Chapter 4: Formality and a Mermaid
The next morning dawned bright and clear and JJ had arranged to meet Grace over an hour before breakfast. The rain had cleared up overnight but it was still quite breezy. Grace called for JJ at half past six. He was ready for her of course, and he let his parents know that he would be back just before eight o'clock. The couple made their way to the open deck ahead of the bridge and spent some time looking at the sea while holding hands. Neither of them spoke for a while. They were just happy to be in each other's presence. Grace ended the silence first.
"What are you thinking?"
"I'm daydreaming, actually." said JJ, "About us, and how things seem to be going right for a change."
"That's a coincidence." said Grace, "I was thinking exactly the same thing. If this is a dream, I don't want to wake up."
"It isn't a dream, I assure you." said JJ, "It's actually happening - I think."
"Do you believe in fate?" asked Grace.
"I'm beginning to." said JJ, "Meeting you was certainly fateful - in a good way."
"I believe it was fate that caused both our families to be on the same cruise." said Grace, "And it was certainly fate that sent me out on deck the day before yesterday, when I found you sitting there looking worried and thoughtful."
"And thanks to you, I'm no longer worried." said JJ, smiling, "I don't think that I could have been found by a more wonderful person."
"That was such a lovely thing to say about me." said Grace, blushing, "Anyway, how do you think today is going to pan out? We've got the drugs talk this morning, the Romanovs this afternoon and then we'll hear all about Copenhagen."
"From what I hear, the drugs talk should be fascinating." said JJ, "Without the use of what we now regard as illegal drugs, a lot of literature and music would not have been created."
The couple spent a few more minutes in silence, holding hands, and watching a passing oil rig being towed in the opposite direction. JJ felt that Grace looked particularly lovely in the morning sunlight with her hair blowing in the wind. He could no longer resist the urge to cuddle her and give her a gentle kiss on the cheek.
"That was unexpected. It was very sweet of you, but what was it for?" asked Grace.
"It was for you being the very first person to try to understand me." said JJ, "Usually, I've felt so tense and worried about everything, that I haven't been able to function properly. Suddenly, all that has changed. I feel totally at ease with myself and that life is actually worth living. I feel I'm the 'me' I always should have been. I hope that you don't think I'm being a bit impertinent asking this, but do you think I've had any effect on you?"
"You certainly have!" said Grace, "Mummy brought me up on a diet of fairy tales, most of them with a happy ending. With my parents' objections to Rich and then the car crash, I was becoming disillusioned with life. Things seemed to be going really bad. When I started this cruise, I was feeling so down. The thought of throwing myself overboard was beginning to occur to me. I was actually thinking of how I might do it when I met you."
"That would have been so tragic." said JJ, looking sad, "You're far too lovely a person to die. I'm so relieved that you didn't go through with it."
"Because I met someone who I might find interesting." said Grace.
"So, instead of your prince riding in on a white stallion," said JJ, "You found him sitting on a deckchair looking pensive."
"Something like that," said Grace, "In a way, you've saved my life. I don't think I'll ever be able to thank you enough."
"You don't have to thank me just for being me." said JJ, "I'm so pleased to have saved you. I don't think you would have told many people what you've just told me. What inspired you to confess that to me?"
"I just have this feeling deep down that I can trust you with my darkest thoughts." said Grace, "I'm sure I can trust you not to tell mummy or daddy about what I've just admitted to you."
"Of course!" said JJ, "It'll remain our secret. Your folks are worried enough about you without adding anything like that."
"Thank you for that." said Grace, "You're so considerate."
"I know that a trouble shared is a trouble halved." said JJ, "Do you feel better, now that you've admitted your dark thoughts to me."
"Yes, I do." said Grace, "I feel a sense of calm relief, partly because you accepted it without being shocked. I think you now realise what an effect you've had on me. Life suddenly seems worthwhile and something to look forward to."
"I don't know what to say!" said JJ.
