“I’d be happy to hear what she has to say,” Eleanor said.
Denise went off, returning with Ruby and Pearl, who had their arms linked like they were going to be sent to jail and would only do so together.
“Sorry, Eleanor,” Ruby sneered. “I guess your big head got in the way of my serve.”
Eleanor’s face reddened. “Is that an apology, because it’s the worst one I’ve ever heard.”
“Ruby,” Denise chastised her. “You agreed to apologize. What do you have against Eleanor, anyway?”
It was then that I noticed that Mr. Wilson hung his head. I put it together pretty fast after that, but I had to ask, “Yes, what do you have against Eleanor?”
I stared right at my friend for good measure and when she noticed me staring at her, she asked, “What?”
“Don’t you what me. Somebody tell me what’s going on here?”
Mr. Wilson looked up, then. “It’s all my fault. I used to see Ruby, but she left town to take care of her mother. By the time she came home, it was too late.”
“You cheated on Ruby with Eleanor?”
“No. I didn’t know if Ruby was ever coming back to the Tawas area. She didn’t either, until Eleanor and I had said our I dos.”
“And you didn’t speak to Ruby since she left town?”
“Not exactly. I did go to her mother’s funeral, but that’s it.”
Eleanor jerked her chair away from Wilson now. “You did spend a long time in Saginaw. I should have known.”
“I was visiting my granddaughter Millicent, remember? She came back to town with me.”
“I just don’t know what to believe, Mortimer.”
“You promised to never say my first name.”
“Well, you lied to me.”
“No, I just didn’t tell you about Ruby because it wasn’t important. After we started dating, that was all that mattered to me. I fell in love with you, Eleanor, not Ruby.”
Ruby balled up her hands into fists and marched away with Pearl chasing after her. “I’m so sorry,” Denise said. “I had no idea there was any history between your husband Mortimer and Ruby.”
“Quit calling me that. My name is Mr. Wilson,” he shouted.
“Sorry,” Denise apologized. “It might be better if we keep Eleanor and Ruby apart.” She trailed after her club members and the captain smiled.
“Always drama at the captain’s table.”
“Oh?”
“Yes, we’ve had cheating wives and husbands. People who hated each other accidentally seated at my table at the same time. It used to be amusing, but now it just gives me a headache.” He laughed.
“I’m sorry about that,” I said. “We certainly didn’t expect Denise to drag them over here to apologize. After their actions today, I didn’t see an apology happening.”
“Volleyball upside the head, eh? You’ll have to have extra wine tonight,” the captain suggested.
We all laughed until two more couples joined us, Pat and Niles Busch, and Edward and Teresa Sloan. Before I had the chance to ask, they informed me that they were the parents of the bride and groom. Pat was a little bigger than her much thinner and muscular husband Niles, whereas Edward and Teresa were both thin and trim, and they also had an olive complexion, but I hardly associated the name Sloan as Italian or Greek.
“It’s great to finally meet you. We’ve met Liz and her bridal party, but I have yet to meet the groom or groomsmen.”
“That’s because he’s not on the ship yet. He’ll be joining us in Cozumel. His groomsmen insisted on one last guy trip,” Edward explained.
“Hopefully he won’t get himself into any trouble.”
“No, Brady has a good head on his shoulders. He’s a medical student.”
A sea of waiters came over and set down soup and returned to fill the wine glasses of the newcomers. The soup was very pleasant on the taste buds and devoid of seaweed this time, but I was almost afraid to eat it. I saw Leah and Ricky sitting not far away, with Leo and a few other men I hadn’t seen before, but then this was a big ship. I was so intent at looking at them that Andrew cleared his throat. I then finished up my soup in time for the shrimp cocktail that I pushed to Andrew, who thanked me. He loved it much better than me. I was always so hesitant about eating it, but I sure did dig into the sea bass with steamed vegetables that were cooked perfectly. Not raw or too well done, just perfect. I tipped back more than a few glasses of wine and I asked the waiter for a glass of ice water with Lemon. I wanted to enjoy my night dancing with Andrew without being so tipsy that I’d miss out on all the fun like last night. I knew it was a mistake to drink before eating.
