Ben called Maya and asked to speak to Katie about an hour after they’d gotten the surf shop open.
“Hey, I’ve been thinking more about the shore excursions,” he said. “If you don’t see an activity you like in St. Maarten, we could always book a taxi and see a bit of the island. I spent some time there one summer, and I have a few favorite spots I could show you. I mean, if you want. And not to say we have to spend time together off the ship. You can do your own thing, of course. I was just saying, you know, it’s an option.”
“An island tour sounds nice. I’ll look at the excursions later and let you know what I’m interested in, and we can decide from there. If there’s something we both want to do, I’m happy to go together.”
“Great. Why don’t you text me the ones you like, and I’ll take a look and get back to you? And I’m sure Maya probably told you, but the whole reason for this torture trip is my five-year-old nephew’s birthday. Brady remembers visiting a turtle conservation center on St Thomas when they cruised two years ago, and he asked to go back for his birthday. So, my sister chose this ship because it will stop at St. Thomas on Wednesday, which is Brady’s birthday, and she spoke with the turtle center and arranged for the family to celebrate there. Obviously, you don’t have to go, but I wanted to let you know my family might expect to see you there. Even if we’re only friends.”
“Right. No, that makes sense. I’ll plan to be there.”
“Thanks.” He paused for a moment. “I appreciate what you’re doing. That you’re willing to come along and be up for whatever the adventure brings. I think that’s really cool of you, and I promise I’ll do my best to show you a good time so you don’t regret coming.”
“Thanks, but I’m sure it’ll be great.”
“Well, if it isn’t, we both know your sister will have my head. So, there’s that.”
She laughed and assured him that wasn’t the case, and then they said goodbye.
With the decision made, Katie threw herself into planning for the cruise. It would be her first vacation as an adult since she didn’t count the disastrous weekend in London where all she did was stay indoors nursing an ailing Grant.
With only two weeks to prepare, she felt a sense of urgency that drove her to study the cruise website like she was cramming for an exam. She memorized the ship’s layout and made note of the restaurants and stores she wanted to visit, and then she turned her attention to the island destinations they’d be visiting: Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; and Coconut Palms Cay, Bahamas, which was the cruise line’s private island resort.
Over the next few days, she and Ben texted back and forth regarding the available excursions and activities along with other details regarding the trip. They decided to book snorkeling together at Coconut Palms Cay, and then Ben would be her tour guide on St. Maarten. Brady’s birthday celebration would take up the afternoon they were on St. Thomas, but Katie booked a solo seat on a historic bus tour that morning so she could see more of the island.
Without the pressure of the girlfriend ruse, she found it much easier to be excited about the trip. The concept of sharing a room with Ben still felt awkward, but their text conversations had at least helped to break the ice between them so he no longer seemed like a complete stranger. Katie just wished they could have more time to get to know each other in person before they got on the ship. He was scheduled to fly into Miami the night before their departure, and then she would fly to Miami to meet him the morning of the cruise, giving them very little time to get used to one another before they were thrown together in a cabin.
He’d offered to change his flight to come into Orlando instead, which would allow them to meet the night before and either fly or drive to Miami together. But it made no sense to uproot all his plans for what essentially would only be a few hours spent together, so Katie kept things the way they were.
“I’m sorry I can’t drive you to the airport myself,” Maya said the morning of the cruise. “I swear not being able to drive is almost as bad as not being to surf or run. I don’t know how you did without a car in New York.”
“I didn’t need one, so I didn’t miss it.” Katie finished applying one last coat of mascara and then tossed the tube into her cosmetics bag. “I could walk almost everywhere I needed to get to, and there were always taxis, buses, and the subway for anywhere too far to go on foot.”
“You sure you don’t want me to ride with you and Mel?”
“No, I’m good. There’s no reason for you to close the shop just to go to the airport. I’ve flown by myself plenty of times.”
She tossed the cosmetics case into her carry-on bag and zipped it shut.
“Did you remember to put a change of clothes in there for dinner?” Maya asked, pointing toward the bag.
“Yes, Mom. I did exactly what you told me. I packed a change of clothes, my toothbrush and toothpaste, and my swimsuit and a cover-up in the carry-on in case my luggage is delivered late. Although I can’t see myself rushing to put on a bathing suit as soon as we get on the boat.”