"Don't say anything." said Grace, "Just accept that I'm coming to regard you as a real friend. Let's enjoy each other's presence for a while."
With this, JJ and Grace stood, facing forward, watching the sea and the clouds, their arms round each other's waists. After about ten minutes, JJ looked at his watch and realised that their time alone together was coming to an end.
"Lovely as it is being up here with you," said JJ, "I suppose we had better go down if we want some breakfast. I don't know about you, but I'm hungry."
"So am I." said Grace, "Let's go down."
The couple returned to their cabins, getting there just before eight o'clock. David and Sonia sensed that Grace was not only very happy, but had a serene demeanour about her.
"Are you okay?" asked Sonia.
"I couldn't be more okay if I tried." said Grace, "I've just spent over an hour enjoying the fresh air with someone I now regard as a real friend. JJ is so gentle and considerate and such a good listener. I feel I could tell him all my innermost troubles and he would understand."
"This certainly doesn't sound like the anxious, panicky Jeremiah Jones I knew at Roundview." said David, "You must have really affected him in the most positive way possible. I know you do influence people you come into contact with, but this has been quite dramatic. Your demeanour has changed as well. He seems to make you so serenely happy. I know I've had my misgivings about this association, but I'm now convinced that you're both good for each other."
"Thank you daddy!" said Grace as she hugged her father and kissed him on both cheeks.
Since they did not have to be ready to board an excursion coach, both families had elected to use the Waldorf Restaurant for breakfast. David commented that the egg chef was more conspicuous and close to the locations of the other components of a full English breakfast. The previous morning it had taken him some time to find where to get his fried eggs and omelettes.
After breakfast, both families took a stroll on deck and Grace showed her parents the deck area in front of the bridge where she had spent a considerable time with JJ. They were lucky in that the ship passed another oil rig being towed in the opposite direction.
"I wonder where that's going?" queried David.
"Possibly to Invergordon in Scotland." remarked JJ.
"What gives you that impression?" asked David.
"When we were looking into which cruise were going to book," said JJ, "We did look at one which went to Rekyavik in Iceland from Tilbury. It's first port of call was Invergordon. Some of the publicity material did mention that North Sea oil rigs were serviced there."
As ten o'clock approached, everyone descended to the Marco Polo lounge. The next hour was spent listening to a fascinating account of the use of what we would now regard as illegal drugs from Ancient Greece onward. Particular mention was made of the use of opiates, particularly laudanum, a mixture of opium and water or wine, by musicians and writers in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Writers from the romantic era, such as Samuel Taylor Coleridge and Percy Bish Shelley were mentioned as recreational users of laudanum. Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique was described as a musical account of a series of dreams under the influence of opium. The speaker concluded by saying that the subsequent talks would cover the effects of various other 'illegal' drugs such as cocaine. The final talk would cover the almost evangelical zeal with the American government fought the war on drugs, particularly cannabis in the early part of the twentieth century. JJ paid very close attention to the talk and remembered the amount of recreational drugs, usually cannabis and ecstasy, taken at Roundview.
"That was amazing." said David, "I didn't realise how widespread drug use was in earlier centuries. It seems to put your lot's activities into perspective."
"Of course, the original use of these drugs was as painkillers." said JJ, "Back then they didn't have things like ibruprophen or paracetamol, although it was common to chew willow bark to fight a headache."
"Of course! It contained salicylic acid." observed David, "That's Aspirin."
"Just so." said JJ.
Since there was just over an hour before lunch, the two families adjourned to the 'Captain's Club' bar for a pre-lunch drink. Discussion ranged far and wide, but was dominated by the lecture they had just attended. JJ commented that little mention was made of cannabis, but then mused that it was probably not grown in England in Victorian times. After a brief discussion, the group decided that, since they had plenty of time, they would use the Waldorf restaurant for their lunch.
