Page 2 of The Cruise Club
Her dad’s words kept Carmen going through her grief. ‘You’ve got to have a dream to make a dream come true…’ Des had repeatedly told his daughter.
Now, as Carmen drummed her fingers on the tabletop, she thought of Des’s own dream of owning a business. Cunningham’s Hardware had been a successful shop in the Cumbrian market town of Butterly, and he’d hoped that one day, Carmen would fulfil her childhood dream too.
‘You’ve made up stories all your life,’ he’d told her. ‘Don’t die wondering what it might have been like to be an author. Make it happen. Let your writing dream come true.’
Carmen stood and began to tidy Betty’s tray.
As she prepared her mother’s supper of a mug of cocoa and a plate of Bourbon biscuits, her eyes drifted to Betty’s discarded newspaper where the pages were folded to reveal the daily crossword.
She noted that all the clues had been solved.
Betty zipped through a crossword faster than a knife through butter, and despite her insistence that her mind was failing, Carmen knew that the old lady was as sharp as a pin, her memory a minefield of clues and answers.
Des and Betty Cunningham, in their day, had appeared in pub quiz teams and won many prizes.
As Carmen picked up the paper, a supplement fell out.
Stooping to retrieve it, she saw that it advertised cruise ship holidays.
The glossy brochure was colourful, and, sitting down again, she idly flicked through the pages, imagining what it would be like to pack her bag and escape to a far-flung location.
A holiday without Betty, imagine!
There were enticing cruises to the Caribbean, Asia, Antarctica and the South Pacific on giant passenger liners.
At the same time, closer to home, one could enjoy a five-city break in Europe.
Cruising on the Danube, the Rhine or even the Norwegian Fjords sounded fascinating.
Carmen couldn’t remember the last time she’d enjoyed a holiday.
The annual pilgrimage to Bournemouth, pushing Betty’s wheelchair along the promenade during two weeks in the summer, hardly made magical memories of sun, sea and shenanigans.
‘How I long for some shenanigans…’ Carmen said as she stared at the adverts and exotic locations.
But the words of an advert for a lesser-known cruise line suddenly caught Carmen’s eye.
Discover the magic of The Mysteries of the Mediterranean
Embark on an unforgettable journey as you join The Cruise Club on the Diamond Star .
This small luxury liner prides itself on memorable cruises for the more mature. Set sail on an adventure through crystal-clear waters and visit sun-drenched beaches and ancient cities.
Enjoy a comfortable cabin with sea views, plush surroundings and gourmet dining.
The Diamond Star ’s talented team will entertain throughout with song, dance, comedy and knowledgeable enrichment speakers.
EXCLUSIVE:
Number One Bestselling Author of the award-winning TV Series Detective Inspector Blake Investigates
RUSKIN REEVE
will be on board to host a talk and workshops
For a cruise you will cherish forever – book your dream holiday today!
Carmen felt her pulse quicken as she re-read the advertisement. Her hero, the crime writer Ruskin Reeve, was a guest speaker on this Mediterranean cruise. It must be a sign!
The famed Ruskin Reeve was her inspiration, and she had all his books, in series order, placed prominently on a shelf in her bedroom.
She adored the crime writer who wrote tales of intrigue and deception and whose works had captivated readers and critics worldwide, gaining many prestigious awards.
Carmen loved Ruskin’s keen eye for detail and understanding of human psychology, creating complex mysteries and believable characters.
The writing gods had guided Carmen, and now, all she had to do was summon the courage to pick up the phone and book her place on the cruise.
‘If only I could write like you…’ Carmen breathed as she gazed at Ruskin’s photograph, her fingers tracing the outline of the letters of his name.
A voice in her ear whispered, and tilting her head to one side, Carmen felt sure that her dad was speaking. ‘ Follow your writing dream!’ he urged.
Carmen desperately wanted to follow Ruskin onto the Diamond Star cruise, to draw inspiration from his crime writing. Her heart fluttered at the thought of attending his writing workshops. Time with the talented author would surely end her writer’s block and get the words flowing again.
She had to go on the cruise!
Carmen’s hazel eyes sparkled with anticipation, and she pushed her heavy-rimmed glasses along her nose before running her fingers through her shoulder-length brown hair.
She could almost feel the warm Mediterranean breeze on her skin and hear the gentle lapping of waves against the ship.
Indeed, such a setting would inspire her to write, and it might be the remedy she so desperately needed.
After all, it wasn’t as though she couldn’t afford the holiday; Carmen had a tidy sum in a savings account.
She checked the sailing date and was pleased that the cruise began in just over a week.
There was no time to cancel, if she decided to go.
Carmen knew that Agnes would be back from her holiday in a couple of days, and with a little gentle persuasion and extra money in her wages, she felt sure that the kindly woman would step up and help with Betty.
Betty. The roadblock in her plan.
The pitfall to the holiday would be Betty’s hysteria when she learned that her daughter was planning an exciting trip without her mother. Memories of dozens of disappointments, caused by Betty’s interference, flooded Carmen’s mind.
She mustn’t let Betty spoil her plans!
Despite the building guilt, Carmen picked up her pen and circled the cruise agent’s number. For years Carmen had allowed her mother to dictate, often sacrificing her hopes and dreams for peace. But now she felt an unfamiliar, steely resolve.
Straightening her shoulders, Carmen set her jaw with purpose and gripped the pen. This wasn’t just a trip – learning from Ruskin Reeve was a necessity, and she knew that she must seize the opportunity.
Carmen dreaded breaking the news to Betty but decided that she would deal with that disaster later.
She reached for her phone and began to dial, her heart pounding with anxiety and excitement.
With a hesitant voice, Carmen began the booking process.
Each word she uttered felt like a brick in the foundation of her ongoing writing dream.
The friendly voice from the Diamond Star team made the booking process seamless and told Carmen that as a member of The Cruise Club, she was entitled to discounts on future cruises, complimentary excursions and special occasion onboard cocktails. Moments later, the booking was complete.
‘I’m going on a cruise…’ Carmen whispered in amazement as she ended the call. ‘Carmen Cunningham is about to set sail!’