“You never know. You guys might decide to sit by the pool or in the hot tub. It’s best to be prepared.”
“Oh my goodness, what’s happening here?” Katie said, laying her hand on her chest in mock shock. “Did we get zapped by some freaky spell and switch places? I’m running off on a cruise with a stranger, and you’re spouting packing advice and telling me to be prepared?”
“Very funny,” Maya said with a grin. “I’ll have you know I’m an excellent and efficient packer. I’d never be dragging a bag that big.” She pointed to Katie’s large suitcase by the door. “I went to Europe for two months with nothing but a backpack.”
“Yeah, well, backpacking when you’re staying in hostels is one thing. I need enough clothes for every occasion—snorkeling, island tours, pool days, a child’s birthday party, and dinner with Ben’s parents, whom you’ve both told me are pretty uptight.”
The doorbell rang with Mel’s arrival, and Katie turned to Maya with a mixture of panic and excitement. “That’s my ride. Time to go!”
Maya grinned as she hobbled forward on the knee scooter to take Katie’s hands in hers. “I want you to take every opportunity to have a great time for the next week. Make the start of this new chapter epic, and if you come home with regrets, it better not be because you missed out on something.”
The sisters hugged, and then Katie loaded her bags into the back of Mel’s car before coming back to the door to hug Maya one more time.
“Remember that you need to rest, okay?” Katie squeezed Maya tighter and then released her. “And no weight on that foot. Not even a little. Use the scooter, even when you think you don’t need it.”
“I’ve got it. I’m good. Delia will be here soon to drive me to the shop and help me get it open. Then she, Mel, and Beth are all gonna tag-team to make sure I’ve always got someone on call while you’re gone. So don’t worry.”
“You know I will anyway.”
“I know,” Maya said as Katie turned to go. “Have fun for me, okay? Do something I would do. Something old Katie never would have done. That should give you plenty of options!”
The flight to Miami was short and smooth, but Katie was a bundle of nerves for the entire ride in anticipation of meeting Ben.
He was just a guy. So what if they were about to sleep in the same room together for seven nights? It didn’t mean anything. It was like being assigned a random roommate in college. Except this one was of the opposite sex and handsome as hell if the pictures Maya had shown her were any indication.
She rubbed her palms over the sundress she’d borrowed from Maya as she made her way to baggage claim, wondering if she’d be able to spot him before he spotted her.
They’d texted each other a description of what they were wearing, so the moment she could see the luggage carousels up ahead, she started searching for him.
There were a surprising number of men wandering around the airport in blue and white tropical print shirts and khaki shorts, and most of them seemed to have brown hair and brown eyes. But only one matched the guy she’d seen in Maya’s pictures, and at six-foot-three, he stood out among the crowd.
He was scanning for her as well, and his smile lit up his face when they made eye contact.
Wow. He was even more handsome than his pictures, and her stomach did a funny flip when she considered spending the next week by his side.
Don’t be ridiculous, she told herself. And don’t be awkward.
With one more swipe across the dress to ensure her palms didn’t feel clammy, she approached him with her hand extended in greeting.
“You must be Ben. It’s so nice to finally meet you. Or, um, meet you again, I suppose I should say. Maya tells me we met one time before, but I don’t remember you. Not that you’re forgettable. You’re not. It’s just that I don’t…um…there were a lot of people.”
Okay, too late. Already awkward.
His smile remained through the handshake, which was firm but not aggressive. “Yes, we met at the concert, and yeah, there were a lot of people. And if I remember correctly, you had some other things going on, so you might have been distracted. No worries. I’m sure after the next week, you will definitely remember me. I can only hope it will be for all good reasons.”
“Same.” She smiled as he released her hand. “Um, meaning I hope you’ll remember me for good reasons as well. That we’ll both remember each other. That it’ll be good.”
Oh, God. Was she going to say something weird every time she opened her mouth?
“Looks like the luggage is starting to come in for your flight,” Ben said, looking past her toward the carousel, which had started moving with a loud warning signal and a flash of the light above it.
Once they’d retrieved her suitcase, they made their way outside to wait for an Uber driver.
“Thanks for meeting me at the airport,” Katie said. “I’m sure any driver could have gotten me to the ship’s terminal without a problem, but it was cool to have a friendly face waiting when I arrived.”
