Chapter Nineteen
Our destiny isn’t written in the stars, but dances like the aurora in the light we hold within.
When Henry returned to his cabin after an enthusiastic game of shuffleboard in his slippers, he saw that Jennifer had created a dog, shaped out of hand towels.
The little animal sat upright on Henry’s bed, bearing a chocolate in each paw.
Admiring Jennifer’s creativity but grateful that she wasn’t lingering by his door, he sat down to remove his sodden slippers and rub life back into his frozen feet.
There was a full programme of activities today, and he was keen to head to the Triton Lounge to listen to the guest speaker, Aren Nydegaard ?vreid, who was hosting an engaging talk on how Norwegian farmers thrive in today’s world.
Henry felt sure that Audrey would be interested to hear all about Aren’s talk, and he intended to take notes.
Remembering that he was going on an excursion when the ship arrived in Troms?, Henry dug out his cold weather clothes. Moving the towelling dog to one side, he laid the thermal items on the bed.
‘All set for tonight, Fido.’ He nodded, unwrapped a chocolate, and popped it in his mouth.
With a last look at his cabin and checking that he was wearing the correct footwear this time, Henry tucked his cabin card into his pocket and headed out of his room.
Joy slowly stepped out of the changing room in the ship’s exclusive boutique and stood before a full-length mirror.
Wearing her fourth change of clothing, she stared at the dress she was wearing and decided that the assistant who’d chosen it was right.
The dress, a soft coral colour, flattered her chestnut hair, and the tiny jewels at the neck caught the light when she moved like ripples on water.
Initially, Joy had stood stiffly during her consultation, arms tucked against her chest, as the personal shopper asked about the event.
The woman moved with ease, selecting gowns in soft fabrics that felt luxurious against Joy’s skin.
Resistant to colour, Joy had gravitated to the safety of darker shades, but when the coral dress was suggested, she’d hesitated, then, with gentle encouragement, given in.
‘We only had two of these dresses in stock, and fortunately, you are slim enough to wear this one and show it off perfectly,’ the assistant said as she fastened the zip, gliding it smoothly over Joy’s hips.
Now, she could barely recognise her reflection. The dress skimmed Joy’s tummy and flowed gracefully to her knees, catching the light in a way that enhanced her skin tone. Her arms, usually hidden, were flatteringly exposed under transparent sleeves to the elbow.
‘We have shoes that will match,’ the assistant said and held out a pair of satin courts, ‘and a clutch bag too.’
As Joy signed the bill that would be charged to her account, she hardly noticed the amount. She knew that she’d never spent so much on an outfit and, for a moment, wondered what Tom would say.
‘I’ll have the items delivered to your cabin,’ the assistant smiled, ‘and I hope that you enjoy your Christmas party, Mrs Bradley. I can assure you that you will be the belle of the ball.’
A little while later, Joy sat in the Ocean Bar.
After joining in with a rousing rendition of ‘Jerusalem’, she settled into her seat for the afternoon meeting of the Women’s Institute ladies.
Judy took charge, declaring that the topic to be discussed was entitled Navigating Life’s Journeys at Sea and Ashore.
Judy suggested that cruising was a metaphorical voyage, mirroring the journey women undertake throughout life. Joy thought that the meeting was interesting, with ladies sharing stories of reinvention in later years, and steered by Judy, reflections on their personal growth.
A member of Latham just think, you can dress up in all your expensive furs, and we might even get to see the aurora borealis!
’ Kenneth drew breath. ‘There’s no need for fancy parties,’ he added.
With her eyes closed, Barbara sank back into the steaming water and contemplated going under.
Drowning could be a welcome release from her dull-witted husband.
Would he ever truly grasp what she longed for from life?
Status and social standing were everything, and during this cruise, Barbara intended to claim her rightful place, not have some wretched schoolteacher stealing the limelight from under her kitten-heeled feet.
‘You relax and enjoy your bath, my darling,’ Kenneth soothed, stepping away. ‘I’ll warm your fluffy robe and slippers, and you can have a little nap before we set off with the Sámis.’
With a deep sigh, Barbara gripped the side of the bath. Kenneth would never understand. Puffing out her cheeks and closing her eyes, she dipped her head and disappeared under the water.
Simon lingered after the Ocean Cocktail Party ended.
He thanked Bill Zhang for his fascinating talk and tucked a copy of the guest speaker’s book under his arm.
It was good to have a souvenir from each cruise, and Simon’s apartment at home was full of interesting artefacts and objects.
He reached into his pocket and touched the smooth amulet of kohl that he’d picked up from a bustling market bazaar in Egypt.
Shaped like a heart and engraved with strange symbols, the stallholder had assured Simon that carrying or gifting kohl attracts passion and deepens emotional connection in one’s search for their soulmate.
To date, the amulet hadn’t worked, but Simon remained hopeful.
The captain arrived late and hadn’t lingered at the party.
He wasn’t keen on social events, despite them being a part of his job description.
Simon was relieved that the dreadful Barbara Montgomery Jones had left by the time the captain arrived, and he hadn’t been forced to make an introduction.
There was always a difficult guest on each cruise, and Mrs M ticked all the boxes.
Simon was looking forward to the evening.
With many of the guests treating themselves to An Evening with the Sámis, he’d decided that he would take advantage of his complimentary pass and join the group.
Simon loved reindeer and had visited Lapland countless times.
Despite having experienced similar excursions before, Simon looked forward to meeting with Matti, the head of the Sámi family, who was always entertaining and welcoming to Emerald Dream crew members.
But Simon’s real reason for joining the tour was personal.
On special occasions, senior crew members had their names drawn out of a hat.
As a treat, the successful participant was allowed to go on an excursion.
Knowing that it was Kyle’s birthday that day and the treat was An Evening with the Sámis, Simon had manipulated the draw and announced that birthday boy Kyle was the winner.
As he made his way through the ship and back to his office, Simon visualised Kyle all dressed up for the evening.
Wrapped in a soft, fur-lined coat to keep his athletic body warm against the cold, Kyle would drape a soft woollen scarf around his neck.
The image of his easy smile and cute boyish grin flashed in Simon’s mind and as he thought of Kyle’s undeniably handsome face, his heart skipped a beat.
For Simon, Kyle was the perfect partner to keep a man warm on a cold Arctic night.
But as he opened his office door and stared at a daunting stack of paperwork, he knew that deep down, Kyle would never see him romantically in the way that he wished.
No matter how often Simon rubbed his amulet in Kyle’s presence, hoping for a spark to ignite, it was clear that Kyle didn’t feel the same quiet longing when they met, nor did his heart lurch at the slightest touch.
He was kind, friendly, and good at his job, and surely had someone waiting for him back home.
Kyle was a beautiful fantasy. An unreachable dream. And sometimes, despite the saying, Simon believed that dreams rarely came true.