Chapter Thirty-Two
Elle lived in her own space for three days.
While Lucas was on board, she remained in her cabin. Lucas didn’t acknowledge her presence. She heard him in the guest cabin shower, in the galley and the saloon, and up on the flybridge. But he didn’t knock on her door. He didn’t text her, or telephone. She heard him leave each day and return each evening.
Between times, she attended the Nicholas Centre, Carmelo almost shouting with joy to see her back, Oscar smiling in a self-satisfied way and informing her that he was ‘seeing a lot of Polly’, with a lecherous wink.
Elle hoped that Polly knew what she was getting into.
On board Seadancer , Loz was visibly agog to hear news and Simon and Davie had to send her quelling looks.
Early in the morning of the second day, Simon came to kiss her goodbye, his bag packed.
She had to blink back the tears. ‘I feel as if I’ve hardly seen you.’
He hugged her, hard. ‘We’ll have time in the future. Whatever happens, I want you to come over for some serious vacation time.’
She received an e-mail from Charlie telling her that it had been fun being whizzed past the queues at the airport in a wheelchair and now he’d been fitted with a boot instead of a cast. And thank you, Elle. I wasn’t with it during the rescue but I know that you kept your head and helped my spectacular brother save my sorry arse.
Kayleigh added a rider that Charlie was being more of a pain than usual and looked like an idiot wearing the boot, from which Elle surmised they were now both over the shock.
To her surprise and bemusement she received texts from Fiona and Geoffrey, also back in the UK, each formally thanking her for helping Charlie. Fiona added and thanks also for your unexpected but very welcome observance of the Sisterly Solidarity Act, which made Elle realise that even Fiona could have a sense of humour.
Finally, on the afternoon of the third day, a text arrived from Simon. Back home. Up to my knees in grapes.
Serenity settled over Elle.
It was back to just her and Lucas and Malta. There was something very right about that.
* * *
The next day was the hottest Elle could remember since she had arrived on the island. She swam in the morning, glad to cool her blood in the waves at Font Ghadir. She changed into her dry clothes under her towel and then ate her lunch on the rocks. When the sun had dried her hair she tucked her swim things into a bag and headed for Nicholas Centre.
There she found that the computer room had reached new levels of stifling. She shoved her hat and sunglasses in her swimming bag and dumped it in a corner, closed the louvred shutters and opened the windows. But any air that made its way through the louvres had been too soaked in sunshine to offer relief. Elle felt as if she were being slowly baked.
Only a couple of kids showed up to use the computers, clicking around desultorily. Elle didn’t blame them when they left. Not even Carmelo had turned up.
Thinking longingly of the air conditioning aboard the Shady Lady , she checked her watch. Only three o’clock. She was down to supervise the computer room until four.
She wrote an e-mail to Simon and read a couple of articles on the history of Malta while she waited for the time to pass, too oppressed by the heat even to bother to find some IT-based housekeeping to do.
Finally, her watch dragged its way to four o’clock and she grabbed her handbag and went down to Joseph’s office to give him the computer room keys. ‘I’m going. There’s no one upstairs but I’ve left the machines on.’
Joseph lifted his eyes from his laptop. ‘Too hot, today.’
‘I’m going to stop at the shop and buy the biggest ice lolly they have to make the walk back to the marina bearable.’
Joseph licked his lips. ‘If it wouldn’t leave Oscar on his own here until Axel arrives, I’d do the same.’
Elle took pity on him. ‘The shop’s only a couple of minutes away. I’ll fetch you one.’
Joseph’s eyes lit up and he took twenty euros from his pocket. ‘My treat. Buy one for Oscar, too.’
The sun made Elle squint as she crossed the courtyard and she realised that her hat and glasses must still be upstairs with her swim things. She’d try to remember them when she returned.
As she stepped out into the street, she met a small whirlwind travelling in the other direction.
‘Carmelo!’ She laughed. ‘You nearly knocked me over.’
Carmelo, panting, wiped sweat from his forehead. ‘You are leaving,’ he said, accusingly. ‘I did shopping for Nonnu and so I am late.’
