The Companion

by Chelsea Hale

  Mandy jerked upright from her crouched position, nearly knocking straight into Derek. He had a knack for making her heart jump around erratically in her chest. He needed to stop that. “We’re just…” What were they doing?

  “We’re taking pictures, dear, what does it look like we’re doing?” Alice rolled her eyes in a loving grandmother sort of way.

  “It looks like you’re making a fool out of my grandmother.” He didn’t remove his eyes from Mandy.

  Mandy glanced at Alice, and her expression said Alice was thinking what Mandy was. Derek would be the camera’s next victim. “You’re up next.” Derek’s hair was styled in a sculpted, messy sort of way that made Mandy want to run her fingers through it. His tux was perfectly tailored to show off his physique and he walked with the confidence of owning the room and everyone’s attention.

  He folded his arms across his chest. “I don’t want my picture taken.”

  “Why not? You look handsome.” Mandy could feel her cheeks heat as the words left her mouth.

  He gave and crooked smile and leaned forward. “You think I’m handsome?”

  Mandy forced her tight throat to swallow, then made shooing motions to move him into place where Alice stood. “You clean up nice. And the tux does you several favors.”

  He put a hand in one pocket, resting his thumb on the outside, and put the other on his lapel, showing his profile to the camera, and gave a slight smile. “Put it on the record. Amanda Jones thinks I’m handsome.”

  “You don’t need a bigger ego. Besides. My opinion is hardly worth bragging about.” Hopefully that knocked him down a peg or two. “Okay. I’m running you through the same pictures. Smile regularly.”

  Derek obliged, giving the camera a smoldering look. She took the picture and he added a winning smile to the pose. She was grateful her camera blocked her face as she stared at him through the viewfinder.

  “Now give me a silly face,” she said.

  Derek scrunched up half of his face and tilted his head to the side.

  She zoomed in, taking in all of his features. “Is that the best you can do?”

  “You don’t like my silly face?”

  “I think you can be a little more creative than that,” Mandy said.

  He made the ‘thinking pose’ and she captured it, though it was hardly silly. He took a vocal breath, crossed his eyes, blew out his cheeks and pulled out his ears.

  “A monkey in a monkey suit. Clever.” She took another picture. “Okay now laugh.” She was determined to break down the walls on Derek and these silly pictures seemed to do that.

  Derek’s laugh looked painfully forced. He was trying too hard.

  Mandy started giggling. “No. Not like that. A belly laugh. Try it like this.” She demonstrated an exaggerated laugh as she threw her head to the side, and let her cheeks scrunch up to her half-closed eyes.

  She heard a digital click, and opened her eyes. He had caught her with his cell phone. “Hey wait—”

  “Are you the only one allowed to take pictures?” He raised his eyebrows.

  “No, but—”

  “My settings may not be as fancy, but this works for me,” he said.

  She pulled the phone away from him, and looked at the picture with a critical eye. It turned out surprisingly nice.

  “Fine. But you can use my camera. Then I can have copies of them.”

  He took the camera from her hands. “Laugh again.”

  She did and he took a few pictures.

  He looked around the camera. “Okay, now do the rest of the silly and goofy and posed or whatever the last one was.”

  Mandy followed his instructions, then took her camera back and inspected the pictures he took.

  As she placed the cover on the lens, the ship’s photographer came up to take a picture. Mandy moved so that Alice and Derek could get a picture in front of the statue together. She smiled as they took a picture together. “And now you, miss.” He motioned for her to move toward them.

  “Oh, it’s all right. I don’t need to be in it.” But the photographer insisted. She moved to stand by Alice, but apparently that was throwing off the photographer’s groove too.

  “No. On the other side. Yes. Man in the middle. Arms around two ladies. This is a perfect picture,” he said, adjusting the camera settings.

  Derek’s fingers brushed along her arm and she wanted to lean into him. His expensive cologne filled her senses, but the photographer took the picture and he immediately dropped his hand.