Once again, JJ and Grace consulted each other and agreed to have different main courses. However, this time they had different starters. Grace chose a prawn cocktail, while JJ enjoyed mulligatawny soup. Once again, they were chatting, smiling and exchanging bright glances. It was clear to both sets of parents that the depth of feeling between them was intensifying.
As usual, JJ seemed to go into a trance while the talk on the Romanovs was being presented. This second talk mainly concentrated on the reign of Peter the great and the development of the city of St Petersburg from the small fishing port that previously existed there. After the talk, once again JJ snapped out of his reverie almost instantly. He wanted to be conscious of the presence of Grace for a while before the briefing on Copenhagen, which followed almost immediately. This outlined the attractions of the city and the six different shore excursions available. As they left the lounge after the briefing, Sonia reminded Grace that Copenhagen was the city of Hans Christian Andersen, the writer of 'The Little Mermaid' and several other of Grace's favourite tales. Since the dress code for the evening was 'formal', the small group returned to their cabins early to change for dinner. JJ changed into the dress suit and shirt he had hung up the previous day and added a black bow tie.
After some thought, Grace selected the blue strapless cocktail dress she had mentioned earlier. She would wear the evening dress on the second 'formal' evening between Aarhus and Cobh. She had pinned her hair up clear of her shoulders and wore a small tiara. She deliberately chose not to wear anything round her neck.
As JJ's family had taken less time to change than Grace's, they made their way to the 'Captain's Club' bar and waited for the others. After about ten minutes, they were. joined by David, Sonia and Grace. When Grace appeared, JJ's reaction was one of joyous amazement. He looked up. His eyes opened wide. His lower jaw dropped. He gasped, then smiled.
"Oh! Wow!" exclaimed JJ, "Y - you look absolutely beautiful. That's such a lovely dress, and I like that you aren't wearing anything round your pretty neck. There's nothing to detract from those beautiful shoulders. You look so 'you' with them totally uncovered. Earlier, I mentioned you finding your 'prince' on a deckchair. Tonight you're my fairy princess."
"Thank you." said Grace, "I didn't realise you appreciated that kind of thing. Anyway, you're not looking so bad yourself. I like that frilly shirt. It goes well with your bow tie."
"You two really look the part." said David, "My opinion of JJ is going up by the day. I scarcely recognised him this evening."
"He can put on a good show if he thinks it's worth it." said Celia, "He obviously thinks Grace is worth the effort. We didn't have to prompt or remind him about anything. He just buckled down and got ready for the evening."
David looked at his watch and commented there was time for an aperitif before the meal. He ordered a round of dry sherries. Edward thanked him for his generosity.
"Don't worry about it." said David, "Let's drink a toast to our happy couple of children. They seem to have found something in each other that we could not provide; deep happiness."
"To our happy children!" said David.
JJ and Grace blushed. They were not used to being called a 'happy couple'. They felt that title only really applied to newlyweds.
At the dinner, they were ushered to an eight seat table and were joined by two of the officers, one of whom was the captain. During the meal photographs were taken of JJ and Grace with the ship's officers. Much to JJ's embarrassment, he was declared the best dressed young man in the restaurant.
After dinner, the group made sure they had seats at the front for the evening show. JJ paid very close attention to the conjuring act on stage, as he used to do magic tricks in a small way when he was at college. Although he had some knowledge of magic, he could not fathom how the conjuror did some of his tricks.
The remainder of the evening was spent in Scott's bar near the stern of the ship chatting, drinking and dancing. The conversations ranged over many subjects including drug use in Roundview College and the forthcoming visit to Copenhagen.
Towards the end of the evening, the small group finished their set and a DJ took charge of the music. As midnight approached, he played 'Follow You, Follow Me' by Genesis. JJ could not resist the temptation to invite Grace to dance with him. They danced cheek to cheek for the whole of the song. As it ended, they kissed. It wasn't a full passionate snog, but they did kiss as though they meant it. This was not unobserved.
