Page 49 of The Cruise Club

As darkness descended, passengers gathered on the decks of the Diamond Star as the ship’s horn signalled its departure.

Spanish music played for the sail-away, and many held glasses of champagne as the ship left the harbourside, where the shimmering waters of the Mediterranean caught the city’s lights and bathed Cartagena’s historic skyline in the twilight.

Under a canopy of twinkling stars, they passed a lighthouse, and as the port lights faded in the distance the Diamond Star set course for Malaga.

‘I’m going to miss this,’ Fran whispered to Sid. She felt wistful that their cruise was nearing the end of its voyage.

‘It’s not an ending, lass. Don’t be sad,’ Sid replied, his arm around her shoulder. ‘This is the start of something special for us, and we’ll have many cruising days ahead.’ He kissed her cheek, then stood back to admire his wife. ‘I have to say I have the most beautiful woman on my arm tonight.’

The kaleidoscope of colour that Fran wore was perfect with her glitzy jewellery, and the long flowing lines flattered her full figure. Fran had swept her hair into a towering topknot and fastened it with a sparkling clip that was as bold and bright as her makeup.

‘Get away with you,’ Fran laughed and punched Sid’s arm playfully. But as Fran smoothed the fabric of her colourful kaftan, she felt good. This cruise had been the perfect tonic to refresh her tired bones.

A few feet away from Fran, Don and Debbie stood with Colin and Neeta.

The men were smart in their dinner suits, and Debbie wore a long, sapphire blue tunic with beadwork at the neck.

Neeta, meanwhile, carried a pineapple-shaped clutch and turned heads in a skimpy dress adorned with a lively tropical pattern.

To Debbie’s dismay, Don watched Neeta’s hemline sway in the breeze, and he grinned salaciously when her tanned thighs were revealed. With her back ramrod straight, Debbie shook her head and began to stride away.

‘Eh, up! Come on love, I’m only admirin’ the craftsmanship on Neeta’s crutch, I mean clutch…’ He turned to Colin and winked.

On the promenade deck, Theo, handsome in a midnight-blue jacket, formal trousers and a loud checkered waistcoat, pushed Betty along in her chair. ‘What a wonderful evening,’ he said, gazing at the stars.

‘I’m cold,’ Betty grumbled, ‘why on earth are we out here when we could be inside in the warm restaurant?’

A little further behind, Ruskin and Carmen fell into step. ‘Don’t worry, Mum. We’re on our way,’ Carmen said, frustration etched across her face. She hoped that Betty wouldn’t spoil the evening and, holding onto Ruskin’s arm, took a slow, deep breath.

‘You look amazing,’ Ruskin whispered and squeezed Carmen’s arm. ‘That colour is fabulous on you.’

Carmen’s tension eased. ‘Thank you,’ she said, glancing at Ruskin and wondering how she was strolling along with this man on her arm.

Tall and poised, Ruskin’s dinner suit was perfectly tailored, the satin lapels catching the light.

His chiselled features softened when his blue eyes caught her own, and his cologne’s scent was almost overwhelming.

The rich colour of Carmen’s scarlet dress enhanced her sun-kissed skin, and she knew she’d never look better.

How clever Fran had been to find this gorgeous garment.

Carmen’s hair was swept to one side in a soft updo, and a few strands fell lightly onto her shoulders.

Carmen had treated herself to sparkling earrings from the onboard jeweller, and as she caught her reflection in a window, they caught the evening light.

Carmen watched as Theo gripped the handles of Betty’s chair and carefully manoeuvred her through a doorway. Carmen crossed her fingers, hoping that her mother’s grumblings wouldn’t continue.

The past days aboard the cruise had stirred something deep within Carmen, nurturing plans that felt like new fresh shoots.

After a magical day with Ruskin, Carmen was sure there was more for her in life.

No matter what happened with him, she had to gently escape her mother’s shadow and find a new path.

But as she stared up at the sky, she smiled.

Tonight was the final chapter of this unforgettable cruise, and she was determined that she would enjoy every moment.

