Page 84 of Old Girls on Deck

‘Not usually, but I’m having a bit – you know – of the old trouble,’ Evelyn said, and she gave a brave smile. ‘I’m sure you understand.’

‘You are a terror,’ I said as we made our way out of the theatre.

‘According to the Bible I’m living on borrowed time as it is,’ Evelyn said. ‘I don’t do anything I don’t want to any more. And that includes drinking whisky with that awful man. I do hope I haven’t ruined your evening?’

She looked at me with mischief in her eyes and I laughed.

‘I’d much rather find out what my sister has been doing,’ I said, ‘and where she is.’

‘Well, they have had three hours, I can’t believe it takes that long to take a decent picture of Diana. She’s a very attractive woman.’

We went back to deck 11 and our rooms. I stopped outside our door and listened for a moment.

‘What are you doing?’ Evelyn said.

‘Just making sure she’s not in there frolicking,’ I whispered.

‘Hmm, do you want to borrow a glass from my room, so you can put your ear to the door and have a proper listen?’ she hissed back.

‘Evelyn! No, I don’t. I’ll just knock, shall I?’

I knocked on the door a couple of times and heard nothing from inside. Evelyn, her face alight with interest stood at my elbow and listened too.

‘Nothing,’ she whispered.

We looked at each other and both started giggling.

‘Perhaps they have gone back to his cabin?’

Evelyn shook her head. ‘I doubt it, I don’t think there’s much room for frolicking in staff cabins. And I think it’s strictly forbidden anyway.’

I cautiously opened the cabin door, and we peered round like two naughty children, but the room was pristine and empty. The beds had been turned down and the usual chocolates placed on our pillows.

‘I wonder where she has got to,’ Evelyn said, ‘and how they are getting on.’

‘She was always a slow starter and let’s be honest, she has only known him for a few days. I can’t believe she would… no, she definitely wouldn’t.’

‘You might be surprised, life on board a ship takes on a pace of its own. Away from all the usual trigger factors. Being on holiday. Too much good food and wine. Why? Are you worried about her?’

‘No, worried for her. This last week has shown me that she’s had a pretty restricted outlook on life, and she sort of came to a full stop when Casper died, as though she wasn’t sure what she was allowed to do next.’

Evelyn went to look out of the window at the dark night outside and then sat down on an armchair with a heavy sigh.

‘Let’s hope she’s realised she’s allowed to please herself. Ah, that’s better. My poor old foot, I have a terrible bruise. And you? What about you?’

It was on the tip of my tongue to say the usual things about being fine, being perfectly happy, but then I stopped.

‘It’s made me think, I’ll admit that. I didn’t think I would miss Eddy half as much as I do. Because as well as being my husband, I like him. Do you know what I mean? And perhaps we have got into a bit of a rut, just like Diana. My own routine, his routine, habits, expectations. It’s made me realise that retirement means something has to change for both of us. I suppose we need to make room for each other. And not just be irritated by the presence of the other person. Because I’m sure I can be annoying, just as Eddy can. Just like me, he might get fed up with the same thing happening every day. One of us needs to shake things up a bit, and Eddy is too easy-going to do that, so perhaps it’s down to me.’

‘It could be fun,’ Evelyn said, ‘finding new things to do together. You might even enjoy it.’

‘Ken told me he likes to wash his car and make models of medieval cathedrals out of matchsticks,’ I said. Evelyn shot me a look that I think could be described as old-fashioned. ‘I don’t think Eddy would do that. He’s more of a big project man, digging holes and replacing the shed roof when it leaks. Although it takes him years to get around to actually doing it. I’m so looking forward to seeing what he’s done when I get back. He’s been talking about doing a patio for ages. And the last time he washed his car was after he was stopped by the local policeman because the number plate was covered in mud. I had to get a packet of wet wipes out and clean it before we were allowed to go.’

I laughed at the memory, Eddy had been quite outraged, he had some theory that the dirt on the car protected it. And his idea of washing the car was throwing a bucket of water over the roof. I felt quite sentimental for a moment. Even after all those years I did still love him. He might be losing his hair, but he did have the most wonderful brown eyes. He was easy-going, generally unfussy about food and he made me laugh. I was beginning to realise that in the grand scheme of things, these apparently small things were actually rather big things.

But that didn’t answer the question of my sister’s whereabouts.

‘Right, I’m off to bed,’ Evelyn said. ‘I’m sure she hasn’t fallen overboard.’