I was so stuffed I chose the green tea ice cream instead of the cheesecake the waiters offered. Eleanor indulged in it, though, since it was one of her favorites. My eyes met Leah’s from across the room and I smiled. When she smiled slightly in return, Ricky turned and quickly scanned the room, searching to see whom she might have smiled at. That made me so mad. I knew a possessive man when I saw one and wondered if it was really Leo at all who had laid a hand on her.
Since dinner was not over yet, I asked the captain, “I’m very curious about how the ship works. Is it possible to tour the engine room?”
Captain Hamilton gave me a strange look. “That’s an odd request, but if you’re dead set on it, I’ll allow it. In specified areas that are safe, of course.”
“And is it below decks?”
“Of course. I’ll have Tasha set you up a tour tomorrow morning.”
That was easier than I thought — or was it? I had forgotten all about telling Eleanor about the map I found and that golden key, but I needed to do so and soon.
I pushed away from the table. “I need to use the restroom. Eleanor, come along, dear.”
Eleanor stood and said, “She needs me to hold her purse.”
“She can leave it here,” Andrew said, giving me one of his, ‘I know what you’re up to’ looks, but there’s no way he knew.
We made it toward the bathroom and I checked inside to assure myself that it was indeed empty before I hung the temporarily closed sign outside.
Eleanor applied lipstick and asked, “Was that necessary?”
“Yes, I found a map of the ship and a golden key in that suitcase I have by mistake.”
“Why didn’t you say so before?”
“I don’t know. I’ve just had so much on my mind and I’m trying to give Andrew the honeymoon he deserves and that doesn’t mean knowing I’m holding something back from him.”
“So, you didn’t tell him about the map?”
“No, with that map it makes me wonder what somebody might have been about. What if they meant to do something desperate, like an act of terrorism?”
“If you actually have a key, it must go to something. We should find out what.”
“That’s what I was planning to do, but I wanted to see that engine room first. It’s hard to read a blueprint of the ship, you know.”
“So, you plan to bring the key with you?”
“Yes, and hopefully collaborate Kacey’s story, if we can possibly find some evidence left behind in that room.”
“Looks like that’s not all you’re worried about.”
“Well, I’m thinking of watching those men who Leah is with. I still believe they might be responsible for what happened to Kacey.”
“Just because they abused Leah doesn’t mean they are traffickers, you know.”
“It doesn’t mean they aren’t, either, Eleanor.”
“How do you plan to watch them without Andrew noticing?”
“I bet they’ll be going to the atrium for dancing later, too. I can keep an eye on them, or hopefully catch Leah alone.”
Eleanor just shook her head. “Even on our honeymoon, we find trouble. I just don’t get it.”
I led the way back into the dining room and Andrew and Mr. Wilson were anxiously awaiting us. “Time to put your dancing shoes to use,” Andrew said. “I’ve been looking for
ward to this all day.”
“I hope you know that I’m not the best dancer.”
“That’s okay, I’m a good teacher.”
I took Andrew’s arm and we glided out of the dining room and into the main entranceway. The view of the huge chandelier overhead and the two sets of stairs going up on either side took my breath away every time I saw them. The atrium had a huge line and I speculated that it was about a ten-minute wait. Until Mr. Wilson whizzed through the crowd, clearing it for us. “Move aside, legally blind man driving,” Wilson shrieked. He didn’t have to tell them twice; people moved out of his way fast. We struggled to keep up, but luckily didn’t lose him in the crowd.
This time instead of extra loud pop or rock tunes, there was an eighteen-piece string band with a sign that hung overhead that said, The Lennon Sisters.
“Do you see what I see, Eleanor?”
“I see it, but I don’t believe it. The Lennon Sisters are here?”
“I don’t think I’ve heard of them,” said a young lady who stood near us.
“They were before your time, unless you ever watched the Lawrence Welk show with a grandparent.”
