“Is this seat taken?” Amy asked.
Merissa patted the cement beside her. “Saved it just for you.”
“Liar.” Amy plunked her bottom next to Merissa and eased her toes into the water. “Feels good, even at this ungodly hour in the morning.”
“Sorry if I woke you,” said Merissa.
“You know better than that. So happens I didn’t sleep well and was already awake when you snuck away.”
“Oh, are you feeling okay? No seasickness, I hope?”
“I’m fine. I was worried about my friend.”
“You have always been there for me, Amy, even when you should have thrown up your hands and left me stranded on my desert island.”
“That’s what friends are for,” Amy said nudging her arm against mine.
“Well, I am pleased to report your mission has ended at long last. I said goodbye to Kyle this morning – almost tossed the engagement ring overboard.”
“You did not!” Amy looked horrified.
Merissa laughed. “I did not. But I felt Kyle as close as if he stood next to me on the deck. It was a strange, but freeing experience.”
“Closure, finally!” She clutched the edge of the cement then groaned, concentrating on her baby finger. “Look now – I’ve broken a nail in all the excitement.”
“Consider it your last sacrifice spent on me. You should go back to bed and dream sweet dreams. We have eight more days of fun and frolic before we head back to the daily grind.”
“That’s what I wanted to hear.” She yawned. “But I think you’re right. I need to get more zees if I’m to function all day.” She started to stand up and Merissa reached for her arm.
“Thanks for giving me my space yesterday. Did you enjoy your shore excursion?”
“Sure. Skip and I laid in the white sand on the beach and swam with all those horrible fishes that kept popping up all around us.” Amy stood and stretched. “Chad chose to stay on board and moped all day. I think he likes to draw. I saw one of his pictures before he slammed shut the sketch book.”
“I noticed him in the quiet room a few times, but he didn’t bother me yesterday either.”
“We all figured you needed some space. But today was another story. I’d have dragged you out by your hair if you’d continued moping.”
“Now I have three friends on board. I appreciate that,” said Merissa.
“Given encouragement, I believe Chad would like to be more than a friend. He draws beautiful portraits of you.”
“Of me? Surely there are better things to sketch.”
“I don’t know. Just telling it as I see it. Good night. See you at lunch.”
Merissa debated breakfast in the dining room alone or the buffet. The chances of running into Chad were possible with either decision. She full knew that the meeting would happen, but felt nervous and giddy about it, like a love-struck schoolgirl. She chose the buffet. Whatever happened, she’d face it, eventually.
Five Gold Rings
They decorated the room with gold rings – some hanging alone and others bound as a twosome or in loops of fives. The serviettes were a rich yellow hue and sprinkles of gold dust littered the linens around the food dishes in the buffet. Merissa filled her crepe with fruit and rolled it closed then covered it with a yummy whipped topping and drizzled juice from the strawberries over the entire mound. Nothing gold on the menu this morning, that would have carried the theme too far. But she noticed most serving plates on the buffet displayed circles. She laughed at the coincidence of rings, rather an interesting parallel to her decision this morning about putting away her engagement ring forever. She was definitely on the right track, and it felt refreshing. She wondered what the five golden rings symbolized and unconsciously scanned the room for Chad. He’d know.
Merissa’s eyes rested on the man sitting by himself at a window seat. He was deep in thought as he sipped his coffee. His appearance was tidy as always, not overly dressed and never understated. Just perfect. His sandy hair was neatly combed, not short and stubby or long and unruly; Perfect again. His style reflected his strength of character and calm assurance. Today the sun reflected in his eyes and as he caught her staring at him from across the room, they flickered. He motioned with his hand to the vacant chair across from him, and when Merissa moved toward him, he stood to his feet to greet her.
He pulled out the chair, and she sat. “Thank you, sir.”
“Good morning, Merissa. Has anyone told you yet today how gorgeous you are?”
“Always the sass,” Merissa said laughing. “I’m glad to see you are not angry with me – for my disappearing act on the deck.”
“Me angry? I have no right to feel that way even if I wanted to. I pushed you too far. If I’d known…”
“That you were chasing a woman on her honeymoon?”
“Honestly, I didn’t know that part of your story. I would have let you take the lead. I value our new friendship far too much to overstep my boundaries.”
“You, Chad Livingston, are a generous man. On vacation and determined to remain stuck with me must feel like you’re sinking with an anchor tied to your neck.”
“At times. But, it is my fate of choice.” Chad’s eyes pierced hers.
Merissa swallowed hard and met his challenge. “I said goodbye to Kyle this morning. On the stern, in the same spot you kissed me. How bizarre is that?”
“Wonderfully bizarre,” said Chad, a smile playing at the corner of his lips. “I also see the ring is missing. Was it