  Mandy quickly whispered, “Okay, on this photo, make your silly face.” It was an animal picture. Alice was a moose, Derek stayed with the monkey, and Mandy made a fish face. The photographer laughed and took the picture.

  They went into dinner and for the first time since they’d arrived on the ship, dinner went by too quickly. Derek’s conversational mood surprised Mandy. He seemed all interested to the point of borderline nosy. What was up with that?

  After dinner, Alice, Derek, and Mandy went to the grand ballroom. The oldies music played louder than Mandy would have guessed. Spencer scooted around the perimeter toward her and greeted her with a lingering handshake. “Surprised to see you here,” he said but smiled broadly.

  “Yes. I haven’t done this before, though I’ve enjoyed the music from outside the room. Alice was in the dancing mood tonight, so we thought we’d check it out.”

  He nodded. “How nice that your companion this time likes different things.”

  “It has been a nice trip so far.”

  Derek moved toward them.

  “And you remember Derek?” She lifted her eyebrow toward Derek as he approached.

  Spencer gave a thin-lipped smile that bordered on a frown but dipped his chin in acknowledgment. “Of course. If you’ll excuse me.”

  Alice took a seat and watched the band play as a few couples swayed to the music. She closed her eyes and a smile crossed her lips. Mandy joined her, enjoying the music she knew by heart from time spent with her own grandma. “You are my Sunshine” came on, and she felt the pull on her heart of the memories she wished she could remember with clarity.

  Derek extended his hand. “Will you do me the honor?” A twinkle sparkled in his eye.

  Mandy smiled. Dancing was something she did often enough in college. She’d been on the ballroom team. But it’d been a few years since she’d spun around the floor for anything but a competition.

  “I’d love to, dear. You’re so thoughtful,” Alice spoke the words, putting her wrinkled hand inside Derek’s.

  Mandy sucked in a breath, grateful she hadn’t embarrassed herself by taking his hand first. Of course he would dance with his grandma. She watched them as they moved around the dance floor. He was a courteous grandson. That was good. The way Alice’s face lit up as he spun her in a few circles made it obvious she cherished him.

  Mandy took a few pictures of them dancing. Alice had mentioned that Derek worked a lot. Though Mandy was Alice’s companion, there had to be some way that Mandy could make sure Alice and Derek spent more time together. It was what they both needed. Maybe if she came up with a baby gift idea for Caden, Derek could focus on time with Alice. It was something Mandy wished she had.

  Her gaze swept over the room, and she spotted Spencer looking over the spread of cheeses, meats, and gourmet crackers. She headed in his direction.

  “This is a fun party,” she said.

  Spencer nodded. “You’ll have to make this part of your regular routine with other companions.”

  Likely Alice wouldn’t have come without Derek. This wasn’t a singles cruise full of eligible partners, though Mandy noticed a few seemed unattached. She took a drink from the silver platter he held out to her. “I’ll think about it.”

  “Will you be dancing this evening?” He smiled at her.

  Mandy laughed. “Is that your way of asking me to dance?”

  He shook his head. “Ah. If my duties allowed it, we’d already be dancing.” He spread out a few more napkins an
d gave instructions to the crew in charge of the food. “But, as it is…” He shrugged.

  “Thanks for being a knight anyway. This drink is what I needed.” She grabbed a small plate of the finger foods. She turned back to the dance floor, reaching her original place as the second song Derek and Alice danced to finished.

  Mandy caught the words, “Love you, Grams,” as Derek hugged Alice.

  “Love you. Thanks for the dances. Your grandfather taught you well.”

  Derek nodded. “I’ll get you a plate of food.”

  Alice pulled out a tissue from her purse and blotted her eyes, before they focused on Mandy. “My late husband took me dancing every week. Those last two songs were his favorites.”

  Mandy nodded and squeezed Alice’s hand. “Your grandson dances very well.” The words came out more wistful than she planned as she followed Derek’s movement over to the food.

  Alice gave a small smile. “My husband taught him. He’d come with us dancing occasionally. He was always the center of attention among all the older folks. So polite. And he’d wear a three-piece suit and slicked back hair. He’d dance with everyone.” She chuckled. “All my friends were jealous my grandson was interested in dancing.”

