by Diane Rapp
He couldn’t meet her gaze. “It would be best if you didn’t work with me, under the circumstances, but I’ll be happy to write you a good reference. Lots of shop owners might be eager to hire a manager like you.”
She stood up and headed toward the exit. “I’ll get out of your way, then.” Still wearing a lacy black nightgown, she pulled a sable coat from the closet. “You don’t mind if I keep this fur?”
“No.” Phillip shook his head. “It was a gift.”
Cynthia slipped into the silk-lined fur and tied the belt. Wiggling bare feet into a pair of Manolo Blahnik shoes, she left the cabin. They were scheduled for the second seating at breakfast, so it was too early to go to the dining room. She didn’t feel hungry enough to brave the buffet line and wandered into the reading room. She sat in an overstuffed chair next to the window, opened a steamy romance novel, and listlessly thumbed through the pages.
Outside a National Park Service boat motored up and she watched a park ranger climb aboard the Aurora. Soon she heard the captain make an announcement about entering Glacier Bay National Park.
Steven’s wedding was scheduled for today! How could he marry another woman? He once loved Cynthia, so how could he fall in love with Kayla? Maybe she should visit him and appeal for help. Surely if she planted the idea, there was still time to cancel the wedding and reconcile with her. She saw Jason standing in line at the breakfast buffet and smiled. Steven would be alone in his cabin, so it was the perfect time to play the damsel in distress.
Lot of good that ploy had done!
Steven nearly tossed her out of the room. Now she sat, cold and alone on the deck, wishing there was more time to manipulate him before the wedding…maybe she could do something about that. She headed toward the beauty salon, eager to make herself gorgeous for Steven’s wedding.
*****
Kayla lay in the dark room listening to classical music with her face covered in a seaweed mask. This is pure luxury! Her fingers and toes tingled from the “mani-pedi” but her shoulders felt relaxed after the facial massage. No wonder people pay to be treated like this.
Suddenly a voice interrupted her enjoyment. “I insist on receiving a facial this morning! I must look my best for Steven.”
That’s Cynthia! Kayla cringed and felt small cracks radiate through the hardening mask.
“We can work you in next. Why not relax in the manicurist’s chair until the room is free?”
Kayla squirmed to see out the door as they led the bleached blonde away from the facial room. Yes! Cynthia is here and intruding on my special day. She ground her teeth and felt more cracks in the mask. Will my face hold these cracks? That woman will be the death of me.
The attendant entered the room and placed a warm wet cloth over Kayla’s face. “That woman is horrid! She doesn’t make an appointment but expects service immediately! I’d love to make her face turn red, but I’d get fired.”
Kayla chuckled, imagining Cynthia’s face the color of a lobster. “Don’t get yourself fired. She’s not worth it.”
“We’re almost finished. How do you feel?”
“Pampered and relaxed. I never realized how wonderful these treatments felt. Now I need to come back often.”
“That’s the idea. We get you addicted to being spoiled, and then you’re ours for life.” The girl rubbed a cream onto Kayla’s face that smelled of coconut. Kayla’s mouth watered as she imagined eating a coconut cream pie. “You’re due for the hair stylist next.”
“Can you take me out another way? I don’t want Cynthia to see me.”
“Sure. Come this way.”
They walked out the far door and entered the salon. The smell of hairspray and perm solution filled the air. Kayla settled into a tilted seat at the hair washing sink and allowed the attendant to run warm water through her hair. As strong fingers massaged shampoo into her scalp, she moaned with pleasure. More tropical fruit smells inundated her senses as crème rinse dissipated under the warm water. Wrapped in a fluffy towel, Kayla made her way to the stylist’s chair.
“We were married long before he met her.” Kayla heard Cynthia’s shrill voice filter down the short hallway. “I plan to give him one last reminder before he takes his vows. Ouch! Don’t rub so hard, you’ll make my skin turn red.”
The stylist turned on the blow dryer and drowned out Cynthia’s voice. Kayla watched as the soft round brush added curl and volume to her limp hair. Deft touches with a curling iron and a cloud of mango-scented hair spray froze the strands into a golden mane.