‘The computers are still on.’ But Elle could read disappointment in Carmelo’s expression. He never hid the fact that he liked the computer room to have Elle in it. With a little squeeze of her heart, she took a liberty with Joseph’s twenty euros. ‘Joseph’s just sent me out to buy ice lollies. Would you like one?’
Carmelo’s eyes brightened but he said, ‘I do not have money today.’
‘It’s Joseph’s treat just for people who are at Nicholas Centre this afternoon,’ Elle assured him. ‘I have to buy one for Oscar, too.’
‘And for Lucas?’ suggested Carmelo.
‘Lucas isn’t at the centre. By the time I see him again, the ice lolly will have melted.’ She let her mind wander over the prospect of seeing Lucas again. Her heart rate increased at the thought. Nothing was settled between them, nothing was certain, but two people on one smallish boat couldn’t ignore each other forever. And she was achingly aware that the next move was down to her.
It wasn’t long before they were walking back across the courtyard, Carmelo sucking energetically on the tip of a big lemon ice lolly, pausing only to slurp up escaping drips from the sides. It was pleasant to step back into the comparative cool of the big hall and into Joseph’s office.
‘Thank you.’ Joseph beamed as he stripped off the jolly yellow paper from the lolly.
Elle gave him back his change. ‘I’ll take Oscar’s to the games room.’
Joseph turned back to his desk. ‘He ran up to the computer room a couple of minutes ago, I think.’
‘OK, I’ll take it up. I’ve left a bag up there, anyway. He’ll have to come away from the machines if he wants to eat it, though.’ Elle opened her own lolly as she turned for the staircase, enjoying the refreshing lemon zing as she slowly made her way up. Carmelo matched her steps, absorbed in not allowing any ice melt to escape. They crossed the landing together.
Oscar was alone in the computer room, engrossed in what was on the screen.
‘Joseph’s bought you a lolly,’ Elle announced from the doorway.
Oscar leaped to his feet, face redder than Elle had ever seen it. ‘I didn’t hear — Thank you, you are most kind.’ He hurried to intercept her.
She stepped back. ‘You’ll need to eat it somewhere else.’ She pointed to the No food or drink sign on the door.
Oscar halted, hand half extended to take the ice lolly from her. ‘Of course, I—’ He hesitated; then, with a sudden jerky movement, reached back to the machine he’d been using and pressed the button to switch off the monitor.
Elle tried not to show any surprise. But her heart picked up pace.
‘Thank you,’ he said again, as he took the now dripping ice and hovered on the landing to eat it.
Moving a step towards the stairs Elle said, experimentally, ‘It might be best if we eat these in the courtyard so we don’t drip all over.’
Oscar remained where he was. ‘No need. I’ll eat it very quickly.’
Carmelo was concentrating on his lolly so Elle shrugged and leaned against a wall. She asked after Polly, and made desultory conversation about the dive centre. When she straightened and shifted her position she noticed that, without actually blocking her way, Oscar kept himself more or less between her and the computer room.
Once all that remained of her lolly was the stick, she took out a tissue to wipe her hands, and turned away. ‘Well, I’m finished for today.’ Then she swung back and dodged past Oscar, not giving him a chance to react. ‘I’ll just get my bag. Wait on the landing, please, Carmelo.’
She was conscious of Oscar’s eyes on her as she made for the far corner where her bag still stood. Then, with another sudden change of direction she swooped on the computer monitor where Oscar had been sitting. Her finger found the on button.
‘What are you doing?’ Oscar made a sudden lunge to switch it off again, eyes wide in panic.
But it was too late. It took only a second for the monitor to blossom back to life. The image on the screen told Elle everything she needed to know.
Oscar froze.
Shakily, Elle lifted her voice. ‘Carmelo, stay out there, won’t you? I’m nearly ready. Don’t come into this room with your hands all sticky or Joseph will tell me off.’ Then in a quite different voice she hissed at Oscar, ‘What is wrong with you? Children use these machines. A child could have come in here at any time.’
Oscar breathed hard, eyes wide with alarm. ‘Don’t be stupid.’ But his voice cracked. ‘I was sitting so that I could see the door and nobody could see my screen. There’s nobody here. I save the images to the cloud. It’s safe. I am an adult.’
