Back on Track, page 14
“He didn’t have a working phone when he first came to stay and he borrowed a car from his cousin.”
“His phone died and it took a while to get a new one.” It had been Ketty who’d convinced him there was no rush. They’d used her phone while he’d stayed with her and when he came back from his cousins he’d had a phone again. “And the car he borrowed was idle. It was his cousin’s mother-in-law’s and she’s no longer allowed to drive.”
“He’s not paying for this holiday.”
“Ridiculous! He gave me money towards my train ticket and bought a ticket for himself.”
“Which has conveniently been double-booked so he’s actually travelling on your ticket.”
Ketty gaped at Judith. She’d obviously been thinking on this for some time and there was no changing her mind.
“And today at the shop his credit card wouldn’t work,” Judith continued, obviously taking Ketty’s silence to mean she was listening.
“Hardly a hanging offence. Credit cards and EFTPOS machines are often trouble. You know that from our work.”
“Today I heard him speaking on his phone.” Judith sucked in a breath. “I couldn’t hear exactly what he said but it was something he didn’t want you to know. Whatever it was he thought it would frighten you off.”
“Frighten me off what?”
Judith’s shoulders sagged. “I don’t know. I was in the spare toilet. I couldn’t hear properly.”
“So Carlos was having this, I’m assuming what he thought was a private conversation?”
“He was in the train corridor.” Judith huffed. “Not very private. I just couldn’t hear every…”
Ketty’s eyebrows shot up. “I can’t believe you’re taking a partly heard conversation, one you had no right to listen to, I might add, and now you’re turning it against him. This is not like you, Judith.”
Judith opened her mouth and closed it again then stood up, took a step towards the door and turned back. “Ketty, you are my dearest friend. I had to warn you. Be careful is all I’m saying.” She turned on her heel and let herself out.
Ketty sagged back against the seat, her heart racing. She was angry at Judith for creating doubt about Carlos, upset that she’d not been able to change her mind and sad that her beautiful friendship with Carlos had been cast in a shadow.
eighteen
Night One – Travelling South
Once she’d stopped shaking after leaving Ketty’s cabin, Lacey had sought the safety of her own. Tien was in the shower so Lacey sat and gave her jelly legs a chance to return to normal. The light was dull in the cabin. She reached across and opened the blind, staring out at the vast landscape sweeping by but not really seeing it. Instead she was replaying her conversation with Ketty over and over and her stomach continued to churn. She should never have said anything. Judith and Ketty were close. It had been ridiculous of Lacey to think she could unburden to Ketty. No doubt Judith told Ketty her version of things anyway.
The bathroom door opened. Tien stepped out wrapped in a towel and followed by a cloud of steam.
“The blind,” she squeaked and reached for the handle then quickly grabbed at her towel again.
“I’ll do it.” Lacey gave a last fleeting look at the empty vista whizzing past before the blades of the blind shut it out. When she glanced back, Tien was standing rigidly in the middle of the cabin, her hands gripping the towel wrapped around her. “I’ll go to the lounge car now.”
“Thank you.”
They edged past each other and for a moment their eyes met across the small space between them then Tien took a small step back towards the bathroom, eyeing her warily. “Your cheeks are flushed again.”
“I might be a bit sunburned.”
Tien smiled at Lacey. “You look nice.”
Surprised at the sudden change of subject Lacey glanced down at her skirt. “Not as glam as Miss Ketty. I’ve just been talking to her and she’s wearing that fab green linen dress she made herself for last Christmas.”
“She always looks so good for a woman of her age.”
Lacey tipped her head to the side. “I never think about her age but…well, retirement came up and she said she wasn’t even considering it.” Lacey had been so relieved to hear that. “Didn’t you say Miss Ketty was selling her business to Judith?”
Tien frowned.
“It was a few weeks ago. We were sitting out in the courtyard eating our lunch and you said something about it, I’m sure.”
