A half hour later, after following the staff’s lead, Merissa and Amy found themselves in the Grand Theater, which turned out to be their official musters station in case of a real emergency. They watched the crew as they demonstrated how to put on a life jacket and all the steps they should follow, should this be an actual disaster. Our new neighbors ended up sitting next to us with Amy and Skip side-by-side in the middle. Merissa poked her several times to gain her attention and then resolved to whisper in her ear. “Remember the Titanic. Pay Attention!”
The passengers were dismissed, and the pair, engrossed in conversation, pushed on ahead. Chad moved in beside Merissa. “Do you think we lost our friends right off the get-go?”
“It appears to look that way.” Hypnotized by his deep blue eyes, Merissa disconnected from his intense gaze and broke out in a cold sweat. She swallowed hard. “No matter – I’m here for rest and relaxation. Amy is far too exuberant for my mood these days.” Merissa figured boredom would send this gorgeous specimen elsewhere on the ship to find his female distraction. That was not to be the case.
“I’ve been working too long without a break myself, and my body is screaming slow down. No better place to be confined than in a ship at sea.”
“Where do you work?” Merissa asked.
“Part of the international Human Resources department with my company. We’re stationed all over the world, and I’m their go-to person when things fall apart on location.”
“Ah, so you’re the middleman who takes all the punches?”
“Not quite. I’m the middleman who has the last say, so they butter me up as best they can, hoping I’ll side with them in their debate for justice in the workplace.”
“And do you fall prey to their bribery?” asked Merissa.
“Not at all. Just soak up the pampering, then dish out the verdict at the end of the sessions.”
“Helps they won’t see you again,” Merissa said.
“But they do. I enjoy healthy relationships with many teams. I believe we solve more problems with honey than the bee-sting.”
“So true!”
“What do you do to earn a living?” Chad asked.
“I’m on the leadership team at a magazine, Stacked. You may have heard of it. I give you fair warning; we’re always on the look-out for the next great story.”
“You a writer?” Chad asked.
“No, further up the chain. I design the layout of the magazine and make the cuts to what goes inside and what lands in the rubbish pile.”
“Ah, you’re the boss that the little man at the bottom of the totem pole slaves to please.”
“I like to think I’m fair to the employees and the magazine,” Merissa said.
“I have no doubt you are. You seem like a reasonable woman to me, and one that does not fly off the handle without cause – displayed by our little crisis earlier. A woman with solutions!”
Merissa did not bother to respond to that statement. She stopped outside her stateroom door and withdrew the key-card from the pocket of her pants. “We’re here now. Suppose I will see you around.” She opened the door, and a reluctant Amy sauntered in behind.
The girls changed into casual dresses, high heels, and dangly earrings. They were signed up for fine dining and headed down to the fourth floor to find their seating. A male host welcomed them at the door, and after examining their sea-passes ushered them across the room to an appealing table set for four. The backdrop was a full-sized window overlooking a small rear deck. The blue sea undulated in response to the working propellers beneath and sent enormous waves streaming out behind the ship. A sky that held the promise of a magnificent sunset faced them and Merissa felt content. The head waiter and his assistant held each of their chairs and seated them then shook the linen serviette and placed it – with a touch of grace – upon their knees.
Merissa grinned at Amy. Her friend was not used to high-class dining. Her job convened where the rubber meets the road and involved working with more of an everyday bunch of characters who hung out at pubs for entertainment and who held banners and marched against the injustices of the world. Merissa loved her and cherished their differences, whereas Amy, who lived every moment in the present, was not afraid to put her up-town-friend in her place when necessary.
When the two men from next door stopped at their table, Merissa groaned, and Amy’s face lit up like the lights on the Christmas tree across from them.
“So, the mix up continues,” Merissa said.
Skip took the seat next to Amy. “If this is another mistake by the administration, it is minor, and I can handle it.” By the grin pasted on Amy’s face, she agreed.
Chad pulled out the chair next to Merissa and waited. “Do you mind sharing meals with us?”
“Of course, not,” Merissa said. Chad appeared every bit the gentleman and this sharing of the table for the evening meal would keep Amy off her back as to her lack of interest in socializing with men.
The waiters introduced themselves as Sache and Petro. While the men catered to their every need as professionals, they remained personable and fun. So, between the efficient duo serving us, and the couple across the table displaying their hilarious antics at such fancy dining manners, Merissa and Chad remained in stitches throughout the entire five courses. The kitchen served up special bread, appetizers, soup or salad, a main course, and dessert, as little or as much as one could put away.
“I didn’t know people ate partridge?” said Skip.
“Really? I suppose they don’t include them on fast food menus.” Chad poked his friend with
