Under the Moonlight collection

by MaryAnn Kempher

  “Oh, I understand,” she said. “You’re a good friend.” They left the room. A few minutes later the blond friend returned and sat on the bed.

  “You feel like company?” he asked. She’d started to cry again. He put his arm around her shoulder.

  “Yes,” she answered.

  She’d expected the man to make a pass, try to kiss her or force her to have sex. All things that had happened to her before. He didn’t. He held her in his arms, gently caressing her hair. She didn’t tell him why she was crying, and he didn’t ask.

  Chapter Four

  Earlier that same day …

  The Wedding Party

  The wedding party arrived in one large group, at least sixty people. Arrangements had been made to let them board the cruise ship early, but Katherine, Scott, and Amy were late. Very late. In fact, they’d missed the ship completely and had flown over a week later, to board the following Friday, at the ship’s first port of call. Katherine inched her way forward, but the long line moved slowly. Scott, her fiance, walked behind her, his hand on her shoulder. Her sister Amy was a few feet ahead of them.

  Katherine reached back and pulled her long hair off her neck. Even though it was nearly five o’clock and mid-September, the weather was hot and sticky. She sighed, relieved to see they were finally getting closer to the gangway.

  After having her passport scanned, she walked ahead and out of the way and stood next to two little old women, one short and chubby, the other taller and skinny. Katherine couldn’t help but smile as she overheard the chubby woman say, “What a hunk. What did he say his name was?”

  “Jack,” the other woman answered. Katherine looked in the direction they seemed to be looking. That name brought back memories, some good, some bad.

  Until recently, her sister Amy had been dating a really nice guy. His name was Jack too. Men had always loved Amy; she was petite, with shoulder-length brown hair that turned auburn in the winter and her skin was porcelain and flawless. Still, she had a poor success record. Getting a man wasn’t the problem—staying with one man had always posed a challenge for Amy. She always seemed to want whatever she didn’t have.

  Katherine inwardly chuckled, wondering if her mother had had a tryst with a delivery man or something, since her own looks were so drastically different from Amy’s. Katherine was tall, tan, and athletic looking. She reminded herself that she had no right to judge Amy’s success with men, since until recently hers hadn’t been much better.

  “What are you daydreaming about?” asked Scott as he drew closer to where she stood. She looked up at the man she’d one day marry. Although they’d been friends before being romantically involved, she’d always found his dark hair and even darker eyes, not to mention his deep voice, very sexy. That he was literally tall, dark, and handsome had never been lost on her.

  “Oh nothing. Do you see Amy?”

  “Yeah, she’s over there,” answered Scott, pointing toward a set of elevators. Katherine walked over to Amy. She was reading a sign attached to the wall and smiling.

  “Looks like we got here just in time,” she said.

  The Baked Goods of America Association was on board, and they were having contests all week: best doughnuts, pies, and pastries, culminating on Thursday with the best-decorated cake.

  “Yum,” said Katherine. “Wonder if it’s open to the public or only those competing.”

  The two older women Katherine had overheard talking earlier squeezed between her and Amy.

  “Oh look, Gaga,” said the short, chubby woman. “It’s Chef Monroe. Isn’t he dreamy?”

  Katherine looked at the other woman, who shrugged her bony shoulders.

  “Sure, dreamy,” she answered.

  Amy caught Katherine’s eye and they both smiled, then walked toward Scott.

  “Now that’s funny,” said Amy.

  “What?” asked Katherine.

  “Chef groupies.”

  Katherine laughed.

  ***

  Scott had been on a cruise before, so unlike Katherine, he wasn’t surprised at how small the room was.

  “I imagined it bigger,” she said.

  “The bigger cabins cost a lot more money,” said Scott. “Don’t worry about it. We’re not going to be here much and it has what’s important. A bed.” Katherine smiled. She knew exactly what he was thinking.

  “Forget it,” she said. “Amy’s two doors down, and she’ll be back any minute.” Scott grabbed Katherine and they fell onto the bed together, laughing.

  “Get off me, you perv,” she said. “Is that all I am to you, a piece of meat?”

  “Yes, a beautiful piece of meat.”