“You plan to pin the veil from the crown of your head?” the stylist asked. Kayla nodded and the girl back combed the top of her hair to add more height. “This keeps it from getting flat.”
The makeup specialist arrived with her tray and bent over Kayla’s face just as a shampoo attendant led Cynthia toward the sink. After a light cream foundation, bronzed blush, blue eye shadow, and delicate eye liner, Kayla stared into her own face in the mirror.
“You look beautiful!” the makeup girl said, adding, “I wish I had your skin. It will stay fresh and young looking for years.”
Kayla’s eyes darted toward the shampoo sink as Cynthia rose with a towel over her head. She could see that Cynthia was still dressed in a slinky black nightgown and high heels. Clenching her fists, she felt her new acrylic nails bite into the palms and forced herself to relax.
“You all done, honey?” Julia asked, stepping in front of Kayla as Cynthia walked into another room. “Patricia and I are on our way to the auction.”
“I don’t want to go,” Kayla said. “I’ve got too much to do before the wedding.”
Julia bent close and whispered, “I know you heard that woman spout nonsense about Steven. She’s a real…well…a lady doesn’t use that kind of language in public.” She turned as Natalia walked over from the manicurist’s chair.
Natalia said, “I foresee a long lonely life for Cynthia, one she greatly deserves.” She held her manicured red fingertips to her forehead and struck a dramatic pose. “Care to join me on deck? There are seals and eagles outside, and we could use some fresh air, untainted by ex-wives.”
Kayla grinned. “You read my mind! Let’s go.”
*****
Cynthia admired her image in the salon mirror, letting her crimson lips curl into a sardonic grin. The stylist applied hairspray to the smooth French twist, Steven’s favorite hairdo. She felt satisfied with the result. Fluttering false eyelashes, she appreciated the dramatic eye makeup that created a mysterious and alluring expression. She believed a good makeup artist was worth every cent and added a generous tip to the room charge. After all, Phillip was still paying her bill.
She knew Kayla had been in the beauty salon. The expression on Kayla’s face was priceless when Cynthia walked past her wearing the black lace negligee. She relished the images that surely flitted through Kayla’s mind. Perhaps she didn’t need to lure Steven away from his bride, placing doubts into Kayla’s mind might do the trick.
Leaving the beauty salon, Cynthia headed straight to a boutique where an expensive little red dress called her name. She knew that everyone at the wedding had been asked to wear blue, but she planned to stand out. The skimpy red dress was perfect.
She ignored the price tag and headed to the changing room. This dress seemed like an unnecessary luxury two days ago, but today it became an absolute necessity for her plan. She hung the sable on the hook, wriggled into the tight material and pulled the zipper shut. Outside the dressing room she gazed at herself in the mirror as everyone in the shop turned to stare.
The sultry shade matched her mood and transformed her into a brazen seductress. The halter top emphasized her ample bosom, leaving her slender arms, shoulders and back bare. Perhaps the skirt was a bit tight, but the short hemline accentuated the curves of her shapely legs in new nylons.
“It’s perfect! I’ll wear it out, so put this nightie into the bag,” she told the clerk. “My ex-husband might have second thoughts after he sees me wearing
this little number. Surely his little bride will be filled with doubts.”
The clerk’s shocked expression thrilled Cynthia, and she turned to find a tall man watching her with more than interest in his eyes. She could still surprise and astonish! Feeling eager to see what chaos she’d trigger at the wedding, she left the boutique and sauntered into the theater. She could tell that bidding at the art auction was heated, but heads turned in her direction as she entered. Male eyes followed her body while female eyes flashed hatred and envy.
Checking to make sure that Phillip occupied his usual seat, she left the room. Auctions bored her now that she had no stake in the outcome. Feeling a twinge of regret over Jeffrey’s death, she forced herself to focus on a new plan. She must convince Steven to help protect her!
Inserting her key card into the lock, she opened the cabin door and peeked inside. Phillip’s suitcases were already gone. Good! She could spread out her things and make use of the entire room. Something crunched under her heel as she stepped over the threshold.
