Page 40 of Sun, Sea and Spotted Squid

Genevieve reared as if she had every intention of trying to take Astrid’s crown of house drama queen. Paul rubbed her back and scowled.

“You’re out of line, Sam,” he said. “I think an apology is in order.”

It was time to attempt some damage limitation.

“You’re right,” he said. “I said those things in the context of mouthing off. I didn’t mean any of it. I’m sorry.”

Paul looked to Genevieve, who shrugged. None of this appeared to have been lost on Astrid, who peeped through Maria’s suffocating embrace. She pushed her away and, in a performance Meryl Streep would be proud of, got shakily to her feet.

“It’s not as easy as that, Sam,” she said. “I bet you’ve been badmouthing us to Ruben as well. He’s been hard on me for a week now.”

“He’s hard on you because you rock up late, stinking of booze and the latest man’s aftershave. You can’t lay that blame on me.”

And once again his big mouth ruined a situation.

The other three recoiled as though he’d let off tear gas in the kitchen. A flash of victory swept over Astrid’s face before she turned to the others.

“I’ve never been spoken to like this in my life,” she said, her voice wobbling in all the right places.

“That surprises me with the way you behave,” Sam sniffed.

His ship appeared to be going down. He may as well salute the world from the deck in style.

Astrid put her nose in the air and pushed past him. “Don’t speak to me again. Is that understood?”

Once in the corridor, she spun on her heel. “And if I catch any of you speaking to this…this…person, then I will take it you don’t wish to speak to me.”

With that she disappeared into her room. Slamming the door in the process. A door Sam suspected she’d instantly pressed her ear to.

He glanced at the others who would not meet his gaze. They’d obviously chosen which side of the fence they sat on.

“Oh do what you like,” he said.

A fortnight passed and, true to Astrid’s plan, no one had spoken to Sam. So he’d thrown himself into work. On days off he explored. One time getting the train to Barcelona and staying over. Anything to stave off the homesickness and emptiness.

Things had gotten worse since Wolfgang’s family went home to Germany and he had no option but to return to Squid Towers. Subsequently creating an atmosphere so thick it could have been sliced and served on bread.

Sam had managed to get on with him at work and they had drawn their battle lines at home. Each morning, Sam resolved to make more effort. Then he saw him and remembered how he’d trodden over his emotions. The red mist descended once more and it was a struggle to keep it under control.

He hated that Claudia waited patiently at home for the love of her life. She might even have a chart to cross off the days. An unreasonable jealousy fuelled Sam’s anger all the more.

So they all rattled along together. Then before he knew it, the final week was looming. His summer hadn’t worked out and Sam was ready for home. Yet he would miss the work part of what they’d been doing.

It was a rare bad weather Wednesday and choppy seas meant they couldn’t take the boat out. Sam had spent the morning in the aquarium’s reference library. As usual he sat on his own inthe cafeteria, reading a book and having his lunch. He’d never been scared of his own company and didn’t miss Astrid taking all the attention.

Suddenly Ruben took the chair opposite and plonked a tray of food down.

“Buenas tardes.”

“Hi.”

“How are you doing?”

Sam glanced around the half-empty cafeteria. Astrid and co were in the far corner. He really didn’t want to have this conversation. Not with him. And not in front of them. He’d done everything in his power to avoid Ruben for the last few weeks.

“I’m good,” he said, taking an interest in his plate of pasta.

“You don’t look it. And call me paranoid but you’ve been avoiding me.”