Ruskin followed the group through the ship and into the Terrace Restaurant, where the dining room had been transformed.

The baby grand now sat at the entrance, and the pianist played familiar melodies as everyone found their seats.

White linen covered the tables, and candles flickered above elegant floral arrangements where subdued lighting added a romantic air to the night.

Ruskin stood beside Carmen as everyone took their place.

Her scarlet dress caught the glow, and for a moment, everything faded as he watched her.

The dining room was impressive, but it paled compared to the transformation of the woman he’d encountered at the beginning of the cruise.

Ruskin’s feelings for Carmen were complex, and he couldn’t explain why he was drawn to her.

All he knew was that he wanted to be with her and thought about her all the time.

Seeing Carmen come into her own was exhilarating, and her transformation mirrored his unexpected feelings, making his heart sing and his whole being feel lighter.

He knew that he’d emerged from the aftermath of his divorce and felt optimistic and excited that he might find happiness in whatever time they carved out for each other.

As he sat with this varied group of people, Ruskin wasn’t sure where things might lead with Carmen, but one thing was sure. He didn’t want it to end with this cruise.

Dinner was a delight, and guests enjoyed a starter of gazpacho followed by seared scallops with a saffron sauce.

Betty couldn’t understand why anyone would want to eat a cold soup and pushed her plate away.

However, her eyes soon lit up as a wine waiter topped up her glass and when a filet mignon with truffle jus was placed before her, she heartily tucked in.

A chocolate fondant with pistachio cream followed and the meal ended with a magnificent selection of cheese.

Don commented as each course arrived and as a server offered more jus with his steak, he said that he’d prefer a jug full of gravy. In between a course he asked, ‘What’s this intermezzo nonsense? If I wanted to cleanse my palate I’d use a tube of toothpaste.’

Debbie’s expression hardened as she glared at her husband and shaking her head, looked away.

At the end of the meal, as everyone departed to make their way to the Neptune Theatre, Colin and Neeta invited them all to a party in their suite when the evening’s entertainment had concluded.

Betty, now walking beside Theo, looked up in surprise and called out.

‘One of your upside-down pineapple parties? Not for me. Pineapples belong in a fruit salad, not in whatever plans you lot have.’

Ruskin studied Neeta as she grinned at Betty and shrugged her shoulders.

Her tan had deepened and offset the silver jewellery that sparkled on her skin.

Noticing his stare, Neeta appeared surprisingly self-conscious, and her hands flew to her head to loosen her hair, ruffling her blonde locks around her ears.

Ruskin reached for Carmen’s hand as they took their seats beside Theo and Betty with Fran, Sid, Don and Debbie in the row behind.

Their murmur of excited conversation filled the air.

When colourful lights sparkled across the stage and the band began to play, the room was hushed and after the opening medley, Peter appeared.

‘Good evening, everyone,’ he began, ‘welcome to our grand finale for the last night of your unforgettable cruise. I can hardly believe that this is our final night together, but before I introduce you to tonight’s show, on behalf of Captain Bellwood and the entire crew of the Diamond Star we want to say a heartfelt thanks to everyone for choosing to sail with us. ’

There was a round of applause then Don held up his glass and called out, ‘Aye with prices like this I could have bought a new car but at least a few drinks were included.’ He winced when Debbie dug an elbow in his ribs and one or two guests booed.

Peter ignored Don. ‘So, tonight, we’re pulling out all the stops – we have a fabulous line-up and to kick off the night we have the one and only… Dicky Delaney!’

There was a drum roll as Dicky danced onto the stage and the audience began to clap along as the band played the opening chords of ‘I Gotta Feeling’ .

‘Tonight’s the night!’ Dicky called out before launching into the chorus encouraging everyone to join in.

‘How are you feeling?’ Dicky asked when the song ended, and he searched the crowd. ‘I see a few familiar faces.’ He pointed to Debbie and waved. ‘This beautiful lady sang “My Way” so many times this week, Sinatra’s turning in his grave. But all credit to you – you certainly sang it… your way!’

