The Companion

by Chelsea Hale

  “Just me.”

  He nodded, gesturing to an assistant to seat her at her table. Table 73 was smack dab in the middle of the room, in perfect view from the main entrance. It sat four, but the assistant took the three other place settings away after scooting her in.

  She sipped her water as she perused the leather menu. Movement caught her eye and she saw Derek out the glass doors. The water went down the wrong tube, and she sputtered and pulled the menu higher in front of her to block Derek’s view of her.

  She couldn’t think about the food selection at all. Maybe he hadn’t caught her staring, though her coughing fit wasn’t subtle in the middle of the restaurant.

  Lowering her menu, she peeked over it in time to make eye contact with Derek as he pointed in her direction. He’d caught her staring. Great.

  “May I join you?” he asked her as the waiter seated him then handed him a menu.

  Here was her moment to send him away if she wanted. “Of course,” she said, the words coming out before she realized she meant it.

  She read through the menu another time but couldn’t decide on any of the choices. She put the menu down and focused on the bread bowl, grabbing a roll and buttering it.

  “Why did you come to the restaurant?” he asked her.

  She set down the butter knife. “Because I was hungry.”

  “I mean, why did you come alone?”

  There it was. Checking up on her again. He wanted to know where Alice was, and why she wasn’t by Mandy’s side. She thought they were passed this. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been babysat and could feel her defenses rising. “Alice is resting. I ordered her food to her room.”

  He only shook his head. “I’m not checking up on you and I don’t need a report of Grams. I just meant why come to fine dining alone rather than grab a quick bite on the top deck?”

  She stopped to ponder his question. “I prefer the fine cuisine.” Then it occurred to her what he was really asking. “You’re not comfortable eating by yourself?”

  He shrugged, a look passed on his face, like he might just be open to giving her an insight. “I always have lunch appointments. Usually dinner ones too.”

  She let his revelation sink in. “I guess it’s good you joined me then.”

  The waiter came back and took their order.

  “I envy the way you are comfortable alone,” he said.

  Her eyes widened. He was opening up. It caught her off guard. She focused on his statement. She’d been doing things on her own for so long, that at first having roommates and being a companion was the foreign way to share a meal. She laughed off the praise. “You’re never by yourself? You should try it sometime—just go for a walk by yourself, or eat by yourself.”

  “I eat by myself, but being in a fine dining restaurant by yourself is different. Besides, I usually have an agenda when I eat.”

  “Agenda? It’s called a menu.”

  “I order catered. I usually have a topic to discuss.”

  She laughed. “You can’t let go for it for a minute, can you? Not that I’m one to talk since I am two weeks of assigned meals and assigned dinner guests.”

  His gray eyes looked stormier, and she hurried to add, “I don’t mind the conversation at all though, or who I travel with, I was just trying to say, I can relate to having lunch appointments and assigned conversation. I adore Alice, and by the end of the trip I’ll know all your family secrets.” She wiggled her eyebrows.

  He sighed, shaking his head. “What family secrets? Mine or Grams?”

  Everything she said around Derek could get twisted. Why had she tried to be funny? Because the one time she heard his delicious laugh wasn’t enough. And he had a disarming smile when he showed his perfect teeth. Not that he shared it often. Maybe she’d make that a personal goal of hers over the next few days. She could do hard things.

  “I was kidding.” She arched an eyebrow. “What deep secrets are you worried I’ll learn?”

  He studied her before answering and leaned forward, but his expression was amused. “All of them.”

  “The best way to avoid that is to control the conversation, so tell me about you. You already know about me.”

  “Work is my life—there isn’t much else to tell.”

  “You live in New York City. There has to be something else. What about the shows?” She eyed the notebook next to her. That was her original plan for lunch. Another working lunch even if she didn’t have her companion with her. Maybe she and Derek weren’t that different.

  He gave her a crooked smile that sent skitters over her arms. “I’ll see them when I have to entertain a client.”

