Laurie, too ill to even feel embarrassed that she was lumbering alongside Ven like a half-dead monster from a horror film, allowed herself to be directed to the onboard doctor. Ven stayed with her and after the painless injection in her buttock, she saw her safely returned to her cabin.
‘This is so kind of you, Ven,’ said Laurie, flopping back into bed.
‘I’ll see you for dinner,’ came the reply. ‘You’ll be fine now, honestly. I’ll put the card in your door saying you aren’t to be disturbed.’ Laurie was already half-asleep by the time she exited softly.
The ship continued to rock and roll but at six-thirty Laurie sauntered into the restaurant as if she cared not a jot, and ate a lot of bread.
‘Well, you look better than you did earlier,’ said Olive.
‘Told you it would work,’ said Ven.
‘Has the euphoria side effect hit you yet?’ said Roz.
Laurie smiled. She couldn’t remember feeling this free and relaxed in a long time. Adrift in the middle of the sea, away from the usually horrible world news, away from even knowing or caring what day it was, free from the dictates of clocks and calendars with gentle, kind company on tap. She’d have to leave this fabulous bubble in a week but for now, she would relish every moment.
‘Do you know, I think it has, Roz,’ she replied.
*
‘Doreen and I never get seasick,’ said Vernon at the dinner table that night. ‘If we feel the slightest bit nauseous, we retire to our cabins and make the ship rock a little more, if you know what I mean.’ He winked at his male dinner companions. ‘Vice versa. Never be averse to vice.’
‘Vernon Turbot, you’ll have me blushing,’ said Doreen with a hoot of laughter.
Both Nigel and Pete smiled. The Turbots were not only the funniest couple they’d met in years, but gave them hope that love was a butterfly that could settle on any age of flower.
Pete thought he’d seen Laurie that day. He’d been persuaded by his father to leave the confines of the cabin and line his stomach and he saw a slim, blonde woman rising up in one of the glass lifts. She was in his eyesight for two seconds at most and yet his eyes had scooped her up and sent his mind into a tailspin.
Even though he knew she was with someone else, it hadn’t stopped his heart from wanting her. Like a spoilt child it continued to yearn. And, like a worn-down parent, he had run out of words to convince it why it couldn’t have what it desired most.
Chapter 63
13 February
The ship was now cruising in calm, sheltered waters towards Alta. Today Laurie hadn’t done much at all and it had been marvellous, because she never did nothing and she realised she needed to do it a lot more. Yesterday she’d been husky sledding in Tromsø, and had shrieked with delight as she bumped over the snow at top speed although she’d realised why so many seasoned passengers had brought a cushion with them, as the ride was rather rough on the bottom. Then she’d stroked the dogs who were licky and giddy and loved affection and played with the baby pups before thawing out around a fire, drinking hot chocolate and eating the cake that Norwegians seemed to be so fond of and baked so fabulously. She didn’t mind the cold at all though. Nor did she mind not recognising anyone who was on the trip, because she didn’t feel the least bit lonely or sad, just happy and bright that she was here in this glorious place where the air felt pure and clean in her lungs.
Today she’d rested, read her book, had her customary hot chocolate in the coffee bar. She’d waved over at the man whom she’d met there the other day who said he was travelling with his son. He pointed to his own hot chocolate, piled high with marshmallows and then gave her a thumbs up and she laughed. She was so glad that she’d booked this cruise, paid the full amount, not given herself the chance to back out. It was like an ice-pack on her soul. She’d felt herself healing with every roll of the waves. Felt she was coming back to herself.
It was a formal dress code that night so Laurie put on her new dark blue velvet dress studded with tiny rhinestones, reminiscent of a starry night sky, a matching velvet stole draped over her shoulders. She put her hair up, decided it made her look too starchy, let it down again.
‘Oh my, you look pretty tonight,’ said Bunty, as Laurie took her place at the dinner table. ‘Like a Nordic princess.’
Laurie blushed. She’d never liked being the centre of attention.
‘More importantly, you look . . . serene,’ said Frankie, searching for the right word. ‘Yep, that’s it. Totally relaxed.’
‘I’ve had the most wonderful day,’ Laurie replied.
‘Ooh, what have you done?’ asked Don.
‘Absolutely nothing,’ replied Laurie which made them all laugh.
The captain was dining with them that evening. He was such an attractive, friendly man with an Irish accent to die for.
‘I’ll be honest,’ Ven confided to Laurie, ‘I thought I was done with fellas and destined for a life of singledom. But life is full of magic and surprises. If you’d seen us lot eleven years ago, we were all living such different lives; smaller, unhappier lives.’ She smiled at Laurie. The smile of a woman who was both contented and loved. ‘I shall pray tonight that you see the lights tomorrow, Laurie and that they bring some magic for you.’
‘Me too,’ said Laurie. Like so many things in life, seeing the lights would be a privilege, not a right, so she was prepared for them being a no-show. All she could do was hope.
*
‘So, are you two ready for tomorrow then?’ Doreen asked, as she ripped into her second bread roll and dunked it into her cullen skink.
‘I’m very excited,’ Nigel answered, running his finger around the inside of his collar because his new shirt was rubbing his neck. Not that he minded. He thought he could quite get used to strutting around in a tuxedo and was definitely booking another cruise before he got off this one. ‘But I’ve resigned myself to the fact that if I don’t see the lights, I don’t see the lights.’
‘Morituri te salutant,’ said Vernon, nodding wisely. ‘If it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be.’ Vernon was wearing a bow tie that had a fish and chip design on it. He’d had it made especially, he’d told them. He was very proud of the business that had made his money for him and revered it openly at every opportunity.
‘You’ll have a lovely time anyway, whether you see them or not,’ said Doreen mid-soup. ‘Just make sure you leave room in your stomach for the cake and hot chocolate. The Norwegians love to serve plenty up.’
‘I think I’m going to move here,’ said Nigel.
‘Good,’ said Pete. ‘Because if I hear one more rendition of that “Northern Lights” song I’ll scream enough to cause an avalanche.’
‘There’s an annoying amount of cloud cover,’ said Vernon, looking through the restaurant window. ‘Sometimes you can see them from the ship, you know, as there isn’t a lot of light pollution around these parts. Go and take a gander on the top deck later, luck just might be on your side.’
‘We might well do that,’ said Nigel. ‘Although there’s a tribute to the Rat Pack on in the theatre and then a late night film, John Wick. I’ve heard it’s very good.’