Amy nudged me. “Go on. We’ll catch up at lunch.”
Merissa explored the deck, the gym, and even knocked on his stateroom door before it came to her. Would Chad have gone to the rail at the stern of the ship? Her heart said yes, and she wanted to follow its lead but fear of the one time encounter with the stalker held her at bay. She grew angry at her hesitation. Freedom means free – walk in it, girl, and stop your sulking. The man had left the ship days ago.
Merissa saw Chad from a distance, leaning over the rail and staring at the turbulent water. She quietly slipped in beside him. “The wind is strong. It’s making the ship rock today.”
Chad glanced her way. “It’s supposed to settle when the sun goes down.”
“Good – just in time for the festivities. Did you sign up for the cake challenge?” She regretted the question as soon as the words left her mouth. If fate chose either Chad or her as King or Queen, apart from one another, the evening would never be the same in her memory. What was the chance? Thousands of eligible people probably signed up, hoping for the honor.
“Skip signed us up,” Chad said.
“Oh, well, good luck on being crowned King. Hear that all the drinks are free to the winner for the entire evening. And they also give you every picture taken of you aboard as a gift.”
“Great, I can add it to my stash of photos that no one looks at but me.”
Merissa chose not to go there. She’d tried something lighter. “Every single woman aboard would think she died and went to heaven to be your Queen for the night.”
His demeanor turned to annoyance. “What is it with you? You keep trying to pawn me off on anybody else but you.”
Merissa was about to deny it but recalled voicing casual comments along that line. “I’m sorry. I never meant to offend you. I was paying you a compliment.”
“All I ever wanted to hear from you was that you liked my abs, that you were falling head over heels in love with me, that you wanted to continue us beyond this voyage.”
Merissa started to speak, but he cautioned her to remain silent.
“But now I see it’s for the best we separate. No woman has a future with me. Out of the three hundred and sixty-five days, I’m gone at least three hundred of them. Just forget you ever met me.”
“Forget? Well, let me ask my heart if that’s possible!” Merissa’s voice rose. “You chose a traveling business career as your line of work, not me. You should be in graphic arts or some great artist where fans break down the doors just to get your autograph. You make your own choices in life and it’s only you who can change them. So, staying single for life is all on you! Enjoy the loneliness, Chad Livingston.”
Merissa choked on the last few words and when his vacant glare persisted, she hurried away. This was not the way she planned to spend her last day on the ship. She brought her banner to her room for safekeeping and changed into a bathing suit for her last lay on the pool deck. Amy and Skip were there and beckoned her over.
“You must have read our minds.”
“Or, the better guess might be that I saw you put on your suit this morning,” Merissa said to Amy.
“Where’s Chad?” asked Skip.
“Wallowing in bad choices,” said Merissa, “And not a topic of conversation. I will leave you to reason with your friend.”
“It’s none of my business, but do you like him, Merissa?” asked Skip.
Merissa almost said yes, it is none of your business, but then remembered the conversation she’d hammered into Chad’s brain before his declaration to stay single and work the business world until-death-do-us-part. She wondered if the man realized that he’d take a piece of her heart wherever he traveled in the world – that it was too late for her to say goodbye. Did she care enough to give their long-distance relationship a chance? That was a biggie. But if Chad knew her heart’s longing, would he change his mind and try his hand at a different profession so he could stay home? She’d hire him in a minute, but that would come across as a desperate attempt to keep him local. Merissa scolded herself. She dissected decisions far too much. She tried bluntness in hopes Skip would pass it along.
“At the moment, he is closed to me, blaming it on his traveling and lack of time to nurture a relationship. But, on my part – I admit I’ve not been forthcoming with his advances. I should have done better after I settled my grief issue. Chad deserved more than I gave him.” That didn’t come out the way she planned.
“So, my question was…” said Skip.
“Yes, I care deeply for your friend. I was hoping our relationship would continue to grow after we went home. I gather he lives close to you, which makes him close to me. Location was another matter we never addressed.”
“Maybe I can talk sense into him,” said Skip.
“He’s not listening. Save your breath.” Then she backtracked. “He might listen to you – I don’t know anymore.” Merissa removed her cover-up. “I’m going for a swim.”
Chad never showed at the dining hall for lunch. Everyone was quiet, and I hated that our separation caused such pain on the final leg of our journey.
“The parade starts at two o’clock. We need to pick up our costumes at 1:30 then line up for pictures before we lead out singing our silly Christmas ditty.” Amy was reading the day’s scheduled event pamphlet.
“I’m excited!” Merissa said conjuring up joy from the only source that never failed – the Lord. No one