“Of course! I figured this would give us a chance to talk a little before we get onboard and things get underway.”
“Right. Good idea. Is your family already on the ship?”
“Yes. They are in a concierge suite, so they were among the first to board this morning.”
“Oh. Our room isn’t on the concierge level, though. Which is fine, but are we not near them?”
“No. Definitely not.” Ben indicated that their driver was approaching and then stepped forward to the curb, pulling her luggage along with his. “I booked later than they did, so the concierge level was sold out, but I probably would have chosen a different area of the ship anyway. The more difficult it is for them to come to my room, the better.”
They greeted the driver, and then Ben held the car’s door open for Katie as their luggage was loaded into the trunk.
“Maya said you only planned to see your family at dinner,” Katie said once they were on their way to the port. “Well, other than your nephew’s birthday outing.”
“That’s the plan. I predict that my father and my brother-in-law will stay parked in the casino any time it’s open, and then take up space on a barstool any time it’s not. And since I’m not a gambler and I don’t drink, I won’t see a lot of them. As far as my mother, she’ll probably only leave her suite to go to the dining room or the spa. Unless Brady can coax her out. He holds more sway with her than anyone else.”
“Why would she come on a cruise if she doesn’t plan to leave her room?”
“Because Brady invited her for his birthday, and he is her only grandchild. Another way I’ve failed her.”
“Yeah, but if she’s gonna come, why stay in her room? Why not enjoy what the ship has to offer?”
“My mother doesn’t like crowds. Or being around…people…in general.”
“Okay, good to know. And what about your sister? What’s her name again?”
“Laura. Hard to predict. She and her husband Dale have been on several cruises, so she obviously enjoys them. But she tends to stick closer Mother when they’re together, so I suspect she and Brady will spend most of their time in the suite as well.”
“I saw that they have children’s programs on board. Won’t Brady be involved with those?”
“Hard to say. It depends on how much Laura is willing to let Brady do without her, which usually isn’t a lot. But the older he gets, the more vocal the little guy’s becoming about his need for independence.”
Katie took a moment to digest all he’d said, and then she looked at him, her brow scrunched in confusion. “Help me understand why you’d come on a vacation with your family and plan not to see them.”
Ben shrugged. “I come for the same reason my mother does. Brady. He personally invited me.”
“Yeah, but what good is it to come if you’re not going to spend time with him?”
“I’ll spend all the time with him I can. I take whatever I can get. But I’m here because I want him to know that I show up when he asks me to. That he can count on me.” He leaned over closer with a hint of a smirk playing at his lips. “As far as not spending time with the rest of my family, I think once you meet them, you’ll understand why.”
“I can’t wait,” Katie said on a loud exhale as Ben chuckled. “With the way you’re making them sound, maybe my sister broke her ankle on purpose.”
“Nah, I think Maya would have had a field day with them. She had all these plans of what she was going to say and what she was going to do. They wouldn’t have known what to do with her, and I guiltily admit I was looking forward to it.”
“She told me she’d created a character will a full backstory and everything. She would have been great at it, I’m sure. I’m sorry she couldn’t come.”
“Me too,” Ben said, but then he flashed her an apologetic look. “But that’s not to say anything negative about you being here. I always enjoy Maya’s company, and I’m sure I’ll enjoy yours as well.”
“Oh, well, I might as well tell you now—I’m no substitute for my sister. I couldn’t be if I tried. Maya has enough personality for twelve of me.”
“Really? Because she’s always telling me how funny you are. How smart you are. How creative you are. She thinks highly of you.”
Katie shook her head with a bashful smile. “That’s Maya being nice. She’s always got something positive to say. I’m not nearly as funny or as creative as she is. Never have been. When we were growing up, I was always the smart one, and she was always the entertaining one. We didn’t ask for those roles; we were born into them.”
“Well, I, for one, think your sister is very intelligent, and I bet you are funnier than you think. You’ve made me laugh quite a few times already, and I’ve only had a handful of conversations with you. As far as creativity, you both have skills and talents, just in different mediums. You write, and she paints. One isn’t any more creative than the other.”
