Christmas Present

by Lauren Wood

  Chapter 2

  Hutch

  I rented the entire upper floor of the Miami Renaissance Hotel overlooking the Miami Beach and the Atlantic Ocean beyond. We shared a two-bedroom suite at the end of the empty hall, ignoring the weird looks we got from the bell staff, the room service waiters, the maids. I didn’t care to explain things to them, and I wasn’t about to.

  We got up early and dressed, light and casual clothes specifically for the cruise. The slacks were light cotton, the shirts blousy and colorful, Blu’s dress light and flowing. Walking into that dense Miami humidity, thick even in the spring, told me why everyone on Florida dressed that way, and I knew things would be just as dewy in the tropics, if not more so.

  And between Miami and Bermuda, and then back, was an adventure we’d both been looking forward to, and one we’d both earned. But it had us both a little nervous, no reason to deny that.

  Blu sat next to me in the cab ride to the port. She looked around, her big round eyes nervous. She looked up at me, a miniature of myself, black hair and blue / gray eyes, traces of our Black Irish heritage. But she had her mother’s soft features and little nose, though she lacked her mother’s zest for life; or, to be more specific, she’d lost it.

  I kept my tone of voice light, bouncy, filled with the excitement I hoped she’d catch. “I can’t wait to get on that boat! Waterslides, delicious food, movies and music and all the good stuff.” Blu nodded, but said nothing. I wasn’t surprised, and I was beginning to wonder if we should just cancel the trip and go back to Beverly Hills. I thought, Maybe I should just score us a place on the beach somewhere, Malibu maybe? But the idea didn’t linger too long; ideas of that sort never did, even if they occurred to me more and more as the year progressed. No, I told myself, we have to do this, we have to get out of the mansion, have some kind of vacation out in the world. We’re going to do this, and we’re both going to have a great time!

  The cab pulled us up to the port, the huge cruise ship waiting for us. Even I was impressed with its size, but Blu was more intimidated than excited. The cabbie drove us right up to the disembarkation station, our view of the ship interrupted as the cab slowed to a stop. I turned to Blu and said, “Okay, Blu, I know this might be a little bit scary, okay? So if you are a little bit scared, you can tell me.”

  Blu nodded and shrugged, little shoulders arching up toward her tilting head, eyes downcast. “I guess I am … a little.”

  “Okay, Blu, good, that’s good.”

  “It’s good to be afraid?”

  I set my fingers under her chin and raised her face to meet mine, her big eyes already glistening and moist with the sorrow that haunted them, forever lurking in her heart and her mind and her soul.

  I said, “It’s good to be aware, Blu. I know this is our first trip since … since Aspen, but this is going to be different, nothing bad is going to happen to either of us, I promise you.” Blu nodded. “The only thing we’re going to have to worry about is having too much fun… ” I put my hand on my stomach, flat and hard. “I might have to do some extra hours in the gym after all those desserts.” They shared a faint, fleeting chuckle. “I’m sorry none of your friends could come with us.”

  Blu’s eyes sank again, finding the bottom of the cab. “I don’t really have any friends anymore, Daddy. I’m too weird.”

  “You’re not weird, Blu, not at all. It’s been a rough year. Maybe we’ll think about going back to regular schooling next year?”

  “No, Daddy, no! Please no!”

  I pulled her close, hating myself for bringing it up. “Okay, honey, okay, don’t worry about it. We’re doing fine with the home-schooling, right?”

  “Right!”

  “Just the two of us.”

  “Right, ‘Zactly!” I let myself be amused, but only because it was easier than feeling my heart break yet again. I pulled her close, taking in a deep breath of her shampoo and youth, her body thin and gangly and light against mine.

  My daughter, I thought, the best thing in my life, the only thing in my life. I’ll do anything for you, my little angel, anything to keep you happy, to keep you safe …

  Chapter 3

  Dana

  I stood next to my father and Caroline in the reception lobby. I wore a breezy summer dress, which felt even softer compared to my father’s pressed white uniform and Caroline’s crisp blue blazer and white skirt. It seemed to me that she’d taken just a little extra care with her makeup or hair. I wasn’t sure what it was, but she was extra pretty. I wasn’t sure about the what, but I did know why.

  I wasn’t sure exactly what to expect. I’d done some research on him in what little time I had between the staff meeting and the guests’ greeting. And what I’d found had me stunned. It explained a lot about why this Preston Hutchinson had gone to such lengths to secure their privacy and protect their security. But it was such a horrific story, that had a chill running in my blood and I just couldn’t shake it. But I knew I’d have to before the Hutchinson family arrived. Sorrow and morose sympathy were not appropriate for the first impression aboard the commotion on the ocean, especially not in this case. The man booked an entire cruise ship exclusively for himself and his daughter, he deserved to be greeted with a smile. I just wasn’t sure I could manage it.

