Charlotte decided to go along with her teenager as long as Chelle was in the mood to spend time together. She was sure that her daughter would find things to do without her later in the day. “What did you have in mind?”
Chelle sat on the side of Charlotte’s bed while she put on her sneakers. “There’s a Monopoly tournament this morning. I think we could win.”
“You and your dad could’ve won. I never was as good a player as either of you.” Charlotte scooted around her daughter to stand up and stretch. “But if you want me for your partner, I’m game. What time does it start?”
“Nine o’clock, in the Dancing Waves Ballroom. I think it’s on deck five at the back of the ship.”
They rushed through their breakfast and barely made it to the large round room in time to take their place at a table. Charlotte wondered how long this tournament would last. She could see it going through lunch and maybe even dinner, if everyone played the way she did.
The activities director stood in the glow cast by a spotlight, holding a microphone. “There’s a one-hour limit to each round. We’ll tally the money, property value, houses, and hotels. The team with the highest dollar amount wins and moves on to the next round.”
Okay, that’ll keep it from lasting all day. Charlotte counted the tables. With only sixteen people around four tables, the tournament would be three rounds. Gareth sat on the opposite side of the table at the far end. Surely he wasn’t going to play.
“We are privileged”—the activities director gestured with a flourish—“to have our captain and the purser taking part in the tournament.” Applause filled the room. “I will warn you, though, that these men play a very good game. You’ll have to be an expert to beat them.”
According to the chatter going on around the room, several passengers felt up to the task. Charlotte glanced back toward Gareth, and her gaze collided with his. The twinkle in his eyes tugged at her heart making her want him to win. But Chelle wouldn’t like that. Now she felt torn.
“Okay, people.” The activities director drew everyone’s attention. “There is a prize of a one hundred dollar shipboard gift certificate. You can purchase more photographs or spend it in any of our onboard stores, or even use it to reduce your account.”
Hoots and shouts of items different participants wanted included booze and the casino. Charlotte hoped someone else besides those people would win the prize.
When the bell dinged to start the game, her table began playing in earnest. However, there was plenty of time to get acquainted with the couple from New Orleans who made up the other team.
“Have you been on any other cruises?” Charlotte’s question broke the ice.
They quickly answered before arranging their money in neat piles beside the board. The older married couple soon proved to be just as intent on the game as Chelle. Between her turns to play, Charlotte looked around the room. Just as everywhere else she had been on the ship, the ballroom boasted the finest accoutrements. On the carpet in shades of soft teals and burgundies, plush seats ringed the marble dance floor. The brass rails and other fittings sparkled in the bright sunlight that streamed through the windows across the back of the ship.
By the end of the hour, both teams at their table had amassed quite a lot of money and property. Activity crew-members went to each table to tabulate. Only five dollars separated the two teams, with Charlotte and Chelle on top. Their competitors assured them that they hoped she and Chelle would win the tournament.
In round two, the Halloran women played a fun-loving team, joking their way through the game. Charlotte remembered the two out-of-shape, suntanned men as some of the most vocal about the booze and gambling, so she really wanted to beat them. All her concentration went into the game. Once again, she and Chelle came out on top by a small margin. Their competitors wished them luck before they left to find some liquid refreshment other than the iced tea and water available to the players. At least the couple who’d lost the first round to them waited to see who prevailed in the tournament. Charlotte enjoyed having them as a cheering section.
With all the tables removed, except the one for the final round, Charlotte and Chelle chose their seats. Charlotte looked around to see who won from the other table. After she and Chelle sat in chairs opposite each other, Gareth and his purser slid into the other two. Charlotte glanced up and noticed a twinkle in Gareth’s eyes. This round should prove interesting.
❧
Gareth had suspected, when they sat down at the first table, that he and Doug would be in the last game. He had hoped that wouldn’t happen, until he noticed Charlotte and Chelle. That made him want to win the first two rounds, and he wanted their opponents in the last one to be the charming Hallorans. The other players at their tables in the first two rounds didn’t really know very much about Monopoly. They just wanted to have fun, so it was easy for Doug and him to be victorious.
He took a moment before they sat at the final round table to tell Doug what he planned to do. He hoped he could be subtle enough for the women not to realize his strategy. Charlotte and Chelle must win the tournament. In the past when he took part in activities like this, if he won, a drawing among all the contestants was held to choose who would receive the gift certificate. The women might not win in a drawing, so they had to win the game.
Gareth knew that Charlotte had been having trouble with her teen, so he wanted Chelle to be happy with something they did together. Perhaps the rest of the cruise would go more smoothly for them and help make a connection that couldn’t be broken.
He smiled at each of the women. “May the better team win.”
Chelle took up the challenge. “And we’re that best team, aren’t we, Mom?”
Charlotte nodded as she smiled at him. He liked the twinkle in her eyes.
It didn’t take long to see who the strongest player on the other team was. He knew it might not be right to pray for the dice to fall in the women’s favor, but he did it anyway. At least it wasn’t for selfish gain.
About half an hour into the game, Chelle hit the table with her open hand. Thankfully, it didn’t disturb the items on the board. “Captain and Mr. Baxter, I see what you’re doing.”
