To everyone’s surprise, the new object of Belle’s attention told her he was a retired investment consultant from Seattle. Even more to their surprise, Windsor Newton III was apparently gaga over Belle. He joined them at the Captain’s table each night with Belle clinging to him like her prize catch.
The afternoon before arriving in Juneau, Goldie, Flossie and Sterling relaxed in deck chairs while Waldo slept at Sterling’s feet. The oldsters had almost nodded off in the balmy sea air when Waldo lifted his head and let out a soft bark.
All three sets of eyes flew open. Belle approached them with Windsor in tow. She wore a pair of overstuffed purple shorts topped with a pink off-the-shoulder blouse. A wide brimmed straw hat balanced precariously on the multicolored locks and was tied under her double chins with a purple ribbon. The hat, decorated for her Mad Hatter Club, sported huge pink flowers and faux purple kale, designed to mimic one of her favorite Juneau gardens.
Waldo laid his head down and folded his paws over his nose, giving a soft moan. Windy clutched Belle’s hand with both of his. “Mornin’ everyone. I almost wish we weren’t docking in Juneau tomorrow because I’ll have to bid goodbye to this beautiful woman.” He gave Belle’s hand a squeeze and she giggled like a schoolgirl. Then he gave her a hug.
He smiled at Flossie and Sterling. “I just love cruising, don’t you?”
Sterling patted his stomach. “Well, I do love the scenery, but I love the meals even more.”
Windsor Newton III turned to Goldie. “Say, you’ll be seeing more of me, young lady. Your mother-in-law has invited me to come to Juneau at the end of next month and stay in her guest room. Isn’t that right, Honey Bun? She wants me to review some of her investments and give her a little advice.”
The hefty honey smiled down at him and blew him a kiss. “We’ll have so much fun. When Windy and me laid eyes on each other, fireworks went off. Sometimes it just happens like that, you know.” Arm in arm the lovebirds headed for the shuffleboard area.
“Wow, you got lucky, Old Boy.” Flossie reached over and slapped Sterling’s knee. “I thought she’d be chasing you all the way from Vancouver to Juneau, and what does she do? Halfway there she snags herself a new boyfriend. He actually seems to be a mensch, don’t you think?”
Goldie looked thoughtful. “I know he said he was an investment consultant, but I wonder how much Mama Belle told him about her finances. She’s worth several million, you know, and I’d hate to see her get hurt.”
There was good reason for Goldie to be concerned. Her mother-in-law was one of those Alaska millionaires who definitely didn’t look the part. At first glance, no one would suspect that she owned several commercial buildings in Ketchikan and quite a bit of property in Juneau, including the large historic building downtown where she lived in the penthouse suite. Although it was one of the few things she didn’t talk about, rumor had it that she owned a house on Starr Hill that had formerly been a bordello where she made a bundle as a madam. She never confirmed or denied these suspicions, but whatever the source of her money, she had invested it wisely.
Flossie let out a little whistle. “Wooo, now that you put it that way, totteleh, I see what you mean. Maybe that little fella noticed her flashy jewelry and figured he hooked himself a big one.”
“Big in more than one way.” Sterling held up his hands as if he were bragging about catching a record-size fish. “I really don’t think there’s anything to worry about, Goldie. I say just keep an eye on him when he shows up next month. Tell Red to make sure his mother doesn’t do anything foolish.”
“Sterling, do you remember that movie Out to Sea? I think it was with Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon, where they played old duffers on a cruise. Well, they sure pretended to be something they weren’t. I’m not saying Windy is like that, but one of those guys wore an outfit like the one he wears and—”
Goldie raised a cautioning hand. “See, that’s what has me a little concerned. He was pretty smooth the way he zoomed right in on her. I mean, she’s not exactly Marilyn Monroe, but he’s acting like she is.”
Sterling harrumphed. “As for me, I kind of like the guy. After all, he kept her away from me, didn’t he? But I’m still not sure I trust a fella who dresses like he does. Be funny if his yacht turns out to be a toy boat in the bathtub.”
