Santa Cruise

by Fern Michaels

  Nina found herself looking at a couple of men and laughing. At one point, she felt compelled to approach one of them, and say, “I’m not laughing at you.” She made a slight sweeping gesture with her hand. “I’m laughing at all this.”

  He smiled back. “Yeah. What are we doing here? You seem normal.”

  Nina burst out laughing. “Clearly, we haven’t met. I’m Nina.”

  He chuckled in return. “I’m Richard.” He looked at her again. “I don’t want to sound forward, but you look familiar.”

  “I get that a lot.” Nina smiled slyly, not wanting to totally identify herself. Heaven forbid someone posted a photo of her on a singles cruise. It was bad enough that the show had been canceled. She didn’t want to be the source of mockery on a show like TMZ or one of those other horrid tell-all gossip shows.

  The second mate of the ship was weaving his way through the crowd, announcing that their staterooms were ready.

  Nina smiled at Richard. “See you around the campus.” She raised her tropical drink as a toast.

  “Sooo . . . who was that?” Rachael pried.

  “That was Richard,” Nina said with a matter-of-fact tone.

  “And?” Rachel continued to press her.

  “And he said he thought he recognized me, and I didn’t want to get into it.” Nina took the last sip through the straw, making a gurgling sound.

  “I can understand that, especially now that the show is canceled and you don’t know what you’re doing next,” Frankie said.

  “¡Exactamente!” Nina winked at Rachael. “See, I can speak Spanish, too.”

  “Well, I’m proud of you. You actually walked up to a man and said hello,” Amy said.

  “I didn’t want him to think we were laughing at him.”

  “Good icebreaker.” Frankie snickered. “We set sail in four hours.” Frankie looked at her watch. “Shall we?”

  “Yes, we shall,” Nina answered, followed by Amy and Rachael.

  The ship was massive but not as large as the mega liners. The signage was clear, making it easy for them to navigate their way to their staterooms. Each of them had her own, with a veranda. The staterooms were large enough to accommodate two people, but they all agreed it would be worth the extra charge to have some privacy at the end of the day. Seven nights with another person in a relatively small space could get on your nerves.

  The staterooms were elegant, each with a queen-size bed, sofa, large-screen television, and dresser with a minibar. The bathroom was modern and efficient, with enough room to turn around. The balconies had two chairs and a small cocktail table. As Frankie had suspected from what she could see in the brochures, the stateroom was about the same size as her entire apartment.

  All their staterooms were in a row, so they had easy access to one another. Their challenge would be keeping their doors closed. The other challenge would be keeping the noise down. Not that they planned on having a fraternity-house-type party. Nope. It was just that they had a habit of laughing a lot. Laughing loudly. And laughing for hours.

  Their luggage hadn’t arrived at their staterooms yet, so they decided to follow the advice of the agent and change into the clothes they had packed in their tote bags. Before they had left the hotel, they discussed wardrobe options, taking care to not dress alike. Not that they didn’t have their own individual taste in clothes. But any one of them could show up wearing navy blue with polka dots. It could be a sundress, jumpsuit, blouse, duster, or bandana.

  A manifest on each of their dressers listed the activities for the evening, restaurants, and entertainment. A “Welcome Mix and Mingle” cocktail party was being held in the large atrium from five to six. Guests had a variety of options for dinner between six and nine. There were a number of activities posted from nine until midnight, including:

  • Karaoke

  • Dance Lessons with the world-renowned Henry Dugan

  • Darts

  • Trivia Contest

  • Magic Show

  • Piano Bar

  • Disco

  There didn’t appear to be any forced fun. Yet. But none of the items on the list seemed appealing to most of them, so they decided to play it by ear. Rachael, on the other hand, fully intended to take advantage of Henry Dugan’s presence on the ship. Once they were finished with dinner, the others would decide what level of humiliation they would force upon themselves.

  It was only two, so they had plenty of time to explore the ship. The plan was to return to their staterooms to change into something a little jazzier for the evening once their luggage was delivered.

