Page 6 of Old Girls on Deck

‘That’s what I thought. Right, we need to get together to discuss what we are going to take and whether we need to buy some more evening wear. They do have a couple of gala evenings. A car will pick me up from my house, then you, and drive us to Southampton. There are photographers on board and one of them will be taking pictures of us enjoying ourselves which the Avanti people will use as publicity. We don’t mind that, do we?’

‘Not at all, unless they are going to follow us into the bathroom or start filming us when we are asleep. But those photographers have to work tremendously hard as it is, I don’t envy them having to traipse around us.’

‘They want to show us having a wonderful time with lots of exciting activities. Have you looked at the website? Everyone looks so happy. Grinning away like maniacs. We will stick out like a sore thumb. Two old birds shambling around amidst all those elegant couples. Apparently there is a climbing wall on the ship. So, when are you free? Let’s go out to lunch somewhere and talk about it.’

‘Okay, what about tomorrow?’ Diana said.

I did a silent fist pump of triumph. She was going to come with me.

‘We don’t go until April which, of course, is months away. But doesn’t mean we can’t get excited.’

2

Fourteenth of April, bang on the dot of ten o’clock, a shiny people carrier with me and my luggage already inside it, pulled up outside Diana’s house. She opened her front door before the vehicle had even stopped. I was yelping with excitement out of the car window, causing the net curtain brigade in her road to start twitching.

‘We are going! We are actually going!’ I said. ‘Get your bags out here. There’s a very nice man driving us, called Craig, who will help. Just think, in three hours we will be boarding the ship. I hardly slept last night I was so excited.’

‘Me neither,’ she said, ‘although actually I’m feeling really nervous. Next door’s cat will have to rely on his other slaves, I have warned my neighbour and left him a spare key in case there are any emergencies, and I’ve told Eric I can’t look after the baby for their anniversary weekend. He didn’t like that at all. I’ve repacked my bags at least four times. I bet I’ve forgotten something.’

I counted things off on my fingers. ‘Passport, all the documents I sent you, insurance stuff, bank cards. Apparently they don’t accept cash on the ship. Sunscreen, sunglasses, paracetamol. One of the photographers will meet us when we get on board to take pictures of us being excited.’

Craig came forward and took her cases and bags, stowing them into the boot with mine.

Diana’s neighbour Tom suddenly appeared from next door; his thinning hair rather rumpled as though he had just woken up.

‘Have a great time, and don’t worry about the cat, I’ll look after him,’ he said.

Diana smiled at him. ‘Thanks Tom, though why I should be concerned when he’s not actually my cat. He has plenty of other places to dine…’

Tom chuckled. ‘Cats, eh? I hope the weather improves for you. I’ve been checking and as I suspected, it doesn’t look too good for the next few days.’ He held out a cardboard folder stuffed with sheets of paper. ‘My new phone number, the doctor’s number, and a couple of things to look out for in Cadiz. I went there a couple of times when Polly was alive, and we thought it was lovely although that was years ago. So be careful. Only drink bottled water, don’t eat any ice cream or shellfish, and use that hand sanitiser I got for you. Here’s a bit of a long-range weather forecast that I’ve printed out for you. It’s going to be really bad when you are crossing the Bay of Biscay so stay away from the edge.’

‘That’s kind, thank you.’

‘And if there’s any problem here, I’ll let you know. If the weather clears up, I’ll mow your grass, and I’ll be sure to put the recycling out. Send me a text if you get the chance, let me know how you’re getting on.’

‘Of course.’

Tom’s eyes were rather sad.

‘I’ll miss you not being next door,’ he said at last, ‘we’ve got used to each other in the last year, haven’t we? Anyway, happy trails and come home safe.’

‘I will,’ she said, ‘I’m only going to be away for ten days.’

‘A lot can happen in ten days,’ he said mournfully, ‘you look after yourself.’

Diana got into the car and Tom closed the door carefully for her.

‘Look after her,’ he said to me with a meaningful look.

I could see him in the side mirror, waving as we drove away.

He was a nice man, kind, helpful, and presentable, if one ignored his taste for unattractive cardigans and tartan slippers. I tried to look at him dispassionately, realising he was probably about the same age as we were. To me he looked and behaved like an old man. So we probably looked like old women to young people. Which was depressing. And rather surprising. Whenever I looked at myself in a mirror, I thought I still looked pretty much the same as I always had. And of course, that couldn’t possibly be the case.

And then I looked across at my sister. Even at sixty she still had a lovely complexion, glorious blue eyes and cheekbones to die for.

‘He’s in love with you, you know that don’t you?’ I teased. ‘You could do worse. I’m just saying.’

‘Don’t be daft,’ Diana said.