Gareth tried to sound nonchalant. “We’re trying to win this game.” Doug nodded his agreement.
The teenager leaned forward and looked first at Doug, then at him. “I thought you were, but some of the things you’ve done in the game weren’t smart, and I know that both of you are very smart. Besides, you’ve already won two games.”
“Our competitors weren’t very good players.” Doug glanced at him as if it was now his turn to say something.
Gareth looked Chelle straight in the eyes. “You’re just too good for us.” He tried not to laugh at her serious expression.
“That’s just the point.”
Gareth noticed that Charlotte watched her daughter with admiration. He agreed with her assessment.
“I’m a very good player.” Chelle’s voice sounded like hardened steel. “And you’re not letting me show you. I want to win on my own merits or not at all.”
Gareth had underestimated the girl, and she deserved his best. He nodded to Doug and read agreement in his friend’s eyes. “Okay, no holds barred. We’re going to show you just how well we play.”
“Fine.” Chelle gave the dice to Doug. “It’s your turn.”
The rest of the game intensified. Gareth realized that both teams were evenly matched. He decided that the girl could play better than her mother could, but Charlotte was no slouch at the game. Every move had to be carefully considered. When the timekeeper rang his bell, Gareth was sure he and Doug had won. He just hoped that the drawing would make the two women winners of the gift certificate.
When the activities director finished adding up the money, property, houses, and hotels, Chelle and Charlotte won by ten dollars.
The teenager jumped up, and her fist shot into the air high above her head. “All right!”
❧
&nb
sp; “Mom, we won.” Charlotte caught her daughter as she launched herself into her mother’s outstretched arms. “We beat the captain and Mr. Baxter.” Chelle danced around pulling Charlotte with her.
“Yes, we did.” Charlotte took a quick breath when they stopped moving. “I’m proud of you.”
“Okay, ladies.” The activities director spoke into the microphone. “Come up here and collect your prize.”
Those other participants who still remained in the ballroom gave a rousing cheer. Chelle pulled her mother to the front of the room with her then took a bow. Charlotte knew her daughter was enjoying this very much.
“Give it to Chelle.” Charlotte smiled at the director. “She’s really the one who earned it.”
The man placed the envelope in Chelle’s hand then made an announcement about the afternoon activities.
“Mom.” Chelle folded the envelope and pushed it into the pocket of her shorts. “I want to eat lunch up on the Oceanic Deck with some of the other girls I’ve met. We’ll probably spend quite a bit of the afternoon up there. Is that okay?”
Charlotte nodded, and her daughter hurried away. Everyone else had streamed from the room after the announcements were over. Everyone except Gareth.
“I’m not needed on the bridge for a while, Charlotte.” She couldn’t keep her interest from sparking at the captain’s words. He didn’t leave her in suspense for long. “Perhaps we could spend some of the day together.” When she nodded, he took her arm and led her toward the front of the ship. “I want to show you one of my favorite places on the Pearl of the Ocean.”
They walked the length of deck five, passing through the photo gallery.
“Let’s stop and see what pictures are up now.” Charlotte tugged on Gareth’s arm.
After the second day, she hadn’t been looking to see what pictures were there, waiting to check for more interesting ones later. The photographers took a lot of pictures of everyone on the cruise. In addition to the fun pictures from the first day, there were shots of her as she disembarked at each island. In the first two, she was alone, but on Jamaica, the picture with Chelle was a playful pose. She would buy that later.
“Here’s one with you sitting beside me at dinner.” Gareth’s deep voice sent shivers through Charlotte.
She stared at the candid shot of them on the night of the Captain’s Gala. With his blond good looks and her dark hair, the photo drew her attention. Did they really look like that? Almost as if they belonged together? She decided right then to buy that one when he wasn’t with her.
“I like this formal portrait of you and Chelle.” He pointed toward the eight by ten.
Charlotte would definitely buy that one, too. She could see her balance on her account mounting.
“Maybe you should have kept the gift certificate for yourself.”
She wondered if he had read her mind. “It’s okay. I budgeted enough to be able to spend for some fun things on the trip. I’m even planning to see if Chelle would want to do the spa tomorrow with me.”
When they reached the smaller elevator bank near the front of the ship, Gareth held the door open for her to enter. He pushed the button for deck eleven. If Charlotte remembered the map correctly, the short deck only covered the very front of deck ten.
They stepped off into a tiered room with tables and chairs on each riser, as well as a large flat area on the highest level, and windows all around. Charlotte turned completely to take in the whole panorama. The Gulf of Mexico spread around them as far as the eye could see. The only things besides water were smudges on the horizon, too far away to tell what they were.
“Are those other ships?” She turned to look up at Gareth and caught her breath.
He was standing very close, and he wasn’t looking at the view. The intensity of his gaze sent heat coursing through her. She turned quickly back toward the windows. This couldn’t be happening to her. She would just have to be sure she didn’t get so close to him. Although a shipboard romance sounded like fun, she had never been a person for light flirtations. Anything other than friendship would be too intense. But there wasn’t any reason they couldn’t be just friends.
