Chapter 28
Hannah glanced between Ruth and Teddy, appetite forgotten as she tried to make sense of the scene unfolding in front of her.
She’d only just twisted her mind around the fact that the man Ruth had loved as a young woman, had clearly regretted losing, and hadn’t seen for three decades, was here.
But that he was also the father of the man she herself had fallen headlong for?
And then, in usual filter-free Ruth fashion, she was announcing that Hannah and Louis also knew one another. Mercifully, she stopped short of details, the rise in Teddy’s eyebrows enough to quieten her.
‘You know Louis?’ Teddy said, attention firmly on Hannah.
‘We met at the beginning of this cruise,’ Hannah said. ‘I got an invite to visit the bridge and, well, obviously he was there…’
She tailed off, frowning with indecision about how much more she should say. Louis hadn’t mentioned that his father was on board – but he had said something about the two of them having a strained relationship.
Luckily, Ruth took up the reins, changing direction with her own revelation.
‘I can’t believe I never made the connection. I should have realised when I saw his name. Louis King. I’m so stupid. I even said how familiar he seemed to me when we were at that captain’s Q they felt as much like family as the one she’d left behind – more so, in some ways, because everything here was easy, and she felt no judgement or expectation, only support.
And it was difficult to describe just how incredible it felt to spend time with Louis – it was as though she was living in a dream, one from which she did not want to wake up.
Today felt particularly special – and not only because it was Christmas Day.
Ruth’s upbeat demeanour at the rediscovery of Teddy lit up the room.
They had plans to spend some of the day touring the island in a specially booked taxi with the kids, doing the Caribbean equivalent of a ‘White Christmas’ on the fine, bright sands of Reduit Beach before making their way to a smaller and more secluded beach, Anse Chastanet, to meet up with Hannah and Louis, where Hannah and Millie planned to go snorkelling together.
Making plans with these people had seemed the most natural thing in the world, and Hannah dug into her bread pudding for another mouthful – today’s breakfast might be the most unusual she’d ever eaten, but it was also one of the most delicious.
‘I wonder why they didn’t put Christmas names on all this food and drink, too?’ Millie said, as she sucked at the remnants of another island Christmas breakfast treat – fiery ginger beer – from the straw in her tall glass.
‘Probably exhausted all the possibilities,’ Nathan said, glancing at Keisha to gauge her response to his comment.
‘Yeah – there’s not much left once you’ve named something “Nutcracker Nachos”, is there?’ Keisha said.
Nathan laughed and Ruth shivered. ‘Those bloody things give me the creeps.’
‘What, nutcrackers?’ Hannah said.
‘Yes. Haven’t you ever noticed – their bottom jaws are in their chests. It’s all wrong.’
‘Isn’t that so they can crack nuts?’ Keisha said. ‘Otherwise, there wouldn’t be enough room to fit the nut?’
Ruth looked at Keisha as though the girl had just invented the wheel. ‘Oh my God. You mean they’re actually for cracking nuts? I thought a nutcracker was a character from a Christmas ballet and that’s why they inflict huge versions on us in shopping centres.’
‘I think they’re a German thing originally,’ Keisha said, grinning at Ruth’s open-mouthed expression. ‘For cracking nuts.’
‘Bloody hell, Nath – this girl’s a keeper,’ Ruth said, causing Nathan to slink down in his seat with embarrassment and Hannah to backhand Ruth.
‘What?’ Ruth said. ‘How else am I going to retain my status as “most embarrassing mother ever”?’
‘I’m not sure you need to work at that,’ Millie said.
After the Herring ensemble had left the ship, and Hannah had phoned her little brother to wish him a ‘Happy Christmas’ and been told off because on her present she’d wished him a ‘Roaring Christmas’, so it couldn’t be both, Hannah found herself at a loose end as she waited for Louis.
Their plan was simple. From Soufriere they would catch a water taxi direct to the relative seclusion of a day on Anse Chastanet beach. No hassle, no rushing around. Nobody else around, either. At least, nobody they knew. Just a backdrop of hundreds of acres of rainforest and an ocean view.
She waited in the Crow’s Nest, an ‘Arctic Americano’ cooling in front of her as she dealt with myriad messages from friends and relatives – every Christmas emoji was pressed into service.
And even though it was what she wanted, there was no ignoring the fact there had been no message from Ian.
Perhaps he was beginning to understand she didn’t want to hear from him.
Hannah blew out her cheeks as the cold fingers of her real life reached out to touch her.
Louis chose that moment to cross the Crow’s Nest, casual in shorts and a T-shirt.
The Caribbean way, even on this most special day of the year.
He’d explained that although traditional food and church services remained an important part of the day for the locals, there was no expectation to be anything other than relaxed and comfortable.
She grinned and scootched over as he grabbed a seat and leant in to kiss her cheek. ‘Happy Christmas.’
‘Happy Christmas to you too,’ he said, pulling a small package from a pocket and handing it to her.
‘You shouldn’t have,’ she said, grimacing. ‘I didn’t get you anything.’
‘Didn’t expect you to. But I saw this and thought you might like it.’
Wrapped neatly and sealed with a sticker from one of the on-board shops, Hannah could feel a low-profile box inside. She pulled it open to reveal a delicate silver bracelet; a simple chain design punctuated here and there with tiny stars.
‘I love it,’ she said, grinning as Louis took it from the box and fastened it around her wrist. ‘I should have got you something.’
‘Why?’ He smiled. ‘I was about to say you don’t need to give me anything because just being with you is enough of a gift, then I realised you might vomit at the cheesiness, so I decided not to.’
‘But you just said it,’ Hannah said.
‘Yeah, I did, didn’t I?’ Louis shrugged. ‘Do you need me to fetch you a bucket?’
Hannah laughed, shook her head.
‘We should get going, make the most of the day. Have you got everything you need?’
‘Yep, I’m all set.’
Louis stood, as she gathered her stuff and did the same. He held out a hand and with fingers entwined they made for shore.