Ship Of Fools (Part One)

The Figgs family consisted of an alcoholic socialite and three pampered sons. Lady Elodie Figgs earned her grey hairs through social media. Even tabloids sunk low enough to entertain the rumour she made herself a widow.

Oceans and sunshine surrounded Elodie. She could see a crow trying to blend with a flock of seagulls at the level of her eyes. One for sorrow: Elodie could relate. Her youngest son had been telling everyone it was a bad idea to cruise this time of the year. Her eldest thought any holiday he didn’t have to pay for was magnificent. The middle son was happy to go with the flow.

Lord Figgs choked on his lamb shank. Keyboard warriors concluded that Elodie poisoned him after discovering that she slept with their son. If her beloved husband was still alive, Elodie prayed that he wouldn't believe it.

The police found no evidence of foul play. The coroner’s verdict: natural causes. They still blame her. And the world questioned why she drank. Last time she checked, being menopausal wasn't illegal.

She wished the doctors would shut up about her liver and cholesterol. Private or NHS, the advice was the same: take your pills, no more alcohol, fatty foods and unprotected sex. Bad enough they insist on stabbing her with a needle to go on holiday.

What better way to celebrate clearing her name than a worldwide cruise with her boys? Calvin, Theo and Heath were the only ones who stood by her side. She was proud of them, even if they weren’t all the entrepreneurs she hoped they would be.

Calvin was a younger, slimmer and living version of her husband. Being the eldest meant he was heir to Figgs Manor and their farm. He was the it man, with a bunch of handsome friends. The way Calvin ran the farms was like her late husband never died.

“These bloody vegans,” Calvin hissed with his hands in his pocket. “Stealing our jobs they are.”

“Well, you’ll be alright,” Theo said. “At least you got your Only Fans.”

“I don’t have an Only Fans. Don’t be daft.”

Theo was the most beautiful man in the world. She didn't mind being biassed as he was the middle child. She wouldn't be surprised if she had numerous grandchildren she didn't know about through him. Her eldest sons glanced at Heath, who snacked on carrot sticks and hummus.

Heath’s passion for animals made him the black sheep of the family where her eldest two mixed business and pleasure, Heath made veganism his religion. “If you spent less money on your cars and more money on improving the welfare of your animals, you wouldn’t be in this mess.”

“Heath…they were trespassing on our property.”

“They weren’t,” Heath said. “I invited them. I told them they were welcome to a peaceful protest.”

“Peaceful protest?” Calvin snapped. “They were glueing themselves to my tractors.”

“There’s no excuse to leave your animals covered in blood and faeces.”

“Come on you two!” Theo brought both brothers together into a group hug. “What’s the point in arguing? You know it makes our dear mother upset.”

“Guys!” Elodie yelled. “Please, keep it down. I’m trying to concentrate.”

Calvin crossed his arms. “Concentrate on what?”

“The tranquillity.” Listening to the three of them argue was like being at home. She didn’t want to think of home. She kept her eyes on the calm waves as the islands sank away into nothing. Life was good for once, but her constant paranoia and rapid heartbeats disturbed the harmony that she paid thousands to accomplish. She had lost her fame, most of her fortune and her husband, but she did not know how she would cope with losing the very ones that kept her sane.