“Is that even on anymore?” Eleanor asked me.
“Possibly it’s played on some stations, not sure, but it should be. That show had the best performers on. My children certainly didn’t love it when I watched it every week.”
“You got that right,” Martha said, as she joined us. “Every Saturday night right after Hee Haw. Gee, it’s no wonder I turned out how I did.”
“Don’t you dare put that on me, Martha. You just turned out to be exactly who you are. Embrace it.”
“Is it true you are stalking the captain?” Eleanor asked.
“No,” Martha hissed. “Who told you that?”
“Gloria.”
“That old bat is the snoopiest ever. She’s been out to sea too long. It’s warped her brain.”
“That’s not quite what the captain said, but he mentioned she was a gossip.”
“Oh, yeah. I feel bad for him, besides that he has a great and exciting job.”
“He seemed to admire the finer things in life. Mentioned that he’d almost want to leave it all behind to live off the land, even.”
Martha laughed. “That’s what they all say until they have to do it. I’m not exactly like that. I mean, I like having a roof over my head and food in my belly, but that doesn’t mean I want to conform to society and get a job. I’d rather make my jewelry, which gives me enough money for the basics.”
“Thanks to me for allowing you to live in my Winnebago, you mean.”
“Oh, Mother,” Martha said, and sauntered off.
“Martha is lost in la-la land, give it up,” Andrew said. “I rather like her this way. I can’t imagine her any other way.”
“I know. That one time she was working as a realtor really didn’t seem right, but as we all know, that never lasted.”
The band began to play and Andrew pulled me out onto the floor, where we started our first waltz. I really loved to dance. I just wasn’t all that good at picking up my feet, especially when the tempo increased. I stared near the door and saw Leah and Ricky, with the ever-present Leo, whose presence screamed ‘creepy’ to me. There was also a line of young men wearing suits and Eleanor was handing one a piece of paper, and then she was led onto the dance floor.
Eleanor held the man tighter than he was probably comfortable with, since he seemed to be shifting so he wouldn’t have too much contact with her. I gave her a hard stare and she chilled out her behavior, being sure to stick her tongue out at me as she whirled past. I’d expect no less from Eleanor. It even brought a smile to my lips.
After a few whirls around the dance floor, I begged Andrew to let me rest. We found seats and I was so exhausted. Mr. Wilson kept his eye on Eleanor at all times. Who could blame him, after the way Eleanor acted during her first dance on the floor? She had since behaved herself, but was it a little too late for Wilson?
“Eleanor seems to be enjoying herself on the dance floor,” I said.
“Humph,” was all Wilson said. His eyes suddenly protruded and he raced forward with the scooter into the startled crowd, causing people to dive out of the way just in the nick of time, like synchronized swimming dancers.
With a screech he braked hard, and Andrew and I were on the move to see what the to-do was all about. Mr. Wilson was crawling off the scooter with a raised fist. “I saw you trip my wife, you jezebel,” Wilson shouted at Ruby.
Eleanor limped to her husband and said, “It’s okay. I’m sure she didn’t mean to trip me up.”
“I’m sure I did,” Ruby sneered. “How dare you steal Mr. Wilson from me.”
“That’s water under the bridge, now. We’re married and you were nowhere near Tawas the entire time Eleanor and I dated and were engaged,” Wilson said. “We weren’t together when I started dating Eleanor.”
Ruby began to tap her foot. “Oh, and when did we break up, exactly? We never did, to my knowledge.”
Andrew raced up and caught Mr. Wilson right before he was about to hit the floor, easing him down on the seat of the scooter.
“We dated, sure, but it’s not like I called you my girl or anything,” Mr. Wilson said. “And we hadn’t spoken in over two years after you left town.”
“That hardly seems like you had any claims on him, Ruby,” I said. “You need to leave the happy couple alone.”
Ruby’s face screwed up now. “Or what?”
“Look, you’re not doing yourself any favors here,” Andrew began. “It sure seems like you would have moved on by now.”