Bending her knee to reach the shoe, she took the note from the spiked heel. The note was short and to the point:
Give us the glacier painting by the time we reach Anchorage or you’ll be next to die!
Cynthia barely made it to the bed before her knees gave out. Although her hands shook and bile rose in her throat, she felt grateful that her eyes remained dry, after all, she didn’t want to spoil the expensive makeup. Carefully folding the note, she slid it into her handbag. Steven would surely help her now that she could prove the danger to her life.
*****
Kayla and Natalia leaned against the handrail and watched chunks of ice float past the ship. A tree-lined bank rose sharply from the blue-green water filled with glacier silt. Each canyon radiating from the main channel had been formed by glaciers that receded after the last ice age. As the ice melted it fed the bay and left valleys of bare rock and sediment, but nature quickly filled the blank spaces with lush foliage and abundant wildlife.
Small icebergs melted into artistic shapes that would rival any modern sculpture. Natalia pointed at an elegant bald eagle perched atop a twisted spire of translucent blue ice on a small iceberg. His white head, golden beak, and steely gaze cut a noble silhouette against a backdrop of dark evergreens along the shore. After surveying its domain, the eagle spread its impressive wings and dropped from the perch, swooping gracefully across the aqua blue water of the channel in search of salmon. Soon the eagle reached out with curved talons and grabbed a large red fish. Strong wings pumped as the fish dangled precariously, but the elegant bird lifted its catch and headed for a nest wedged in the top of a tall pine. Black heads popped up as the eagle hovered over the nest and gently landed.
Both girls watched a group of seals that kept pace with the ship, sleek bodies racing through the water. “Why do you suppose they swim alongside the boat?” Kayla asked.
“They’re harbor seals. Old salts claim they’re the reincarnated souls of lost sailors, keeping watch over us,” Natalia said in a wistful tone. “I’d like to think someone protects us as we travel through treacherous waters.”
Kayla shivered, more from her friend’s somber tone than the chilly breeze. “I thought that albatross kept watch over sailors.”
Natalia shrugged her slim shoulders. “Depends on which sailors tell the tale.”
Kayla gazed at the wild beauty that surrounded them and inhaled a breath of cold air. “We’d better get inside before we freeze.”
Natalia nodded. “The glacier creates its own weather as updrafts of icy air meet currents warmed by the sun, a battle between winter and summer.”
Kayla laughed. “You’re sounding philosophical today.”
“My mystical nature is fed by a wild atmosphere, but we’ve got a wedding to celebrate! Let’s go dress and drink a glass of wine.”
As the girls waited for the elevator, they saw Cynthia leave the boutique wearing a “stop-sign” red dress under her fur coat. She headed toward the bank of elevators, and Kayla ducked around the corner to avoid meeting. Natalia stayed put, casually examining her flawless manicure while Cynthia impatiently jabbed the elevator button.
“I see you’re dressed for the wedding,” Natalia said to Cynthia. “I don’t think we met, I’m Natalia Baliskov, a friend of Kayla’s.” Cynthia reluctantly shook the outstretched hand.
Natalia held onto the soft fingers a moment too long. Cynthia arched her eyebrows and pulled away from the handshake with tingling fingers. “You’re that fortune teller! I saw your act the other night.”
“Too bad about your lovers. It appears that you’re all alone for the rest of the cruise.”
Cynthia’s eyes widened, and she stepped backwards.
Flashing a wide grin, Natalia murmured, “You don’t really believe I can read your mind or tell your future, do you? It’s an act.” The elevator dinged and Cynthia rushed inside before the doors opened completely. She looked flustered, nearly panicked, until Natalia waved. “I’m waiting for a friend. See you at the wedding.”
After the elevator closed, Natalia stepped around the corner to fetch Kayla. “You can come out now. The witch has fled into her lair.”
Kayla frowned. “Why’d you do that?”
“I wanted to get a read on her, and it was very interesting.” Natalia pushed the button and stared at the lights above the elevator door.
“So? What did you find out?” Kayla sounded impatient and twirled a piece of blond hair around her finger.
Natalia took Kayla’s hand to prevent her from ruining the fresh hairstyle. She tilted her head and smiled. “She’s a minor annoyance that will be gone soon.”
