One Charmed Christmas

by Sheila Roberts

  “Me, too,” Sierra said, and wrote it down.

  “All right. Everyone ready for our next song?” asked Elsa. “Take it away, Jacques.”

  It was another song both Kurt and Sierra knew, M.C. Hammer’s “U Can’t Touch This,” and they both began dancing in their seats.

  “Now, we’ll go a little further back in time. Who can guess this song?” Elsa said, and Jacques began to play a soft, soulful piece.

  “Beats me,” said Trevor.

  “We know that one,” Sierra said. “It’s our mom’s favorite. ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’ by Simon and Garfunkel. I love the message in that song. He’s promising to be there for the other person like—”

  “A bridge over troubled water,” Sophie supplied.

  “Good message,” Kurt approved, and Sophie suspected that both he and his brother were the type of men who would put the lyrics of that song into practice.

  “Now we have a song you’ll all know. Until he could come up with the right lyrics, Paul McCartney walked around singing ‘scrambled eggs,’” Elsa said.

  The four looked at each other. “Scrambled eggs?” said Trevor.

  The pianist began to play and Sierra gleefully wrote down the answer. “‘Yesterday’ by The Beatles.”

  “Jacques now has another song for you from the 1960s,” Elsa said.

  “Uh-oh,” Kurt said.

  “Uh-oh is right,” echoed Trevor.

  Sure enough, it wasn’t a song any of them knew. Something jazzy.

  “I guess that wasn’t one of your mom’s favorites,” said Trevor.

  “Afraid not,” said Sierra.

  The competition continued with songs clear back to the forties and stretching into 2020. They all knew the newer songs, and thanks to Sophie and Sierra’s parents and grandparents the women knew a lot of the older ones. One they were sure was an Elvis song but nobody could think of the title. Sierra wrote down Elvis, figuring a half point was better than no points. Everyone in the room knew “Mamma Mia” and started singing along with Jacques as he played, including the sisters, who swayed back and forth in sync, singing together.

  At last the questions were over and teams had to exchange papers to grade. Sierra was checking answers for a group of women who’d labeled themselves the Silver Foxes. The Silver Foxes were getting almost every answer right, even the newer songs.

  “We’ve gotten most of them, too,” said Sophie, confident of a win.

  “And this song?” Elsa asked after Jacques had played it again.

  “‘All Shook Up,’” called several people. “Elvis.”

  “That’s one we missed,” Sierra said. “Darn.”

  Finally the list had been gone through and the totals tallied, papers exchanged again. The Chocoholics tied with the Silver Foxes and cheers rose up from both tables when they were each awarded a bottle of champagne.

  “We’re awesome,” Trevor said as the brothers and sisters each knuckle-bumped each other.

  Several of Kurt’s students stopped by to congratulate them, led by Trevor’s number one fan.

  “I knew all but the really old ones,” she bragged.

  “How many can you translate into German, Harriet?” Kurt asked.

  “Most of them.”

  “I tell you what. You guys form teams and have a competition to see who can put the most song titles into German and I’ll have a prize for the winning team.”

  “Champagne?” Harriet asked eagerly.

  “No. Chocolate,” said Kurt.

  She pointed to Trevor. “His?”

  “Sure.”

  “Even better,” she said, and dashed off to organize the competition.

  “There goes the rest of my chocolate,” Trevor said.

  “I doubt it. I don’t think Harriet will get many takers.”

  “She certainly seems fond of you,” Sierra said to Trevor. “It was sweet that she came over.”

  “That kid has been tailing me since we met at the airport. I wish she’d glom on to someone her own age already,” said Trevor.

  “That’s my bro,” Kurt said. “He’s irresistible to women.”

  Sophie was beginning to think so.

  * * *

  “Oh, well, we almost won,” said Denise’s new pal Charlie.

  “Those new songs threw me,” said the newest member of their little group, a tall, blondish man named Arnold, who seemed to be in competition with Charlie for Denise’s attention. “Who on earth is Lizzo?”

  “The person who sang that song we didn’t get,” Charlie cracked.

  “There’s always tomorrow,” Denise said, and downed the last of her martini.

  If Catherine was going to have any energy for tomorrow she knew she’d have to get some sleep tonight. She’d been covering her yawns for the last half hour.

  “Speaking of tomorrow, I think I’ll turn in and get rested up for Cologne,” she said, standing.

  “A good idea,” Athena approved. Probably not because she really cared about Catherine leaving to rest up. She was simply happy about her leaving.

  “We’ll see you in the morning,” Rudy said, standing, as well, and the other two men followed suit.

  Denise was showing no sign of moving. Why should she? She still had plenty of energy and two men interested in her.

  “I’ll see you a little later,” she said to Catherine. “If you’re awake.”

  She went to the room, got ready for bed and then slipped in between the covers. She was asleep within minutes and never heard Denise come in.

  She awoke the next morning feeling refreshed but still tired. “I think maybe I won’t do the city tour, after all,” she said to Denise as they got dressed.

  “Tired?”

  “A little.”

  “You looked pretty beat last night. You probably should take it easy. But I hate to see you miss the fun.”

