We all gathered in the Saloon. Pops and Lucille brought Bunny, who was dressed in full widow’s weeds (veil included). I wondered whether she traveled with funeral attire or bought it in the gift shop. With so many old passengers, they’d have to carry mourning clothes in the store. In fact, I think I recalled seeing them near the granny panties. Pops was plying her with gin so she was feeling no pain.
That gave me an idea. Why not hold an exhibit of widows’ weeds through the ages! That would be fun. Well, maybe “fun” is not the operative term. We could show the dress Jackie donned at JFK’s funeral, the outfit Audrey Hepburn (as Reggie Lampert) wore at her husband’s viewing in Charade, the hoop-skirted widow’s weeds Scarlett O’Hara donned as she danced with Rhett Butler, and…well, there have to be other famous mourning dresses we could feature. But I’ll think about it tomorrow, I decided.
In front of the bar, two passengers were rolling out the Persian rugs they’d bought in Kusadasi, asking people what they thought of them, showing them from both sides so they could demonstrate how the colors went from light to dark depending on where you stood, telling anyone who would listen what they cost. I thought that was tacky, but the guests acted interested. By the time we finished our second round of drinks, the piano player ended his last set. So Pops approached the ivories and stopped the room with his music. Some of the songs were old favorites, others he improvised, blowing everyone away with his talent. I was awfully proud of him.
“Play ‘Our Love Is Here to Stay,’” Bunny slurred. “It was our song.”
Pops lifted his glass of whiskey. “To Aston and Bunny,” he toasted.
It’s very clear, our love is here to stay…
Captain joined our table and bought yet another round of drinks. It felt good that he wanted to be with me. He was the ship’s Sting and I was his Trudie Styler, basking in the glow of his celebrity. I looked around the bar for Denis, hoping he’d see me with the captain, but he wasn’t there. “Where’s your son?” I asked Lucille.
“Oh, he took Annie to the outdoor movie tonight,” she said. “Sydney didn’t want to go. Something about those silly worms.” She gestured with her head toward Sydney, who was at the back of the bar whispering into Manny’s ear, a drink in one hand, a pink five-pound weight in the other.
“I thought you liked her,” I said under my breath, lest Bunny hear.
Lucille hiccupped. “Excuse me,” she whispered. “Don’t get me wrong. The dynasty that will be created with this marriage will be fabulous, fabulous! My husband would have been proud of what I’ve engineered. I just wish the girl were more mature and less tiresome. I don’t think she likes kids, and they’ll have to produce an heir. Seeing how she is with Annie, I’m not sure what kind of mother she’ll be.”
“If she fails, they can always breed poodles,” I joked.
“Excuse us,” Frank said. “We’re going to the bar by the pool.”
Carleen gave me the thumbs-up signal as she followed Frank out the door. I could relax. The cop was off my tail.
How Long Has This Been Going On?
DURING POPS’ SECOND SET, Bunny lay her head down on the table and simply deflated. When he and Lucille tried to rouse her, she mumbled something about throwing herself off the balcony and into the ocean. “Come,” Pops said, helping her up. “You can use some fresh air and I could use a smoke.”
“Good idea,” Captain said to me. “How about a walk? There’s nothing like sea air right before a storm.”
“Did you say storm?” I said. “Do I need Dramamine?”
Captain laughed. “It’ll be mild and gone by the morning. You’ll sleep through most of it.”
Lights from a town on the distant shore twinkled dimly. Captain took my hand and we strolled the Lido Deck, where I noticed we were having trouble walking straight. It was the weather, not the alcohol. “I should hire your father to perform on the ship,” he said. “He’s fantastic.”
“Yes, he’s a wonderful musician,” I said. “I’m sure he’d say yes if you offered him a job. What’s that noise?”
Captain pointed to the stairs leading to the Platinum Deck. “They’re showing An Affair to Remember on the outdoor screen.”
“That’s one of my all-time favorites,” I said. “Whoa.” Captain caught me as I momentarily tipped sideways.
As we rounded the bow of the ship, which was swaying and rolling just enough to make me feel nauseous, we heard the moans and groans of a couple going at it in a secluded area where the chaise lounges were stored at night. Captain put on his official face and cleared his throat. “Excuse me,” he said. “You’ll have to take that inside.”
“Oh, puh-lease,” the woman said. “Mind your business.” She threw something at him.
He jumped out of the way, but not before a loud whump sounded. “Yeow!” Captain shouted. “My toe!”
“I’m singin’ in the rain, just singin’ in the rain…” voices sang out.
I looked over. There was Pops linking arms with Lucille, Bunny, Carleen, and Frank Flannagan, just like Dorothy and her motley crew as they made their way to Oz. Only Pops and his pals were tipsy, tripping and laughing, stumbling as they sang—that is, until they ran into us.
“Captain, are you all right?” Pops said. “Did you fall?”
“No, I did not fall,” Captain said, limping over to retrieve a pink, jewel-encrusted five-pound weight. “Someone threw this at me.” Captain hopped on one foot to the dark corner and switched on a light. Oops. There were Sydney and Manny