  I was also worried, more and more as I made my way across the ship toward the lobby.

  I wasn’t sure what to expect out of this man or his daughter. What kind of people will they be? If he’s got this kind of money, he’s going to be demanding, probably a chauvinist, used to getting whatever and whoever he wants. The kid’s probably a raging, screaming brat; not that I’d blame her for some of that, at least, given what’s happened to her. But are we all really going to have to spend a whole week catering to two billionaire slave-drivers? Well, I’m just the singer, I can always lay low or just stick to the stage. A girl’s gotta do her job, captain’s daughter or not.

  Preston Hutchinson stepped into the reception lobby with his daughter, the two holding hands and smiling politely. He introduced himself and his daughter, my father introducing himself and me and our cruise director, Caroline. I was struck by how gorgeous he was. None of the few pictures I’d found online did him justice in the slightest. He was near to six feet tall, with broad shoulders and a strong chest, all angling down to an amazingly small waist and strong, powerful legs. And his face, blue eyes like mine peering out from sculpted cheekbones and a strong, cleft chin. He was in his early thirties, and experience was beginning to show in the faint lines around his eyes, a furrowed brow holding back his deepest thoughts.

  My father added, “Caroline will be showing you around the ship, taking care of whatever you need.”

  “Anything at all,” Caroline said with a little nod, wavy red hair bouncing just a bit. Blu backed up, very nearly hiding behind her father.

  Hutch looked her over. I could tell he was impressed with her, his eyes combing those shapely legs, sexy hips, breasts so full and round behind her uniform blazer. It wasn’t a cut that was meant to inspire a sexual response, but Caroline could make a potato sack look hot and Hutch seemed to know it. He looked me over too, with the same sexy, rakish expression. He asked me, “And what do you do around here?”

  “Singer,” my father said, “with the show band, and she sings with Barry on piano in our beautiful crystal staircase cathedral, for our … romantically inclined guests.” Caroline glanced down, deliberately coy, but when she looked up she hit Hutch with a glance that was absolutely rapacious. She bit her lower lip, one brow raised. I half-expected her to jump on him right there and then, in front of his daughter and everybody.

  But Hutch said simply, “We’d like to retire a bit to our quarters, unpack, perhaps have some breakfast.”

  Caroline was quick to say, “Of course, Mr. Hutchinson, I’ll show you to our Presidential suite, make sure your bags are delivered immediately, if they’re not already there.”

  “Please,” he said, glancing at me and addressing us all. “Ca
ll me Hutch.”

  *

  I was torn with conflicting emotions walking away from that greeting. On the one hand, I was relieved. Thank goodness he’s not some nasty blowhard, I reasoned, at least he’s not revealed that yet. And that little girl seems sweet enough, understandably timid.

  But that only stirred up other feelings, and the more I thought about them, the more complicated they were. I was a little bit jealous of Caroline, I couldn’t deny it. There was a part of me that wanted to be the kind of person she was, so pretty and sexy, so at home in her own skin. Caroline was gorgeous and she knew it, and that was something I was only beginning to understand. Caroline was also so comfortable around strangers, so … experienced. At twenty-one, I was craving experiences of my own, more and more. But there were other things to consider. I was the captain’s daughter, that carried responsibilities. I represented him and he represented Oceania, which represented the whole Fantasia Cruise Line. I wasn’t about to trash all that just to cavort with some strange men, even if something inside me was screaming out to do it. That voice would go unheard by the rest of the world, at least for the time being, I was committed. That tortured plea was coming louder and more often, but it would have to go unanswered.

  At least , I didn’t have too long to think about it. There would be plenty to keep me busy, and meeting with the band was only one place I’d be able to hide.

  Barry sifted through some sheet music, sitting at the piano. “We could do the one the cricket sings.’”

  Carl Sticks Simmons sat nearby, drumsticks in his dark chocolate hands, wrapping them against his long lean thighs. “Always Let Your Conscience Be Your Guide?”

  “No,” I said, “I think he means, When You Wish Upon a Star.”

  Eric Newton sat on a stool, electric bass in his lap. His hair was blond, like mine, but curly and short. He always reminded me of what The Little Prince would look like as an adult. He looked at me quietly with a little smile, turning away when my eyes met his.

  Barry played the first few chords from memory, bass lines and melody pouring out of the big mahogany grand.

  Also from memory, Dana sang, “When you wish upon a star, makes no difference who you are … ” I paused, thinking I was waiting for Barry, but Barry was waiting for me, and for my little moment of melancholy to pass. “Everything your heart desires will come to you … ”

  Sticks nodded. “That sounds great,” he said nodding, his dark brown head shaved completely bald, light bouncing off its curves.

