“Thanks, pal. Nice to know you’re looking after my interests.”
“Hush. I’m concentrating.”
Alex did indeed concentrate on scanning the diners, while the rest of us lost interest and instead turned to one another and began a new conversation.
“Keira.”
Alex’s voice was different.
“Please prepare to look, but don’t turn your head quickly.”
Why do people always do that? They know the first inclination is to whip your head immediately to where they are looking. I managed to keep myself from performing a cartoon turn, however.
“What will I be looking at?” I whispered out of the side of my mouth.
By this time, I noticed that the others had fixed their gaze at the point where Alex was focused, and I turned quickly just as the theme bar began its descent.
Just in time to see Russell Shaw reach into his pocket as if ready to present my mother with the universal romantic gesture—no doubt a black velvet box that contained an engagement ring.
In retrospect, I guess it shouldn’t have been a surprise, but even when you sort of expect something to happen, you’re still shocked when you see it with your own eyes.
“Keir?”
Alex’s voice was tentative as the bar reached its final destination on the next deck.
“Keir? Say something.”
“What? Oh. Well. I guess that’s that.”
The others gathered around me, waiting patiently for a more elaborate reaction.
“What do you mean ‘That’s that’?” Patience was never Alex’s strong suit.
“What do you want me to say, that I’m upset? I guess I can’t be. She gave a pretty clear indication of how she would factor in my feelings earlier in the day, didn’t she?”
“Well, you have a right to your feelings, Keir,” said Cam sensibly.
“What?” I was still somewhat in shock. “Sure, sure. I guess I just ... just ...”
“You just wanted to know about it?” offered Anthony.
I thought about that for a minute.
“No. Not really. It wouldn’t have been much of a surprise for her if I knew first, right?”
“Well, I guess,” said Celia. “I suspect, however, that you might have wanted him to run it by you? You are her only family.”
“What, like ask for her hand?”
“Not really,” Anthony shook his head. “This is a big step. You two are close and maybe not ask for her hand, exactly, but maybe make sure you were there?”
That was it. I guess I just wanted to be part of it. I blew it with my temper tantrum earlier though, didn’t I?
“But your parents were there for it.”
“No. They were at a table for two. I don’t know where Ma and Pop were,” Alex said.
The Tidal Wave Bar was ready to ascend back to The Commons Deck.
“Are we riding back up?” asked Celia.
“We might as well.” I was not ready to walk anywhere yet.
When the bar reached its destination, our eyes immediately went to the table where my mother and Russ had been sitting. They were still there, sitting quietly enjoying what looked like dessert. From their faces, they didn’t look like a couple who had just gotten engaged. Mr. and Mrs. D’Ag were with them.
I whipped my head toward Alex.
“I thought you said they were at a table for two.”
“They were alone! I don’t know where my parents were. Can I help it if those tables are tiny. Come to think of it, I’m not sure that’s really optimal for serving.”
“Hey! I don’t need you to be a restaurant critic right now!”
My mother’s head happened to turn and look out into The Commons. She saw us, so she motioned for us to come over.
I took a deep breath. Well, now is as good a time as any to learn the good news. But, even for my calm mother, she was being amazingly quiet.
“Here are the kids,” said Mrs. D’Ag. “How was your dinner? You have to try this dessert. It is delicious!”
“I love how we’re still kids even though we have kids of our own, Ma,” said Anthony as we crowded around their table.
She patted his hand.
“You’ll always be our children, right Maeve?” she addressed my mother.
My mother reached up and pulled me down for a kiss.
“Absolutely. And we’ll always love you, no matter what.” She pushed a wisp of hair away from my face and winked at me.
“Mother ... I ...”
“Hush,” she whispered, “I know what you’re going to say, and I already forgive you.”
“What’s this?” Mr. D’Ag. “No sad faces! Pull up chairs and order some of this dessert.”
He motioned to the waiter. Luckily the restaurant was mostly cleared out and we could push another table and chairs toward theirs.
While I was happy that all was well, I was still confused. Who gets engaged, then goes on as if nothing happened?
“Is this how blue bloods get engaged?” whispered Alex.
“Just because we don’t jump around like your hot-blooded—”
“What’s with the whispering?” asked Mrs. D’Ag.
“Nothing, Ma.” Alex became inspired. “Mama G., I heard you had a great new manicure. Let me see your hands.”
“I don’t have a new manicure,” my mother said.
“Smooth.” I shot daggers at my best friend, while Cam kicked her, not so subtly, under the table.
“What’s going on with you two?” asked Mr. D’Ag. “And don’t say nothing, because I’ve known this one”—he pointed to Alex—”since birth, and this one”—pointing to me—”since she was a teenager.”
We looked guiltily at one another, suddenly feeling as if we actually were teenagers.
“All right,” began Alex. “We saw Russ pull an engagement ring out of his pocket. So what happened?”
Collective groans from Anthony, Celia, and Cam and a whap on the back of Alex’s head from me followed, then all eyes turned to Russ.
“Keira,” my mother assumed her breeding, “I don’t know what you amateur sleuths think you saw, but earlier Russ pulled his handkerchief out of his pocket. Could your eyes have deceived you? Really.”
