SABINE
‘Just a few places left for tomorrow’s river trip, folks,’ Sabine said as a group of holidaymakers walked past the kiosk. ‘Don’t miss out.’ She smiled as they shook their heads and carried on. Couldn’t win them all.
Inside the kiosk she switched the kettle on. Time for a coffee. While she waited for the kettle to boil, she checked the bookings spreadsheet on her laptop. Bookings were slightly up on last year and there were also a few more private parties booked for Owen’s other boat, Daughter of the River, with its dance floor in the saloon and catering facilities. Tonight there was a twenty-first birthday party on board for fifty people.
Sipping her coffee, Sabine watched as Daughter, already alongside the pontoon, was loaded with the evening’s supply of champagne and food. Watching Peter as he helped the suppliers carry stuff on board, she wondered how Trevor Bagshawe was getting on with sorting out the legal stuff. Owen had said it would take a few weeks and then he planned to take them both for a slap-up dinner and break the news to Peter.
‘What is it you English say? A penny for your thoughts?’ BB asked, appearing at her side and making her jump.
‘Oh hi, BB. I was miles away. How are you?’ Sabine said.
‘Great. Just great. Thanks to Johnnie I’ve found a room in an old cottage and while the landlady is away for a few days, I’ve got the place to myself.’
‘I’m pleased for you. Any news on the relatives?’
‘Not yet,’ BB said. ‘It’s frustrating and fascinating at the same time! I’ve kind of got hooked too on researching the history of this place rather than looking for any cousins. I bet you have no idea how many people called Seale or Holdsworth lived in this town back in the day. Sadly, none of the ones I’ve found so far appear to be my ancestors. Right, I’m off to the marina to talk boats. Don’t suppose Johnnie is around?’
‘No, he’s in France. Should be back tomorrow or the day after if you want his advice. Before you go, scrawl your signature on the Save the Kiosk petition, will you?’ she said, handing him a pen.
‘Sure thing.’
Watching BB stroll off in the direction of the marina, Sabine’s thoughts turned to Johnnie. Had he sorted out whatever the problem had turned out to be over in Roscoff? He hadn’t phoned, which was unusual when he was visiting Martha. Normally he’d ring to ask was there anything she wanted brought back apart from the inevitable sack of onions. This time, when she’d planned to ask him to pick up a Kouign-amann as a special treat from the award-winning patisserie near the harbour, he hadn’t rung. Probably just as well really, there was no doubt the delicious butter-laden gateau posed a serious threat to her waistline.
A harassed-looking Owen arrived late afternoon as she was unhooking her pictures from the open door and preparing to close up for the day.
‘Any chance you can help out tonight? Caterers have said they’re short staffed.’
‘I’ve told Tristan I’d start to get my pictures down to him tonight,’ Sabine said. ‘He wants to start planning where to hang them for next week’s exhibition. It’ll take me a couple of hours.’
‘Work tonight and I’ll give you a hand in the morning,’ Owen said. ‘I can carry more than you at a time so be quicker anyway.’
‘OK. I’ll take a couple of the smaller ones down to him and tell him we’ll take the rest down tomorrow morning early. What time?’
‘Casting off at 7 so about 6.30. Thanks, you’re a life-saver. See you later.’
Early evening and after taking three of the smaller pictures into Tristan at the gallery and promising the rest for the morning, Sabine walked on towards the quay and Daughter of the River.
It wasn’t often Owen asked her to help out with on-board functions, but when he did she quite enjoyed it. The party atmosphere of tonight’s do promised a few hours of fun and mind-numbing disco music to help her forget how stupid she still felt over Reid. All those wasted years yearning for someone who proved to be unobtainable in the end.
Daughter of the River was dressed overall, its coloured lights casting pools of shimmering reflections the length of the boat in the river water. As she walked up the gangplank, Sabine could hear the muted sounds of disco music pulsating down in the saloon as the night’s DJ ran a sound check.
She was kept busy for the next couple of hours, handing champagne to guests as they arrived, helping keep the buffet tables topped up with food and then, as guests drifted up to the main deck to watch the sun set over Dartmouth, giving a hand with the clearing up. It was ten o’clock before the woman in charge turned to her and said, ‘Thanks, Sabine. Any time you want to leave that old kiosk, let me know. I’ll give you a job any time.’
Sabine smiled, but before she could say anything, Owen’s voice behind her said, ‘Hands off my staff, missus. Find your own.’
She turned to face him as he said, ‘I’ve left Peter in charge in the wheelhouse, join me on deck for a drink?’ and he waved a bottle of wine and two glasses at her.
Sabine took a deep breath of the cool night air as she followed Owen outside, the deck beneath their feet vibrating with the loud music.
‘Lively party,’ she said, leaning against the rail. ‘Remember when we were twenty-one? Our whole lives still before us. Everything still possible.’
Owen poured the wine as he answered her. ‘All those wrong decisions still waiting to be made.’ He handed her a glass. ‘Cheers.’
‘Cheers,’ Sabine echoed as they clinked glasses. ‘Come on, Owen. Your life hasn’t turned out that badly, has it?’ Fleetingly she thought of her own life. Giving up her art college place was top of her ‘mistakes I have made in life’ list, but that was a decision life itself had taken for her. She’d never have forgiven herself if she hadn’t been there for Mum. And then there was Reid. Best not think about that particular mistake.
‘No, it’s not bad at all but …’ Owen sighed. ‘I don’t know. Sometimes I feel I should have been more assertive over certain things. Rebelled a bit. Stood up to Dad.’ He took a large drink of wine. ‘Had a bit more backbone and fought for my dreams instead of always taking the easy option and drifting into things. I might even have got married and had a family then.’
‘Is this what your six months travelling is really all about?’ Sabine asked quietly.
Owen nodded. ‘Yes. Something just for me. You thought any more about coming?’
‘Depends. I’d really like to see places like Mexico, America, China, India, you know places like that as well as just Europe.’
‘We can do that,’ Owen said instantly. ‘Go to the far-flung places first and work our way back to Europe. Sorted!’
Sabine laughed. ‘When exactly did I say yes to coming with you?’
‘Oh come on, Sabine, stop teasing,’ Owen said, putting his arm around her shoulders and squeezing her. ‘You know you want to come. We’ll have a ball. Just say yes.’