Katie Fforde - Going Dutch

‘Even so. Michael might ask some awkward questions himself. We don't want him losing faith in me.’

Jo laughed and took the opportunity to change the sub ject. 'I can't remember – were you at university together?’

He shook his head. 'No, we were in the same rowing club. I was studying for my second mate's ticket – exam to you – and he was in his first year at university. We go back a long way.'

‘I can't remember how he and Philip got to know each other.'

‘Is it important? Now?’

Jo bit her lip and shook her head. 'No, not really.’

He took her hand but not in a romantic way, more as if he wanted to stop her running away. 'So, what made you decide to come on the trip, feeling as you do?’

His hand was warm and dry and a little rough. Her own felt small and childlike in its grasp. 'Philip. He knows how frightened I am – was – and said I couldn't possibly cope with it. It's amazing how contra-suggestible I am!’

He laughed. 'I must remember that. So you saw Philip yesterday?'

‘Mm. I went home with Dora to pick up some things. He and Samantha, his new woman, were supposed to stay out of the way but they came back early.' She debated telling him about Dora's debacle with the trousers but decided it wasn't her story.

‘So, what's she like, Philip's new woman?'

‘Oh, I'm sure you can imagine. Young, thin, pregnant.' She hadn't intended to tell Marcus about Samantha's pregnancy, it just came out. She sighed, managing to refrain from adding, 'Everything I never will be again.’

‘Pregnant? That's a bit sudden, isn't it?'

‘I don't know if they planned it.'

‘Hasn't Philip heard of contraception?’

He seemed remarkably indignant about it. 'It's not always a good idea to put off having a baby for ever, you know.’

‘I just think..

‘What?'

‘It's a bit lacking in respect, to start another family so soon after leaving you.’

Jo didn't respond immediately. 'I don't suppose they thought about that.'

‘Well, they should have done.' He got to his feet and pulled her up. 'Did you make a pudding?’

Surprise made her laugh. 'Of course. I'm a nurturer and provider. Puddings are what I do.'

‘I don't think they're all that you do, Joanna, but shall we go back?’

Jo was relieved their conversation was over. All this talk of Philip and her old, beloved house, not to mention the way Marcus kept looking at her, had made her feel rather unsettled.

Their timing was perfect. All the detritus of the meal had been cleared away or washed up and the crumble sat in the middle of the table surrounded by bowls and spoons. There was also a jug of custard.

‘Oh Dora,' said Jo. 'You've made custard!'

‘I made the custard,' said Tom. 'I'm good at it.'

‘So, where do you think you'll go into Holland from?’

asked Tom when everyone was happily eating again. ' Flushing, probably,' said Marcus. 'You can go into the system sooner, but that's the way I know best.'

‘And how many people will you need?' Tom went on, possibly needing his place on the trip to be confirmed.

‘Four good reliable ones. Me and you, my mate Ed, Dora and Joanna.’

Tom smiled with relief.

‘That's five,' said Jo quickly.

‘I don't mind if I don't come,' said Dora, suddenly aware that she did mind.

‘I'm not going without Dora,' said Jo. 'Although she could be the cook and I could stay at home.’

Dora was about to protest loudly when Marcus did it for her. 'You're both coming,' he stated. 'Will there be enough accommodation? I can't remember.'

‘Thank God you cleared out the forepeak,' said Jo aware that she was at last feeling an inkling of excitement. Perhaps this trip would be fun after all.

‘Think so,' said Tom, obviously doing the sums. 'Two people in the forepeak, one in the glory hole, when we finish clearing it out. Dora's got her cabin -'

‘Except Jo will need it, if Marcus is sleeping in hers,' said Dora.

‘I can sleep in the glory hole,' said Jo.

‘Will the person you're bringing – Ed – mind sharing?' she asked.

‘Ed? No, he's very easygoing,' said Marcus. 'Is the glory hole fit for Joanna to sleep in?'

‘It will be,' said Dora quickly. 'And anyway, I'll sleep in it. Jo can have my cabin. It's larger.'

‘I know I've put on a few pounds since I was seventeen, but I don't need a double bunk all to myself. Even if Marcus does,' she added.

‘Who said anything about needing it all for myself?' he said.

Jo started gathering plates, not sure if he was flirting with her or not. Then she saw a couple of disappointed faces. 'Oh, did you want more crumble?'

‘Shall I make coffee?' asked Tom a moment later after Jo had served seconds. He was obviously dying to get the meal over and the table cleared so real plans could be made. 'Then we can discuss what's happening.'

‘Black, two sugars, please,' said Marcus, throwing his spoon into his empty bowl. 'That really was excellent.'

‘I won't be doing roast dinners while we're going along,' said Jo. 'I'd be terrified of hot fat spilling all over me.'

‘Really, Joanna, we're not going out into the Atlantic, there won't be a lot of movement most of the time. Still, I agree, meals like this are better kept for when we're in port.'

‘I've always wanted to make this sort of passage,' said Tom. 'Shall I find some paper?'

‘There's a pad in the desk, Tom,' said Jo.

‘Right.' Everyone hastily sat down again so they could listen to Marcus.

‘When we do set off, we'll leave about two hours before high water at London Bridge then we'll get maximum benefit from the ebb tide.' He looked at Jo and smiled. 'But this barge isn't underpowered. I just don't like wasting fuel. It's bad for morale too, bashing against the tide.’

Dora made a mental note to grill Tom about all this afterwards. Although she'd picked up a fair bit about boat-building and repairs since she'd been working at the boatyard, she only knew about tides when they affected her getting to or from work.

‘We'll probably stop for the night at somewhere like Queenborough, near Sheerness,' Marcus went on.

‘Why stop?' asked Tom. 'With plenty of us, we could just carry on overnight, couldn't we?'

‘We could, but we wouldn't cover much distance. Better to have a good night's sleep and set off early the next day.’

‘How long will it take to get to the dry dock?' asked Jo.

‘It's about sixteen hours from Queenborough to Flushing and about another twelve hours from there to Dordrecht.'

‘Right,' said Jo, trying not to sound daunted. 'I must say, I'm relieved we don't have to travel at night.'

‘Although in some ways navigation is easier at night than in the day,' said Tom. 'You can tell where you are better, from the light buoys.’

Marcus glanced at Jo. 'Don't worry, we've got lots of bits of kit that will tell us where we are, even in daytime.' Jo managed a feeble laugh.

‘OK.' Marcus carried on telling them his plans. 'Then, if weather permits-'

‘What's the maximum force you'd go out in?' asked Tom, who had his own bit of paper and was making notes like mad.

‘Force four, maximum. Ideally we'd set off during a settled period of high pressure.'

‘What about fog?' asked Jo.

‘If there's fog, we won't go. Right – any more questions?’

Dora resisted the temptation to put up her hand before asking, 'What are we all going to do while we're in dry dock?'

‘Go home, if you've any sense. Dry docks are not fun places to be, although-' He glanced at Jo, and seemed about to say something but then stopped.

‘So we'll come back and get her when she's ready to come out?' asked Tom.

‘You can if you like, but Michael might come over and give Ed and me a hand.' He paused. 'Anything else? Joanna?'