“Oh, yes. It was the day Miss Clift had gone to get her plaster off. She’s had one fall. At her age she should be taking it easy. And she has started to. She doesn’t do as much as she used to. I can’t see how she can continue much longer and Judith would be the obvious choice to take over the business.”
Lacey chewed her lip. The way Tien had spoken about it Lacey had thought it was a plan in progress. “Miss Ketty doesn’t seem keen on the idea.”
“Judith has the most experience and…” Tien leaned closer. “Ning is retiring.”
“Really?” Lacey didn’t know how much of what Tien said to believe now.
“Don’t say anything. She only told me a couple of weeks ago. It was one of the reasons she didn’t want to come on this trip. She didn’t think it fair Miss Clift spend the extra money on her but I made her speak up. I knew Miss Clift would insist Ning come.”
“Did she say why she’s retiring?”
“Her family need her and she’s not getting any younger.”
“She’s only in her fifties, isn’t she?” Lacey sighed. “She’ll be missed. None of us can do the hand embroidery as quickly and neatly as she can. And she’s always so calm and kind.” Ning was a wonderful counterbalance to Judith as far as Lacey was concerned and if she was truthful she’d also thought of Ning as a sort of mother figure. Something she lacked in her personal life.
Tien dragged her long straight hair back from her face, untangling it with her fingers. “I must dry my hair.”
“I’ll head down to the lounge car while you get ready.” Lacey stood. “Would you like me to come back in a while so we can walk together?”
“You’re very kind.” Tien straightened her shoulders. “But I think I can manage it now. I close my eyes and don’t look as I cross the gangway between the carriages.”
Lacey wasn’t sure how safe that was. She hoped Tien didn’t meet someone coming the other way.
The carriage jiggled a little harder and Tien hooked a corner of the blind with her finger and peered out.
“You could probably leave the blind open, you know,” Lacey said. “There’s not likely to be anyone out there, and if there was the train’s moving too fast for them to see in.”
Tien shuddered and turned back, leaving the blind closed. “I’ll be with you soon,” she said.
Lacey smiled and let herself out. It was going to take a bit more time to get Tien to relax completely.
She moved off in the direction of the lounge car then stopped. Ahead of her at the other end of the carriage Judith was walking briskly away, her conversation with Ketty obviously over. Lacey glanced back. Was Ketty still inside or had she been ahead of Judith on her way to the lounge car? Lacey continued on slowly. She hoped Birgit was already there and had saved her a seat.
Judith held her breath as she entered the lounge car. Now that she’d expressed her concerns to Ketty she wasn’t sure how she was going to make conversation with Carlos. To her relief there was no sign of him nor of Lacey or Tien but Birgit was tucked up at one of the tables with those two young men she was extra chummy with already, and to Judith’s surprise Ning was there too.
“Are you looking for Ketty?”
Judith glanced sideways. The couple Ketty had eaten lunch with were both smiling up at her.
“No, she’ll be along in a minute.”
“Would you like to sit here?” Val patted the seat beside her. “It’ll get busy soon so we’re saving some seats.”
“Thanks.”
“Carlos is just getting us a drink,” Warren said.
“Oh.” Judith glanced towards the bar. The people being served had moved along and there he was. “Oh,” she said again and snuck into the space between Val and the end of the couch. At least Carlos couldn’t sit beside her.
“Would you like a drink?” Warren asked. “I’ll go and add to his order. He hasn’t been served yet. Val’s having a cocktail.”
“Not for me. Perhaps a white wine.” And before she could elaborate, he was gone.
“You’re on a staff holiday,” Val said. “Ketty was telling us about it on the gorge tour.”
“Yes. There are six of us. Ketty owns the business, of course, but we all work there.”
“I think that’s lovely. I can’t imagine many employers who’d do that. And you obviously all get along so well and with Ketty’s brother.”
“Brother?”
“Carlos.”
“Oh.” Judith laughed, perhaps a little too forcefully.
Val startled.
“Carlos isn’t her brother. They’re old friends.” Judith swallowed her laughter at the pained look on Val’s face.
“We seem to have misunderstood.”
“What’s that, pet?” Warren asked as he sat.
