On a freezing cold December 26th, Alvirah, Willy, Regan, Jack, Nora, and Luke met at Teterboro Airport to board the private plane Willy had hired to take them to Miami for their Santa Cruise. On the way down, they chatted about how they had spent Christmas Day. The four Reillys had gone to Jack’s parents’ home in Bedford, where his six siblings and their families had all gathered for the holiday.
“Here we are two only children with an only child,” Nora marveled. “It was so much fun to celebrate Christmas with a big group. Jack’s family are such nice people. Every single one of them.”
Jack raised an eyebrow and smiled. “I assure you, they were all on their best behavior. What did you guys do, Alvirah?”
“We had a wonderful day,” she said heartily. “We went to midnight Mass on Christmas Eve, slept late, then had dinner at a really good restaurant on the Upper West Side with Sister Cordelia. She’s the only one of Willy’s sisters who lives in the area. We took her, five or six other nuns, as well as some of the people Sister Cordelia knows who don’t have much family. There were thirty-eight of us and it was really grand.”
“Thirty-eight?” Jack exclaimed. “That’s more than my mother had.”
“Well, they’d be out of luck if I had to cook for them,” Alvirah said. “We had a room to ourselves and ended up singing Christmas carols.”
“It’s a good thing we had a room to ourselves,” Willy interjected. “Next year, Sister Cordelia wants to bring a karaoke machine.”
Alvirah leaned toward Regan. “That’s a beautiful necklace,” she said admiringly. “I bet it’s a Christmas present from Jack.”
“Alvirah, anytime you’d like a job in my office, it’s waiting for you,” Jack said with a smile. “That necklace is actually a miniature Reilly crest.”
“Complete with diamonds on a gold chain,” Alvirah said. “I love it.”
“Nothing too good for Reilly Reilly,” Jack said.
* * *
When they arrived in Miami, the sun was shining brightly and the air was hot.
“Alleluia,” Luke said as they stepped off the plane. “This feels wonderful. These last few days I felt as if I would turn into an icicle.”
The limo Alvirah had ordered was waiting for them when they exited the terminal.
“We have plenty of time to get to the ship,” Alvirah said. “How about a nice lunch at Joe’s Stone Crab? If we get to the ship by three, it’ll be just the right time to check in.”
“Alvirah, boarding starts at one,” Willy objected.
“And it goes until four. Let all the anal types get settled in, then there will be no line by the time we get there.”
* * *
Everything is going exactly according to plan, Alvirah thought with satisfaction, as the limo pulled up to the terminal where the Royal Mermaid was filling up with the Do-Gooders of the Year. They got out of the car and, as the driver unloaded their luggage, stared out at the ship. An enormous Christmas wreath with the words SANTA CRUISE in the center was hanging from the bow.
“I kind of expected this ship to be a little larger,” Willy said. “But I guess I was thinking about those huge ocean liners that carry thousands of people.”
“It looks perfectly lovely,” Nora said hastily.
“The brochure said the Royal Mermaid accommodates four hundred passengers,” Alvirah noted. She waved her hand dismissively. “That’s plenty.”
A porter with a cart came up to greet them. “Go right in the terminal,” he said. “I’ll take care of your bags.”
All three men reached for their wallets. “I’ve got it,” Luke said firmly.
They stepped inside the terminal where two security stations were set up.
“I just hope they don’t want me to take the pins out of my hair,” Nora murmured. “They did that to me at Kennedy Airport when we were going to London. I looked like Gravel Gerty when I got on the plane.”
But the whole group passed through with flying colors. They walked down a hallway to the departure area where a line of clerks was waiting to check in the guests. It quickly became clear that most of the other passengers had already boarded. There was no one on line at any of the counters. Three men in blue blazers, white slacks, and gold braided caps had just emerged from the gangplank to the ship. The eldest one spotted them and rushed over.
“Welcome! Welcome! Which one of you is Alvirah Meehan?” he asked. “We were so afraid you’d changed your mind about joining us. That would have been such a disappointment.”
“A big disappointment, indeed,” one of the other men echoed.
“I’m Alvirah and this is my husband Willy and our friends . . .” Quickly she introduced them.
“And I am Randolph Weed, your host. But my friends call me Commodore, and I love it. And this is my nephew, Eric Manchester, and my cruise director, Dudley Loomis. Let’s get you checked in and on board. The opening cocktail party will be over in twenty minutes. We sail at four.”
“At four?” Alvirah said. “My information said six. I have it right here—”
Dudley sprang into action. He wasn’t anxious to see his signature on the letter she was about to pull out. He’d been frazzled when he wrote that letter to her. “Let’s get you checked in,” he urged, leading them over to the counter where all six clerks were waiting. Luke and Nora began to check in with one, and Jack and Regan with another. The Commodore and his nephew were hovering protectively around Alvirah and Willy.
“We’re going to have such fun,” the Commodore was saying. “A most fascinating group of fine people together on the high seas for four days. I promise you you’ll love every minute . . .”
The clerk took Alvirah’s and Willy’s names and typed them into the computer. She frowned and started tapping away at the keys. “Oh my,” she said.
There can’t be a problem, Dudley thought. There just can’t.
“I don’t understand how this could have happened . . .” the clerk said.
“What?” Dudley asked, trying to keep a smile on his face as the Commodore’s expression became stern.
“The room assigned to the Meehans is already taken. And every other room on the ship is filled.” She looked up at the Commodore, Dudley, and Eric. “What are we going to do?”
“There are no other rooms?” the Commodore asked, glaring at Dudley. “How could this have happened?”
I must have miscounted, Dudley thought. I should have just offered to let them bring one other couple.
“Alvirah,” Regan said, “Jack and I will spend a couple of days in Miami and then fly out to Lake Tahoe. We don’t mind at all.”
“Absolutely not!” the Commodore barked. “No such thing. We have available one of the most luxurious rooms on the ship that the Meehans will find most comfortable. It’s right next to my quarters.” He looked at Eric. “My nephew will happily spend this cruise in the guest bedroom in my suite. Isn’t that right, Eric?”
Eric felt the blood draining from his face. There was only one thing he could say. He said it. “Of course.”
“I’ll have your things moved in a jiffy,” Dudley said brightly. Even though he was nervous about his mistake, it was an exquisite pleasure to inconvenience Eric.
“Eric, I hate to put you out,” Alvirah said. “Take your time packing your stuff. We’ll go up to that cocktail party right now and enjoy a drink until we set sail. Then we’ll be happy to settle in.”
Eric managed a smile. “I’d better get packed up so they can freshen the room,” he said. “I’ll see you all later.” He turned on his heel and like a shot was up the gangplank.
“What a nice young fellow your nephew is,” Alvirah said to the Commodore.