  Slightly flushed, Katherine stood, smoothing her shirt down. “Animal,” she said.

  Scott lay on the bed, his muscular arms crossed under his head. He watched Katherine like a lion might watch a juicy zebra. They’d known each other nearly a year and had been a couple for about six months, but he was surprised at how her sporty, girl-next-door beauty still affected him. He sighed.

  “So, let’s get Amy and go walk around,” he said. Katherine opened her suitcase and pulled out a red tank top.

  “Let me change first. It’s hotter than I thought it would be.”

  A few minutes later, they closed the door behind them.

  “Hey, you ready?” Katherine asked when Amy opened her cabin door.

  “Yep,” Amy answered.

  “You know what, I think I’m going to go find Alex,” said Scott, “I want to talk to him about his bachelor party.” Alex was Scott’s brother. He and his girlfriend, Sophie, were getting married on the cruise.

  “Is that tonight?” asked Katherine. “You probably told me, but I forgot. What time?”

  “Yes,” answered Scott. “It starts around 11:30. It’s a good thing Jason didn’t miss the ship in Tampa.” Scott gave Katherine a meaningful look. She looked away. “He’s made all the arrangements. We have a special suite reserved for it. Lots of beer and big sandwiches.”

  “And a stripper, I bet,” said Amy.

  “A stripper?” said Katherine. Scott held his hands up defensively.

  “I didn’t arrange for strippers, but I can’t vouch for Jason. He might have.” Jason was Scott’s best friend, but he’d been involved in helping plan Alex’s bachelor party. Scott didn’t say it, but he’d be more surprised if there wasn’t a stripper than if there was. He kissed Katherine, said goodbye to Amy, and left.

  Amy and Katherine wandered the ship, eventually ending up on the lido deck, where everyone seemed to be. It was still a beautiful day, hot, with clear blue skies and a slight breeze. After the ship had its mandatory security drill, they stopped at a bar and ordered piña coladas served out of coconuts. Leaning against the railing, sipping their drinks, they smiled at each other.

  “I’m glad I came,” said Katherine. “This is beautiful.”

  Amy wasn’t listening. Her eyes were glued to a man sitting near the pool, his body tan and muscular, wet and glistening in the sun. Amy unconsciously licked her lips. When he smiled, she looked around, expecting that his smile was for someone else. But it was for her. She smiled back. He walked over.

  “Hello ladies,” he said. Amy felt as if the blood was rushing to her head. A thought crossed her mind: Jack? Jack who?

  “Are you having a good time?” he asked. He spoke to both Katherine and Amy, but it was obvious that he was attracted to Amy.

  “Yes,” she answered.

  “I’m Robert, but my friends sometimes call me RJ,” he said, holding his hand out to Amy.

  “I’m Amy. This is my sister Katherine. Which do you prefer?”

  “Excuse me?”

  “What do you like to be called, Robert or RJ?” He laughed.

  “Oh. Either’s fine.”

  He was still smiling, but Katherine noticed what she thought was a concerned look come over his face. She followed his eyes to a woman near the entrance. The woman, who appeared angry, turned and left.

 
; “Well, I’d offer to buy you a drink but I see that you’ve got that covered.”

  Katherine looked at her watch. She wondered what Scott was doing.

  “I’m going to go sit down,” she said. “It was nice meeting you, RJ.”

  She sat on one of the many lounge chairs in front of the Olympic-size pool. She watched Amy and RJ. This is just what Amy needs. She needs to get laid, something to get over Jack.

  All around her were smiling people, most in swimsuits, some in shorts and tank tops. All held drinks of some sort. Katherine noticed there weren’t a lot of kids around and she was glad. Not that she didn’t like kids. She’d recently turned twenty-nine and she was starting to get baby fever. It seemed like everywhere she looked, she saw pregnant women. Usually her reaction was to think, better them than me, but lately she’d found herself filled with an inexplicable envy. However, kids could be noisy and she wanted to relax.

  Katherine smiled when she saw Scott walking toward her. He sat on a lounge chair next to hers.

  “Hey, beautiful,” he said, “come here often?” She smiled.

  “Hey, handsome. Your party all ready to go?”