  All four women exited their staterooms at the same time, practically bumping into each other. They were so caught up in their exuberance that they didn’t notice another passenger exiting his stateroom as well. They practically knocked him over. Naturally, that caused even more commotion, creating more giggles and guffaws. The poor guy thought he was being ambushed by a gaggle of geese.

  Frankie was the first one to regain her composure. “We are so sorry.” But it was one of those situations where the harder you laughed, the more you laughed. The gentleman couldn’t help but snicker as well. It was nice to see cheerful people.

  “No worries. We’re here to have fun. I believe it’s mandatory. The name is Peter. I suppose we’ll be seeing a lot of each other.” His smooth voice was enticing.

  Frankie pointed to her sternum. “Frankie.”

  “Amy.” She raised her hand.

  “Nina.”

  “Rachael.”

  “Good to meet you all,” Peter replied.

  “You say that now,” Frankie joked.

  He chuckled and gave a little salute. “Off to the festivities.”

  Rachel was looking up at the ceiling.

  “What are you looking at?” Amy asked.

  “Looking for, dear. Looking for. I am looking for mistletoe.”

  “Oh, jeez.” Nina linked her arm through Rachael’s. “We are most definitely going to have to put you on a leash.”

  They walked the entire length of the outside deck, smiling and greeting the other guests. “This isn’t too bad,” Nina admitted. “When do we actually set sail?”

  “I think sometime around five.” Frankie recalled reading that in the brochure.

  “Wow. There’s a chunk of stuff to do.” Amy was dizzy, thinking about all the activities ahead. Not necessarily those that were listed on the manifest. But she knew that tomorrow there would be an entire list of new things once they reached Key West. The first night was just a warm-up. At least that’s what she hoped. One thing was certain. She was going to pet a stingray when they landed at Grand Cayman.

  They followed the signs to the deck for the atrium, to check out the lay of the land. It was a large area, similar to an indoor mall, surrounded by shops and cafés. White poinsettias were in abundance. Some were stacked to look like Christmas trees, with gold stars at the top. It was like a small holiday village floating on the open sea.

  Frankie and Nina spotted an interesting gift shop with handmade jewelry. Frankie gave Nina a nod. “We’re going to check this place out.”

  Amy stopped abruptly once again. “I think I’m hallucinating.”

  “What’s the matter?” Nina asked.

  “I could swear that I saw my father again. Something just doesn’t feel right.”

  “Get off the guilt train,” Rachael proclaimed.

  “Like I said, must be the sea air.” Amy sighed.

  “We haven’t left the port yet, sweet cakes,” Nina reminded her. “Maybe you’re a bit jet-lagged. It’s been a busy couple of days.”

  “Yeah. Maybe. I think I’ll go back to my room and take a nap.”

  Frankie gave Nina a sign indicating that she would go with Amy.

  Nina nodded in agreement.

  “I’ll go with you,” Frankie offered.

  “I’m OK. But I think a nap would be good. We have a couple of hours. See you guys back in the staterooms.” Amy turned, and Frankie followe
d her. Amy seemed a little spooked.

  Nina looked at Rachael. “Interested in some local artistic baubles?”

  “Sure. Why not.” They headed to the shop with the sparkly jewelry in the window.

  As Frankie and Amy were walking back to their staterooms, Amy caught Frankie’s arm. “I never finished telling you guys that I’m a candidate for an associate professorship at MIT.”

  “Really? That’s fantastic.” Frankie was genuinely pleased. She knew that Amy loved Cambridge and Boston and missed the East Coast.

  “Yes. Maybe that’s why I’m feeling a little, I don’t know, weird.”

  “You’re nervous. That’s normal.” Frankie put her arm around Amy. “So tell me about it.”

  “I haven’t been thrilled about where I am now. We can work on developing a product and never know the end result. Too many secrets. It’s unnerving. As beautiful as Santa Clara is, I’ve always felt like a duck out of water there. I have too much Northeast in me.” She giggled. “If I get the job, I’ll start as an associate professor. The downside is that the pay is only about half of what I’m making now. The upside is that I can find an apartment for a lot less than I’m paying. I’ve tucked away some money, so I’ll be OK for a while. If I get some papers published in academic journals, I’ll get merit pay and eventually be a full professor.”

