Chapter Thirty-Seven
On the day of Barry’s party there were too many things to co-ordinate so Ros had agreed to go from her dad’s house and meet Cameron at the docks. Barry was uncharacteristically jittery as he seemed to have visions of everyone being late and the boat going without them.
‘Dad, it’ll be fine. There’s only a dozen of us and everyone knows what time they need to be ready. I have messaged in the group chat with a reminder that they need to be there at least twenty minutes before departure time or we will leave them behind.’
‘See, that’s exactly what I’m worried about.’ He began pacing with a concerned-looking Gazza at his heels. It was a little like the obedience trials at Crufts although most of those canines wouldn’t have been as easily distracted by the sound of a cupboard door opening.
‘Stop fretting,’ said Ros. ‘We won’t leave anyone behind.’
‘And what about the caterers? Are you sure we’ve ordered enough? It’s not like they can pop to the cash and carry if we get low on something.’
‘Goodness,’ said Amanda, appearing in the doorway wearing a long dark green dress and looking very elegant. ‘I hope it’s not coming from the cash and carry given what you’re paying them.’
They both looked at Ros. ‘I’m sure it’s all top quality. Now please can we trust that everything is in hand and try and enjoy the evening?’
‘I take it you’re not wearing that.’ Her mother nodded disapprovingly at her white shirt and black trouser combination.
‘No... I’m getting changed now.’
‘Where’s Cameron?’ Amanda pressed her lips into a hard line. ‘Or should I not ask?’
‘Cameron is meeting us at Chuckles ,’ said Ros.
‘Chuckles? Please don’t tell me there’s a clown?’ Amanda appeared horrified.
‘It’s the name of the superyacht.’
‘I see.’ Amanda’s face told a different story. ‘Let’s hope Cameron turns up,’ she added.
Ros wasn’t someone who put their hands on their hips but she was sorely tempted. ‘And why wouldn’t he be there?’
‘No reason.’ She sipped her coffee. ‘He doesn’t seem like the dressing-up sort. More dishevelled and casual. No offence.’
‘He is a man of many talents,’ said Ros. ‘And whatever he wears he’ll look perfect to me.’ She meant it and the thought made her feel a little sad. She’d overcome her own prejudice about how he looked and dressed. ‘It’s the man inside that matters. And Cameron is someone special.’
‘Hmm,’ said her mother.
‘Amanda, you really don’t help sometimes do you?’ said Barry.
‘Why is everyone so touchy?’ she said. ‘Goodness, Barry, your bow tie looks like it’s been tied by a chimpanzee. Joke!’ she added quickly as she put her drink down and went to adjust his tie. Ros saw an opportunity to escape and get herself ready. She’d not be up to Amanda’s standard but she was the last person she wanted to impress. As long as her dad had a good time, that was all that mattered.
Ros had washed her hair earlier so only needed to wet it and have a bit of a play with the hot brush. It wasn’t a tool she had mastered. It was something her dad had bought her a couple of Christmases ago but it seemed like the perfect night to see if she could make her hair a little more special than her usual straight affair. Especially as Barry had hired a photographer to capture moments through the night so he had something to look back on.
When Ros came downstairs she was expecting a sarcastic comment from Amanda but her stunned expression made her very happy and a little bit smug.
‘Someone scrubs up well,’ said Amanda.
‘You look amazing, Cabbage.’ Barry had a tear in his eye as he hugged her.
The taxi arrived soon afterwards. Barry reluctantly left Gazza with a carrot, a large bone and a promise that he’d return with a doggy bag as Ros ushered him out of the door.
It was quite a scene on the quayside: people had heeded her mild threat of going without them and had arrived early and were now milling around in their finery. Chuckles the superyacht was ready and waiting and looked even bigger than the photographs Ros had been shown. More than twenty metres long, gleaming white and over three levels – it was certainly an impressive vessel. Uncle Pete greeted them warmly wearing a white tuxedo and a vibrant red bow tie, which Amanda curled her lip at, and Ros was pleased to see Uncle Pete looked buoyed by her response. ‘I wanted to stand out in the photos. I thought dark colours were a bit bland.’ He eyed Amanda’s dark green dress up and down. It was going to be an interesting night.