***
The Aurora Borealis docked in Juneau at eleven the next morning. Flossie, Sterling and Waldo didn’t have to be back on board until it set sail for the return trip to Vancouver that evening. The little troupe walked a short distance down Franklin Street and popped into Goldie’s antique shop to say hello to her helper Rudy Valentino.
The crusty old Texan greeted them with a whooping, “Glad to see ya finally got yer caboose back in town, Goldilocks. Been busier than all tarnation, what with five ships in yesterday. Store was so packed I couldn’t hardly take care of all of ‘em. My friend Taku sold out all his fresh catch, so he closed up his fish shop and came over to help me out. Folks didn’t even seem to mind that he smelled pretty fishy.”
He patted the top of the elegant antique cash register. “We sure did feed the kitty, though.” As if on cue, Goldie’s huge black cat Midnight rubbed up against Rudy expectantly. He frowned at the cat and patted the cash register again. “I meant this here kitty, you no good feline. You don’t get fed till later.”
Midnight fixed Waldo with a glare as though it was all his fault, flicked his tail at the bewildered dog and strode off.
Baaaddd caaattt.
Rudy twirled around in Waldo’s direction and stared at him. He did a double take when he noticed the bright new Service Dog vest, a gift from Captain Pepper. “Sure didn’t know service dogs talk, too.”
Goldie ruffled Waldo’s ears and he looked like he’d gone to doggie heaven. “Not to worry, I’ve told you about Waldo’s gift of gab. Say, Rudy, would you do me a favor and get Mom and Unk a nice cup of tea. Join us if you want to.”
They sipped tea served in delicate Royal Doulton cups and saucers, while the oldsters exchanged jokes and stories with Rudy. When they were finished, Goldie said, “Okay, Rudy, I’m going to take Mom and Unk around town. There are only three ships in today, so I think you can handle the shop. I’ll be back early this evening after the folks get on board.”
They walked around the quaint little streets of the downtown area. Goldie wanted to thank Taku Ted for helping Rudy with the crush of customers. They found him in the fish shop run by the Fisherman’s Benevolent Society. The pungent aroma of raw seafood lacing the air made it hard to believe it had once been a cozy Russian tearoom where Goldie’s friend Mimi Mendoza had been brutally murdered.
“You know, I can never pass this shop without choking up. Mimi was such a good friend, and to be killed just because of something I sold her. Sometimes life can be so unfair.”
“So it went from tea room to fish shop? That’s quite a stretch.”
“Yes Mom, poor Mimi left the building to the Fishermen’s Benevolent Society with an apartment upstairs for Taku Ted. He’s disabled and can’t fish anymore. With the help of some of his buddies they converted it into a store that sells fresh seafood donated by the fishermen. He makes a little and the rest of the profits go to the Benevolent Fund. Even from the grave Mimi watches out for them.”
Goldie wiped a tear from her eye, and Flossie gave her daughter a hug. “It’s okay to cry, totteleh. You miss her, but she’ll always be in your heart.”
“But, if only—”
“Honey, it was not your fault. There was nothing you could have done.” Sterling joined in hugging her.
They walked around a little more, stopping in some of the local shops. After the third souvenir shop, Sterling said, “I’ll be danged if I can figure out why they open so many stores with the same merchandise. Most of it isn’t even Alaskan. You’d think they would try to be more original.”
“Isn’t it that way in all of the towns and cities that cater to tourists? Fortunately, when they come into my shop they can buy a real piece of Alaska history, if that’s what they’re looking for. I forgot to show you the beautiful collection of ivory scrimshaw that came in right before I left.”
Sterling leaned over one of the cases in the Alaska Treasure Chest. “Speakin’ of ivory, what are these little monkey things? Sort of cute. Maybe I’ll buy one for my keychain.”
“They’re not monkeys, they’re called billikens, Unk. And, they aren’t ivory, they’re hand carved out of bone. It’s kind of the Alaska Native version of a Buddha. Rub their belly and they’re supposed to bring you good luck.”
Flossie signaled to the clerk. “Wrap one of these things up for my brother-in-law. We need all the good luck we can get. Sterling, pick out the one you like.”