  “You’ve really given this a lot of thought,” Frankie noted.

  “Yes. I’ll be closer to my folks, too.” She rolled her eyes.

  Frankie smiled. “I know you love them.”

  “Most of the time.” Amy snickered.

  They came to their staterooms. “You sure you’re gonna be OK?” Frankie looked her straight in the face.

  “Yes.”

  “Just knock or send me a text. I’ll be right next door.” Frankie went into her stateroom and sent a quick text to Nina and Rachael.

  Amy is OK. I’m in my room. Knock when you get back. Luggage is here.

  Frankie got a quick thumbs-up emoji from them. She spotted one of her suitcases on the stand and the other next to it on the floor. The crew had obviously delivered the luggage while the women were touring the ship. Frankie busied herself unpacking and trying to smooth out any wrinkles in her clothes. She had a plastic spray bottle in her bag. She filled it with warm water and proceeded to spray one of her dresses and smooth it out. A half-assed steam job, but it worked. After she finished putting her clothes away, she went out on the balcony and opened a bottle of Pellegrino water. Even though the ship hadn’t left the dock, she was feeling the tension ease out of her body. The calypso band, the special cocktail, and the laughs had fired up her endorphins. She checked her watch again.

  Frankie could hear the jocularity in the hallway coming from Rachael and Nina as they got closer to her door. She stuck her head out. “I think Peter asked to have his room changed.”

  Rachael skidded to a halt. “Seriously?”

  “Nah. But I wouldn’t be surprised!” Frankie chuckled.

  Amy opened her door. “Hey. Keep it down,” she joked.

  “You feeling all right?” Nina asked, as she dug her keycard out from her straw hobo bag.

  “Yes. I have something I want to share with you guys.” She motioned for them to come into her room, and she proceeded to tell them about the possibility of her new job and relocating. Amy’s enthusiasm was always childlike but in a good way. Her exuberance was infectious.

  “How exciting.” Rachael clapped her hands. “We’ll only be an Amtrak ride away. Yay.”

  “I don’t have the job yet. I have an interview scheduled when we get back. So, yes, I’ll be jumping on the Acela to see what I can do with my life.”

  “This is pretty wild, girls.” Nina leaned against the dresser. “You realize I’m also going on a job interview right after we get back? And I may be moving home?”

  “That is kinda cool,” Frankie mused. “And we’re all together again to encourage and support each other.”

  Rachael got a little teary-eyed. “Getting back together with you guys has been the best Christmas present I’ve had in years.”

  “Maybe that’s because you’re Jewish and celebrate Hanukkah.” Amy cackled as did everyone else.

  “Good point.” Rachael smirked. “Greg was Presbyterian, so we always celebrated Christmas. Ryan liked opening a pile of presents on one day.” She paused. “We had a menorah at the house, of course, when I was growing up, but my family was more spiritual than religious.”

  “That was a big trend even before I started in publishing. There were spiritual books coming out every minute. The Dalai Lama, Thích Nhát Hnh, Deepak Chopra. All very spiritual and well-respected men. It wasn’t so much about religion but living a full, inspired, conscious life.” Frankie sat at the edge of the chair. “They taught how to incorporate essentials of kindness and compassion in our daily lives, regardless of religion. Very inspiring stuff,” Frankie ruminated. “The messages are not dissimilar to Christianity. ‘Love thy neighbor. ’ Too bad so many of the precepts of common decency have been replaced with the garbage on the Internet and social media. Ugh. Drives me nuts.”

  “Yeah. I read a lot of Chopra when I first moved to LA,” Nina added. “I needed all the spiritual guidance I could get in Tinseltown.” She smiled. “They don’t seem to have many traditional churches there. A lot of cults and New Age stuff, but most of it was total garbage. Smoke and mirrors. Now you see it, now you don’t. Your money, that is. Many of these groups just wanted your money. But enough of that. Tell us more about the job.”