The elevator arrived and they stepped inside after waiting for passengers to exit. “She’ll be gone?” Kayla asked. “Do you mean, she’ll die?”
Natalia shrugged. “I don’t see everything, Kayla. I just know she won’t be around long.”
Soon they were immersed by the party atmosphere inside Emily’s suite. “Welcome!” Emily said. “We’re all ready to help the bride dress in style. Sit over here, Miss Sanders.” She patted the sofa and scooted over to give Kayla room.
Kayla accepted a glass of champagne from Emily, smiled at Julia and Patricia, and sat down on the sofa. Natalia chose an overstuffed chair near the window and picked up a finger sandwich from the arrangement on the coffee table.
“This is fantastic and quite a surprise,” Kayla gestured at the snacks and glasses of bubbly. “Won’t we be eating after the wedding?”
Emily nodded. “There will be plenty of food, but I know from experience that events prevent the bride from eating. There are wedding photos, hands to shake, and the cake to cut. I decided you should start out with a snack to keep your energy levels high.”
Shannon bent to take a sandwich for her plate. “We can touch up your lipstick after you get dressed. I’m really glad Emily threw this little party. I’ll make sure to include the idea in my next wedding.”
Kayla glanced up at her friend. “Do you have an announcement to make?”
Shannon blushed. “No! I’m usually the one who arranges festivities, but I’m still single.”
Natalia arched an eyebrow and grinned. “I see a tall, handsome stranger in your future, Shannon. Tell us all about that hunky ranger.”
Startled, Shannon’s mouth hung open. Kayla said, “We saw you get into the elevator together earlier. Tally’s just yanking your chain.”
Shannon sighed. “He came onboard to help pilot the ship through Glacier National Park. I invited him to the wedding and hope you don’t mind, Kayla.”
“Mind? You’re the one who has to find room for an extra guest at one of the tables. I’m just here to enjoy the party,” Kayla said. “Enjoy your date.”
“Oh it’s not a date, at least I don’t think…I hope he doesn’t…” Shannon’s face turned bright red. “He’s cute in that uniform. Maybe I’ll get to see him again when we come through here this summer.”
Natalia chewe
d a bite of shrimp and nodded. “You’ll be seeing him again,” she said. “I don’t tell fortunes, Shannon, but I could see by his expression that he thought you were very attractive.”
Patricia and Julia got up from their chairs and each handed a box to Kayla. “We don’t mean to interrupt you girls, but time’s speeding by,” Julia said. “I wanted to make sure you had your ‘something blue’ for the wedding.”
“Here is ‘something old’ for the bride,” Patricia added.
Kayla opened the box from her mother and pulled out a dazzling blue topaz pendant surrounded by diamonds. Patricia’s box contained a delicate crown studded with pearls.
“Thank you so much!” Kayla bounced up and hugged each woman. “They’re beautiful gifts and I’ll treasure them forever.”
Patricia said, “The crown has a spot in the back where you can attach your veil. My mother wore it on her wedding day, and I got to wear it twice. The second time was the best.”
Julia said, “Clint and I bought this on the first cruise we took together. I almost gave it to you on your sixteenth birthday but decided to keep it for your wedding day.” She kissed Kayla’s cheek. “I almost got too impatient.”
“Sorry it took so long for this day.” Kayla blotted tears from her eyes before the mascara could run.
Shannon handed a shoebox to Kayla. “I’ve got the ‘something borrowed’ for you. Since we both wear the same size shoe, I decided these heels would be perfect. I didn’t know your mom would have the ‘something blue,’ but you’ve got two blue things. That must be extra lucky.”
Kayla stared at blue satin shoes with a pearl buckle on the toes. “I can’t believe it. We picked out these shoes together in Italy, but you dyed them blue for the wedding!”
Shannon shrugged. “The color matches your flowers. I got the idea when I saw my first glacier and fell in love with the deep blue color in the ice. You wanted a blue wedding, so I asked all the guests to wear glacier blue,” Shannon exclaimed. “These are on loan so don’t wear them out.”
