Chapter Thirteen
Steeped in tradition, dining at the captain’s table is more than a meal.
When Joy returned to her cabin after the ceremony on the Lido Deck, she contemplated joining the watercolour class soon to take place in the Emerald Art Studio, where the resident artist, Lucinda Green, was scheduled to instruct a class titled Wildlife Scenes.
Joy had enjoyed dabbling in watercolours many years ago and had even taken a residential course one school holiday.
She had been proud of her efforts back then and even framed the seaside scenes she painted.
Lucinda Green might rekindle the spark and inspire Joy to pick up a brush again.
She recalled Henry’s offhand comment about Lucinda favouring life classes, and reversing her decision, Joy wondered what exactly Wildlife Scenes entailed and whether she would walk into a room of reclining nudes instead of prancing deer.
But as Joy removed her scarf and hung up her jacket, her attention was caught by a long cream envelope that lay on her bed. Puzzled, she picked it up and stared at the typed script.
Mrs Joy Bradley – Ocean View Cabin – 2617
Turning it over, she slipped a finger under the light seal and pulled out a sheet of thin cream-coloured card. It was an invitation.
Emerald Dream Dinner Invitation
From Your Captain
Dear Mrs Bradley
Captain Lauri Lindholm would like to invite you to join him for dinner at his table this evening at 8pm in the Terrace Restaurant.
Pre-dinner cocktails will be served in the Triton Lounge at 7.15pm.
RSVP to guest services by 5pm and kindly pass this invitation to our seating hostess upon arrival in the Triton Lounge.
We hope to see you there.
It was signed by the captain and the ma?tre d’ of the restaurant.
Joy stared at the envelope and considered the formal invitation far too grand for someone who’d only packed two sensible dresses, ballet pumps, and a pair of low heels she’d worn for Susan’s wedding.
Turning the invitation over, she wondered if it was meant for someone else.
There must have been a mix-up. Joy Bradley from Halton-on-Lune, near Lancaster, a retired home economics teacher who lived in a dormer bungalow and was travelling alone, did not merit a place at such an esteemed gathering, and she wondered what Tom would have made of his wife receiving such an invitation.
Probably a joke, she thought with a rueful smile.
As Joy slipped the invitation back into the envelope, she decided to return it immediately. Guest services had obviously made a mistake. But as she stood, the telephone beside her bed began to ring.
‘Hello?’ Joy was hesitant, wondering if the call was to chase up the invitation.
It was Leticia.
‘Hello, Joy, how are you, my dear? I just wanted to check if you needed anything?’
Joy sat down, relieved to hear Leticia’s voice. She would agree that the invitation was a mistake and know what to do. ‘I’m so glad you called, and yes, thank you, I am feeling fine and don’t need anything – there’s been no more panic attacks.’
‘That’s good. So, are you going to go to the painting class Henry mentioned?’
‘Well, I’m not sure, something has happened.’
‘Oh. Do you want to talk about it?’
Joy picked up the envelope. The luxurious paper felt smooth in her fingers. ‘When I got back to my cabin, there was an invitation on my bed … I think there has been a mistake.’
‘What’s the invitation for?’ Leticia sounded intrigued.
‘It’s for me to attend pre-dinner cocktails and then dine at the captain’s table.’
‘Oh, Joy, how marvellous!’
‘Well, no, not really. It can’t be for me, and I’m just on my way to hand it back.’
‘Wait …’ Leticia said. ‘Slow down before you do anything. Can I come to your cabin now?’
‘Yes, but I really don’t see …’ Joy didn’t have time to finish, as Leticia declared that she was on her way and promptly hung up.
When Joy answered the door a short while later, Leticia burst in, her exuberance filling the room. With layers of fabric draped on her arm, she carried a leather bag and laid everything carefully on a chair. Joy held out the envelope, and Leticia stared at the thick cream card and read the words.
‘But this is wonderful Joy. This is a much sought after invitation.’
‘It can’t be for me and there’s clearly been a mix-up.’ She folded her arms across her chest and frowned at Leticia. ‘Even if it was, I don’t possess anything that I could possibly wear, and I know I’ll only embarrass myself.’
Leticia picked up the phone. ‘Good afternoon,’ she said, when guest services answered.
‘I’m calling on behalf of Mrs Joy Bradley, who is staying in an Ocean View cabin, number 2617.
She has received the captain’s kind invitation to join him for dinner tonight, and this call is to confirm her attendance.
’ Leticia spoke with confidence. ‘Yes, of course, how kind, she’s very much looking forward to it. ’
Turning to Joy, she smiled. ‘All done, cocktails at 7.15pm.’
‘Oh, Leticia, I can’t go!’ Joy wrung her hands then began to twist her wedding ring.
But Leticia reached out and guided Joy to sit on the bed. ‘Joy, it’s only a dinner, not a royal event,’ she spoke softly.
‘It’s just that I don’t fit in. I can’t imagine why I’ve been selected.’
‘Fit in?’ Leticia narrowed her eyes. ‘You’ll fit in perfectly.
You’re Joy Bradley, a fabulous woman who built a career, was a devoted wife, and raised a capable daughter.
You didn’t just teach your students home economics, Joy, you taught them how to look after themselves and gave them skills that they’ll carry for life.
I can’t imagine that half the folk you’ll meet tonight will have achieved so much. ’
Leticia paused. ‘Do this for yourself, Joy – for you, no one else. Not even for Tom …’
Joy’s head jerked, and she stared at her new friend.
‘His death didn’t delete you, Joy. You lost him, but you mustn’t lose yourself.’
Joy swallowed hard. Leticia didn’t understand.
She couldn’t. Joy’s throat felt tight, and she willed herself not to let a panic attack return.
Leticia was kindness wrapped up in bright, bold colours, and Joy didn’t want to let her down.
