Page 129 of Atlas: The Story of Pa Salt

Ma looked down at her snoozing de facto grandchild. ‘Soon enough,chérie, soon enough. I hope that you do not judge me too harshly. As you have learnt on this trip, there is much you do not know.’

Tiggy moved closer and put an arm around her. ‘Oh Ma, whatever we learn, nothing will change. Ever. I love you.’ Tiggy planted a gentle kiss on Marina’s soft cheek.

‘Thank you, Tiggy. I love you too.’

They looked into each other’s eyes for a moment, before Tiggy spoke again. ‘Can I ask you a personal question?’

‘You know you can ask me anything.’

‘You lived with Pa for so many years. Did you ever... you know...?’

‘What, my darling?’ Marina looked perplexed.

‘Did you ever fancy him?!’ Tiggy giggled.

‘Ooh! You did not tell me that the question was going to be cheeky!’

‘Haha, I’m sorry, Ma. But you know that I’ve always been able tofeelthings. I’ve just always sensed that you had a great longing in your heart.’

Ma raised her eyebrows. ‘Have you now, my little hedgehog?’ Tiggy nodded slowly. Marina sighed. ‘Your father was a very good-looking man. In many ways he was perfect. Handsome, kind, intelligent... a truly good human being. But you may rest assured that not ever in my life did I think of him inthatway.’

Tiggy was a little perturbed. ‘Really?’

‘I speak God’s honest truth,’ Ma swore firmly.

Tiggy frowned. ‘I’m not normally wrong about these things.’

Ma’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment. ‘Stop it,chérie, you are making an old woman blush.’

‘Don’t be ridiculous, Ma, you mustn’t call yourself old! But I have to know, who is this mystery man you’re pining after?’ Tiggy whispered.

Marina tutted, and just as it looked like she was about to say something, Charlie’s elegant figure rounded the corner.

‘There you are, my darling.’ He grinned at Tiggy.

‘Hello, Charlie. Is everything all right?’

‘Yes, thanks. All ship-shape. No pun intended.’ Tiggy rolled her eyes. ‘All right. Maybe it was slightly intended. I’ve been sent on a mission by Ally to make sure everyone finishes the whole diary before dinner this evening.’

‘Oh, really?’ Tiggy asked. ‘We’ve still got plenty of time before we get to Delos.’

‘Don’t shoot the messenger!’ Charlie held his hands up. ‘In all seriousness, she really did seem quite keen that everyone’s on the same page...’ Tiggy raised her eyebrows. ‘All right, that one was pushing it.’

‘Thanks, Charlie. I’ll crack on now. Is everyone else doing the same?’

‘No complaints so far.’ Charlie bent down to look at Bear in Ma’s arms. ‘The little chap’s really growing, isn’t he?’ He brushed the baby’s cheek with his finger. ‘Anyway, I’ll leave you to it. Speak to you later.’ He headed back inside the boat.

Tiggy frowned. ‘There must be a reason Ally wants us all to finish the diary as quickly as possible. Do you know why that might be?’

Ma’s face reddened once more. ‘No.’

Tiggy pushed her. ‘You’d tell me if there was something... going on here, wouldn’t you, Ma? It’s a horrible feeling to be left out of the loop.’

‘I would not lie to you,chérie,’ Ma replied tactfully.

‘All right.’ Tiggy slapped her knees and got to her feet. ‘You know, everything inside me is... sparking and bubbling. It’s like I canfeelsomething, but I’m not quite sure what.’

‘Perhaps it is Merry?’ Ma theorised. ‘Your pa’s own blood, here on the boat. That would make sense, wouldn’t it?’