“Nothing. It doesn’t matter.”
“I forgot to ask which white wine you’d like, Judith, but Carlos seemed to know.”
“Thank you.” She smiled but beside her Val sat ramrod straight and Judith got the distinct impression she’d just put her foot in something.
Warren chatted away about the train journey so far. Judith smiled and responded but Val remained silent.
“Here we are.” Carlos arrived with a tray of drinks. He sat a glass of wine in front of Judith. “Pinot grigio for you, a margarita for Val, and martinis for you and me, Warren. I expect Ketty should be along very soon so I got her a gin and tonic.” He put the last glass on the table. “I’ll just return the tray.”
Tien arrived at Judith’s side, her customary mask in place. “That’s a nice colour,” Judith said, taking in Tien’s midnight-blue sheath dress. From the corner of her eye she saw Val lean towards Warren and put up her hand as if to whisper in his ear but he lurched forward, a grin on his face.
“Hello, Ten,” he boomed. “You look very nice this evening.”
“Thank you.” Tien’s eyes crinkled in a smile.
“Your group makes us look rather dowdy, doesn’t it, Val?” He gave his wife a nudge. “Although that shimmery black top looks lovely on you.”
“Miss Clift asked us to dress for dinner,” Tien said. “I suppose it’s something people of her age did back in the day.”
“I’ve put on my best polo top.” Warren chortled.
Judith had noticed he’d changed his blue striped shirt for a plain black one in an identical style. She glanced down at the black velvet pants and black lace top that were her nod to Ketty’s request for them to dress up. She wasn’t one for a lot of fuss either.
“I see you’re doing the carriage changes on your own now,” Warren said.
“Yes.” Tien stood tall. “I close my eyes and move quickly.”
Once more Warren laughed loudly. “An interesting strategy.”
Carlos returned. “Hello, Tien. Can I get you a drink?”
“No, thank you. I’m okay for now. I’ve drunk lots of water.” She glanced around the group. “You must do that more often when you’re in the outback.”
There was a moment’s pause and then a call from Birgit.
“Tien?” She pointed at a seat beside Ning. “We’ve saved you a spot here.”
Tien walked away just as the carriage door opened once more. Judith inhaled quickly as Ketty entered then paused inside the door to look for them. She smiled and made her way to where they sat. Judith slowly released the breath.
“Well, well, well, Ketty,” Warren said. “Don’t you look a million dollars.”
“That’s very kind. I do like to dress for dinner.”
Warren got up so Ketty could slide onto the seat beside Val, who edged a little closer to Judith. “That’s what Ten said. She reckons it’s something us old fogies like to do.”
Ketty flinched. It was almost imperceptible but Judith noticed.
“You and I can take these club chairs, Carlos.” Warren lowered himself to one and patted the arm. “They’re quite comfortable for aging bones, aren’t they?”
“Indeed they are,’ Carlos said as he sat in the other. “Ketty, this is yours.” He leaned across and slid the tumbler towards her then lifted his martini in the air. “A toast to our first day.”
“It’s certainly been interesting,’ Ketty said, tapping her glass to his. She glanced at Judith but her gaze didn’t linger.
“To friends and family.” Val looked pointedly from Ketty to Carlos.
Surely she hadn’t really thought they were siblings. Judith sunk a little lower in her seat.
“To leaving family behind and making new friends,” Warren said and took a swig from his glass.
“Something you’re good at,” Val muttered.
Ketty heard Val’s comment but she was still reeling from her conversation with Judith and uncomfortable with the cloud of doubt that now hung between them. As much as Ketty tried to ignore it, she couldn’t help but look at Carlos with a different eye. Judith’s concerns could all be explained away but Ketty had been almost burned before with Leo.
After Judith had left the cabin, Ketty’s thoughts had strayed back to her last South Pacific cruise several years ago, when she’d met up with Leo again. She’d been blinded to his flaws to begin with, been tempted – flattered if the truth be known; he was a handsome man and knew all the right things to say. However, she’d realised he was as interested in her money as he was in her. Not that she was a wealthy woman, in fact business had been slow back then, but she’d had some money and Leo had been stony broke. She’d found him out and walked away without a backward glance.