  “As I told Frankie, it’s a position as an associate professor. I would be teaching undergraduates. It’s bioengineering innovation and design, including ethics for engineers.”

  “You lost me at engineering,” Rachael joked.

  Amy laughed. “I like the ethics part of it. That’s something I’ve been struggling with at my job. We could have been building some kind of chemical weapon for all we knew. Once we finished one aspect of the work, it would be handed over to someone else. The result was that no single person had the whole picture at any given time. Only the guys in the gray suits.”

  “Gray suits? I didn’t think anyone wore suits out there,” Rachael observed.

  “That’s what we called the dudes who would fly in from Washington, D.C.,” Amy replied. “They weren’t FBI. Maybe CIA, but we were never sure. Anyway, I really hope the position comes through. I don’t know how many other people are being considered.”

  “You are the smartest person I know,” Frankie claimed. “You were also one of their top students. Landing you would be a coup for them.”

  “I hope you’re right.” Amy smiled.

  Nina gave her a hug. “Let’s hope all of us find what we’re looking for and what we need.”

  “Amen to that,” Frankie remarked. They all did a high five.

  Rachael was giggling.

  “What’s so funny, girlfriend?” Frankie gave her a sideways look. “I know that laugh.”

  Rachael opened the small shopping bag she had been carrying and pulled out a small bunch of leaves. “Mistletoe. It could come in handy.”

  “You are too much,” Frankie said. “I think you should be wearing a big sign: WARNING! DANGER!”

  Nina nodded her head in agreement. “I tried to talk her out of it, but . . .”

  “Now to other important issues. What are we wearing to this meet and greet?” Frankie asked. “I’ve already unpacked and spritzed my dress to get out the wrinkles.”

  “I guess the rest of us should unpack,” Nina suggested.

  “Good idea.”

  “Amy, I am praying that everything works out for you.” Frankie gave her a big hug. Then she turned to Nina. “And you, too, girlfriend.”

  Rachael frowned. “What about me?”

  “What is it that you really want?” Frankie asked.

  “Good question.” Rachael let out a guffaw. “I’m going to have to work on that one. Hey, you haven’t told us what your goal is eith
er.”

  “I’m working on that, too.” Frankie smiled. “OK, ladies. Time for our beauty makeovers.” She didn’t want to ponder the big question of life at the moment.

  The group disbanded, each going to her own stateroom to get organized and ready for the evening’s festivities.

  Chapter Fourteen

  That Evening

  Frankie chose a sleeveless cobalt-blue jumpsuit and a pair of silver, low-wedge sandals. She completed the outfit with a large, simple, silver bangle bracelet and silver hoop earrings. She pulled her hair back in a ponytail and slicked the flyaway ends with pomade. One more coat of nude lipstick and lip gloss. She took a look in the full-length mirror and gave herself a thumbs-up and a wink. She grabbed a small straw shoulder bag. Just large enough for her keycard, lipstick, and breath spray.

  You just never knew how close you might get to another person.

  She left her cell phone in the small safe in the closet along with the few pieces of jewelry she had brought and cash. She was really going to try to unplug for as long as possible.

  Frankie went into the hall and knocked on the doors to everyone’s stateroom. In synchronized motion, they opened their doors at the same time. All of them looked dazzling in their own unique way.

  Rachael was wearing watermelon-printed capris with a bright lime-green tank top. She was two inches taller with her high-wedge espadrilles. She carried the pink purse she had had the night before. Nina commented. “You’re wearing the same purse? You sure you’re OK?”

  “Really. I think comedy must be your forte,” Rachael shot back. “I had to compromise on a few things. Handbags were a challenge.”

  “You know I’m kidding. You look fab. Luscious, in fact.” Nina was intent on keeping Rachael’s confidence up.

  Nina had opted for white jeans and a bright lime-colored tunic. Her hair was pulled back from her face with a lime-and-gold headband that matched the trim on the sleeves and front of her top. She wore flat sandals so as not to tower over the rest of the women.