  “Tough life. And you took over for your grandfather?”

  “I’m not the CEO if that’s what you’re asking.”

  “But you have full veto power and a board that listens to you.”

  Derek raised an eyebrow.

  She shrugged. “Alice may have mentioned it already. It’s impressive.”

  Derek huffed a breath. “If she already told you, why ask me?”

  “Just wondering what you’d say about yourself.” She already knew he identified with work. But maybe she was hoping for a little more. Something. Anything. But at least they were talking. “So you were next in line for your grandfather’s dynasty? No uncles or dad to do it?”

  “There were plenty of other people to take over besides me. But they all had a falling out with my grandfather. They all chose something different, and were all cut out of his will too and, out of the family. My parents didn’t like when I started my internship after high school with my grandfather. They made it personal and we haven’t been close since.”

  “I’m sorry.” She knew relations had been strained, but Alice hadn’t told her that.

  He waved her words away. “Work keeps me busy and I don’t dwell on it. My grandfather knew what he was doing, and I suppose it’s for the best anyhow.”

  A lull took over the conversation until the soup came out.

  Derek put down his soup spoon. “There’s a place in New York called Renaldi’s. It’s a small restaurant in the Financial District with the Italian colors everywhere. The red brick blends into the two other buildings next to it. You don’t really notice it’s there until you’re right in front of it and the smell of the pasta and sauce hits you. I love to eat there on Wednesdays. I guess I eat there by myself. But I’m in a room with a bunch of strangers that feel like family, so I never feel alone.”

  He was letting her in, giving her a taste of his busy life in New York.

  Curiosity poked at every nerve. “Why every Wednesday?” she asked.

  “They make what I like.”

  “And what is that?”

  “The house special.” He didn’t give her the name of the dish, but he grinned. An actual smile with teeth that made her forget what they were talking about anyway.

  Easy conversation filled the rest of their lunch. Mandy ordered dessert after finishing her entree, but Derek passed.

  “Finished already?” she asked. “Will you head back to the computers to do work?”

  “I think I’ll get mine on the top deck,” he said.

  Her eyebrows shot up. The restaurant had a dozen dessert choices. What did upstairs have that wasn’t available here? She enjoyed Derek’s company and wished he’d stay a little longer. He was opening up to her and intriguing to talk to. “What will you get?”

  He tilted his head. “I suppose if you’re really curious you’ll have to join me.” His tone was…flirty?

  She bit her lip. They’d had a good lunch together, but she had a responsibility to Alice. Was he testing her to see if she’d neglect Alice? Why else would he ask her to join him for dessert on the top deck? But lunch was over and she needed to get back to work. Surely, he would understand and expect that. “I better go check on Alice. We’re going to a trivia game in an hour.”

  Did disappointment cross his face? It was smoothed out before she could name his emotion.
He cleared his throat. “Well, thanks for letting me join you for lunch.”

  “Anytime. I mean…you’re Alice’s grandson, so you’re always allowed by default.” And this time his relationship to Alice had nothing to do with Mandy wanting him to stay.

  He nodded. “I’m going to get my dessert. I’ll see you around.” He left in such a hurry, Mandy wondered if she’d been that bad of company.

  Mandy and Alice walked into the pub to play the trivia game. Deep leather arm chairs, high tables with barstools, and booths filled the room. Half walls with bubbled glass separated the room into three areas, not providing complete privacy, but giving the illusion that each area was cozier than it really was. Chairs were tucked away in alcoves, and at a glance there were no empty seats.

  “Alice, you can join our team,” Betty said, from one of the rounded booths. Another lady next to Betty scooted further into the booth, making room for both Alice and Mandy.

  Alice and Betty talked like they were old friends. The four of them formed a team.

