Twice Upon a Time (4 page)

She looked in the mirror. Why did Ludo want her, when every girl on the ship was a glamorous stick insect? Even Alex, the nicest girl there, was slender and glossy. Everything about her looked lacquered, like fine china.

When Cinda got back to the bedroom, Jonas had changed into his Lady Gaga T-shirt and was sitting up reading in bed.

‘So did you and Ludo bump uglies?’ he asked, looking up from his copy of
Hello
magazine.

‘Why are you reading that crap?’ asked Cinda, ignoring his question.

‘I like to keep abreast of the socialites,’ he said.

‘The only breasts you’ll ever like,’ Cinda teased.

He nodded. ‘Well played, Lucinda. Now go and wash your mouth out with soap and come to bed,’ he said, going back to reading about Victoria Beckham.

Cinda grabbed her toiletries bag and went back down the hallway to the bathroom to brush her teeth and wash her face.
I’ll be glad to get the hell out of this hostel
, she thought as she saw vomit in one of the sinks. Seriously, people were so gross. Where was the elegance and beauty?

If she had her way, the world would be filled with art and music and beautiful things. That’s what she had hoped Europe would be like. But so far it had been cheap hostels, expensive meals and dusty, sweaty travel between cities.

As she went back to her room, she peeled off her dress and pulled on one of Jonas’s T-shirts before hopping into bed.

‘We’re like the king and queen of sardines in this bed,’ giggled Jonas.

Cinda laughed. ‘How long have you been waiting to make that joke?’

‘Since you told me he’s from Sardinia,’ admitted Jonas.

They giggled. Then Cinda took a breath. ‘He’s asked us to Sardinia actually. Tomorrow. To stay at his villa.’

She was quiet for a moment, letting Jonas take in what she had said.

‘We don’t have to go if you don’t want,’ she said casually, as though she didn’t want to go more than anything in the world.

Jonas turned to her and made a face. ‘Are you
serious
? Of course we’re going! Jesus, girl, do I have to remind you that Ludo’s is a world that very few get invited into? Thanks to your rack and my charm, that door has opened. So hell yeah, we’re going.’

Cinda clapped her hands.

‘Now let’s just hope he has a queer brother who’s hot for the boy from Oz,’ sighed Jonas, as they finally settled down to sleep.

As they waited on the pier for their ride, Cinda shifted her backpack to try and make the weight more bearable.

‘I’m weighed down by maxi dresses,’ she moaned.

‘I’m sitting on my good taste,’ said Jonas, looking very comfy sitting on his wheeled Samsonite suitcase. Jonas refused to carry
anything except expectations
, as he’d told Cinda when she had first suggested he backpack around Europe with her.

She was just allowing her jealousy to get the better of her when she saw the boat cutting a smooth line through the water.

Jonas started to sing the James Bond theme song, and Cinda joined in. They were still humming when the speedboat stopped.

Ludo looked up at them from the helm of the speedboat and smiled, his Ray-Bans pushed up onto his head. He was wearing a pink polo shirt and chino shorts and Cinda felt herself grin at him.

‘
Buongiorno
,’ he called.

Jonas saluted him. ‘Good morning, Captain Fabulous. Permission to climb aboard?’

Ludo laughed.

Soon they were on board the yacht, which was even more amazing in the daylight.

‘Leave your bags and I’ll have them taken to your rooms. Have you eaten?’ asked Ludo.

Cinda and Jonas shook their heads. They’d rushed down to the pier after sleeping late.

There was a table on deck set with pastries, fresh fruit and coffee and tea. Cinda and Jonas took a pastry each, and some fruit.

‘You must eat more than that,’ said Ludo, taking the silver tongs and putting an extra pastry on each of their plates.

Coffees were poured and Cinda and Jonas settled into the lounges, newspapers and magazines on the tables in front of them, some in Italian, some in English.

Alex walked onto the deck in a simple but incredibly elegant sundress. Cinda pulled self-consciously at her T-shirt.

‘Good morning,’ Alex said in her charming accent.

