The Whiskerly Sisters (36 page)

Since the vessel would not be sailing until midnight, the girls settled themselves down to a little light sunbathing and a huge amount of light hearted banter. Several months had passed since their little paybacks had come to an end and the winter had seemed flat and endless after all the fun they had been having. As a reward for their hard won revenge, they had decided to treat themselves to a Mediterranean cruise. Away from home, relaxing in the sun, they decided it would be a fun to reminisce on their twelve months of mischief. An embarkation party had been planned by the cruise ship, under a twinkling canopy of fairy lights, when the booze would flow and plenty of hair let down.

Over the course of the next few days, the plan was to relax and enjoy. They had been downtrodden, they had been used and they had been hurt, but they had turned the tables on their tormentors and, incredibly, they had won!

Bex had rediscovered her youth and, with it, her freedom and peace. She was living with her soul mate and, as a consequence, she found she had no desire to rebel against anything. Her children were only a phone call away and, modern travel being what it was, distance was nothing. She was still their beloved mother and she regularly visited her children. Finally, she was living the life she had only previously dreamed of. Once again, she was wild and free.

Fresna had lain to rest the ghost of her youth and had been blessed with a new family. Since family had always been a source of great joy to Fresna, she felt she had enriched her life with her bravery and intuition. Fresna, always the teeniest bit smug, was glorious in contentment.

Celia had decided that she wasn’t actually suited to administration and had decided instead, in her usual all guns blazing approach, to start her own business, caring for pets. Celia loved animals so her new venture suited her perfectly. She was her own boss and she was able to use her well-honed organisational skills to the full. Instead of the barking of other people’s orders, her days were filled with the barks of other people’s dogs. She walked them, groomed them and fed them while their owners relaxed on holiday, content in the knowledge that Celia would care for their little treasures as if they were her own. Despite less money, and less opportunity for travel, she had finally found fulfilment. As an added bonus, her furry charges were happy to listen to her strident voice and strong opinions, without comment, wagging their tails and cocking their ears in total agreement with all that she found to rattle on about. They adored her for her playful nature and ability to live in a house full of rubber bones, half-chewed slippers and lost balls.

Tiffany had decided to give up on men entirely for a while so that she could concentrate on loving herself. She had begun to realise that it was her own desperation, her own neediness that, despite her loveliness, had ultimately repelled the moths that came to her flame. She had been her own worst enemy, ruthlessly sabotaging herself at every turn. She now wanted to become her own best friend. As a consequence, whilst she was happy to ‘flirt and skirt’, she put herself and her interests above everything and everyone. Strangely, she still never lacked male attention.

Charley had regained control of her world and, with it, another rich lover. Perhaps her was the tiniest of changes, the least significant of victories, but for the perfectionist within, it was vital to her nature that her life float carefree on a tranquil sea. Whilst Charley relished each and every one of the adventures she had experienced alongside her friends, deep inside, she felt that the whole thing had been just a tiny bit demeaning. With her life back under control, she felt she could once again rise above the flotsam and jetsam of the ordinary and regain her place at the helm of her life, confident of the breeze in her favour and her mastery of the waves beneath.

Despite her initial misgivings, Jax was delighted to have met a man she both liked and respected, and on an internet dating site! She reflected back to her earlier misconceptions about the e-meat market and how green she had been only a short while ago. She had climbed a very steep learning curve to learn a lot about life and love and men, but most of all she had learned about herself. She had not always enjoyed every lesson, but she was grateful for the benefits they had brought to her.

Izza had reclaimed her self-esteem, taken back her life and, with it, her joy and her youth. She had found the love of a good man; a man, who adored and respected her. Furthermore, right now, that man was back home, waiting for her return and planning a future for them both. She had learned about the nature of choice and she no longer chose the path of the victim. Her career was moving forward and she had her whole life ahead of her. From where she was standing, things looked pretty damn good. The butterfly was out of its chrysalis and enjoying its time in the sun.

