Bernard returned with Irene’s sweater. “Care to take a stroll, my dear?”
She smiled up at him and told Abby good-bye, leaving Abby at the table by herself to mull over Irene’s sage advice. On many levels it made perfect sense. But at the same time it sounded impossible. Paul was not Bernard, and Abby was not Irene. She finished the last of her coffee and set out to find her friends.
As she exited the dining room, she reminded herself of her resolve not to obsess over Paul and her marriage. This was her chance to escape all that and just have fun. And what a beautiful place to do it. The blue ocean and blue sky seemed to stretch into eternity. She breathed deeply the fresh sea air as she walked back to her cabin, where she planned to change into some sunning clothes and soak in all the goodness.
In her cabin, she saw the bouquet of flowers—such a pretty selection of festive colors just perfect for a Mexican cruise—and they made her feel guilty. Here Paul had gone to all this trouble, and all she could think were negative thoughts. For that reason, she decided to call and thank him.
When he answered, even after she cheerfully greeted him and profusely thanked him, he sounded glum. “Are you okay?” she asked. His recent heart attack came to mind. Surely he wasn’t having health problems again.
“As okay as I can be.”
“Oh, Paul, are you feeling bad because I’m gone?” She found that hard to believe, but touching.
“Well, yeah. I guess so.”
“Oh, but that’s obviously not what’s troubling you. Is it your health? Do you need to make a doctor’s appoint—”
“No, I’m fine,” he snapped.
“Well, I was just concerned, Paul. No need to get all grumpy about it.”
“I’m sorry, Abby.” He actually did sound contrite.
“What is it, Paul?” She softened her tone. “You really do sound down in the dumps. Is something else wrong?”
“I … uh … I didn’t want to say anything.”
Abby reached for the chair behind her, easing herself down into it, preparing herself for terrible news. “What is it, Paul?”
“Oh Abby, I don’t want to spoil your trip. Just forget about it, okay? Forget I said anything.”
“Paul!” she exclaimed. “Tell me what’s wrong—right now. Just tell me quickly, please. Get it over with.” She took in a deep breath, bracing herself. She knew what it was—Paul was about to tell her the marriage was over, that he’d been seeing Bonnie, and that Abby should start talking to Janie about getting a divorce.
“Oh Abby.” He let out a groan.
“I know it’s going to be bad, Paul. But I swear if you don’t just tell me, I’m going to have a heart attack myself. Honestly, I feel like I can barely breathe. Please, just get this over with.” She really did feel like she should call for the ship’s physician.
“It’s just that, well, business has been slow.”
“I know it’s been slow,” she shot back at him. But she didn’t want to talk about business. “Tell me what’s going on!”
“Well, it’s worse than you know, Abby. It’s bad.”
“What’s worse?” she demanded.
“Business. Aren’t you listening to me?”
“Of course I’m listening. Just spit it out.”
“I’m going bankrupt, Abby.”
“What?” Abby shook her head, took in a deep breath. “This is about your construction business?”
“Yes, that’s what I said, wasn’t it?”
“Well, yes.”
“I didn’t want to tell you. Didn’t want to spoil your trip. I knew it was coming. I’ve been sitting on those lots for too long. But the building just hasn’t picked up, and property prices are still down. I’ve held on as long as I could. But it’s winter again, and it’s just not working. I’m going down … fast.”
“Oh Paul. Are you sure?”
“I just met with the accountant today, honey. He said filing bankruptcy is the only way out. We’ll lose the land, the unfinished houses … even our home.”
“Really?” Her voice sounded hoarse.
There was a long silence. “See, I knew you’d be upset, Abby. That’s why I didn’t want to tell you.”
“And that’s everything, Paul?” She waited.
“You mean you want more? How much bad news do you need, Abby? I just told you my whole world is caving in. Isn’t that bad enough?”
“Of course it’s bad, Paul. But we still have each other. Don’t we?”
He let out a long sigh. “Yeah. I guess so.”
His less-than-enthusiastic response hurt.
“Anyway, I hope it doesn’t spoil your trip, Abby. You should get off the phone. I’ve heard these international phone calls cost a fortune.”
“Okay.”
“I’m serious, Abby. Don’t be using the credit cards. The trip is free, right? You shouldn’t be spending at all. We’re going to need every penny we’ve got to survive this.”
“But what about—”
“I mean it, Abby. We’re stretched way too thin. What with my failed business, and your inn, which has been nothing but another expense, we’re losing everything.”
“You mean I’ll lose my bed-and-breakfast too?”
“We were partners in the construction business, Abby. We go down, we go down together.”
“Oh, Paul!” She felt tears coming.
“We can talk about it when you get home, Abby. Sorry to spoil your trip with it. But remember, you forced it out of me. And you’re the one who called. Hang up now, Abby. Save a few bucks.”
They said good-bye and Abby shut off her phone, then sat down and cried. She was relieved that Caroline didn’t return. She went into the tiny bathroom, threw cold water on her face, donned a pair of big sunglasses, and went back out to pretend that nothing whatsoever was wrong.