Ros scanned the quayside for Cameron but there was no sign of him. Once Barry had made his way to the front, they were all handed glasses of fizz and ushered onto the boat. Barry looked pleased as punch as he greeted everyone and Ros could understand how happy it made him to see old friends again. Uncle Pete gave him a bear hug and when they finally pulled apart both the men had tears in their eyes but no words were exchanged. She was pleased to see the photographer had captured the moment.
‘Hey, Ros. How are you?’ asked Uncle Pete, giving her a hug.
‘I’m good thanks. How are you and your ailments?’
Pete chuckled. ‘I’m very well. Now where’s this fella of yours?’ He scanned the people nearby.
‘I’m not entirely sure, but he’ll be here and I’ll introduce you.’
‘He is real then? Not like Tilly?’ Ros had no idea what he was talking about although something was stirring at the back of her mind. ‘Your imaginary friend, Tilly. You remember. They used to steal biscuits and wee in the garden.’
‘Oh heavens. I must have been about three or four.’ The memories filled her with embarrassment. ‘Cameron is definitely real.’ The thought of him brought a smile to her face.
‘Glad to hear it,’ said Pete, taking a glass from a proffered tray. ‘Don’t forget to introduce me.’
‘I won’t,’ she said, having another scan of faces. There were now more people on the boat than on the quay. But there on the pontoon was a face she recognised. Not one she was fond of but definitely one she recognised: Cyril was waiting to come on board. Ros couldn’t help but grin. She had no idea what Cameron was doing but she was learning to go with it and that it would invariably turn out well.
Darla appeared. ‘Hi, Barry. Happy party day,’ she said, giving him a hug. ‘Thanks for inviting me,’ she added.
‘Thanks for coming,’ said Barry. ‘I thought you could keep Ros and Cameron company, as the rest of the guests are from a different generation. I hope you don’t feel like a gooseberry.’
‘Oh no, I won’t. I’ve got a boyfriend. He’s called Elliott and he’ll be up when I get home. When I say up, I mean with the sheep.’ Barry’s eyebrows were rising. ‘Actually not sheep because they’re young ones – lambs. He’ll be feeding lambs because he’s a farmer.’ Barry seemed relieved when she finally reached the end of the explanation.
‘That’s nice. Have a good evening,’ said Barry, looking thankful to move on to the next guest.
‘Hiya.’ Darla launched herself at Ros. ‘Elliott said I looked good enough to eat.’
‘You do – you look fabulous. Have a glass of Prosecco,’ she said, pleased to see Darla positively glowing with happiness. It made Ros feel a little bewildered as she was beginning to sense she was missing out on something. She’d never felt like this before. It had always been the downside of relationships that she had been most aware of – the niggles, the annoying habits and the compromises. Perhaps they had simply been indicators that she was with the wrong person. This was all Cameron’s doing. He’d made her look at things differently. Opened her eyes to new possibilities and in so doing had made her a little restless and yearning for a close relationship. The sight of him manhandling Cyril on board only made her feelings for him stronger. But it was all a big waste of time, effort and energy. What she needed to do was refocus.
‘Hey,’ said Cameron, setting Cyril down and embracing Barry warmly. ‘Looking good, Barry.’
The older man adjusted his bow tie with a wobble of his head. ‘You too, Cameron. Help yourself to a drink.’
‘Hey, you,’ said Cameron, placing a now familiar kiss on Ros’s cheek. ‘You look amazing. That dress is perfect on you. Your stylist must be very special,’ he said with a cheeky wink.
‘Oh, he is.’ Ros looked Cameron over. Wild hair under control, freshly shaved, purple velvet bow tie and very well fitted dinner suit. He looked divine.
‘I’m sure Cyril is having a lovely time but I don’t remember him being on the guest list.’
‘It was a last-minute idea. Your dad called and asked me to bring him. He thought it might be fun for photo ops.’