  “Yep, looks like it. Man, it’s hot.” Scott stood, stretched, and pulled off his shirt. He turned and nearly collided with the woman walking by.

  “Kimy?” he said, looking shocked.

  “Hi, Scott,” answered the woman. “Well don’t look so surprised. You know Sophie and I are friends. Naturally I’m in her wedding.”

  “I know, I know. I guess I forgot.”

  Scott did his best to keep his eyes on Kimy’s face. It wasn’t easy. Her jet-black hair had gotten long, falling to the middle of her back, and she was standing inches away from him, dressed only in a tiny black string bikini. She looked amazing. She opened her arms. Scott looked over at Katherine.

  He leaned in for a quick hug, made even more awkward since he had no shirt on and she had nothing but the bikini top between them. Their eyes met and Kimy smiled. Scott hated that even though they’d broken up over a year ago, he was still attracted to her. Katherine stood, putting her arm around Scott’s waist.

  “Kimy, this is Katherine. Katherine’s my fiancée.”

  “Really?” said Kimy, but she didn’t hold out her hand or even smile at Katherine.

  “Yes. Really,” said Katherine, pulling Scott closer.

  “Is your husband here with you, Kimy?” asked Scott. Six months earlier, Scott had been told Kimy was engaged. He didn’t know and hadn’t asked anything about her wedding. He didn’t care. At the time he’d been falling in love with Katherine.

  “My husband? Oh, you don’t know?” she said. “Well, I never did get married.”

  “I’m sorry,” said Scott.

  “Don’t be.”

  Scott took Katherine’s arm from around his waist, kissed her hand, and said, “I’m going to go get something to drink.” Then he said to Kimy, “I guess we’ll see you at the wedding.”

  “Oh, you’ll see me sooner than that.” she answered.

  Scott walked away, toward the bar. Both women watched him go.

  “If you don’t mind a piece of advice, Katherine,” said Kimy.

  “What’s that?”

  Before answering, Kimy adjusted her bikini top. Katherine couldn’t help comparing her own modest proportions to Kimy’s bulging, voluptuousness. Was that what Scott really liked? She watched as Kimy ran her hand through her long hair.

  “I wouldn’t start planning your wedding yet.”

  “Why’s that?” asked Katherine. Kimy smiled.

  “Scott and I have history. I’ve known him and his family for a long time. Even before we started dating.”

  “So?” said Katherine. “What does that have to do with me?”

  “So,” Kimy said, “Scott’s awfully good at proposing. It’s getting him to the actual altar that’s hard to do.”

  “Thanks,” Katherine said. “But I’m not worried. I don’t know what happened with you two, but Scott won’t get cold feet with me”

  “We’ll see,” said Kimy. Then she turned and walked off.

  Scott, holding a drink, returned seconds later. Katherine grew uneasy as she watched his eyes follow Kimy’s departure,

  “So, what’s on the agenda?” he said. Katherine looked at him. He recognized the look.

  “Hey, so I forgot she’s friends with Sophie. It’s not a big deal, is it?”

  “She thinks you’re going to leave me at the altar. I think she wants you to.” He pulled Katherine close, leaning down and kissing her neck.

  “Well wanting ain’t getting,” he said. Katherine felt better, but Kimy’s words echoed in her mind. Should she be worried?

  “Where’s Amy?” he asked.

  “Over there,” answered Katherine. “See her with that guy?”

  “Is that Fabio?” asked Scott. Katherine laughed.

  “Very funny. No, but now that I look at him …”

  “What?”

  “I’m wondering if he has a friend.”

  “I’m gonna kick your butt, woman.” Katherine backed away, smiling.

  “You aren’t kicking anyone’s butt.”

  Scott caught her wrist. He pulled her tightly against his body, and their lips met.

  “Let’s go back to the cabin,” said Katherine. Scott smiled.

  “You’re not going to try to take advantage of me, are you?” he said.

  “Only if you say please,” answered Katherine, taking his hand.

  “Please, please, please.”

  ***

  Scott’s eyes opened. After making love, they’d fallen asleep. He looked over at the clock on the nightstand.