Having danced their feet off until dawn, the girls would have loved nothing better than to have slept in late, but Health and Safety dictated otherwise and so the four new arrivals were given no choice but to don unglamorous safety vests and make their way to their pre-appointed muster stations to listen to an over-long lecture on emergency procedures. Tiff found that she was barely able to stand, let alone pay attention and leaned on an increasingly irritable Charley until it was over. Whilst Tiff went straight back to bed, the remaining trio decided on strong coffee and croissants. They were joined by Celia and Fresna, who suggested a tour of the boat. They pointed out the well-equipped gym, the quiet, comfortable library, the sleek beauty parlour with its tiny spa, the glitzy casino on the seventh floor where punters were already gathered, eager to post their coins into the greedy mouths of the banks of slot machines. The three girls followed meekly in the wake of their two experienced friends who, after a week, seemed to have seen it all and done most of it. Up and down the passageways, they trooped, discovering the overwhelming variety of cafes, restaurants and bars. There seemed to be an overwhelming number of waiters, cleaners, porters, sailors and bar staff eager to help folk enjoy whatever time they had set aside to be with them on the cruise ship.

Jax, with her passion for amateur dramatics, was over the moon when she found herself in the beautifully furnished theatre. Despite the closed mustard velvet curtains with their scarlet fringing, she couldn’t help but take a peek at the stage behind. She was impressed by the quality of the large posters either side of the stage, promising an amazing display of talent and virtuosity over the coming week.

“You wait. You haven’t seen anything yet,” Fresna told her with a knowing look at Celia.

“Damn right, Fres. Are you lot in for a surprise,” her friend replied, smiling wickedly.

“What?” asked Charley, not wanting to be left out in the cold. Someone knew something she didn’t and that didn’t suit her style at all. She stared pointedly at both her friends, waiting for them to tell everything, but Celia turned her back on her whilst Fresna merely told her to wait and see.

“Come on,” cried Celia suddenly. “Who’s for a dip in the pool? Last one in fetches the drinks,” she yelled as she ran out of the room and up the stairs in the direction of the top deck and its fabulous seawater pool. The bait was swallowed and the others scrambled in her wake, Charley tried to prevent Fresna from leaving, intent on getting some answers, but her friend shrugged her off smiling. Reluctantly, she followed the others, seething that she had been stonewalled. Whatever it was, she would winkle it out of them, but for now she would go for a swim. She had all the time in the world.

“Wouldn’t Sly have loved this?” breathed Izza, an hour or so later. Leaning over the rail, sipping on her Sundowner, she gazed out across the wide expanse of sapphire blue sea.

“Wouldn’t he just?” replied Jax, following her gaze. “Isn’t it heaven?”

“Where did he disappear to this time, do you think?” Izza asked her mother. “I miss him, don’t you?”

“And our outings,” Celia joined the conversation.

“Happy days,” said Fresna, draining her glass.

She was right. They had been happy days right up to the last time when the Sisters, with the ever immaculately clad Imelda, took themselves off to the Rocky Horror Show, taking the place and the audience by storm with their outrageous costumes. Shortly after, Sly disappeared once more into a puff of smoke but, this time, no matter how hard they searched, neither sight nor sound could be found of their gorgeous friend. It was as if the earth had swallowed him whole and was holding him captive in some dark corner of its depths. They had tried his flat several times, but the neighbours told them they hadn’t seen much of him in the first place so they never knew if he was in or out. Izza and Callum wasted a few hours hanging out in the vicinity of the lock-up and Charley had visited the hostel where his brother had lived in search of news. She and Fresna had then driven round to his parents’ house where his mother told them the startling news that Sly had suddenly handed in his notice at the hospital, begging to leave at once and before a suitable replacement could be found. A few days later his parents received a picture postcard, letting them know he was in Europe and that he was alright. Reluctantly, the girls had been forced to let the matter rest at that, but that had not prevented them from endlessly speculating about his whereabouts and, more importantly, why the hell he had not had the decency to let them know he was dropping off the flaming planet!

