“Well, hello, stranger. Did you have a good day?”
Amy groaned and rolled on her side. “The best! I think I’m in love.”
“With the Caribbean or Skip?’ Merissa asked.
“Skip, you ninny. I’ve never met anyone like him. He just feels so right.” Amy’s voice took on a dreamy tone as she moved into a sitting position.
Merissa joined her on the bed. She attempted to speak reason into the relationship. “It’s been less than a week. Love is a strong word.”
“I know. Didn’t say we were running off to get married. Just said I was falling in love. And we both know I’ve never said that before with any of the men I’ve hung out with.”
“I think it’s the magic of the cruise. Keep a guard on your heart and just see where the romance goes,” said Merissa.
“Magic! So now you believe in magic?”
“Well, it was the North Pole that sent us on this wild adventure. The trip has given me closure – so it might as well bring love your way.”
“What about you and Chad? Any sparks there?”
“A few, but I’m cautious. I can’t imagine saying goodbye to my deceased fiancé and then replace him all in the same week.”
“Why not? Is there a rule against falling in love? Kyle’s been dead over a year now,” said Amy.
“I know. Just saying I’m more the cautious type. We shall see where romance takes the two of us – at our own pace.”
“Well, mine is not slow. I’m definitely falling in love and you can’t stop it,” Amy said.
“What makes you think I want to try? I like Skip – I think. Hard to know since you keep him all to yourself and far from us most of the time.”
Merissa stood and grabbed her purse. “I’m off to find Chad. It’s formal night and we thought it might be fun to get our pictures taken together. A keepsake. See you at the dining room later.”
“We should all get our pictures taken together,” Amy said when the door opened.
“Dress up and we’ll do the four of us later.” Merissa left the room.
On the way past next door she heard male voices. Chad was still in his room with Skip. He must have fallen asleep too. She leaned in ready to knock when her hand halted halfway and began to tremble. They were yelling.
“What do you mean you didn’t pay for the trip? Just fess up and stop beating around the bush,” said Chad.
“You wouldn’t believe me about the envelope, so I just let you think whatever you wanted. It got you here, didn’t it?” said Skip.
“You swear they have the same envelope in their room?” Chad asked.
“On my word as a friend. Saw it one time while waiting for Amy to doll-up in the bathroom,” said Skip.
“What were you doing snooping?”
“I wasn’t. It was sitting in plain sight.”
“So, you’re thinking the girls paid to bring us here?” Chad was angry. “You actually believe this foursome is all a setup and we are victims to some form of girl-play?”
“Victim is a strong word, man. If they want to pay for escorts for the week who am I to kick a gift horse in the face.”
Merissa heard a shuffle from inside the room and then Chad’s voice, muffled and dirtied with regret. “I knew this was too good to be true.”
She couldn’t think straight. It sounded like the men had received an envelope in the mail similar to the one she’d received. This was carrying the mystical theory too far. She’d not be manipulated into a relationship. Someone at the North Pole needed to learn to mind his or her own business. She turned and headed down the hallway to find a comfy chair in a far away unpopulated area and curl up.
The worse thing was Skip’s attitude. Was he playing Amy along? Did he really think we could have lured them here as our targets for whatever nonsense swirled inside his head? She hoped that she’d read that wrong. Amy was wearing her heart on her sleeve, and the fall to heartbreak was nothing she’d experienced before. Her friend was not as strong as she let on to the world.
Merissa straightened. Maybe now that she’d found her freedom she could take command of this misunderstanding before Amy ever found out. She should have pounded on their door and confronted them in the heat of the moment. But then she recalled Chad’s tone and knew he half-believed the bizarre story Skip had spoken. How could she ever face Chad again knowing what she did?
Confrontation
The boys never showed for dinner, the show or a night of music and dancing. I discouraged Amy from hunting them down, explaining away their absence as exhaustion from such a long day outdoors. Maybe they needed some guy time. She swallowed the lie, and the two of them did the rounds as singles. The portraits the photographer flashed were an excellent tribute to their proven friendship. Merissa planned on picking the best one to take home with her.
The next day, swans were swimming in exhibits all over the ship, either in the form of a picture or the real thing.
