Page 56 of Hook, Line and Single

I smile. ‘That would explain it. Sometimes, when I watch Samson striding around as if he owns the place, it’s almost like “Everybody Wants to Be a Cat” is playing in his head.’

‘Best Disney song ever,’ Cameron states firmly, and I’m glad to see that he’s coming back out of himself. He’s even smiling.

‘I quite like “A Whole New World”, fromAladdin,’ I counter.

‘Nah. Too patriarchal. Why does Jasmine need a man to show her the world? Call yourself a feminist?’

‘Good point. There are a lot of good tunes in that film though.’

We’re still happily arguing the merits of various Disney films and the songs in them when Gabriela reappears and, unsurprisingly, she has firm opinions of her own that carry us all the way to the airport. Cameron, I’m glad to see, is fully recovered and giving as good as he gets.

‘Thank you so much, Gabriela. For everything.’ I give her a massive hug as she drops us outside the terminal.

‘Ah, it was a pleasure, and I got to use my English. Sometimes I worry that it will go rusty, like an old car. Come and see us again next time you’re in Barcelona, won’t you.’

I haven’t got the heart to tell her that there’s unlikely to be a next time, so I just squeeze her tighter and promise that we will.

* * *

Even though it’s outside peak tourist season, the terminal building is heaving, and I’m very pleased that we don’t have any baggage to check in, as the queues are enormous. We do cause a few eyebrows to be raised when we rock up at security without any hand luggage either but, after querying it, they seem to buy our story and let us through into the departure lounge. Although I scrubbed myself thoroughly in the shower this morning, and made liberal use of the deodorant that Gabriela had kindly put out, I feel very grimy in yesterday’s clothes and underwear.

‘I can’t wait to get back to the ship,’ I say to Cameron once we’ve settled ourselves at the gate.

‘I know what you mean. With any luck, we’ll have time for a shower and a change of clothes before whatever Barry has cooked up for this evening.’

‘I’m also bursting to find out if Sam’s ironed things out with Robin.’

‘He seems like a really nice guy. What is her problem with him being a vicar, anyway?’

While we wait for the call to board the plane, I fill Cameron in on Sam’s disastrous experience at the church we went to.

‘Doesn’t seem very Christian to me,’ he observes. ‘It’s a long time since we did anything like that at school, but I’m sure there were warnings about not judging other people in case you were judged yourself, or something like that. Anyway, I’m sure Robin isn’t like that. He doesn’t come across as the judgemental type, does he?’

‘No.’

We lapse into silence but, unlike this morning, it’s comfortable. After a while, the plane begins to board for the short flight to Nice, and both Cameron and I breathe a sigh of relief when it takes off on time.

‘I’m going to suggest we skip the sightseeing and get a taxi straight to the port when we arrive,’ Cameron says a while later as the pilot switches on the fasten seat belt signs for our descent into Nice. ‘I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to run the slightest risk of missing the ship again.’

‘I agree. Do you know, I’m actually looking forward to seeing the Marco Polo group again.’

‘Even Brad?’

‘Oh, Brad’s OK now that Gail’s taming him.’

‘Do you think they’ll make it in the real world? I kind of want them to. Sam and Robin too.’

‘You, my friend, are a hopeless romantic.’

‘What’s wrong with that?’

‘Nothing, as long as you’re prepared for endless disappointment.’

‘Ouch. Are you sure nobody broke your heart?’

‘Absolutely.’

‘Something must have happened to make you so cynical.’

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