  “Katherine, wake up,” he said urgently. “It’s nearly eight o’clock. We need to get ready—we’re supposed to be meeting Alex and Sophie for dinner.”

  Katherine jumped up. Scott stopped what he was doing and watched her. She was naked and he was tempted to pull her back onto the bed. Who needs to eat? Katherine stopped and turned around.

  “Aren’t you getting ready?” she said. Scott patted the place on the bed she’d just left.

  “In your dreams, lover boy. Let’s go.”

  ***

  Katherine had been looking forward to their dinner date with Alex and Sophie; but soon wished nothing more than to be back in Reno. Alex was charming and attentive, but Sophie barely spoke and when she did, it was to anyone but Katherine.

  To make matters worse, Katherine had thought they were going on a double date, but it turned out to be much more than that. Scott’s parents and sister were there, and some friends of the family. There were at least ten other people. She was grateful, and surprised, that Kimy wasn’t there too.

  Amy was sitting next to Katherine, she’d briefly dated Scott’s best friend Jason, which was how she’d met Scott’s brother Alex and ended up with an invitation to the wedding. Katherine was glad to see Amy was having a good time. She’d been doing a lot of moping around since her and Jack had broken up. Katherine had been shocked and sympathetic when Amy had told her, but her sympathy turned to annoyance when Amy admitted she’d been the one to break things off. It hadn’t taken Amy long to realize the mistake she’d made, but by then Jack was gone and it was too late.

  “Really, Nene, isn’t that your third bread roll?”

  To Katherine’s right, sat two little old ladies who were quietly bickering over the sweet rolls. Katherine smiled. She remembered the two women from when they’d first boarded the ship. Apparently, her, Scott and Amy weren’t the only people late to the wedding party. She wondered if they were related to Scott and Alex, or were friends of the family.

  “What? Are you my mother?” answered the chubbier woman.

  Katherine assumed they were sisters and wondered if her and Amy would be taking cruises together when they were as old as the two women seemed to be. For a moment, she felt sad. Her sister Amy was all the family she had left, and until six or seven months ago, they hadn’t been speaking. But now
they shared an apartment. So much had happened over the previous year. Katherine smiled at the memory. It seemed so movie-of-the-week, but it had happened, and it had happened to her.

  “You look familiar,” said a woman to her left. “Are you famous?”

  “Oh, you might have seen Katherine’s face in the newspapers,” said Sophie from across the table. “She caught a murderer.”

  “Oh no, I didn’t catch a murderer,” said Katherine hastily.

  “Really?” said the woman to Sophie, ignoring Katherine.

  “Yes, two doors down from where she lives …”

  “Actually it was about two blocks,” said Katherine, trying to get Sophie’s and the woman’s attention. Unfortunately, others at the table also joined the conversation.

  “Yes, a young hippie type had run over a woman in her driveway,” another woman said loudly. Katherine shook her head.

  “No, it was an older man, not a hippie. I saw him with the body in the driveway. But he didn’t hit her with his car. I’m not sure how he killed her.”

  “And then he stalked her.”

  “Who, the woman?”

  “No, he stalked Katherine.” Well, that part they got right, thought Katherine.

  “I heard he killed the woman over a statue that held a treasure map.”

  “No, it was a…,” Katherine said, but nobody heard her. The noise at the table had grown considerably. It didn’t seem to matter to anyone there, except maybe her, Amy, and Scott, that the person who knew exactly what had happened was available for comment and clarification. The woman seemed to be having too much fun with hearsay and conjecture. Why spoil it with facts?

  “Then he tried to kill her too.”

  “But I’m okay, and he’s in jail,” said Katherine, but not loudly. Nobody cared. She began eating, not even listening anymore.

  “Wasn’t there something else too?”

  “Oh, you mean Scott getting shot,” said Sophie. Whoop, there it is, thought Katherine, pushing her plate away. She’d been hoping that wouldn’t be brought up.

  She could feel the eyes of Scott’s mother and his sister glaring across the table at her. She looked everywhere but toward them. Scott had gotten shot saving her life, and she felt bad enough. Katherine wanted nothing more than to crawl under the table. She felt Scott’s hand cover hers.