  Barry shook his head. “I’ll have to pull up the Frozen soundtrack … ”

  Sticks chuckled. “I spotted Caroline talkin’ up our special guest. Instead of Frozen, maybe you should look up Molten … “ We shared a laugh. “I’ll bet she bags him, we’ll have to find ourselves a new cruise director. That’s never fun, the new ones always try too hard.”

  Eric nodded, glancing at me with his usual forlorn expression. In his early twenties, Eric could have his pick of the women onboard, but I knew he had a crush on me. I didn’t do anything to string him along, of course. We were friendly, I found his quiet company very pleasant. But he knew what my policy was, everybody in the band did.

  But we weren’t talking about me. Barry shook his head. “I dunno, Sticks, that Hutchinson guy is a pretty big prey, I don’t know if Caroline’s got what it takes.” Off our skeptical glances, he explained, “A man like that can have any woman he wants, right? I’m sure he’s had his fill of brassy redheads.”

  “I’m not so sure about that,” I said. “Internet said the thing with his wife only happened a year ago. He doesn’t strike me as the cheating kind.”

  “We’re all the cheating kind,” Barry said, Sticks chuckling; me, not so much. Eric wasn’t amused either, shaking his head and turning away. “Anyway, the guy’s single now, so there’s no cheating about it, it’s just … y’know, messin’ around.”

  I said, “No I don’t, actually. You guys know I don’t … mess around.” Barry and Sticks traded a knowing glance, brows up, eyes rolling. “What, you don’t believe me?”

  Barry asked, “Are you kidding? We work with you, Dana and we practically live with you too. We know for a fact you don't mess around.”

  “But if you ever did,” Sticks said, not needing to add more.

  Eric looked at me and I caught his eye, his silent, moping stare saying everything about the way he felt, everything he felt that he didn’t dare say. I couldn’t deny that, if my policy had been a little different, I might have been interested in having a date with Eric. But that just wasn’t going to happen. Eric had accepted it, and I appreciated that.

  “Excuse me?” The rhythm section and I turned to see Caroline stepping toward us with a slow, professional stride, hips carrying that dominating swagger. We all waited until she crossed the empty dance floor to the stage and fixed her green eyes on me. “It seems Mr. Hutchinson requests that you be the one to tour him around the ship.”

  I couldn't help but repeat, “Me?” Barry and Sticks and Eric looked directly at me, each with their own questions and their own concerns. Caroline huffed and shook her head just a bit, like she couldn't believe I was surprised. But I could hardly believe what she was saying. I added, “We’ve got rehearsals — ”

  “What you've got is a responsibility to this ship, our crew, and our captain. The guests request your company. They’re in the Captain’s Table for breakfast.” I stood there shocked, glancing at Barry and at Sticks, who only shrugged as if to say, I told you so. Eric’s head sank even lower on his shoulders, disappointment wiping the little half-smile from his face. But there was no more time, as Caroline’s voice snapped with unusual distemper, almost unheard of when speaking to the captain’s daughter. “Now, Dana, now!”

  Chapter 4

  Dana

  I left the band behind and walked with Caroline down a long hall. I knew what had happened even then, and that Caroline felt rejected. It was hard for me to fathom, to be honest. I thought for sure Hutch would have kept Caroline around for a day or two at least. But for him to be so quickly disinterested in that curvy body, all that sexy, toned skin, impressed me. Very few men would have passed Caroline by, and the last person I would have thought would have been preferred, would have been me! Barry and Sticks had been right; Caroline had designs on Preston Hutchinson and they didn’t get her further than just a few minutes. That had to be a bitter pill to swallow, especially for a woman like Caroline. Even worse, to know he wanted to see me instead of her, that I was the one between the two of us who was more desirable, must have taken Caroline completely off-guard. She was used to getting pretty much any man she wanted. But things were changing fast, we both could sense it. But what it would mean for both of our futures, neither of us could yet imagine. Anyway, for me the present was a lot more pressing than the future. “Everything okay, Caroline?”

  “It’s fine, Dana, everything’s … everything’s just swell. How about you, you sure you’re … up to this?”

  I shrugged, keeping up with Caroline’s impatient pace. “I know the ship as well as anybody, I practically grew up on — ”

  “That's not what I mean, Dana.” We walked on, my silent confusion letting Caroline continue. “You really think what he needs is a tour of the ship? There are directories posted all over the place, Dana. Use your head … at the very least.”

  With that, Caroline turned and headed down another hall alone. But my destination lay straight ahead, my brain jangling with what seemed like the obvious conclusions.

  Am I going to have to sleep with him, is this what all this is truly about? Am I really supposed to be some amusement, an attraction like the video arcade or the IMAX theater? I suppose that’s just the way these super-rich people go through life, renting everybody they don’t need to buy. But these people can be dangerous too, not caring who they hurt or what they have to do to cover up their crimes. Odd what happened to his wife.