He started out saying, "my name is Rufus; I'm your waiter for the trip, anything you need just call." He noticed eyes take a very brief look at him but not much acknowledgement, so he asked what he could get them. They all ordered mixed long alcoholic drinks or cocktails and he did his best, unknowingly making the drinks much too strong. By the third drink, or was it fourth, tongues began to loosen. Any plans for diving or appreciation of the scenery were lost at the bottom of empty glasses but there was obviously a lot on their minds.
David found a bar stool and sat well back from the gathering, close enough to hear but not so near as to be noticed. He had taken a drink up to Gayle then opened up a beer, drinking slowly to avoid falling asleep again.
Eventually Ana fired the first shot. "So what are we going to do, does he just go off to England without a 'by your leave' or leave us to go home with a cloud hanging over us all, or do we try to at least get back some kind of relationship with him."
"I'd say at a guess that he's put us on this trip to discuss the future before he goes," suggested Tania.
Ana said, "Well let's start with things in chronological order. What started this all rolling was Jane lying to him. The latest situation is that she has given up her beau; it was her second attempt but this time Jo and I were present to step in when he tried to seduce her into staying with him. He had asked her to marry him on more than one occasion and she refused and I think he knew this was his last opportunity to get her permanently."
There were follow up questions when they discussed Jane's feelings about having someone of their own and that immediately led on to each of them. "I think it was incredibly silly not to have told David about Ron because there might have been something they could work out. I think she didn't because she knew in heart David wouldn't go for it." said Ana.
"But then we get into double standards," put in Lauren, who really didn't like meetings like this. The others looked at her for clarification, even though they probably already knew. "You all know that if we have female only relationships he doesn't find them threatening. Let's not get bogged down on his enjoyment of watching or threesomes. It's the threat to him that's the issue, it's like he doesn't have to face up to losing one of us."
"I agree" said Honor, "he was ok about Jo and Ruth until they talked about moving out together. Don't get me wrong, he was good about it but wasn't happy."
There was a moment while they all considered their own situation before Honor continued. "I think listening to you all, that he hates being lied to the most, and am I right that he'll try to find a way around most things except lying?"
Ana added, "Bree seems to be the only one who gets away with it but I think it's because he has already been preparing for her to want to leave. Does anyone know what the latest is with her?" but they all shook their heads.
Then Lauren raised the level of discussion by asking, "I know why Ana and Honor are here and of course Mei, but why are you here Tania? You have always kept David at arm's length as far as I can tell."
"That's true," put in Ana, "Even when he and I met with you the first time, there was a gap between you, not that I minded, it was a great getaway for us."
Tania took a deep breath and looked around at each of the women. "I think someone here reminded me that I am not the only one suffering from a relationship breakdown from a man or a woman. When my marriage broke up, I was too young to have been married and too young to have had a man like him. The only thing I learnt from my husband was sex, and I mean he wanted me into everything, but I loved him so much I couldn't see through the stars in my eyes. So I was fortunate then to go somewhere to get over him, I didn't get over it but I did meet someone who helped make it bearable. So I threw up barriers, I couldn't fall in love with this someone despite him being wonderful and innocent compared to my ex, because as the saying goes 'once bitten twice shy.'"
She continued. "I convinced myself that I had to be responsible, I had had my chance, and now I owed it to my father to take a big role in his business affairs. Along the way I met and was entranced by Christina even though I had never looked at a woman before. In fact for a long time our relationship was just a growing friendship, she comes from money too so our families were only too pleased that we spent most of our time together and it was only by accident that we began a closer relationship but that's another story.
I truly love Christina, we are like soul mates, but now she has met a man that she has fallen for and I have had a really hard time coming to terms with it. In a way, I feel a bit like David does about Bree because although I loved her, I know that she craved a relationship with a man. She explored further after we bought the bar and met the two guys we invited to the party. We both enjoyed the experience and it probably increased her need to explore again. If I was truly honest with myself I knew then that she would want to leave some day."
Lauren intervened. "That's understandable but I am still confused as to why you are here."
"I suppose for a mixture of reasons, I wanted to get away and try to get over it, but then I didn't want to be alone to fester. So I tried to think of someone who would understand on my level and I thought of David. Of course my timing was awful and you have all taught me a few lessons about humility and caring." She finished and her final words took the sting out of the others although had she paid proper attention she would have known that the women who graduated into David's circle were all very astute.