‘You’re an idiot,’ she corrected, softly. ‘And what makes you think you’d see anybody arrive when you didn’t see me and Carmelo until I spoke to you? You were too caught up in your “private moment”.’ She gritted her teeth. ‘It is never safe to view porn where children could be.’
A long pause. Carmelo came to the doorway. ‘My hands aren’t very sticky.’
‘They might be,’ said Elle, quickly. ‘It would be best if you’d go into the boys’ toilets and wash your hands, please. I just need to talk to Oscar.’
Carmelo heaved a sigh but turned and trailed across the landing.
Elle reached for the button and turned the monitor off once more. ‘I’ll have to inform Joseph.’
‘No!’ Oscar snarled, stepping close, towering over Elle. ‘You are so prudish! I am an adult and this is nothing.’
Elle stood her ground, although the hated sensation of being crowded made her breathing flutter. ‘It’s not nothing,’ she hissed, ‘and if you don’t back off I’ll talk to him about harassment, too.’
With a snort of derision, Oscar crowded closer. ‘I think you won’t—’
Elle sucked air into her lungs and expelled it on her loudest bellow. ‘ JO-SEPH! Joseph, I need help! ’
Oscar leaped back as if stung. ‘Stupid English—’
‘Elle?’ called Joseph anxiously, his hurrying footsteps crossing the hall and starting up the stairs.
As Oscar lunged for the computer tower Elle got in his way, thwarting his attempts to cut the power. ‘Don’t turn that off: I need Joseph to see it,’ she yelled, determined that Oscar would face the music.
Then Joseph was in the doorway. ‘What’s going on? What do you need me to see?’
Oscar froze. Then stepped slowly back.
Elle’s heart was pounding as if she’d run a thousand miles. ‘It was Oscar, viewing the adult material.’ Her hand shook as she switched the monitor back on.
Joseph stepped forward to look at the screen and sucked in his breath. Slowly, his accusing eyes turned on the tall man. ‘What have you got to say, Oscar?’
Then Carmelo was at the door to the room, eyes wide. ‘Elle, you shout—’
Elle forced a laugh as she flicked the computer monitor off again. ‘It’s OK. I was being silly about a bee I thought was going to sting me. Did I worry you? I’m sorry.’ She slipped behind Joseph and went to Carmelo, regretful that she’d caused the apprehensive expression in his eyes but intent on getting him away from the scene as soon as possible. ‘I’ve got to have a meeting with Joseph, now, so we have to close the centre for the rest of the day. It’s way too hot to have the computers on, anyway,’ she fabricated, fanning herself. ‘We’ll all be back as usual tomorrow. Perhaps if you’re going to come in we can look at Formula1 cars together and you can explain the race rules to me.’
Carmelo looked disappointed. ‘OK.’
‘Sorry we have to shut early, Carmelo,’ Joseph added.
Elle gave the little boy a cheery wave, though she felt terrible at brushing him off. With a sigh, Carmelo disappeared slowly down the stairs and Elle turned back to Joseph and Oscar. The last few minutes seemed to have passed in a blur. After the adrenaline rush of catching Oscar red-handed, Elle felt almost light-headed with a mixture of apprehension and exultation.
Joseph’s face was set in grim lines. ‘I need to hear from you both about what happened here today.’
‘I am an adult,’ Oscar repeated with miserable defiance.
‘Barely,’ Elle snapped.
* * *
Lucas didn’t get home until six. The marina had become glassily calm in the still, hot day and Elle sat on the cockpit seat and watched him walk towards her through the gardens. Saw the exact moment his gaze locked on her.
His hair swung around his face; he looked hot, in both senses of the word. Her heart rate accelerated as he picked up his stride. Ignoring the plank, he jumped onto the bathing platform and halted in front of her.
She drank him in. The coal-dark eyes, thick fierce eyebrows, the sensitive mouth, the uncompromising jaw.
A sense of power swept through her. She’d dealt with Ricky; she’d dealt with Oscar.
And now she was going to deal with Lucas.
‘Any plans, this evening?’ she asked, making sure that her voice came out evenly.
He shook his head.
‘Join me for dinner?’
He nodded.
‘It’s all prepared.’
‘I’ll shower and change. Flybridge?’
She tried to sound nonchalant. ‘My cabin. At seven.’