Chapter 24
Janie
Janie told Marley and Caroline she wanted to explore the ship’s library and, to her relief, neither of them cared to join her among the dusty books. Apparently none of the ship’s other passengers were interested in the library this morning either. She was the only one in the room, so she pulled out her cell phone and called Victor. He had promised to keep tabs on Lisa and the rehab place for her.
“Hey, Victor,” she said lightly. “How’s it going?”
“Okay.”
Something about the way he said okay suggested that perhaps it wasn’t so okay. “Really?” she pressed. “Everything is just fine?”
“I can’t lie to you, Janie. I wish I could. But I can’t.”
“What’s going on?”
“Lisa checked herself out of rehab.”
Janie let out a groan.
“But it’s not all bad, let me tell—”
“Not all bad?”
“Listen to the whole story.”
“I’m listening.”
“Well, you know Ben’s school doesn’t start up until tomorrow. Anyway Lisa called him on her cell phone, telling him she just couldn’t take it in the rehab place. It might’ve worked for his buddy, but it wasn’t working for her.”
“Right, after less than one week, she knows it won’t work.”
“So anyway, Ben drove down there to get her.”
“You’re kidding? Ben did that?”
“He’s a good kid.”
“I’ll say.”
“And he’s bringing her back up here.”
“But what’s she going to do up there?” Janie ran her fingers through her curls and wondered if there was some easy way to get off this boat and catch a flight back home.
“Well, I told Ben to tell her she can stay here with me.”
“But she doesn’t like you, Victor. And like you said, B
en’s got to get back to school.”
“She doesn’t like me when you’re around, Janie. But with you gone, maybe she’ll be forced to like me. Or at least put up with me.”
“And what if she doesn’t?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t exactly had time to come up with a plan B.”
“I’m sorry,” she said quickly. “I’m so thankful for what you and Ben are doing, Victor. I’m just frustrated. I think I’ll grab a flight out at the next port. Unfortunately, we won’t be in Los Cabos until tomorrow.”
“No, don’t do that, Janie. I can handle this.”
“Really?”
He chuckled. “Well, I’m not sure I can. But, to be fair, you weren’t doing that great on your own either. Like I’ve told you, Lisa is going to do what Lisa is going to do. You can’t force her.”
“I know. I just want to help her.” Janie sighed. “I don’t want her back on the streets. Especially in the winter.”
“I know.”
Janie thought hard. “I have an idea.”
“What?”
“If you don’t mind helping me—”
“Of course I’ll help you, Janie. I’ll do anything. Just tell me what to do.”
“Well, you still have a key for my house, right?”
“Yes.”
“Tell Ben to take Lisa there. Get her enough groceries for week, but don’t give her any money. Tell her she can have the place to herself until I get back, and if she needs anything, she can call you. Right?”
“Are you serious? You want her to stay by herself at your house?”
“Absolutely.”
“But aren’t you worried? I mean what if she … uh, well, you know.”
“It’s just a house, Victor.”
“True.”
“Lisa means a lot more to me than a silly old house.”
“I know.”
“Will you do that?”
“Of course.”
“I’ll keep my phone on. Call me if you need to. Honestly, I’d have no problem catching a flight back home if I need—”
“You won’t need to, Janie. I’ll do everything I can to hold this thing together until you get back.”
“Thank you, Victor. I owe you big time.”
He chuckled. “Hmm. Well, I might try to collect when you get back.”
“Honestly, I am so grateful for you.”
“Hey, you’d do the same for me for one of my boys, right?”
“Absolutely.”
“I love that we both agree our kids are a huge priority.”
“I love that too, Victor.” She sighed. “And I love you.”
“I love you, too, Janie. I’m trying not to be jealous.”
“Jealous?”
“Someday I hope you and I can do a cruise together … in my boat.”
“I hope so too.”
“You do?”
“You know I do.”
“Okay. I’m holding on to that thought, Janie. I better get busy getting your house ready for Lisa. They should be here in a couple of hours.”
Janie felt a mixture of emotions as she shut down her phone. Oh, she wasn’t terribly surprised that Lisa had bolted again, just disappointed. Why did Lisa have to do everything the hard way? And yet Janie was extremely grateful to Ben and Victor. What would she have done if they hadn’t stepped up? But more than anything else, she felt fearful—fearful for Lisa. What if she didn’t like being cooped up in Janie’s house? What if she went out looking for drug connections? Certainly they were around. Janie had heard how coastal towns were the worst when it came to drug trafficking. And what if Lisa invited her drug-addicted friends to stay at Janie’s house?
Janie felt slightly sickened at that thought. What if her lovely renovated home was overrun with a bunch of creepy dopers and thugs and who knew what else? She’d have to check in with Victor again, ask him to keep tabs on things. Poor Victor, he hadn’t known what he’d gotten into when he’d gotten involved with Janie. Sure, she might’ve looked like a neat little package at first glance, but there was a lot of baggage that came with her.
“You’re still here,” said Caroline as she poked her head into the library. “Find any good books?”
