only Elsa had a very unfriendly air about her. The word frosty came to mind and I watched her closely. Maybe she was having a bad day. Or maybe she was one of those people who had no business working in tourism.
She handed around the cups and I accepted one – it’s never too early for champers, especially when you’re trapped on a boat with your ex for the day. But just as I was about to take a sip, something caught my eye – something that soured my stomach more than Elsa’s pinched demeanour.
As she slipped past Tommy to return below deck, they exchanged what I can only describe as a meaningful look. Then Tommy’s mouth lifted slightly at one corner – a gesture that would have been invisible to the untrained eye, but one I knew well. Very well.
Something was going on between Elsa and Tommy.
And I did not like it one bit. Not one fucking bit.