  Mandy giggled, trying to see Derek as the child Alice described. “He sounds like a charmer.”

  The look in Alice’s eye changed, and she raised an eyebrow. “Do you like dancing?” she asked just as Derek returned with two plates of food balanced on top of two drinks.

  From the corner of her eye Mandy saw Derek watching her and her cheeks heated. Their friendship was still a tenuous one and she couldn’t let Derek think that she pushed Alice to come dancing or that somehow Mandy was willing to neglect her job duties while being Alice’s companion. Mandy laughed, though even to her own ears it sounded strained. “Once upon a time I did. But I’m too rusty now.” She took a gulp of the carbonated punch and the bubbles burned down her throat.

  “Nonsense. Dancing is the cure for rusty dancing. Derek, take her for a spin on the floor.”

  Derek’s eyes widened, as he looked between her and Alice.

  Before he could respond, Mandy said, “Oh, that’s all right, Alice. I’m here to be your companion, not to dance.” She gave her a smile. Besides, turning Derek down before he made an excuse to Alice’s suggestion avoided rejection. Mandy had saved them both from a dance neither of them wanted.

  Chapter Eight

  Derek paced back and forth in his room. His sleep was restless, though he couldn’t convince himself it was entirely the ship’s fault. Since he’d put on the sea-bands, the rocking had a lulling effect on him. No. It was Mandy’s fault. Why hadn’t she wanted to dance with him? It was the question that had him tossing and turning for hours. Followed by a more condemning one. Why did he care?

  The red numbers illuminated on the alarm clock read 4:30 a.m. and pacing his confined room wasn’t burning off his energy. He put on his workout clothes and running shoes and went to the gym. Halfway through his routine he grabbed a water bottle and a towel from the desk, and headed to a treadmill.

  The machine faced the windows, giving an unobstructed view in the direction they headed. The horizon was barely visible in the early morning light. He’d have to come back in the middle of the day to run and enjoy the view.

  “Good morning,” a cheerful voice came from his left. “I didn’t realize you were such an early riser. I haven’t seen you in here the last few days.” Mandy.

  She stepped onto the treadmill next to him, set her speed, and began a brisk walk for her warm-up.

  “I couldn’t sleep,” he said.

  “Ah. That explains it then. This is the best time I’ve found to use the gym. Most of my companions are still sleeping, and it’s off hours for me.”

  “That’s smart of you.” He pushed up his speed on his machine.

  She cleared her throat. “I was thinking that maybe you’d want Alice to yourself for a few hours. Maybe just spend time with her without me around.”

  Earlier in the cruise he would have accused her of trying to get out of her job, but now he realized she was helping him have time with Grams. “Grams likes having you around.” And I like having you around. He continued running, enjoying that she ran next to him. Her blonde A-line hair bounced and swished with her every stride.

  “Your Grams is fun. I adore her,” she said.

  He finished running, slowing his pace to walk for his cool down, glad he’d gone to the gym to workout after all.

  Derek tendered from the ship to Georgetown. The Grand Caymans were picturesque. The bright green and blue of the ocean stood out against the white sand beach. He wondered what Mandy would take from the landscape. Would she come up with something to sketch or just enjoy the view?

  He’d told Grams and Mandy he’d meet them on the shore and went ahead to see if he could get reception. He clicked into his inbox and read an e-mail from Adam confirming Mandy’s story about her European accounts. She’d been honest with him and he needed to genuinely apologize to her.

  Derek grabbed a drink of cold water and waited under a white canopy tent for Grams and Mandy to arrive on the next tender boat. He didn’t have to wait long. As the passengers disembarked he spotted Mandy’s black and white striped hat in the crowd.

  “We weren’t sure you’d be here,” Alice said. “What was so urgent that you couldn’t wait for us?”

  Derek looked down at the phone he still clutched in his hand. “I was…taking care of a few things.”

  “There’s more to life than work, Derek, especially on a vacation.” Grams words held an edge, but Derek didn’t look at her. He watched Mandy. She’d said that too. Had they been talking together, or did they both notice it?