“That one”—Gareth pointed toward the right—“is another cruise ship coming this direction. You’ll be able to see it better soon.” He motioned toward another smudge. “That is an offshore oil rig.”
“Way out here?”
“Yes, there are a number of them in the Gulf.” Gareth raised a hand and traced the outline of her cheek with gentle fingers.
Charlotte stepped away from his magnetic presence. “What’s this room called?”
Gareth dropped his hand to his side and glanced around the room then back at her. “This is the Oyster Shell. At night it’s a bar, but in the daytime, it makes a good observation deck. I come here often when I’m not on duty.”
“I can see why.”
❧
Gareth gazed at the water. The startled look in Charlotte’s eyes danced between him and the waves. Why had he done that? He’d frightened her. If they had given in to the urge to share a kiss in the solitude up here, it would have taken their relationship to a whole new level. Evidently Charlotte wasn’t ready for that. Was he?
Of course not.
“Let’s go down to deck nine and have lunch.” He stepped over to the elevator door. “The theme is Tex-Mex in the Oceanic Grill today. Do you like that kind of food?” What a lame question!
“It’s one of my favorites. Remember, I’m from Texas.” Her smile speared straight to his heart. “I just hope your chefs know how to prepare it properly.”
He laughed at her audacity. “I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.”
When they stepped off of the elevator, the long lunch line had dwindled, so they walked through and made their choices. Gareth chose a table that wasn’t near any other people. There would be interruptions, but maybe not too many.
After a pleasant lunch, they went back down to deck five. This time they walked through the hallway that divided the shops.
“Today there’s a fine jewelry sale in this store.” He pointed toward one gift shop. “Would you like to check anything out?”
Charlotte led the way toward the glass cases containing a myriad of colored and clear stones set in a variety of styles. Her eyes lit up when she saw the display of amethyst pieces.
“I’ve always loved colored gemstones.” She moved down the side of the case.
“Would you like to see anything up close?” Gareth smiled at the cruise line employee who asked the question. “I’ll be glad to let you try some of these items on.”
He wondered who bought Charlotte jewelry since her husband was gone. Maybe she didn’t get new items. He watched her try on several. She kept going back to one set with drop earrings and another drop on a slender gold chain. Finally, she took them off and moved farther down, looking at other items. Gareth took a piece of paper out of his pocket and jotted a note on it. He folded it and thrust it into an employee’s hand, telling her to give it to the person waiting on Charlotte.
Maybe he was crazy. He wasn’t looking for a permanent relationship, but he knew that he didn’t want what was happening between him and Charlotte to end when she stepped off the ship in New Orleans. Somehow, he was going to find a way for it to continue, and someday he would give her those amethyst pieces.
Seven
“Mom!”
The voice called to Charlotte through the veil of a pleasant dream, tugging her to a state of being half-awake. “What?” She didn’t want to open her eyes yet.
Chelle flopped down on the side of Charlotte’s bed and shook her. Charlotte forced her eyelids apart and stared at her daughter with what she hoped was a questioning expression.
“It’s our last day on the cruise. We need to make the most of it.” Chelle leaned over to fasten her sandals.
Charlotte scooted up in the bed and leaned her pillow against the wall behind her. Chelle went to the window, pulled the heavy drapes open, and pus
hed the sheers to one side.
“See what a beautiful day it is.”
Charlotte rubbed her eyes and glanced at her watch, which she had forgotten to remove when she went to bed last night. “Nine o’clock! No wonder I’m hungry.” She scrambled out of bed and padded over to the desk, where she took off the watch and set it by her purse. “I’ll take a quick shower, and we can go to breakfast at the Oceanic Grill. It’s on the same deck as the spa.” She turned to her daughter. “I made appointments for both of us to get massages, then spa manicures and pedicures.”
Chelle smiled. “For me, too?”
“I thought it would be fun.”
After her quick shower, Charlotte twisted her hair up in back and anchored it with a large clip. Maybe she would have time to shampoo it later today. “I don’t think we’ll want to eat very much before the massage.”
❧
When they walked across the atrium section of deck nine, the warm air felt humid, probably due to the sparkling blue swimming pool in the middle and the freestanding gazebo-type structures near each corner that housed whirlpools. Many passengers already filled the water amenities, enjoying their therapeutic benefits. Thankfully, the spa was air-conditioned.
“Welcome.” A young woman in a cruise uniform greeted them as the door opened. “Are you Charlotte and Chelle Halloran?”
Chelle hurried across the room to the desk. “Yes, I’m Chelle.”
“Do you want to have your massages in the same room?” The women held a pen poised above the appointment book.
Charlotte turned to Chelle, wanting her to make the decision.
“Sure.”
“Do you have a preference as to whether a man or woman gives you the massage?”
A startled look flitted across Chelle’s face. “No, whoever is really good works for me.”
Her insight surprised Charlotte.
When they had removed most of their clothing and climbed up on their own table to lie on their stomachs, another young woman came in and covered each of them with a sheet. “Carlos will do one massage, and Jeanie will do the other. Does it matter which?”
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