For several seconds he just looked. Then he smiled, a knowing, anticipatory smile. ‘I’ll bring the wine.’
Exactly on seven o’clock, a knock fell on Elle’s cabin door. She’d showered, put on a short strappy dress and dried her hair into a smooth fall down her back. She waited four beats before answering the door, and found Lucas with wine in one hand and two glasses in the other. She stepped back to allow him into the small space. The last of the golden light filtered in through the skylights.
There was no room for a table in the cabin so she’d set a couple of trays in the middle of the bed. It was an odd place to choose to eat dinner but it was symbolic. An invitation into her space.
Her mind had been flirting with the scenario, buzzing with possibilities. She half expected him to make an early move, to kiss her or hold her, to assure himself that she was on the menu.
But Lucas just went to one side of the bed and waited politely while she climbed on and got comfortable against the headboard before settling himself, cross-legged, at right angles to her.
They ate, chatting desultorily about Dive Meddi and Nicholas Centre. Elle told him about Oscar. ‘Could you give Polly a heads-up?’
He looked grim. ‘I’ll see her tomorrow.’
When the meal was finished, they carried the trays out to the galley.
This time when they returned to the master cabin, Lucas propped himself against the headboard and stretched his legs out alongside Elle’s as he topped up their wine glasses.
‘I’ve been thinking about the owning up thing,’ he said.
‘Oh?’ Elle put her glass down beside the bed.
Slowly, he nodded. ‘I need to own up about something.’
A curly, whirly unpleasantness took possession of Elle’s stomach. ‘W-what?’
‘Two things, in fact.’ He took a long draught from his wine glass and reached out to lodge it on the niche that stood in place of a bedside table. ‘I was — am — too inclined to see things as either right or wrong.’
She licked her lips. They were as dry as if she’d been out in the wind all day. ‘S-some people would see having strong convictions as a good thing.’
‘Not when it means the girl I love can’t tell me about things that aren’t even her fault because she thinks I’ll judge her. Not when we’re being threatened and she protects me by letting me drive her away.’
Tears started at the back of her eyes. ‘What’s the other thing?’
He reached out and touched her face. ‘I never fell out of love with you. Never stopped wanting you. When Simon set this whole thing up, I went through the motions of being furious but it was to hide the fact that I could have shouted with joy. He’d given me a second chance.’
Her heart gave an enormous thump. ‘We could — we could thank him later.’ She turned her face and kissed his palm.
His breath came out in a rush. He half-dragged her onto his lap and, when her head threatened to brush the ceiling, scooted down the bed, clasping her against him until they were lying full length, her on top, and her dress somewhere near her waist.
He groaned as his searching hands found her bare legs. ‘I did own up about the wanting you bit?’
She kissed his jawline and then his neck, rubbing herself against him. ‘I would have worked it out.’
He stopped. ‘I have a whole load more stuff to own up to.’
She too, stilled. ‘What?’
He rolled suddenly so that she was beneath him, eyes gleaming up into his. ‘I want you out of that dress. I want to be inside you. I want to move back into this cabin. I want to be with you.’
‘All night?’ She lifted her head to taste his lips.
‘All my life.’
* * *
Lucas’s fingers found the zipper to her dress. Then he paused. A distant alarm bell rang.
He’d got things wrong before.
This time he was going to get things right.
He pulled back slightly so that he could look into her face.
Her eyes sprang open, wide with alarm. ‘What?’
‘You are the most desirable woman on the planet.’
‘Oh!’ She flushed. ‘I—’
‘I love you.’ He kissed her softly. ‘I want to spend my life with you. I want to sleep with you, wake up with you, live with you, love you, argue with you and laugh with you. I don’t care where we live; I don’t care what anybody else thinks about us. I just want you. Elle, will you marry me?’
Her eyes filled with tears. ‘Yes,’ she whispered.
He wiped away a tear with one fingertip. ‘We’ll have the wedding you want, big or small, wherever you want.’
She gave a watery smile. ‘Thank you.’
He stroked back her hair. ‘As long as it’s soon.’
‘Soon,’ she agreed. Her eyes began to dance. ‘Good proposal, by the way.’
He tightened his arms, loving having them full of Elle. ‘I thought I must be able to do better than “pretty ordinary”.’