“That is most definitely one of your best purchases, Miss Where-Did-I-Put-It.” Merissa laughed.
“Too true! Isn’t it nice I got me all figured out, the good and the bad?”
Merissa raised her eyebrows and headed for the washroom. She wondered if Amy had dropped one of her digs on purpose because they both knew that Merissa did not have herself figured out one tiny bit. She’d become a different person since Kyle’s death and sometimes questioned if he’d even recognize her if he came back. Silly thought – he was gone – and not coming back, ever.
“Let the festivities begin!” Merissa called out to Amy before she closed the bathroom door. She meant the comment to bring hope to her friend that all her hard work of encouragement over this past year had not gone in vain. Instead, Merissa discovered she was actually warming up to the vacation.
When she emerged a few minutes later, Amy stood at the door talking. “This can’t be. Merissa doesn’t even know you.”
Merissa rounded the corner, and her eyes fell upon the most handsome, hunk of man she’d seen in a long time. Blue eyes, sandy blonde hair, and robust features that spoke of strong character.
“I’m Merissa James,” she said. “Can I help you?”
“My name is Chad Livingston, and I was just showing your roomie that there may have been a mix-up in our reservations.”
From behind, Merissa heard Amy groan. “He’s right! My boarding pass and my room key are for next door. Merissa, we never even noticed!”
Chad shrugged his shoulders and handed me his boarding pass. “Neither did we. Guess we were all caught up in cruising and missed the discrepancy.”
Merissa read Chad’s, and it matched with hers. “It appears they have assigned me the wrong roommate. Rest assured, sir, we will not be switching rooms.”
At that moment, a brown-eyed charmer of a man peeked in. “Came to check out my new roommate.” He grinned, and when he locked eyes with Amy, Merissa could see her melt.
“Not happening!” Merissa said. “We will go to guest services and they will sort it all out.”
Chad spoke up. “Of course we will. Skip was just fooling around.”
“Speak for yourself. That little gal is a lot more appealing than you, right now.” He never took his eyes off Amy. His gaze was not in any way offensive and Merissa gave him credit for that.
Amy returned to the door and offered Skip her hand in greeting. The name is Amy Patterson, and I suppose living next door will have to be close enough.” Both of them locked expressions and when Merissa noticed the tiny grin that squeezed from the corners of Amy’s lips she knew the romance bug had hit her friend – and they hadn’t even left the port yet. She glanced at Chad, hoping for a more mature response. His solid expression clarified her hope.
“Why don’t you grab your boarding passes and keys, and we’ll head there right now? Our luggage hasn’t arrived yet, anyway,” Merissa said.
“According to the brochure that shows the ship’s layout, we won’t have far to go. Guest services is on this floor,” said Chad.
“You’ve checked it out?” Merissa asked.
“Before I came over. I suspected you wouldn’t be up for a new room-mate this early in the cruise.”
“Or ever,” Merissa said, making sure Chad knew she was not that kind of girl.
“Helps we’re on a Christian cruise. I’m sure the desk will have no trouble switching us,” Amy said. “See Merissa – God’s looking out for you already.”
Amy was right, and the lady behind the counter was full of apologies, with no clear answers how the mix-up occurred.
Merissa laughed and elbowed Amy and spoke in a low voice to her friend. “Quite sure the source of the problem started at the North Pole.” Chad stood behind her and when she stepped back – the updated sheet in her grasp – she stumbled over him.
“Sorry,” Chad said. With an embarrassed gaze, he cleared his throat and yelled to Skip. “Smile for the camera. Don’t want your mug shot to get you into trouble again.”
The lady behind the desk spoke. “There, you are all updated in the system. Amy Patterson with Merissa James, and Skip Jacobs with Chad Livingston. Everyone assigned and registered in their proper accommodations. I trust this has not been an inconvenience.”
Skip hooked his arm through Amy’s. “No trouble at all, Ma’am. You saved me the trouble of searching the entire ship for this beauty. We can get this cruise rolling in a proper fashion, now.”
Merissa rolled her eyes and muttered, “And here it starts.” She was relieved to witness Chad’s expression of agreement at her comment. At least one of our neighbors was on the same page as her.
The captain’s voice came over the loudspeaker, welcoming the guests aboard and asking all guests to return to their staterooms so the muster training for emergency procedures could begin.
Chad smiled when they reached their rooms. “Sorry about the inconvenience. Hope that hasn’t set you against us.” He was addressing his concern to Merissa for Amy, at this point, was beyond regretting the accidental meeting. The mix-up had accomplished a work-of-magic between her and Skip. Merissa dreaded the Exposé that was sure to erupt as soon as the door closed behind them.
“Certainly not, Chad. These things happen – I suppose.” Merissa knew that she had not thoroughly examined the contents of the registration sheets when she’d received the surprise manila envelope. The misunderstanding was most likely on her end. The North Pole had messed up, but she’d put it behind her and move forward.
Suitcases lined the hallway, and Skip wheeled Amy’s luggage into the room and took Chad’s from in front of their doorway. Chad did the gentleman thing and pulled