"You two certainly seem to have got together." commented David.
"We have." said Grace, "I'll have to admit it. I think I'm falling in love with JJ."
"Jeremiah," said David, "Would you say that you love my daughter?"
"I believe I do." said JJ, "I've never felt this way about anyone before. She's affected every part of me really deeply. I don't feel I really deserve such affection from such a wonderful person, but it's happened."
"Don't put yourself down." said David, "Being with you has made Grace happier than I've ever seen her. You are so obviously in to each other that I can only hope that this friendship lasts and you live up to the sentiments expressed in the lyrics of that last song."
"I don't know how I can thank you." said JJ.
"You don't have to." said David, "Just make sure my daughter comes to no harm."
"Thank you." said JJ, "As a matter of fact 'Follow You, Follow Me' was the Genesis song I hesitated to play to Grace in case she took the words too literally, but now I'm beginning to feel our relationship has a future, she can accept the words of the song."
"I'm happy about the way you've befriended my daughter." said David, "Your association with Grace has my blessing. Despite your doubts about playing it to her, which I fully understand, I think that song could become your signature tune."
Grace once again hugged her father and kissed him on both cheeks.
"Thank you so much, daddy." said Grace, "I really don't know what it is about JJ, but he just makes me so happy. Yes, I do so love him."
JJ blushed.
With this, the two small family groups left the bar for their beds. Although they had not been on any excursions that day, all six people felt a satisfying exhaustion by the time they reached their cabins. As they had an early start the next morning, they agreed to breakfast in Marco's restaurant. Once they went to bed, sleep came very quickly.
Much to David's relief, the next day was bright and sunny. The forecast indicated that the weather was going to be good for the next couple of days so the weather on the trip to Berlin would be good as well.
Copenhagen didn't disappoint. JJ liked the contrast between old and new architecture. He particularly enjoyed two of the quirkier spires, that of our Saviour's church with its external spiral staircase and the one on the old stock exchange with its four twisted dragons' tails. He was also impressed by the very modern opera house across the harbour. Another attraction, enjoyed by Grace, was the 'Little Mermaid' statue. It reminded her of the fairy tales read her by Sonia when she was little. Being in the city of Hans Christian Andersen gave her a warm feeling inside. The boat trip round the waterways also proved interesting as it gave a view of the 'Little Mermaid' from the water. All too soon the shore excursion was over and the group returned to the ship for lunch and a talk about Berlin, which they would be visiting the next day.
Since it was well past midday when they reboarded the ship, they elected to enjoy a buffet lunch at Marco's as this would be quicker, less formal and would allow time for a relaxing drink before the talk. Although none of them had been on a cruise before, it was clear that they were settling in to shipboard life and getting to know the layout of the ship.
The Berlin lecture proved to be interesting and informative. The speaker covered the history of the city, which had been divided in two from the end of the Second World War until the fall of communism. He mentioned the relics of the Cold War and the divided city, such as the fragments of the wall that still stood and the boundary of the 'American Sector,'. Mention was also made of the Reichstag and the Cathedral, which would be seen on more than one of the excursions. Once Berlin had been described, the speaker went on to describe the other excursions available from Warnemünde such as the intriguingly titled 'The Molli and the Minster'. This was a visit to a historic narrow gauge railway (the Molli) followed by a historic redbrick church.
Once again, since time was not an issue in the evening, a waiter service dinner was enjoyed in the Waldorf restaurant. It was now obvious to both sets of parents, that JJ and Grace were completely in tune with each other.
The evening show was a variety extravaganza consisting of several different acts. The acrobatic duo impressed David as, although the Baltic Sea was calmer, the ship was still moving about a bit.
Since all had a very long day in front of them, they decided to have a comparatively early night. Accordingly, they only had a couple of drinks after the show before retiring to bed. JJ and Grace kissed each other before going to their separate cabins. What was, in the morning, friendship between the two young people was developing into love.