Getting back on track, Ana said, "I guess I'm next. David asked me over and I told ZoΓ«. She went ballistic saying I always had time for him and always went away to do who knows what with him. I tried to calm her but it got worse the more I tried, and in the end she told me that it was finished and told me to leave." Ana took a break to collect her thoughts. "I will admit I could see it coming, and there is something about the adventures David and we women had together. But it still didn't stop me being hurt and I toyed with the idea of not coming but what would that have achieved, she would have won. So what happens, she wins anyway because he hasn't touched me and I end up with that guy just to spite them both, but particularly her. I regret David finding out, he had his own heart troubles to deal with but you all know what it's like, you can't see past your own misery.
They all nodded at that and David back at the bar felt himself nodding too, then felt very foolish when he found Gayle looking at him strangely. He wondered how long she had been standing there but then he noticed that they had dropped anchor in a rather pretty lagoon with sparkling clear water and a pristine beach and nobody had noticed. David put a finger to his lips for Gayle not to speak and she nodded as if he needn't have indicated as such.
Ana was saying, "Honor, what was your argument with him about before he let loose on the guy?"
She replied, "Ohh he came telling me about you and said he wanted to head off to England and I must have coloured and given myself away, because he put two and two together and started to walk out. So I gave him both barrels about his mood and his behaviour with Miss Slutty over there.
Far from disagreeing, Lauren turned and glared at Mei who was wishing that she was somewhere else. Then she took up the narrative, "I take the blame for introducing Mei to him, I thought she would be safe and useful to him. But that's not the only thing I have to own up to, because I think I started this whole nightmare off." so she related the day she had turned her back on him. "I think he thought I was pushing him away or something worse, and in the circumstances he could probably only see the bad because of Jane. There I was trying my hardest to get his mind off her but I think I made it much worse. The trouble is I suddenly felt so guilty about what I was doing, first of all I felt like I was being untrue to Mei but then I asked myself if I was only doing all these things with him just to get him away from thinking of Jane or was it something else, was I just acting, or was I enjoying it way too much. Then I was putting on a show for him and all of a sudden it didn't seem right and I'm afraid I suddenly felt really embarrassed, and slutty, and unfair and all these other thoughts. So I just rolled up in a ball to hide myself from him. I couldn't help it, it was over reaction and I realise now it was probably the worst thing I could have done, I know I should have told him how I felt and been honest; I am just a very mixed up Lesbian."
There was a long silence then as they all dealt with their personal demons. Then a small voice said, "I am terribly sorry, it was my fault it all came to a head, I don't know what came over me, he was just standing there looking all manly, yet vulnerable, and I suddenly had a need to climb into his pants and make him feel better," Mei admitted.
"Yeah right! And had a great time yourself," said Lauren sarcastically.
"Yes that I did, it was wonderful, but I was telling the truth about that other guy, I was looking for a bed to sleep on that wasn't one of yours," Mei said with a sweep of her arms. "I know, I know, I should have got myself a room but I am not part of your group, I'm an outsider and it didn't even occur to me. So I asked the guy if I could sleep in his bed, he took one look at me and thought he could stick his big thing in my little thing but there's no way that was going to happen. There's only one man who I'm going to trust with my little assets." She put her hand over her mouth as she said guiltily. "I don't think I should have said that," and they mostly all laughed heartily except Lauren who was still pretending to be very cross with her.
They settled down and Lauren said "AND!?" with emphasis until Mei got the message and said. "So I am here to say I'm sorry that I messed up for you all, I take the blame and I know I shouldn't be here but I wanted to say my piece before you threw me out."
At that last admittance they all fell upon her tickling until she screamed for release, at which point they picked her up and threw her in the water. She came up sputtering and claiming that was sneaky and unfair. "Unfair nothing," said Lauren. "We haven't finished with you yet, you'll have to take care of all my friends to make up for it." But as Lauren looked down at her with a critical eye Mei gave her a beaming smile. Lauren admonished her sluttiness saying, "It's supposed to be a punishment my girl!"
Gayle couldn't help herself stepping forward saying, "I'll take some of that punishment too," then she realised what she'd said and bolted for the cockpit. "Hear that?" said Lauren, "You've got another one to service, by the time we are all happy there'll be no skin left on your tongue." Mei didn't stop smiling and Lauren thought better of saying 'she had to look after the Waiter too,' that was one step too far.
They hadn't really solved anything but everyone felt better and they finally took in their surroundings. Honor noticed first as she turned to look at the scene and whistled as she appreciated the beauty of the scene laid before them. She immediately threw off everything but her bikini and dived into the clear warm water and the others quickly followed. David felt very envious but wanted to see what happened next when they got back to talking. Come and join us Gayle they shouted, your man can look after the boat.