“Thanks. I appreciate you saying that, and I appreciate you letting me tag along on your horrific family vacation.” She waited as Ben laughed, and then she continued, “No, but seriously. Maya told me this trip might be difficult for you, and I realize we don’t know each other very well. And I get that it would be better if you had Maya with you, but I want you to know that I’ll do whatever I can to be supportive or encouraging…or whatever you need. I’m here, for what it’s worth.”
“Thank you for that. Maya mentioned you’ve been going through some things lately, so I’ll make the same offer. Whatever I can do, I’m here.”
“Thanks.” Katie turned to look out the window, curious what Maya had told him but not wanting to ask. The last thing she wanted to think about today was her problems.
“I also want to apologize ahead of time for anything my mother says or does. My sister too, just in case, though usually Laura’s not so bad. She’s worse when she’s with Mother.”
“Oh, I’m sure they’ll be fine,” Katie said, looking back at him.
“Trust me. You haven’t met them yet, and I’m certain they’ll say or do something obnoxious.”
“Even if they do, that’s not on you to apologize for them.”
“Not even when I’m the reason you’re on the receiving end of their nonsense?”
Katie shrugged. “I’d say, technically, Maya is the reason. If she hadn’t broken her ankle, she’d be here instead of me.”
“But Maya was only here because of me, so it’s still my fault.”
“How your mother and sister behave isn’t your fault, Ben. They’re adults. They should be responsible for their own behavior.”
“No, I get that, and you’re right. I’m just saying I don’t know how they’ll react to you. What they’ll ask you. What they’ll say about me bringing you.”
Katie stared at him, wondering if it would really be as bad as he seemed to fear. Were they going to be rude right to her face?
“What do they normally say to people you introduce them to?”
It was Ben’s turn to shrug. “I don’t. I haven’t brought anyone home in years. It’s not worth it to me to risk someone I care about being treated unkindly.”
“You care about Maya, though.”
“Yeah, but Maya knew what she was getting into. Or had a better idea, at least. She knows my family history and what I deal with. She was prepared for it.”
“And you worry I won’t be able to handle it?”
“I feel bad that you even have to try. Your sister was going into this expecting them to be obnoxious, and she was willing to take that and spin it back at them.”
“And she could do it, for sure.”
“Yes. And it might have been a disaster, but there was a part of me that wanted to see someone take my mother on. Maya didn’t care what they thought of her, so she was willing to do or say anything.”
Katie turned back toward the window, surprised to see they were already arriving at the cruise terminal. “That’s Maya, though. She’s always done and said whatever she wanted. Even when she’s not pretending to be someone else. And somehow, she gets away with it.”
“She’s a fireball, for sure, that sister of yours. Sometimes, I wish I had her moxie—that I could care a little bit less what other people think.”
“You and me both,” Katie mumbled as she stared up at the massive ships, unable to believe she was about to board one. Her phone buzzed in her purse, and she pulled it out and grinned. “Speak of the devil. I forgot to call and let her know I landed. I’m gonna be in trouble now.”
“Uh-oh. I’m probably in trouble too for not reminding you to do it.”
“Hey, sorry, I forgot to call you,” Katie said to Maya. “I’m here. I’m with Ben, and we’re pulling up to get out at the cruise terminal now.”
“I figured y’all got to talking and forgot me already, but I wanted to catch you before you get onboard. Put me on speaker.”
Katie did as Maya asked and then told her to go ahead.
“Ben? You better take care of my baby sister, or I will hunt you down,” Maya said. “I have a very particular set of skills, and I’m not afraid to use them.”
Katie grinned at the Uber driver’s nervous glance in the rearview mirror, and she wondered if he realized it was a movie quote. Not exactly an empty threat where Maya was concerned, but not as dangerous as it sounded.
“And Kate? You take care of my buddy, and you don’t let that family of his bring him down, okay? If they start in on him, you have my permission to channel me and go at them full blast. And if they bring you down, I’m going after them with that set of skills I mentioned.”
“Can you not just say Bon voyage or have a great time like a normal person?” Katie asked with an eyeroll.
“Sure! Bon voyage! Now, you two go get on that ship and have the most wonderful time you can without me, because obviously you both know you’d have a better time with me.”
“But, of course,” Ben said with a huge smile. “We’re gonna miss ya, but I promise to take good care of your sister. Thanks for loaning her to me.”
“You better bring her back in one piece, and she better have nothing but great stories to tell. Take lots of pictures. I love you both!”