  “All right. I’m Joan from the cruise activities committee.” Joan spoke in a British accent and had long, red hair. “If you just got here, grab a pencil and paper off this table and join us for our trivia and brainteasers game. I’ve got some lovely prizes for the winners.” She held up several different prizes, including keychains and hats.

  Mandy scanned the room during the first half of the questions, wondering if Derek would show up. She’d thought he was interested when she mentioned it at lunch and she was curious to know what top deck dessert he decided on.

  Betty wrote down their answers on a lined sheet of paper. Mandy answered one question in the first ten. Alice knew a lot of trivia, and so did Betty, but Mandy’ mind wasn’t anywhere near the game.

  “Question fourteen. What is this common phrase?” Joan asked, her British accent filled the room, and Mandy could hear several pencils squeaking against the paper. Joan held up a paper with the word ‘head’ above the word ‘loheelsve.’

  Mandy was stumped. So was Alice and Betty, and Betty’s friend.

  Alice shook her head. “I keep thinking head above water, but I know that’s not the answer.”

  Joan repeated the question, and then went onto the next question.

  “Just leave it blank,” Alice told Betty. “We’ll think of it before the game ends. I wish Derek were here. He and my husband were always good at these kinds of questions.”

  “You’re very good at them too,” Mandy said. “You’ve come up with most of the answers so far.”

  She shook her head. “I thought for sure Derek would show up. We could have used him on our team.”

  Mandy wished Derek would have shown up too.

  The game ended, and Joan announced each of the answers after reading the question. They hadn’t figured out a better answer than “head above water” for question fourteen, and Mandy waited to hear the answer.

  Joan repeated question fourteen and then asked for the answer.

  A team in the corner yelled, “Head over heels in love.”

  “That’s right, my lovelies. Good job. Give yourself one point if you also put down ‘head over heels in love’ on your answer sheet.”

  Alice laughed. “Oh well, we only missed one so far.”

  They got the rest of the answers right, giving them a total score of twenty-four.

  Joan said, “Raise your hand if you got ten points…Keep them raised if you had eleven.” She counted all the way up to twenty. More and more hands dropped, but Mandy and her group kept their hands up high, cheering at every number. Only four groups remained. At twenty-three only two groups remained. Their hands went down at twenty-five, and one group was still ahead of them. The other group had gotten a perfect score.

  Mandy high-fived her group. “That was fun.”

  “Which team won I wonder?” Betty asked.

  Joan had walked over to an area of the room blocked by a half wall with bubbled glass through it. “Congratulations to our winners. Or wait. Sir, did you play by yourself?” She paused waiting for an answer, then said loudly into the mic, “Ladies and gentlemen, give a round of applause for Derek Thompson. Normally I give out four prizes of the same thing to each winning team but because you’re solo you’ll get four different prizes. Congratulations!”

  Alice shook her head, smiling. “Looks like he came after all. That boy.”

  “You’re right, Alice, he is good at these games,” Mandy said, making a mental note to add at least one more trivia game into their cruise when Derek could join them on a team.

  Mandy followed Alice and Betty as they made their way over to Derek.

  Alice gave him a hug, and he handed her the bag with the keychain, hat, playing cards, and tote bag.

  “You keep it,” she said. “Besides it will give me something to look forward to the next time I play trivia.”

  “Nice job,” Mandy said to Derek. “I guess next time I’ll have to recruit you for my team.” She cleared her throat. “Er, our team. Alice raved about your skills even before we knew you were playing.”

  Derek nodded. “My grandpa and I used to try and stump each other at trivia and brainteasers.”

  They walked out of the pub toward the main cruise atrium. Alice and Betty continued to chat together and Mandy walked next to Derek. Curiosity ate at her. “What did you have for dessert?”

  “You really want to know?” His voice was low and rumbly.

  “I’m waiting with baited breath.”

  He leaned closer to her ear, his breath tickling her neck. “Next time, come with me and I’ll order you one too.”