“No.” Janie made a forced smile. “Guess I’ll stick with the ones I loaded on my Kindle.”
“We found Abby. She and Marley want to do a craft class.” Caroline wrinkled her nose. “You won’t find me cooped up in any library or craft room. I’m here for the sunshine and fresh ocean air. I’m going to go hang by the pool.”
“I’ll join you,” Janie told her. As they walked back to their cabins to change into sun wear, Janie considered telling Caroline about Lisa. But remembering how they’d all agreed that this trip was about fun and sun, she just didn’t want to put a damper on the day. Besides, she told herself, Victor was handling it. Okay, how that was even possible was a mystery, but she could hope for the best. And she could pray. If worse came to worst, and she really did need to make a fast exit from the cruise, she would explain the situation. Until then, she would keep on her happy face—or at least her all-is-well attorney face. She’d had years to perfect that one.
Before long, she and Caroline secured a couple of lounge chairs on the sunny side of the pool, and the air temperature, which was only in the high seventies, was just about perfect. “Isn’t this delightful?” Janie said. “Can you believe it’s January?”
“I know. I was just thinking about how it’s summertime where Mitch is.”
“That’s right. He’s down under, isn’t he?”
“Yeah. He’s in Auckland to start with. Then after a week, he heads over to Sydney. What a life, eh?”
Janie nodded. “But it could be your life too, Caroline.”
She shrugged. “I guess.”
“What do you mean, you guess? Mitch is always asking you to go with him.”
“Yeah.” Caroline leaned over to rub sunscreen on her legs. “I’m just not sure. I need time to think things over.”
“Really?” Janie tipped up her sunglasses and peered curiously at Caroline. “What’s there to think over?”
“Oh, I don’t know.”
“I mean, he’s in love with you and you’re in love with him, right?”
Caroline snapped the cap back on the sunscreen and handed it to Janie. “You better use some too. Despite our fake spray-on tans, we could still burn.”
Janie took the bottle and began slathering it on herself. “Mitch has the life you say you’ve always wanted,” she continued. “And he’s independently wealthy. Victor said he could retire anytime he wants.”
“Really?” Caroline looked surprised by this.
“Well, you know he and his business partner sold their software company for millions.”
Caroline looked like maybe she didn’t know this. “I know he’s well-off. But I thought Mitch had to keep traveling because of the contract—I mean the terms of the way they sold the corporation.”
“I don’t know about that. But I do know he told Victor he could retire if he wanted to.”
“If he wanted to?”
“I think he’s enjoying all this international travel on someone else’s dime.” Janie laughed. “Don’t you think so?”
Caroline nodded with a creased brow. “Maybe so.”
“But you always wanted to travel,” Janie rubbed lotion on an arm. “Seems like you’ve got it all now, Caroline.”
“Seems that way.”
But something about Caroline’s expression suggested something else.
“Everything’s okay with you and Mitch, isn’t it?”
Caroline shrugged then leaned back. “I’m not really sure, Janie.”
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to sound
so nosy.”
Caroline smiled. “It’s not like I have any secrets, really. I’m just not as sure as I thought I was. I think when Mom was taking so much of my time, Mitch looked like a knight on a white horse. I’m not so sure now.”
Janie had always loved Caroline—her sunny disposition and can-do attitude, but right now she respected her more than ever before. Janie had assumed that Caroline would’ve jumped at the chance to land a guy like Mitch—wealthy, attractive, available. What more could Caroline possibly want? Apparently there was something. And that was something!
“Have you noticed we’re the young ones on this boat?” Caroline said quietly as they were sunning themselves.
Janie chuckled. “Yes. I guess we really are cruising with the oldies after all.”
“Don’t look now, but at the moment there are a couple of oldies looking in our direction.”
“What do we do?”
“Let’s just have fun with it,” Caroline said lightly. “Let them think they’re having fun too.”
A deeply tanned white-haired man walked over and smiled down at them. “Mind if we join you lovely ladies?”
“Not at all.” Caroline waved to the empty lounge chairs. “I can’t believe more people aren’t out enjoying this scrumptious weather.”
“I think a lot of passengers are afraid of the sun,” the second man said. His hair was a more steely gray and his tan not quite so dark.
“What a delightful first day at sea,” the white-haired man said as he sat in the lounge next to Janie. “It’s not always this nice.”
“Have you done a lot of cruises?” Caroline asked.
“Oh, yes. I think I spend about half my life on a boat.”
They all introduced themselves. The one beside Janie was Stan, a retired dentist and Bill was a retired optometrist. They were from Alberta. Both were single, and it sounded as if they’d been friends for years and traveled together a lot. Janie suspected they might be a couple, but that simply made her more comfortable with their company. She remembered Victor’s good-bye to her the night before they left. “Don’t let some handsome guy try to steal you away from me,” he’d told her. However, she didn’t think Victor would be too concerned about these old boys.
They inquired as to what Janie and Caroline did. “I don’t do much of anything,” Caroline admitted.
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