  “I’ll be fine. It’s lovely here on the ship and I did bring a book to read. Anyway, I’ve already had a lot more fun than I would have if I’d stayed home.”

  “It’s not over yet,” Denise said. “But you’re smart to pace yourself.”

  “Anyway, I know you won’t be lonely. Although you might get tired juggling two men,” Catherine teased.

  “It is a terrible problem to have,” Denise said, straight-faced. “This is so much fun, isn’t it?”

  “It is. I’m really glad you talked me into coming.”

  “I’m glad you came. Come on, let’s go get some breakfast.”

  The dining room was starting to fill up, but they managed to find an empty table with four settings where they were soon joined by Charlie. Arnold came in right on his heels, looking suave in jeans and a black sweater worn over a white shirt with a crisp collar. Charlie, on the other hand, wore slacks, a Nordic print green sweater that made no attempt to hide his girth and a Santa hat. Everything about Charlie said party while Arnold’s attire and demeanor said sophistication. Two different men. How would Denise ever choose? Knowing Denise, she’d find a way to keep them both.

  “You girls ready to spend money and drink Glühwein?” Charlie asked as Arnold slid into the last seat.

  “I am,” Denise said. “I think Catherine’s leaning toward staying on the boat.”

  “Not feeling well?” Charlie asked Catherine.

  “Just a little tired,” she said.

  “Would you like me to drink your share of Glühwein?” he asked with a wink.

  “I think you should,” she told him.

  Glühwein, shopping, seeing the cathedral. It would have been fun, she thought wistfully. But the day would be too long and she’d be done in. She gave herself permission to pace herself. There would be more good times ahead. Better to take the adventure in small bites that she could digest.

  She caught sight of Rudy entering
the room with his daughter and experienced a moment of longing even though she knew nothing could happen between them. There was no room at their table for anyone else. Just as well, she supposed, and sighed.

  * * *

  Athena and her father had entered the dining room to find it nearly full. And, oh, look. What a shame. The two predators already had people sitting with them.

  “It looks like Catherine and Denise have found some new friends,” she observed. Oh, happy day. Now she could quit worrying about Daddy.

  He frowned. “I’ll find us a table if you want to go get something.”

  She did indeed. She celebrated this new turn of events with an omelet.

  The celebration was short-lived. After her omelet she returned to the buffet to splurge on a doughnut, making the mistake of leaving her father alone at their table. Well, not exactly alone. There were two other couples there, and he’d seemed to be enjoying visiting with them as he finished his coffee and cereal.

  But she returned to the table to find him gone.

  “Your father said he’d be right back,” one of the women at the table said to her. “He went to say hi to someone.”

  It wasn’t hard to guess who that someone was. Athena abandoned her doughnut and hurried to where her father sat, visiting with Catherine. The other three who’d been with her had left and it was just the two of them at the table. Ugh.

  She got there in time to hear her father saying, “I don’t think I want to do the city tour, either. What would you say to a quick peek at one of the Christmas markets? There’s one right next to the cathedral so we could see that, too.”

  “I must admit, I would love to at least see the cathedral. And I’d like to maybe do a little bit of shopping.”

  Shopping, it had been Nicole’s favorite pastime. Déjà vu all over again, thought Athena bitterly. She donned a smile and slipped into the vacant seat next to her father.

  “Daddy, I was wondering where you went. Are you ready to go?” Do the tour with your daughter like you’d planned?

  “Honey, I think I’m going to let you do the tour without me,” Daddy said.

  “I was looking forward to us doing that together,” Athena said. It sounded a little like whining. But they’d made plans and now he was ditching her.

  “If you already had plans with your daughter please don’t let me upset that,” said Catherine.

  Very gracious of her.

  But was she being gracious or strategic?

  “Of course you’re welcome to join us old folks,” Daddy said, reaching out and giving her shoulder a squeeze. “I thought you really wanted to do the tour.”

  “Only because I thought you wanted to do it,” Athena told him. “I just wanted to be together.”

  “Well, then,” Daddy said with a nod. “That settles it. Shall we all meet in the lobby in twenty minutes?”

  Catherine nodded and excused herself, leaving father and daughter seated at the table, father looking at daughter suspiciously. Athena felt suddenly uncomfortable under that fatherly gaze.

  She didn’t want to rain on his holiday parade, really, but she remembered how things had gone with Nicole and her once the woman entered their lives. It had started with, “I hope we can be friends. I really do love your dad.” She’d known it wasn’t true, but Daddy hadn’t tuned into that. Then they’d gotten married and it had gone to, “It’s none of your business how much money I spend. He can’t take it with him. Or are you worried there won’t be anything left for you?” As if Athena was as mercenary as her.

  Anyone could have seen what Nicole was up to, but her father was living proof that love is blind. He’d married the woman in spite of the red flags waving all around him and he’d stayed blind right up until she ripped out his heart and left a substantial dent in his savings.

  Athena had struggled to keep her mouth shut, gritting her teeth through family gatherings, pretending she hadn’t heard when she caught her aunts gossiping in the kitchen about the new wife when Daddy brought her to the family Thanksgiving gathering. She’d hoped against hope that maybe Nicole would turn out not to be as shallow and grasping as she’d appeared. The hopes had been in vain.