  Chapter Ten

  Alice gave Mandy the first two hours of the next morning off. It wasn’t an ideal time for Mandy to eat her birthday cupcake, but then this trip wasn’t about her. And if she wanted to celebrate her birthday differently, she shouldn’t have booked a companion trip over it. But her birthday fell on the busy time, so four out of the last five birthdays were celebrated like this. She’d celebrate with her roommates when she returned home, but in the meantime, it was an ocean view from top deck aft.

  Fire was only allowed on candles when servers lit them. Mandy surveyed the beautiful swirled frosting on top of the marbled cupcake. Spencer had delivered it to her room before breakfast. He’d worked every cruise she’d gone on with this ship. She opened the envelope with her name on it. “Wishing you another great year. Happy Birthday. - Spencer”

  On the first birthday she had celebrated on the cruise, she’d mentioned to Spencer how she and her grandma had always made marbled birthday cupcakes. It was her grandma’s way of appeasing those who liked chocolate cake and vanilla cake. Spencer had told her of his own traditions. His birthday was the day after hers. Easy enough to remember.

  From then on, her birthday cupcake was in her room when she returned from breakfast on each birthday. The day after she would leave Spencer a note, and smuggle him a soft serve ice cream cone—something the staff couldn’t eat unless a guest offered it to them.

  She watched the wake from the back of the ship, the sun already beating down its heat even at eight in the morning. The dark blue of the ocean created a perfect line unbroken by other ships as it touched the lighter blue of the cloudless sky.

  She pulled open her bag, setting a small square box wrapped with a bow on the table. A gift from all of her roommates. Jenny knew how to wrap gifts. The perfect bow had even survived being in her suitcase.

  Sliding off the bow, she opened the box. It revealed a silver anchor bracelet. The note inside read: Anchors away for your birthday. Have a wonderful day today. Love, Coco, Jenny and Liz

  Mandy had the best roommates. They were so thoughtful. She put the bracelet on and it sparkled in the sunlight. Resting her elbows on the table, she lifted the cupcake up in the air, and pretended to blow out the unlit candle.

  She’d long given up wishing for things on her birthday. She was in her groove in life. Happy. She didn’t need to wish for things. Sure. It was
moments like these when she had her time off that she wished for someone to permanently share her life with. Someone she’d fall in love with, but with her travel schedule the way it was, her relationships didn’t last more than a month or two. She shook her head. You can’t make wishes without the fire anyway.

  She pulled out the candle and ceremoniously licked the bottom of it.

  “I’ve been looking for you. Alice said you might be up here,” Derek’s familiar voice said as Mandy was about to bite into her cupcake. She put it down on the plate.

  They’d been getting along better. But he kept crashing her time off, like she shouldn’t have a break from being someone’s companion. Two hours off on her birthday wasn’t too much to ask. “And now you’ve found me.”

  “What are you doing?” He eyed the opened box and cupcake and card on the table.

  Just like him to ask a question where the answer is obvious. “What can I help you with? Is Alice asking for me?” She supposed she could take her break later and scooted her chair away from the table to stand up.

  “No. She doesn’t need you right now. She’s with her new friend Betty.” He leaned in closer. “It’s your birthday? You should be celebrating with friends.”

  Friends? On the cruise ship? She wasn’t going to burden Alice and make her feel like she had to make a big deal about it. “Who? You?”

  He cleared his throat. “No, not me, but your friends.” Derek looked uncomfortable, like his foot was just too big to wedge into his mouth any further. The more she thought about him, the more she got used to the idea of thinking of him as a friend, or maybe more.

  Over the last couple of days he’d been less antagonistic but this was still a professional business relationship to him. She’d do well to remember that the next time he turned his sea gray eyes on her, or that elusive smoldering smile.

  She gestured to the table. She couldn’t hold his non-friendship against him. It was how he worked. The business transactional sort of way that he pushed so hard to show. “I am celebrating with friends, in a manner of speaking.” She fingered the card from her roommates.