How she longed to let her shoulders relax, to sit back, close her eyes, and let out all the emotion she’d bottled up for so long and share her pain with someone else, someone she could trust. But now was neither the time nor the place.
If she wasn’t going to let Leticia down, she would have to go to this wretched dinner.
‘You can’t say no to the captain’s table, Joy; it would be a crime, and the invitation clearly means that someone out there noticed something in you that you must be too modest to admit.’
‘You really think so?’
‘I know so.’
‘But I’ve nothing to wear. There’s nothing glamorous, only a couple of dresses that I pimp up with scarves and a bit of paste jewellery …’ Joy shrugged, but her attention was caught by the items Leticia had brought with her.
Leticia saw the shift in Joy’s posture, a softening that gave Joy away. ‘I can help get you ready. Are you up for it?’ she asked.
Joy bit on her lip. ‘Okay.’ She paused, then nodded. ‘Let’s do it.’
Leticia clapped her hands and spun around to rifle through the mound of fabrics she’d placed on the chair.
‘This is going to be fun!’ she said. ‘I’ve brought my bag of tricks and a couple of outfit ideas.
’ She stopped to study Joy from head to toe.
‘Hmm, you’ve a lovely figure, perfect for what I have in mind.
Let’s give everyone something to remember. ’
Joy hesitated as Leticia asked her to slip out of her trousers and sweater. She wasn’t sure if she was excited or terrified of what was to come.
Leticia held up two layers of fabric, one a deep emerald green and the other a midnight blue, and her eyes were mischievous. ‘Now,’ she said, ‘just how fabulous do you want to be?’
When Leticia got back to her cabin, she found Jim sitting by the window, reading a book. As the door opened, he looked up, the corners of his mouth curving into a slow smile as the book slipped from his lap.
The reading light caught the glow of Leticia’s face, her dark skin smooth, kind eyes shining. She always took his breath away just by walking into a room. ‘Is Cinderella going to the ball?’ he asked as Leticia placed her bag down and came towards him.
‘Cinderella has become a princess,’ Leticia said as she picked up Jim’s book and, kissing his forehead, reached for his hand. ‘Joy has transformed. I hardly recognised her by the time we’d finished.’
Leticia sat beside Jim and stared out at the darkness and as the ship made headway an icy wind drove flurries of snow onto their balcony.
She thought of her emerald-green wraparound dress with its soft, fluid folds.
Starting with the bodice, Leticia had crossed the fabric at the front to create a V-shaped neckline and layered it into artful pleats at Joy’s slim waist, then knotted it into a flattering bow.
The skirt cascaded to the floor, and Leticia took one edge of the fabric, placing it over Joy’s shoulder like a sash and securing it with a decorative brooch.
Taking styling tools from her bag, she brushed Joy’s hair with deft fingers that lifted the weight, pinned it, and finished with a diamanté clip.
Next came the makeup, and Leticia added warmth to Joy’s skin with foundation and blusher and a glimmering shine to her eyes.
‘Just add a hint of gloss on your lips, and you’ll dazzle all evening,’ Leticia smiled when she stood back to admire her handiwork.
‘My goodness, I don’t recognise myself,’ Joy said as she turned in front of the mirror. She gently stroked her hair and smoothed the gown. ‘It’s a miracle,’ she laughed before glancing down at her bare feet. ‘But what about shoes?’
‘Your silver ballet pumps will work perfectly.’
Leticia had given Joy strict instructions not to touch her face or hair as she helped her out of the newly modelled gown. She told her to relax and that she’d be back in plenty of time to help her dress before dinner.
‘You worked your magic,’ Jim said and squeezed Leticia’s hand.
Leticia smiled at her husband. If only I could work some magic on you! She felt his hand resting in hers, familiar and steady as he looked at her with the loving smile that had deepened during the two decades that they’d been together.
Leticia was vigilant in her care of Jim and constantly looked out for any sign of change or deterioration in his condition.
For now, things were stable, but The Beast hovered like an unwelcome guest, waiting to return to Jim’s final party.
When it returned, it wouldn’t knock politely or wait to be invited in.
Doctors had told her that when The Beast came back, it would be hungry, and no matter how hard Leticia fought, it was unlikely that she’d weaken its blows.
Her husband’s decline would be rapid.
But as they sat quietly, hands entwined, Leticia knew that she would be ready. In the meantime, their lives together were for living, and she would ensure that he lived the best life possible. Jim had suffered too much grief in his life after losing his wife and precious daughter.
‘It’s a formal night tonight, so we’re going to wear our best bib and tucker,’ Leticia declared, springing to her feet. ‘What would you like me to wear?’
Without waiting for an answer, she moved to the bedroom and reached for a rail of dresses, her fingers dancing along satin, silk, chiffon and sequins.
Thank goodness the cruise line offered a generous luggage allowance, for Leticia had packed all her favourites.
She held up a midnight blue gown with silver beading.
‘This one?’ she asked as she stepped towards him.
‘It’s perfect,’ he grinned, ‘just like you.’
Leticia blew him a kiss. ‘I hope Joy enjoys herself tonight, she seems very nervous,’ she said as she held the dress to her body and turned from side to side, watching the fabric shimmering in the light of the cabin.
Leticia had an inkling that there was more to Joy than met the eye and hoped that the cruise would help her fledging friend find the confidence she lacked to step into the next stage of her life and enjoy it.
A champagne cork popped, and Leticia turned to see Jim pouring two glasses. ‘Shall we toast?’ he asked, lifting one towards her.
‘How lovely,’ Leticia walked over, accepting the glass. ‘To what?’
‘To you. To the moment. To us.’
Leticia clinked her glass gently against his, the crystal almost singing. ‘To us,’ she said softly, ‘and to Joy and a night full of possibility.’