Page 108 of Atlas: The Story of Pa Salt

‘Well, only if it has three swimming pools, Bo.’ She laughed, and the way the midwinter sun caught her face made for one of the most beautiful images I have ever seen in my life. I suddenly felt inspired.

‘Wait there!’ I said, jumping to my feet.

‘Bo, what on earth are you doing?!’ Elle cried.

‘Just don’t move!’ I ran across the road and back onto the small high street, where we had passed an art shop. I entered and bought a few small sheets of paper and some charcoal, before jogging back to Elle.

‘What was all that about?’ she asked.

‘I want to draw you.’

‘Draw me?’ Elle asked, giggling.

‘Yes. Monsieur Landowski once said something to me in his atelier about capturing the moment. He only knew what he wanted to sculpt once hesawit. I think I know what he means now. I’ve been inspired to capture your beauty.’

‘I’m glad you still have the ability to flatter me after all these years.’

‘I’ve never dared to draw a portrait, only landscapes. I hope I can do justice to what I see before me...’

I got to work with the charcoal, doing my best to encapsulate Elle’s enormous eyes, dainty nose and full lips, set within her graceful heart-shaped face. Within fifteen minutes, I had completed my drawing. I looked at what I had produced, and then at Elle, and was quietly pleased with my efforts. It was certainly better than any field, river or tree I had ever attempted to capture.

‘Show me,’ she said. I handed her the piece of paper, and she examined it, before looking back at me. ‘I love it. Thank you.’

‘I know it’s far from perfect. But it will always remind me of this moment.’

‘And why is it that you wish to be reminded of this moment, Bo?’

I closed my eyes. The salty ocean scented the air and invigorated my senses. ‘Because, my love, despite everything, I am excited by the prospect of a new future. And tomorrow, I will marry the love of my life.’

She kissed me lightly on the cheek. ‘I will keep the drawing forever.’

Eventually we got up, asked a passer-by about the local fashion shops, and were pointed in the direction of a quaint little dressmaker’s.

‘Go on in, Elle. I certainly shouldn’t lay eyes on the dress – that’s breaking all the rules. Take as long as you need.’ I watched her pass through the door and caught sight of myself in the glass front window. There was no doubting it, these days my looks belied my relatively young age. My hair was rapidly greying, and the wrinkles on my forehead seemed to grow deeper by the day. I could only hope that putting oceans between Kreeg and me might slow down the process somewhat.

I stood dutifully for twenty minutes or so, until the shopbell rang and Elle walked out with a light blue paper bag and a beaming smile upon her face.

‘Thank you, Bo. I hope you will like it.’

When we arrived back at the hotel, I escorted my fiancée to her room, which was on the floor above mine.

‘This is where I must leave you.’ I shrugged. ‘I mean, I shouldn’t really be seeing you until the moment we are to be wed, but I want to make sure you make it on board. So I’ll meet you at the top of theOrientgangplank at nine thirty a.m.’

‘Nine thirty it is,’ Elle confirmed.

I removed a rogue strand of blonde hair from her face. ‘Your final night of living in sin...’

‘Ha! I accept absolutely no responsibility.’ She laughed. ‘It’s all your fault.’

I held my hands up. ‘I freely admit that I have forced you into a sullied life. Will you ever be able to forgive me?’ I put my palms together in mock prayer.

‘Seeing as you’re finally making good tomorrow, I believe that forgiveness is on the cards. But, as this reallyisour last night of living in sin, perhaps we should... indulge ourselves?’ she said, playfully loosening the top button of my shirt.

‘Oh, I see,’ I raised an eyebrow. ‘Are you worried that things might bedifferentafter we’re married?’

‘Absolutely. It won’t feel half as exhilarating.’

‘Well then. I suppose we owe it to ourselves.’ I kissed her, and she pulled me in through the bedroom door.