Page 43 of Below the Deck

Johanna:No, honestly, it’s fine – it’s better this way. But if he so much as …

Michaela:He won’t. Captain’s keeping an eye on everything – I know she’s got my back. Still, I feel … pretty uncomfortable.

Johanna:I don’t know how you’re staying so calm. I shit you not, I wanted to deck him tonight.

Michaela:Oh hon, I’d want to too, if I had to wait on him. But I’m not sure that’d do much to help with anything. Okay, I think we’re about done here. I’m going to go down. And Jo?

Johanna: Mmm?

Michaela: Keep your radio close tonight – okay?

[TRANSCRIPT ENDS]

ELENI

10 JUNE

Eleni leaned across to the bedside table and checked the time on her phone.10:36 a.m. How have I slept that long?

She’d headed to bed when she’d finished talking to Sam last night after the fractious dinner party; she’d been rattled and edgy, but exhausted. When she got to their cabin, there was no sign of Nick – she hadn’t seen him since he stormed off during dinner. She’d been so deeply asleep, she’d barely stirred when he crawled in next to her at some point, presumably in the early hours. She had a vague, dream-like memory of his arms scooping her body, whispering sweet words in her ear, pulling her close to him … and the pulsing that still throbbed between her thighs reminded her what had happened after.

Eleni looked at her phone again. Four new messages had made their way through the shaky 4G and appeared on the family WhatsApp group: photos of the boys’ sports day yesterday, and a voice note from Mariana. She clicked on the images and zoomed in; her heart swelled. In one of them, Lucaswas holding a bronze medal, his little round cheeks rosy with pride. She glanced at Nick; he was still fast asleep.

Careful not to wake him, she held the phone close to her ear and pressed play on Mariana’s message; her eyes filled with tears – of relief, this time. It was so good to hear her sister’s voice. Then she tapped a quick reply:Thank you soooo much, Maz, I can’t tell you how grateful I am. Can you show this to the boys? Wow, look at you two! Mummy is so proud. Miss you both so much. Not long till we’re back home! Love you. Xoxo

Breathing more easily now, she sat up slowly and placed her feet on the floor, managing not to make a sound. She rested there for a moment, noticing how still it all was – no motion of the water underneath the yacht; no gentle bobbing of the waves on theLusso’s underbelly. They weren’t sailing yet then. The realization struck her as odd: Eleni was sure they’d been due to cast off for Raiatea at first light for their final day, before starting their long journey home tomorrow. She felt a flash of anxiety.

It’s got to happen today. It’s my last chance.

She tiptoed to the window, edged back the blackout curtains and peered outside. They were still anchored in the same spot off Huahine; something must have happened to interfere with their scheduled itinerary. The sky was its usual cloudless, deep blue, and the sea was calmer than she’d seen it since they’d arrived: almost completely still, only the gentlest of waves lapping onto the nearby strip of sandy beach.

Her mind drifted back to dinner last night. How did it all end up such a fucking car crash? She’d hated every minute of it – the tension, the accusations, Nick’s thinly veiled resentment towards Rory. She expected he’d regret it afterwards – but still,it was embarrassing, her husband getting so close to losing his rag like that in front of everyone.I hope everyone was drunk enough not to remember.

Then the awkward conversation afterwards with just the three of them left – and Sam’s weird theory about Lucy being one of Rory’s ‘women’. Eleni knew what Rory was like – and yes, he did turn his attentions to young women when they first joined. She’d always sort of accepted it: it was just part and parcel of working for him. And he’d never made her feel truly uncomfortable; he’d never actually crossed a line with her.

But Sam’s hushed rumour-mongering made her stomach turn – because of how he was going about it, more than anything. She didn’t like the way Sam seemed to be lingering close by when she was alone, or when it was just women gathered together.

This morning, all of that and Eleni’s own, more private fears curdled in the pit of her stomach as she looked out to sea.I’ve got twenty-four hours left. Everyone’s counting on me.

Nick stirred in bed; she turned to look at him as he blinked groggily. ‘Can’t you close the curtain, babe? It’s too bright …’

‘Sorry,’ she murmured, pulling the blinds back into place. ‘I’m going to get dressed and go up. We should have set sail by now, and I want to know what the hold-up is.’

No response; after a few seconds, he was snoring again. She sighed, headed to the wardrobe and slipped off her silk cami and shorts, folding them neatly and placing them in the correct drawer. Then she dressed quickly in linen trousers and a vest and left the cabin, taking care not to make a sound as the door closed behind her.

Under the awning on the main deck, the other five guests were already sipping coffee around the dining table, their breakfast plates now empty, Rory’s morning papers spread out in front of him, taking up half the table. She sat down next to Lucy, taking note of the frosty silence.I’ll have to try to cheer everyone up.

‘Morning, all,’ she said in her chirpiest voice. ‘I can’t believe I stayed in bed so late – I think that’s the longest I’ve slept in years.’

Lucy rewarded her small talk with a tight smile. ‘Good for you,’ she said. ‘There’s still some croissants and things left …’ She gestured towards the centre of the table, where the usual array of dishes was on display.

‘Good morning, Eleni,’ said Johanna, appearing behind her. ‘What would you like – eggs Benedict again today?’

‘That would be lovely.’ She waited for the stewardess to leave, then leaned in towards the others and whispered: ‘I can’t believe I’m thinking this, but I’ll be happy to have a good old bowl of Shreddies for breakfast when I get home.’

‘Ha,’ said Sam. ‘I know what you mean. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to hack another gourmet pineapple pudding in my life after this, either.’

There. I’m lightening the mood already.Relieving the tension: it was what she was good at; it was what she knew. She wished it was working for Talia too, but she still looked downcast this morning, glumly picking at a bowl of tropical fruit. Eleni added a couple of pastries to an empty plate, then filled a cup with filter coffee. She sat down, took a bite, then asked: ‘Any idea why we’re not moving? I thought we were casting off early this morning, and it must be gone eleven by now.’