Once everyone was on board the crew began scurrying about and someone gave Barry a microphone. ‘Is this on?’ he asked as it screeched into life, sending someone’s hearing aid haywire. ‘That’s a yes then. Welcome, everyone. I’ll do a long boring speech later but for now grab a glass, make merry and watch us set sail... well, there’s no sails but you know what I mean.’ He raised his glass. ‘Cheers!’
Cameron squeezed Ros’s arm. ‘You can relax. Everyone is here and on board. Your dad looks happy and healthy. It’s all good.’
‘Thanks, Cameron.’ He had a way of putting her at ease.
‘Before I forget,’ he said. ‘Two messages on the answer machine. One from Great-Aunt Ursula. Saying again that she’s sorry she couldn’t make it but she’s off to the Shetland Isles tomorrow so the logistics were too tricky. And either a scam or a wrong number because it was some guy after information to confirm you have a passport so they can secure flights to Dubai. I mean, do people really fall for tricksters like... that...?’ Cameron trailed off; she suspected it was her own guilty expression that had made him freeze the way he had. ‘He was a fraudster, right?’
‘Err.’ Ros was starting to think that she’d not thought this through. A cheer went up as the boat pulled away from the dock and the photographer snapped away. ‘He’s not a fraudster.’
Cameron’s expression changed. ‘Was he a travel agent? Are you off on holiday?’
‘Err.’ Ros was struggling to come up with a suitable response.
‘Ros, what’s going on?’
‘I’ve been offered a job that is international, starting in Dubai, and the flight is one way.’
The shock on Cameron’s face was clear. ‘What the hell?’
‘It would be a new start.’
‘Am I meant to say congratulations? Hang on, does everyone else know? Is it just me who’s been kept in the dark?’ He appeared to be getting agitated.
‘I’ve not told anyone.’ She was still waiting to see a contract before she made a final decision.
‘How was this going to work? You were just going to pack your stuff and leave and not say anything?’ His voice was rising.
‘No.’ She’d not actually thought about it in any detail. ‘I was offered the job unexpectedly.’
‘Unexpectedly. You didn’t have an interview?’ People were beginning to stop their conversations and tune in to the argument.
Ros thought back to the nice chat over lunch. ‘It was quite informal.’
‘So you did have an interview but you didn’t say anything. You kept it a secret.’ Cameron pushed his hand through his thick hair, unsettling it. ‘Jeez, have you been planning this for ages? I thought we...’ There was a look from him that she wished she could interpret. ‘But then, it’s nothing to you is it? All this. You and me.’ He pointed between the two of them.
‘Cameron. Am I missing something? Because I understand you have plans to get engaged.’ There was a whoop of joy nearby. ‘Not to me,’ she clarified for whoever had got excited and also for the photographer who was zooming in for a close-up. She realised everyone was now silent and all eyes were on them. This was very bad indeed.
‘What’s going on?’ Darla marched up.
‘Ros is going to Dubai indefinitely,’ said Cameron.
‘It’s not indefinitely; it’s undecided until I’ve assessed the level of work involved there before I’ll likely move on...’ she was now acutely aware of the attention ‘...to um, Saudi Arabia.’
‘Arabia?!’ Darla was almost shouting. ‘I don’t even know where that is. You promised me you’d help me to get my business off the ground. You said you’d be my business adviser. What the hell, Ros?’
‘I’m sorry. I was going to speak to both of you.’ She looked at the assembled faces. Including her father and mother whose attention was also firmly fixed on her. ‘All of you,’ she corrected.
‘I guess you leaving neatly draws this relationship to a close then,’ said Cameron. ‘No discussion. No working things out so it’s best for everyone. You went for the unilateral decision and as usual went for what suits Ros and sod everyone else.’ His jaw was tense. She’d not seen him this cross before.
‘I didn’t know what the best thing to do was,’ she said, aware that her voice was little more than a whisper.
A hearing aid nearby whistled. ‘Can you speak up?’ someone called.
‘You think this is for the best? Running away to Dubai without a word. No discussion. Not even a Post-it Note on the counter. Bloody hell, Ros. I guess that makes this easy then. We’re done!’
Someone gasped as Cameron awkwardly tried to exit through the mass of people. Only to get to the exit and discover that they were now some hundred metres offshore and surrounded by sea.