She sat down next to Jonas and poured some coffee and sat back. ‘I know you’re an excellent dancer, Jonas,’ Alex said with a twinkle in her eye, ‘but tell me something else about yourself.’ She was one of those girls who made you feel like you were important and interesting, even though she was probably more important and interesting than anyone else around.

‘I work in fashion,’ Jonas said vaguely.

Alex smiled. ‘I love fashion.’

‘I can tell,’ said Jonas. ‘That’s a Derek Lam, is it not?’

‘Well done,’ said Alex, giving him an impressed look.

‘Are you coming to Sardinia as well?’ asked Cinda hopefully.

‘No, sadly I have to head back home.’ She said it like she meant it.

‘And where’s home?’ asked Jonas, spearing a perfect slice of mango with his fork.

‘Well, I spend summer in Italy, autumn in Paris, and I move between London and Switzerland for winter.’ She sipped her coffee as though all this was a bit like explaining she spent a few weeks at the beach during the holidays.

Cinda felt her mouth drop open, but Jonas was busy acting like this was something he heard every day.

‘And spring?’ he prompted.

‘My real home, Greece,’ she said.

A steward came on deck and discreetly got Alex’s attention. She stood up.

‘It appears my boat is ready. I’m heading to Firenze for a few weeks,’ said Alex. ‘You’re welcome to join me if Sardinia proves to be boring. Although there is very little chance of that happening with Ludo as your host.’

She kissed Cinda and Jonas on each cheek and then turned to Ludo.

‘See you soon, darling,’ she said softly, and hugged him tight. Cinda watched, trying to work out their relationship. If she were Ludo she’d choose Alex over her any day.

Alex left with a wave and Ludo turned to them. ‘Excuse me while I speak to the captain.’ He turned and left Cinda and Jonas looking out over the sparkling water and finishing their coffees.

Jonas turned Cinda excitedly. ‘You have to marry him,’ he said, shaking his hand as though fanning himself.

‘You have to be insane,’ said Cinda calmly, returning to her pastry.

‘Seriously, you could be some rich guy’s wife and be best friends with other rich people and I could design all your clothes.’

Cinda turned to Jonas and saw he was completely serious.

‘You know I don’t care about money,’ she said, a frown on her face.

‘Yeah, yeah, everyone says that but they don’t really mean it.’

Cinda speared some melon and put it in Jonas’s mouth to shut him up. ‘I don’t need loads of money. As long as I can paint beautiful things, then I’ll be happy.’

‘So noble,’ mumbled Jonas around his mouthful of melon, an eyebrow raised. ‘Marie Antionette could have done with you as her life coach.’

The sound of the engine started up and Cinda heard voices call-ing in Italian as the yacht began to move slowly through the water.

No, she didn’t need to be rich. But it sure was nice to pretend once in a while, she acknowledged, as she settled down to savour the moment. Surely nothing like this would ever happen again.

The boat pushed out into the ocean and soon they lost sight of the buildings of Positano.

‘Your rooms are ready, if you want to freshen up,’ said Ludo, appearing back on deck.

‘Where are the other guests?’ asked Cinda, looking around the boat. Apart from a few members of staff, it looked like they were alone.

‘They are back on their own yachts,’ said Ludo with a smile.

Cinda felt a wave of nerves wash over her, remembering his hands on her the night before. It was just her and Jonas on the trip to Sardinia?

‘I’m going to lie down,’ said Jonas. ‘I just want to feel what it’s like to not have Cinda’s hot breath on my neck for a change.’

Cinda stuck her tongue out at Jonas as he left, with a staff member leading the way.

‘He’s funny, your friend,’ said Ludo, sitting down next to Cinda.

‘He is,’ said Cinda, feeling nervous at her proximity to Ludo’s muscled bare legs.

Get your shit together, girl
, she told herself.

‘The trip will be slow because we are going the long way around. Because of the channels.’

‘Yes of course, the channels,’ said Cinda, wondering what the hell he was talking about.

‘So it will be an overnight trip,’ he finished, the inference lingering in the morning air.

Cinda nodded, masking her nervousness with an enthusiastic ‘Fine!’

‘Do you need anything?’ he asked, and a thousand things ran through her mind.
Your mouth on mine, your hand holding mine,
your hot breath on my neck. Take your pick.
She smiled and shook her head.