  “You’re right,” he said and slipped the phone into his back pocket. “I think it’s time for me to enjoy my vacation.”

  Mandy eyed him. “Does that mean you’ll come into the water at Sting Ray City and not just stay on the boat?”

  “I’ll come in the water.” His apology to Mandy would have to wait. He’d find an opportunity when Grams wasn’t around to do it.

  Alice smiled. “I’m glad to hear it. Mandy says it’s a once in a lifetime experience to hold wild sting rays.”

  “Hold them?” Derek asked, wondering what he’d just signed up for.

  “Don’t worry,” Mandy said, “Our tour guide will make sure to find a gentle one. The chances of you actually getting stung by one is low.” Mandy seemed to be teasing him, and he didn’t mind as much as he had before.

  They took a bus to the other side of the island and from there a boat out to Sting Ray City. The ocean water changed from a deep blue to a brilliant aqua green. Other boats were already anchored around, and several other groups were in the water, making circles with a guide holding a sting ray in the middle.

  Derek adjusted his mask, wondering if Grams would like this experience, or if he would.

  Mandy cocked her head at him. “You’ll be fine,” she said, seeming to read his mind. “It’s a very fun experience. You can even feed them if you want. Word to the wise though—tuck your thumb inside your fist. Their grinding plates in their mouths are unforgiving.”

  Derek’s eyes widened, and Mandy put a hand on his shoulder. If he wasn’t already on high alert, her touch sent him overboard.

  “You can always come back to the boat whenever you’re done,” she said.

  For the next hour Derek floated with Grams and Mandy. The water was so clear he could see stingrays coming from several yards away. One swam past his legs, brushing up against him, but he stayed calm, not moving or jerking away.

  One of the tour guides dove toward a large stingray, bringing it up out of the water. “You want to hold him?” he said in a thick accent.

  Derek wasn’t sure, but Mandy nodded at him, and suddenly he wanted to do it to prove to her that he could. “Sure,” he said.

  The man holding the stingray stood next to him and transferred the stingray to his outstre
tched arms. The slippery skin felt soft and he found himself holding the fifty-pound animal and enjoying it.

  “Want to try?” he asked Grams, after he’d held the stingray for a while.

  “Yes, dear,” she said and laughed a little when the stingray began to tickle her. “This is the strangest thing I have ever done.”

  Mandy took a few pictures with her waterproof camera of both of them holding the stingray.

  They fed the stingrays chopped up pieces of squid, and Derek felt the pressure and the sucking coming from its mouth.

  Mandy snorkeled out away from the group, and Derek wanted to follow her. Grams was still part of the group, holding the stingray, so he put his mask back on his eyes and said, “I’ll be right back. I want to see what she’s looking at.”

  He put his face under the water and got her attention. She pointed in the distance. Two stingrays swam together and passed between him and Mandy. Mandy gave him a thumbs up, and he returned the gesture.

  He looked in other directions, watching big and little stingrays come into focus in the clear water. He and Mandy swam back to the group, and surfaced. “Wow,” he said.

  “Neat to see them up close, isn’t it?”

  Two guides gave a stingray to both Derek and Mandy, and Mandy handed her waterproof camera to the guide. He took a picture of Derek, Mandy, and Grams together holding stingrays.

  Before Derek realized it, the hour was up, and they returned to the boat. He picked up three water bottles and handed one to Grams and Mandy, and all three of them headed to the top deck to enjoy the view on the way back to the shore.

  “Thank you,” he said to Mandy. “This was an amazing excursion.”

  Mandy smiled. “Thank Alice. She’s the one who chose it.”

  Chapter Nine

  Alice wanted to lie down once they returned from Sting Ray City. Mandy ordered Alice room service for lunch then grabbed her sketch book and went to deck three to the Starlight restaurant.

  Two men in suits opened the double glass doors as she walked up the marble stairs to the entrance. The maître d’ looked up at her. “Are you waiting for anyone, ma’am?”