Debbie took to her feet and blew Dicky kisses while slapping Don’s hand away as he attempted to pull her back down.

‘Is that your husband?’ Dicky asked and laughed when Debbie replied that, unfortunately, it was.

‘Ah, Don, our Yorkshire friend, who is so careful with his money,’ Dicky said and remembered the countless times Don had heckled him during the cruise. ‘Why did Don sit on a coin?’ Dicky questioned the audience. ‘Because he wanted to make sure it didn’t roll away.’

Don turned a shade of red as Debbie cupped her hands to her mouth and called out to Dicky for more.

‘Hey, Don, don’t worry, mate, just keep doing whatever Debbie does, and you’ll get somewhere in the end.’

Striding across the stage, Dicky asked the audience if they’d enjoyed the food on the cruise.

‘That twenty-four-hour buffet is a dangerous place, isn’t it?

’ He raised an eyebrow. ‘You tell yourself you’ll just have a salad, and five minutes later, you have a plate stacked higher than the ship, balancing a pudding on top! ’

Laughter spread, and many guests nodded in agreement.

‘Have you been on the excursions?’ Dicky looked out at the audience.

‘You know, like the one where you’re made to walk for hours to see a pile of rocks?

My favourite is a trip to a local market where it’s all about the culture, but do we really need an embroidered tea towel and a glow-in-the-dark statue of Adonis? ’

‘ We do!’ Sid called out, then turned to Fran, and the pair began to giggle.

Dicky continued with more senior-friendly humour, and by the time his act ended, everyone was in stitches.

‘Anyway folks,’ he said, catching his breath, ‘you’ve been a fabulous crowd all cruise, and since tonight’s the big send-off, don’t forget there’s still plenty to do.

You can dance the night away in the Mermaid Theatre, and if you don’t fall asleep, an open-air movie will be shown under the stars, but don’t forget your blankets.

My favourite is the midnight fireworks on the promenade deck, and I hope to see many of you there. ’

Dicky paused, and the room became quiet. ‘Always remember that you’re all part of one big family to us. And now, as members of the Diamond Star Cruise Club, let’s have some fun and enjoy the rest of the show!’

As Dicky made his exit, the curtain rose to reveal the Diamond Star Dance Troupe, who delivered a jaw-dropping performance to high-energy tunes.

With choreography paying homage to the many places they’d visited on the cruise, the dancers brought to life a blend of samba, flamencos and Zorba, blending all in a whirlwind of colour.

When the dancers took their final bow, Melody took to the stage, and her presence lit up the room.

Wearing impossibly high heels beneath her floor-length silver sequinned gown, she shimmered with each confident step, the voluminous skirt cascading like a waterfall of diamonds.

Melody’s towering blonde beehive, studded with sparkling gems, held a tiara perched on top.

As she strutted with confidence, the audience was mesmerised by her powerful voice and belting out lyrics to classic diva tracks and popular songs, she invited everyone to sing along.

Every twist and turn were met with cheers, and as the final song approached, Melody turned towards the side of the stage, where Dicky stood watching her with a proud smile.

With a graceful movement, she reached for his hand, pulling him towards her as they made their way to the centre of the stage.

Together with the Diamond Star Dance Troupe, the entire cast united for the final song. ‘We’ll meet again, don’t know where, don’t know when…’

The audience was on its feet, clapping and shouting their appreciation, when suddenly, bursts of golden light erupted from the front of the stage, as stage fireworks brought the act to its showstopping conclusion.

‘Goodness me,’ Fran said as she collapsed back into her seat, her eyes wide with wonder. ‘Wasn’t that magnificent?’

‘Does anyone fancy a dance before the midnight fireworks?’ Theo called out.

His suggestion hung in the air momentarily, then Betty piped up as if on cue. ‘Well, I’m up for it, and unless you lot are ready for bed, I suggest we all make our way to the Mermaid Theatre.’

In an instant, everyone rose, eager to continue the evening.