“I have. That was, until I found out he married Eleanor and they’re on the same cruise on their honeymoon that I am on. It’s like they’re pouring salt into my old wounds.”
I sighed. “Eleanor has yet to do anything to you that I’ve witnessed. Believe me, I know Eleanor well enough to know that she’s all about rubbing salt into wounds if she has a mind to, but she’s not like that anymore. I can’t remember the last time she’s even had a fist fight with anyone in Tawas and that’s a serious improvement.”
“She’s right about that,” Dorothy Alton said. “She used to like to flirt with my husband, Frank, to get under my skin, but not anymore. When she started dating Mr. Wilson, there was a real change in Eleanor and I think you need to leave her alone. Whatever was between you and Wilson was in the past.”
“Thanks, Dorothy.” Eleanor smiled. “We sure got into our scuffles in the past, but I’m happy to call you a friend these days.”
“This ship is big enough for the two of you to never run into each other,” I said.
“Huh? Every time I go out on the deck, I see one of you honeymooners and again at dinner or dancing. I’m getting sick of the sight of all of you.”
Gasps split the air and Denise came forward with a disapproving frown on her face. “If it bothers you so much Ruby, perhaps you should stay in your cabin for the remainder of the trip. I’m really getting sick of your mean-spirited ways. There’s not even a good reason behind it. I’m beginning to realize that you’re a bitter woman. We came here to have fun, not deal with a whole lot of drama.”
“Come along, Lucy,” Pearl said. “Let’s go back to our cabin.”
Ruby pursed her lips and holding her head high, she strutted toward the door just as there was an announcement that the Lennon Sisters would be on stage in five minutes.
“I won’t continue to apologize for Ruby, but when we get home, her membership will be revoked. I can’t have someone like that ruining our trips,” Denise said.
I watched as she left and couldn’t understand why Ruby was treating Eleanor like this. I knew my friend enough to know that it wasn’t on her part. She had never even mentioned Ruby that I knew of.
“Dorothy, come to our table for a drink,” I said.
“I would, but Frank’s in the casino and I’m afraid he might spend too much money. He loves to gamble, you see. It’s hard to get him
out of there once he goes in.”
Andrew and Mr. Wilson volunteered to go with Dorothy to try and talk Frank out of the casino, which would leave Eleanor and me to investigate Ricky and Leo. Presently they had left the room, but I thought I heard them say they were going to the billiard room, where they would be able to smoke cigars.
Chapter Nine
I waited until the men had left with an agitated Dorothy before I said, “Come on, Eleanor. We need to do some investigating while the men are away.”
“Aww, but the Lennon Sisters are just set to go on, see, they’re about to announce it.”
“Fine, but only for a few numbers and then we have to leave, agreed?”
Eleanor and I sat down and the lights went dim, spotlights hitting the stage as the sisters sang, ‘May You Always.’
Eleanor and I swayed our bodies to the mellow tune.
“They certainly don’t make music like this anymore,” Eleanor said.
I nodded my head in agreement. I wished now that Andrew was here so we could enjoy listening to the sisters together. I then glanced at the program and saw that they’d be here tomorrow night, too.
Applause split the air and the Lennon Sisters began the first verse of ‘Easy to Remember.’ When I glanced around, I saw that even the younger passengers seemed to be enjoying listening to the music, the couples moving closer together. It was nice to see the appreciation of music from another time by all.
After the second song ended, I pulled Eleanor out of the atrium and she dragged her feet. “I don’t see why we have to leave.”
“Because we need to follow Ricky and Leo. They’re supposed to be in the billiard room. The Lennon Sisters will be performing tomorrow night, too, according to the schedule on the table.”
“That’s right,” Tasha said from behind us.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to get you into trouble with the captain by mentioning we met you outside when you were working one of the activities.”
She rolled her eyes. “Captain Hamilton needs to relax a little. I’m good at delegating, but I don’t do so by being uncaring or having the staff overwork, especially in the sunlight for extended periods of time.”
Madison Johns - Agnes Barton 07 - High Seas Honeymoon Page 9