For their first on board dinner, the girls made sure they dressed to impress. To a woman, they were immaculately made up, well groomed and wearing their finest gowns. As the little group of women swanned gracefully into the dining room towards their allocated table, the atmosphere in the restaurant suddenly came to life as heads turned in acknowledgement of the beautiful procession. There was something of the goddess in each of them and they knew it and they were making damned sure everyone else did too!

The only drinks allowed at their table that evening were sparkling water and the best champagne. After the excitement of the previous day, everyone ate heartily. Charley and Fresna embarked on a flirting competition, vying for the attention of their two very attractive waiters, but it was done in good spirits. They agreed between them that they would definitely have one each before the week was out. If neither woman had a particular favourite, they would toss for it.

The rest of the conversation gravitated around their fabulous adventures and they regaled each other with memories of a year well spent.

A hilarious wine fuelled photo shoot, Sly dressed as a flame haired hippie, a furious drive through the countryside with Hillory Hocker’s tramp snoring in the passenger seat, an unforgettable evening in the tub with Il Divo and a certain property magnate, several spiteful recipes, a soupcon of criminal damage and a downtrodden girl reborn.

It had been a wild time, a heady adventure, an oasis from the storm. It was something to be savoured between them for years to come. The women grinned at each other, relishing the secret they shared and a bond of sisterhood that could never be broken.

It was Celia who broke the mood by standing, somewhat shakily, to her feet and expertly popping the cork of yet another bottle of champagne. She gently poured its golden bubbles into her friend’s proffered glasses.

“A toast,” she announced. “To us.”

As the girls rose from their seats to take up the call, one of the women stayed firmly in her place and with her hand over her glass.

“No,” said Charley fiercely. “One of us is missing. We do this together or not at all.”

“You’re right,” replied Fresna, sitting down again. “We can’t do this without Sly.”

“Agreed,” demurred Tiffany, “but we don’t know where the hell he’s disappeared to this time and if he’ll ever be back, so I say on with the toast,” and she raised her glass.

“Charley’s right,” said Bex firmly and sat back down. “Not without Sly.”

“He is one of the girls,” said Izza.

“Isn’t he just?” replied Celia and began to laugh, causing the rest of the girls to giggle alongside her.

One by one, the girls sat back down until Tiff was the only one left standing. She scowled at her friends.

“Suit your flaming selves, but if he doesn’t turn up soon, you need to know that I will be proposing a toast to myself and all who sail in me!” With a smirk at her own joke, she dropped back into her seat.

“Oh I am sure he’ll be back when he’s good and ready. Maybe sooner than you think,” replied Fresna mysteriously and there was something in her voice that made Charley look at her sharply.

“Out with it,” she said.

“Not on your life,” replied her friend.

A couple of days later, Celia proposed a trip to the on board theatre. It was Gala Night she told them and the show was outstanding. Fresna was fairly buzzing with excitement at the idea even though she had seen it all before. Charley’s antennae were on red alert; her instincts telling her something was going on. How she hated not knowing what it was. Celia rushed the group through dinner, insisting that they bag their seats early. She felt certain it would be crowded and she intended to be right at the front along with her friends.

“Where’s the fire?” muttered Jax, reluctant to be dragged away from dessert.

“You’ll be sorry for the rest of your life if you don’t move your arse right now and drag it all the way to the theatre,” replied Fresna, removing her dish and grabbing the arm of her friend.

“Your choice though,” added Celia from over her shoulder. Swallowing a sigh, Jax followed her friends across the corridor and into the almost empty theatre with its plush velvet curtains and comfortable, padded seats. Despite the silence, an atmosphere of hushed anticipation hung in the air. Flinging her bag onto one of the seats, Celia staked her claim. The others followed suit. Fresna was sent to the bar to get in the first round.

“Way too early,” muttered Tiff to Jax. “Our backsides will be stiff before the damn show even starts.”

“Your backside will be kicked if you don’t flaming well shut up bitching,” replied Celia with a glare.