As the boat travelled through the water, Cinda was surprised to not feel much movement. It was almost as though they were floating above the water.

Jonas appeared back on the deck. ‘Cinda,’ he said, a catch in his voice that made Cinda worry. ‘Can I just borrow you for a moment?’

‘Sure. Excuse me?’ she said to Ludo, who stood up as she walked over to Jonas.

‘What’s wrong?’ she hissed, following him down the stairs and into the thickly carpeted hallway.

‘Come with me,’ he said seriously. As they walked, his hand trailed along the polished silver rail that shone bright against the wooden panels of the boat.

He stopped at a door. ‘Okay, you ready?’ he asked, his eyes wide and his mouth set in a straight line.

Cinda looked up at him, her heart in her mouth. Anxiety coursed through her veins and she felt sick. Of course it was all too good to be true. This was it, they really were about to be sold into slavery – or whatever it was that evil rich people did with poor travellers like her. She nodded for him to open the door.

‘This is your room,’ announced Jonas, flinging the door open.

‘Oh my god,’ she whispered. ‘You can’t be serious.’ Her eyes swept around the room, taking in the magnificence but not really understanding it.

Jonas looked at her and raised his eyebrow. ‘I never joke about fashion, luxury or style. And this, my little Cinda, is all three.’

‘How do you know this is my room?’ asked Cinda, afraid to step inside in case an alarm went off. A you-don’t-belong-in-this-world alarm.

‘My new BFF Mathilde told me,’ he said. ‘Mine is across the hallway, and is just as spectacular.’

Cinda stepped into the room and took in the enormous bed, the sofas upholstered in white-and-navy striped silk, the huge flat-screen TV and floor-to-ceiling glass doors that looked out over what appeared to be a private balcony.

‘It’s bigger than my room at home,’ sighed Jonas.

‘It’s bigger than my home,’ said Cinda, only half-joking, as she sat on the bed. ‘This bed is the shit,’ she said, bouncing up and down.

‘I know, babe,’ said Jonas. ‘I have to go and lie down now.’

‘Are you tired?’

‘Nope, I just want to lie on the bed. Is that a crime?’

‘No,’ said Cinda, laughing.

She heard a knock at the door and she and Jonas looked up to see Ludo standing in the doorway.

‘Your rooms are satisfactory?’ he asked, his face eager to please.

‘Um, yes,’ she said, laughing.

‘Good! I wonder if you would like to come and sit by the pool with me?’

‘There’s a pool?’ asked Jonas.

‘On the top deck. Just a small one, but it’s enough.’

‘Sure,’ said Cinda, looking at Jonas.

‘I have to lie down,’ he said. ‘Forgive me?’

‘Of course,’ said Ludo politely. ‘I will see you on the top deck soon, Cinda.’ He left them, shutting the door behind him.

Jonas jumped up and turned to Cinda, his face alight. ‘You need to wear the black bikini with your green sarong, wrapped halter-neck style. Bare feet, your hair up in a messy topknot, and the silver hoop earrings.’ Jonas spoke as though it were an emergency.

Cinda started to laugh. ‘Relax, okay,’ she said as she opened the cupboard to find her items unpacked and laid carefully in tissue-lined drawers. Her maxi dresses hung on wooden hangers.

She pulled out her bikini and went into the bathroom, which had a marble bathtub.

Slipping on her swimsuit, she checked herself out in the mirror. Thank god she’d waxed a couple of days ago.

She opened the bathroom door to find Jonas holding the sarong for her. She put her arms out and let him wrap her like an elegant spring roll.

Jonas was an expert at draping. The way fabric responded to him, his fingers seemed to be magic. He created shapes that Cinda could never master, no matter how hard she tried.

He handed her the earrings. ‘Really? Earrings to swim in?’ she looked at him sceptically.

Jonas took her by the shoulders. ‘Stop arguing or I will strangle you with a maxi dress, Little Miss Italy.’

Cinda gave up, as she usually did when it came to matters of fashion with Jonas. She would never win, and anyway, he was always right.

Putting the earrings on, she pulled her hair up into a topknot and stood in front of Jonas.