I knew my mother’s tone and dipped my head, but Russ cleared his throat and spoke.
“Well, don’t be hard on them, Maeve. They were mistaken, that’s all. However, I’m glad that Keira is here, because I have been carrying something in my other pocket.”
My head shot up as the rest of the table gasped.
“Maeve, I know we haven’t known each other for a lot of years, but we’re not children. You’ve told me that these people are very important to you and I’d like them to be important to me, so it makes sense that I say this with them here. Most importantly Keira, with your permission, I’d like to ask your mother a question. Maeve, would you be my wife?”
He did indeed have a black velvet box, and in it rested a beautiful emerald ring surrounded by diamonds.
My mother’s eyes, as emerald as the jewel, sparkled as she looked from the ring to Russ. I hadn’t seen her as lovely as at that moment for a long time.
“Of course!”
They embraced and kissed to cheers from our table.
Russ turned to me and took my hand.
“I plan to make your mother as happy as she makes me, Keira. I hope you know that.”
“Oh, I know.” And I did. At least I think I did.
The level of chatter was raised as Russ ordered a bottle of champagne to celebrate. My mother was amazingly animated, but broke off when she realized that we were missing Damian and Juliet and asked where they were.
“Damian is attending to pastoral duties,” I said, “and I assumed that Juliet was in this restaurant. She was on a date.”
“What, with that young man from last night?”
I nodded. “Apparently they hit it off. She said they were coming either to this restaurant or the Italian one.”
&
nbsp; “Well, I think I want to meet him,” said Mrs. D’Ag.
“Ma, do you think that he really needs to go through the wringer? I mean they just went to dinner.” Even as he said it, Anthony knew that his words were wasted.
“Yes. Exactly,” she said. “What do we know about him? We need to look out for her since her parents aren’t here.”
“How about we focus on the good news at the table, Ma?” Alex attempted to deflect her.
This topic brought Alex’s mother back.
“Maeve, of course! I don’t want to take away from your wonderful news,” she said. “Shall we start planning?”
“Angela!” Mr. D’Ag shook his head. “She barely has the ring on her finger. Let’s not start baking the wedding cookies just yet!”
My mother laughed.
“That’s fine, Marco. Every bride enjoys the planning period. That’s what makes life worthwhile, right Keira?”
“What?” I was confused. Was she hinting that I was taking too long to get engaged or something?
“She means that’s what puts money in your bank account. Keira Graham Events, remember?” Alex kicked me under the table. She knew me well enough to know that I was still processing the engagement and that I had a tendency to slip back into myself when I processed thoughts.
“Of course that’s what I meant.” My mother scanned my face. She knew me even better.
I had to pull myself back to reality.
“Well, I know one thing. If this wedding can’t get the full Keira Graham Events treatment, I don’t know what can.” I hugged my mother and winked. “I’ll even give you the family discount.”
“Well, that’s big of you,” Alex said dryly. “I’m sure you’ll try to work her in somewhere between the Mandelbaum bar mitzvah and the next dog birthday.”
“Dog birthday?” Mr. D’Ag questioned.
“Oh, Pop, you didn’t know that Keira was the premier planner of pooch parties in Denver, did you?”
He looked at me quizzically.
“Thanks, Alexandria.” I punched her shoulder. “Papa D., it was the mayor, and ...”
I explained the mayor’s one-of-a-kind dog birthday party to barely concealed mirth. After enduring an unending stream of puns, I caught a glimpse of my watch.
“Yikes! I need to scoot if I’m going to get ready for that parade.”
“Yes,” said Alex, “you don’t want to be in the DOGHOUSE.”
Anthony continued, “Will you PAWS when you pass by us?”
“Har-har.” I shook my head. “A joke never dies in this family, does it?”
“Unfortunately, no,” sighed Celia, but allowed, “That’s why you love us!”
“Mother, Russ, I leave you to fend for yourselves.” I stood to leave. “I’ll see you on the Promenade Deck.”
“Will we know when to look for you, dear?” my mother asked.
“Oh, don’t worry, you’ll see me.” With that, I left.
“Keir! Keir!”
Juliet’s voice caught up with me as I crossed the deck. She was hard to miss in a fuchsia ensemble with her curls even more springy than usual. She was on the arm of the dashing Langston, decked in his own smart casual outfit of cream linen trousers and olive linen sports jacket. They looked like they were ready to pose for a magazine cover.
“If I were you, I’d avoid walking past the Steakhouse at just this minute,” I warned as they came up beside me.
“Why?”
“The whole family is seated near the window, and if they see the two of you, Langston will not escape an inquisition.”
Langston laughed. “Ah, remember, I come from a large family myself and am quite prepared for the ethnic gauntlet.”
I looked at them. He seemed quite comfortable with Jules, and there was an air of sincerity about him. Goodness! Was my mother correct in our conversation back home when she said that romance was just waiting on the deck of a cruise ship? And that reminded me of her romantic news. Was everyone around me destined for love in the moonlight except me? Well, I guess Damian wasn’t out for a shipboard romance either. Great. I was comparing my single situation with my friend the priest.