She shivered. There was no way she could even begin to compare Carlos to Leo. She glanced at him and discovered he was studying her expectantly. Then she realised Warren and Val were too. Judith was looking the other way.
“You weren’t with us there for a moment,” Carlos said.
“I hope you didn’t get a touch of the sun today.” Warren reached forward as if he was going to put a hand on her forehead.
“Oh, no, I’m sorry. My mind was elsewhere. What were you saying?”
“Just that I couldn’t imagine sharing a cabin with my sister. You’re very good friends. Have either of you married?”
“Warren,” Val chided.
Warren’s face fell. “Sorry, I suppose it’s a bit personal but I did wonder, if you had partners, why they wouldn’t come with…” He faltered. “I’m guessing there could be a lot of reasons why they’re not here…if you had partners, that is.”
Judith looked down the length of her nose at Ketty then glanced away. This was getting all too complicated.
“Actually, Warren,” Carlos said in a low tone. “Can you keep a secret?”
“Of course.” Warren nudged Val. “Our lips will be sealed, won’t they, pet?”
Val sniffed and raised her eyebrows and Ketty had the distinct feeling she’d missed something important.
“I’m afraid I wasn’t truthful when we first met,” Carlos said. “You see, I very nearly missed out on this journey. There was a mix-up with my cabin booking.”
Carlos smiled at Ketty. The warmth of it filled her heart and dispersed the doubt Judith’s words had sown.
“Ketty and I aren’t siblings. We’re old friends,” Carlos continued. “And because she’s such a kind person she offered me the spare bunk in her cabin.”
“I see,” Warren said.
“Why would you lie about it?” Val huffed.
“It was a joke between Ketty and I.”
Val raised her chin and glared at Carlos. “You were laughing at us.”
“Not at all.” Carlos was quick to reassure her. “Ketty is an independent woman who can do with her own life whatever she wishes but not everyone thinks like her. I’m already imposing on her kindness and…perhaps I’m being old-fashioned but I wanted to protect her reputation. Just before you arrived at our table Ketty had assured me we would manage our arrangement very well, in fact ‘like brother and sister’, she said.”
“I did.” Ketty nodded.
“And so I blurted that out when we met.” Carlos looked from Warren to Val. “Then it was hard to unsay without causing a fuss. I apologise for misleading you.”
“I see.” Warren nodded sagely. “No harm done then, old mate, is there, Val?”
Val hesitated and Carlos smiled benignly. “Of course not,” she agreed.
Judith let out a large sigh, reminding Ketty of her censorial presence. The angst returned and Ketty wondered how she was going to get through dinner.
As it turned out she didn’t have to worry. Lacey and Tien sat with Ketty and Carlos, while across the aisle Ning, Birgit and Judith shared the opposite table. Judith and Ketty both had window seats and were as far apart as they could be in that setting. It was difficult to engage the other table in conversation with the waitstaff continually moving between them so Ketty had to be content to find out more about Tien and Lacey’s day. Lacey was rather quiet, not unusual for her but Ketty was sure their interrupted chat earlier was playing on her mind, as it was Ketty’s.
They were served by Simon and Belinda, who were as attentive as cruise ship staff. Ketty couldn’t help but notice Carlos watching them carefully. She didn’t think he’d find them wanting.
The entrees arrived quickly, giving them something else to focus on. Ketty’s vegetable terrine melted in her mouth, Carlos inhaled his smoked duck and both Tien and Lacey raved over their prawn and crab dumplings. With the first course under their belts and another drink each the conversation flowed more easily.
Tien surprised them all by ordering a glass of red wine to go with her main course of braised beef cheeks and then had an indepth conversation with Carlos about the merits of shiraz, which he was drinking, compared to the grenache she had chosen. Ketty had never seen her drink wine before. There was always something new to learn about people, even those you thought you knew well.
