“I’m meeting Bunny and Lucille for breakfast,” Pops said, sticking his head outside. “What are you doing?”
“Carleen, Frank, and I are going to ride donkeys to the town,” I said. “You guys taking the tram?”
“Oh, yeah,” Pops said. “I can’t see Bunny or Lucille on a donkey, can you?”
I laughed. “No. But, Pops, seriously, please don’t lead all these women on. It’s bound to end badly.”
“I know,” Pops said, “and that’s why I’ve settled on my one special lady. I decided I’m too old to play the field anymore.”
“Really? Which one have you settled on?”
Pops pretended to zip his lips. “I can’t tell you before I tell her, can I?” He leaned over and kissed the top of my head. “We’ll look for you in town.”
After Pops left, I ordered room service and jumped in the shower. If I was going to meet Carleen and Frank at eleven, I had to hurry. The ship was docked in the middle of the bay, so we’d have to catch a tender to shore and hike up to the donkey rental hut. The only way to get to the town of Santorini from the dock was to traverse a steep cliff by tram, donkey, or foot. Frank was dying to ride up the hill even though Carleen warned us that last time the ship docked in Santorini, a passenger had broken her leg when her animal fell on top of her. But that was unusual, she admitted, having seen it only twice on her many Greek island stops.
There was a knock. “Room service.”
I opened the door to a gaunt blond-haired waiter with bright blue eyes and a rather large head. He set my breakfast down on the table and lifted off the silver cover. “Hash browns, bacon, a soft-boiled egg just as you like it. Allow me to introduce myself,” he said with a bow. “I’m Darwin and I’ll be your butler for the rest of the cruise.”
“Excuse me,” I said. “Where…what about John?”
“He had a family emergency and had to leave the ship this morning. I believe someone died. It was all very sudden,” Darwin said.
“What?” I shrieked. “You can’t be serious. John wouldn’t leave without telling me first. That’s impossible.” I started to pace. The blood drained from my head so fast I saw stars. How could he abandon me like this? He didn’t tell me where he’d hidden my trunk. I’d never find it now. I felt so betrayed. “Did he leave a note or a message for me?”
“Not that I know of,” Darwin said, “but I can check.”
“Yes, please,” I said. “Would you, right now? It’s very important.”
After Darwin left, I sat down at the desk. This cannot be happening, I thought. Everything was fixed and now it’s broken again. What do I do? Think. Think. I picked up the phone and dialed Carleen.
“I was just on my way out the door,” she said. “Shall we meet at the tender, darlin’? It’s leaving from Deck Three.”
“I’m afraid I can’t go,” I said, my voice shaky. “Something’s come up.”
“Well, hay-ell,” she said. “Frank will be disappointed. I think he was counting on tailing you today.”
“I—I’ll meet up with you in town,” I said. “There’s something I need to take care of first.”
“It doesn’t involve edible panties, now, does it?” Carleen teased.
“No, nothing like that,” I said.
As soon as we hung up, the phone rang. It was Darwin calling to say that there were no messages for me from John. It appeared that something must have happened in the middle of the night, because nobody knew he was leaving until today, not even his girlfriend, a tour guide slash librarian slash karaoke hostess. His roommate said that he gave notice this morning and disembarked carrying his tan suitcase and a large brown trunk he had picked up in Istanbul. He left no forwarding address. With a dead thud in my pit of my gut, I realized that I had been had.
Too Darn Hot
I THREW ON A PAIR of jeans and a tight black T-shirt that said, “Liv’n Out Loud” in rhinestones. Then I put on my cherry tree Choos, which had been packed in the bag that was returned the day before. When that city bus decimated my wardrobe, these were the only surviving pieces. Maybe they would bring me luck.
Grabbing the elevator to the Lido Deck, I walked past the pool and made a beeline for the stairs leading to the bridge, and Captain Paul’s office. If there was information that would help me find John, Captain would have it. But when I arrived at his office, the door was closed and I was asked to wait.
Ten minutes later, Denis King emerged with Annie and Manny. Annie looked red-faced and contrite, as did Manny.
“Can I go swimming now?” Annie said.
“No,” Denis said. “There will be no swimming for you today and there’ll be no donkey ride in Santorini, either.”
“Fine,” she said. “I didn’t want to swim and I didn’t want to ride on a stupid ass, anyway. C’mon, Manny, let’s go to the game room.”
“No,” Denis said. “You’re to stay in all day. And you know that Prada backpack I bought you in Athens? You can use it only on weekends until further notice. Manny, take her to the cabin, please.”
“No problem, sir,” Manny said, taking Annie’s elbow. As they left the office, Manny winked at Annie. Yup, she’d be swimming today, just as soon as Dad was out of sight.
“Is everything okay?” I asked.
Denis shook his head and sighed. “Annie was caught in the meat freezer with a bunch of children she’d snuck out of the Kid’z Club. Apparently she was charging five dollars for a peek at Aston’s body, ten dollars to take a picture with him. What am I gonna do with that child?”
I stifled a giggle because Denis looked so worried. “Look at the bright side,” I
