look fat and sloppy by comparison.
‘Is she going to say you’re welcome every time we say thank you?’ India said, watching her blearily.
‘I expect so.’
In front of us bobbed millions and millions of dollars worth of boats of all shapes and sizes. There were a few of Callie’s clones wandering about on board the one nearest us, laughing and flirting with some excessively handsome young men as they pretended to mop the decks. I felt even older and wearier just watching them. Perhaps I was destined for a cantankerous old age, getting more and more cynical about men and love and relationships until I just didn’t bother any more?
I rested my head back on the chair and closed my eyes as, beside me, India glugged back her iced water with a groan.
‘Enjoying your day?’
I looked round, rather startled to see Callie showing Gabriel Frost to the adjacent table. Gabriel Frost, here at the same restaurant we were sitting in … What were the chances?
‘Oh yes, absolutely, it’s a very pretty place,’ I said, rather flustered, trying to smile but probably just grimacing.
‘Hey, are you folks friends? Would you care to share a table?’ Callie smiled helpfully.
No, actually no. I didn’t think I could cope with him sitting right next to me and having to make small talk …
He hesitated for a moment.
Say no, say no.
‘Well, I suppose that might be nice.’
‘Hey, that’s so cool!’ Callie said, topping up our water glasses. ‘Small world! I’ll bring you over a menu momentarily, sir.’
She gave Gabriel a smile he was not intended to forget and skipped away. I was so surprised I picked up my glass to take a sip, just to have something to do with my hands, and spilled some water on the table. The fizzing was back suddenly. Gabriel took his seat and seemed to fit into the scenery perfectly.
‘Not tempted by The Breakers then?’ Gabriel said, yanking me out of my thoughts.
‘Not really. I think we just wanted to soak up the atmosphere,’ I said stupidly.
And seeing as India felt a bit queasy after the ride in the ship’s tender – she would insist on going on the top deck despite the warnings – I wouldn’t want her throwing up on their inlaid marble floors.
‘You’re very wise. Some of these tourist places are expensive and very crowded,’ he said. ‘Have you ordered?’
Callie came back and was standing eagerly on tiptoe next to him, pencil and pad at the ready. That’s the other thing about American restaurants: they give you a closely typed, three-page menu without any pictures, and 2.7 seconds later they come to take your order.
‘A carafe of red,’ I said. Hair of a reasonably large dog. ‘And some whole-wheat toast with avocado and chilli flakes.’
‘Jerry said that was supposed to be good for hangovers,’ India said.
‘Ideal. I’ll have the same, thank you,’ Gabriel said. ‘And a glass of Pinot Grigio.’
‘You’re welcome! Excellent choice,’ Callie said, wrinkling her button nose with pleasure. ‘Can I freshen up your water a little?’
She topped up our glasses to the brim. I couldn’t believe it – Gabriel was being chatty, agreeable, nice even. What had happened to the grumpy man I’d met/chucked my drink over in the airport lounge, or our rude neighbour on the balcony? Perhaps he was getting into the holiday mood too?
‘Thank you,’ Gabriel said.
‘You’re welcome!’ came the inevitable reply, and she darted off again.
‘So is this your first trip to the States?’ Gabriel asked.
‘We’ve been to Florida and New York before, but yes, this is our first time in New England. It looks beautiful,’ I said, waving one hand around me. ‘The boats and the sea. And the … and the boats,’ I finished lamely.
Next to me India tried and failed to look bright and alert.
‘This is a little overdone for my taste,’ he said, ‘unless of course you’re a boat owner. I know a publisher in New York who has a boat here. He recommends it very highly, but I prefer the Maine coastline, although it’s not nearly so pretty. Just big hunks of rock and the sea.’
Hunk is about right, I thought, rather unexpectedly. Especially if he stayed in this mood – I could begin to see why Marnie Miller might have gone for him …
He sat back in his chair, shrugging his broad shoulders under his turquoise polo shirt. I wondered if he had managed to get the one I’d soaked with champagne laundered.
Callie was back with our drinks and behind her was another equally trim and glossy girl with our food.
We exchanged thank yous and you’re welcomes a few times before they left us to it.
‘What do you think of the ship?’ I asked as Gabriel helped us to wine. If he could do small talk, so could I. Plus, India wasn’t being much help, staring down at her plate thoughtfully.
‘It’s fine. Rather bigger than I was expecting but Marnie was so keen for me to come …’ He tailed off.
Ah yes, Marnie Miller.
‘I have a great deal to do. I can’t see me doing it if I keep getting enticed from my cabin.’
Enticed? Who was enticing him?
I had an image of Marnie in a silk negligee and rather silly swansdown-trimmed mules, hanging on to his doorframe, luring him out. But then she wouldn’t do that, would she? Otherwise they would both be out in the corridor …
Callie was back.
‘Is everything okay with your meals?’
We reassured her we were happy and the food was perfect. She looked a little doubtfully at India who was doing her best, but evidently the hair of today’s particular dog was a little hard to tame. She was sitting a bit lopsidedly in her chair with a glassy-eyed expression. Even so she was still drinking Merlot with some enthusiasm.
‘I hope you’ll come along to Marnie’s talks,’ Gabriel said. ‘She’s a great speaker.’
How long had they been ‘good friends’, I wondered. And how old was he? He looked to be in his thirties but I wasn’t very good at that sort of thing. Surely Marnie was in her late forties? Despite the veneers and the possibility of cosmetic surgery.
‘I think we will,’ I said.
‘Are either of you writers?’
‘Not really, I mean not since school,’ I said, kicking India under the table to try and make her a bit more responsive. She took another bite of her food and pulled