“Well, walk into the fire at your own risk,” I said.
Come to think of it, it was probably best that their romance be tested by the family. They would be able to spot if Langston was too good to be true.
“I’m off to get glammed up for the parade,” I said.
“Will we know where to look for you?” Juliet echoed nearly the same question my mother had asked.
“Oh, don’t worry, you’ll see me,” I answered once again and continued on my way.
“Where are the rest of the angels?” Bryce, the redheaded crew member dressed as an unquestionably recognizable disco cop, snuck up behind me as I caught a last glimpse of myself in the full-length mirror in the crew quarters. The parade was about to begin.
“I’d think you were too young to remember that program,” I smiled at him in the mirror.
“Program?”
“You know, Charlie’s Angels?”
“Ah, no,” he winked. “I meant the other angels who fell to earth with you when you fell from heaven.”
“Bryce! Is that the best cheesy line you can come up with?” Neil groaned as she came toward us. Bryce winked, blew us both a kiss, and went to find the rest of the Village People.
“Keira! You really look flash! I knew that dress would work for you, but I didn’t know how well,” Neil smiled and adjusted her oversized orange afro wig.
“You don’t think it’s too ...” I couldn’t finish the sentence.
“Too what? Too spot on? Too sexy? Yes and yes, and I think you should be happy that it is.”
I turned back to the mirror. The shimmering dress hugged my every curve, and the sweetheart neckline was cut perfectly. Makeup guru Magda had managed to re-create the ‘70s look and had even added eyelashes and improbably green eye shadow that made my own green eyes stand out even more. She helped me flip the sides of my hair out to achieve the iconic “wings.” If I didn’t know better, I’d say I had been transported to 1979.
The music began, and I heard Brennan’s voice as he entered the room to round us up.
“All right, kiddoes, the time has come. Let’s—” His pep talk stopped abruptly as he scanned my side of the room and caught my eye.
“Let’s what, Brennan?” Bryce shouted.
Brennan regrouped and continued, picking up steam. “Right ... um ... let’s give our guests a night to remember. Let us go forth and ‘ease on down the road’!”
The crew shouted and catcalled. Brennan adjusted his Village People full-feathered headdress, staring at me all the while, then turned to lead the merry group out for the parade.
Chapter Sixteen
The Promenade Deck was packed to the hilt as we danced and strutted through the crowds to the beat of high-energy disco hits. I was close enough to the front to see Brennan lead not only the rest of the Village People but also the entire parade with enthusiasm and gusto. The cruisers cheered and whistled—most of them had cleverly concocted ‘70s looks from their own wardrobes. The crew distributed oversized neon sunglasses, boas, and beads along the route, to add to the festive air.
I didn’t need to wonder whether I would find my friends and family. They were clustered in front of the Promenade Cafe with a prime view not only of the route, but also of the overhead bridge where Brennan was holding court since he’d reached the end of the parade.
“Farrah! Farrah!” shouted Alex.
“Where’s Charlie?” yelled Cam as he and Anthony struck the Angels’ famous back-to-back pose pointing imaginary guns at imaginary bad guys.
I caught my mother’s eye as she smiled and blew a kiss my way.
It was impossible not to step up my game and twirl and prance a bit more, and I dashed over to join them.
“We knew you had that in you!”
I started to answer Alex, but the music switched to a familiar beat, and all ey
es turned to the bridge spanning the Promenade Deck as the Village People broke into the popular YMCA dance. I couldn’t help but stare at Brennan as the Indian Chief. He absolutely stood out, not only for his moves but because of his unmistakable charisma and those darn dimples!
“Your man Brennan is sure having a good time!” said Alex as we both joined in the dance.
“He’s not my man,” I had to shout over the revelers.
“Whatever you say,” said Alex, her eyes on the bridge, “but wow, what a body!”
I looked back up where he was. I had to admit, in the bare-chested costume, he did look less Cruise Director and more Cover Model.
The high-energy dance ended as the crowd continued its rhythmic clapping, and the man himself bounded down the bridge stairs onto the deck in time for the music to change to a slower beat. I soon recognized the unmistakable strains of “How Deep Is Your Love” from Saturday Night Fever.
“Don’t look now, but I think you are going to be asked to dance,” Alex nudged me.
“What?” I looked at her, then looked out to the floor in time to see Brennan McAllister coming toward me with one hand outstretched.
“Shall we?”
I could barely hear him over the music.
Why not?
I took his hand, and we began to dance.
You know those fantastic moments in the movies where suddenly everything comes together and all else just fades away and it’s just the two characters and the music swells and a magical light sparkles on them and they both figure out that they are meant to be?
Get serious.
This was just a dance. And with my friends and family in the background whooping and catcalling, I’m pretty sure Brennan would not have been interested anyway.
My face must have turned all shades of red, so I kept my head tilted down. This guy already had a strange opinion of me, and now what must he think!
He led me expertly through the John Travolta moves—well, sure, he did this at every parade every week, right? The music changed, but he didn’t let me go.
“Keira?”
His voice was so quiet I almost couldn’t hear him.
Love on the Lido Deck Page 14