  Daddy’s sisters hadn’t hesitated to say, “I told you so,” when Nicole dumped him, but as far as Athena had been concerned there’d been no point in pouring salt in the wound. She’d kept her mouth shut and vowed to never let him get hurt again.

  “Athena, what are you up to?” he asked now. “You were looking forward to that tour. I heard you talking about it with Denise last night, and now you’re not doing it.”

  She had been looking forward to taking the tour. But if she had to do guard duty instead, so be it.

  “I’m not up to anything,” she insisted. She could feel the warmth of a blush stealing onto her cheeks and felt like she was fourteen all over again, trying to convince her parents that she hadn’t sneaked off to meet a boy instead of going to her best friend’s house like she’d said.

  He cocked an eyebrow. “I hope you’re not thinking I need a chaperone at this age.”

  “No, of course not.”

  “Are you sure?”

  Okay, guilty as charged, and maybe there was nothing wrong with Catherine Pine. Maybe Athena was being paranoid. But she’d rather be paranoid than see her father hurt again.

  “I just want to spend time with you,” she protested. That much was true. She did. “I thought we were going to do it together.”

  “I’m sorry, darling. That was thoughtless of me.”

  “It was,” Athena said, and realized her feelings were hurt. “I mean, you’ve barely met this woman. You don’t know anything about her.”

  Daddy’s penitent expression disappeared. “Really, Athena, I’m a grown man and I don’t need a babysitter.”

  Oh, yes, he did. But he wasn’t going to admit it. Much easier to scold her than admit his own weakness.

  A good defense was a good offense. “Fine. If you don’t want me along,” she said, using her best huffy voice.

  He softened. “Of course I do. If you’re joining us to be friendly and have a good time. But you need to let me handle picking my own friends. I know you worry, but your old man’s okay now. I can take care of myself.”

  The man who had fallen into such a trap telling her he could take care of himself? It was the equivalent of a child saying, “I can cross the freeway by myself.”

  “I understand,” she said. It was a good, neutral comment. No promises made.

  Though she knew he took it as a promise that she wouldn’t interfere. “All right, then. In that case, let’s go get our coats.”

  She nodded, and they left the dining room together, her father happy that he had things settled and her determined to have a little talk with Catherine Pine the moment she could get her alone.

  If she ever could.

  They found Catherine waiting for them by the gangplank, wearing her red coat and a knitted hat. “Are you sure I’m not spoiling your father-daughter time?” she asked.

  At that point, what were they to say? Yes, go away?

  “Not at all,” said Daddy, looking at Athena.

  She managed a weak smile.

  “It’s awfully kind of you to share your father with me for a little while,” Catherine said to her.

  Yes, a little while. Not the whole cruise.

  “Daddy’s never met a stranger,” Athena said.

  “I’m sure he hasn’t,” Catherine said, smiling at him. “There’s a gift not all of us have.”

  Athena didn’t. It seemed as she’d gotten older she’d gotten less trusting. Her divorce and Daddy’s fortune hunter had done that to her, she supposed.

  Was Catherine a fortune hunter, looking for a man to take care of her? She did seem like a nice woman, Athena would give her that.

  But people weren’t always what
they seemed. When they were first together Athena’s husband, with his big smile and his big laugh, had looked to her like a man who would be happy to hang in there for the long haul. He hadn’t been. He’d gotten tired of house repairs and mowing the lawn and having to come home after work on Fridays instead of being able to go out for drinks with his pals and flirt with twenty-year-olds whose bra sizes were bigger than their brains. He’d been almost as big a heart crusher as Nicole. Although nothing topped her.

  Catherine’s smile looked genuine. Was it? Only time and close observation would tell. And whether Daddy liked it or not, Athena was going to be observing very carefully.

  9

  Trevor was on the same tour bus as the sisters, and he slipped into a seat right behind them. And Harriet made sure she beat his brother to the empty seat next to Trevor. Oh, joy.

  Her butt was barely in the seat before she started in. “Did you know this is a two-thousand-year-old city?”

  “No, but I bet our guide is going to tell us that,” he said.

  Harriet shrugged as if to say, What does he know?

  The last thing Trevor wanted was a history of Cologne from Harriet. He changed the subject. “How was your song-translating contest?”

  She frowned. “Nobody wanted to do it. They’re all lazy brains.”

  “Maybe they just wanted to party.”

  “That would have been partying.”

  For a moment, Trevor felt sorry for the kid. Being smart was a gift, but sometimes that gift went unappreciated by others.

  “Most of the class just came here to drink and spend money, but I’m here for more than souvenirs. I’m here to learn and expand my horizons. Education is the key to success.”

  “Can’t argue with that,” Trevor said.

  “I had a scholarship to Western.”

  And here she was at a community college. “How come you’re not there?”

  “Money. The scholarship wasn’t enough. And I had no intention of being saddled with a student loan.”

  Not enough money to make up the difference of the scholarship but here she was on this trip. Interesting.