The cruise ship's horn blast made talking impossible. Viv turned to Rex. “Too loud,” she mouthed. When the blast stopped assaulting her ears she yelled, "I hope that doesn't happen very often." She patted both hands over her ears as if to give them encouragement.
A slight smile came to his lips. "Not exactly the peaceful sail I promised," he admitted. Instantly his charm worked its magic, settling over her frayed nerves.
Rex kept speaking in his warm, soothing voice. "I know it wasn't your idea, but I hope you enjoy our cruise. Honolulu is low-key and exotic. The perfect destination port. Why don't we sign in?"
He pointed to a woman wearing a navy-blue blazer over a white shirt who sat behind the table, tapping her pen.
"I think she wants to have a look at your driver's license," Rex said.
Viv handed over her identification with a smile, her ears still ringing.
"Welcome to Aloha Cruise Lines. Is this your first excursion with us?" the brown-haired woman asked. Her bright blue eyes focused on Rex and then turned away.
Viv noted the stylized cruise pin with the wave logo on her jacket's lapel. Allison Thompson, Information Technology Senior Manager was printed on the badge.
When neither Viv nor Rex answered, Allison piped up. "The Legend of the Sea is our newest ship. We've heard nothing but rave reviews. Let me get you checked in right away." She glanced at her laptop and then frowned. "Unfortunately your luggage has been delayed, not yet transferred to your room."
Viv frowned at the news.
Undaunted, Allison stretched her smile over perfectly aligned white teeth. "Nothing to worry about though," she assured them. "It takes time to get all the luggage in the right hands when we have nearly two thousand passengers. Once we've brought the bags up to your stateroom, we'll send a text and provide a personal escort to take you to your rooms.
"In the meanwhile, you can sit on the well-appointed outdoor lido deck with a view of the sea and look over the Welcome Aboard packet from our captain. Familiarize yourself with all of our amenities. I see you've purchased the unlimited drinks package."
Finally Allison took a breath. Viv cast a glare in Rex's direction. "Unlimited drinks?" She leaned closer to whisper, "Planning on getting me tipsy and having your way with me?"
"The drinks were a part of the deal I got online. Kind of an all-inclusive thing." He kept his pleasant smile, but his eyes twinkled in Viv's direction.
For the first time, Allison paid attention. First to Viv, then to Rex. Her blue eyes widened and remained on Rex. Her cheeks flushed pink. "I wouldn't mind an all-drinks package with my boyfriend." Allison blinked seductively.
"I see," Viv said primly. And I do see. Rex is irresistible. Women of all ages can't keep their eyes off of him. Must be such a burden, she chuckled to herself.
As she slid her driver's license back into her purse, a man dressed in navy slacks and a crisp white shirt approached. His badge read Customer Service Coordinator. Underneath was his name: Robert Redford.
Viv pointed. "Any relation to the movie star?"
"No, ma'am," he said. "I'm asked that all the time. My parents thought the name would turn me into a Sundance Kid kind of guy. Didn't work of course. We lived in a high-rise apartment in West Manhattan." He smiled sheepishly. "I majored in hotel management at Cornell and I've never ridden a horse, let alone jumped off a mountain."
His lack of pretense made Viv feel better about her luggage.
Redford leaned closer to Allison. She didn't acknowledge his presence, staring at her computer.
"Allison, take the next guest, would you? I need to speak to Mr. Redondo." This time he poked her shoulder with his index finger, making sure she gave him eye contact.
Rex brushed his hand over his hair, looking slightly amused. "You know my name already? I guess I'm known far and wide." He sounded quite pleased with himself.
Skepticism came over Viv at first, followed by curiosity. She'd agreed to Rex's cruise invitation recently. It was all his idea. For both of them to get away and get to know each other better. But now she wondered if Rex hadn't told her everything about the spontaneous trip.
She knew this wasn't his first cruise. He'd traveled all over the world with his mentalist act, aboard some very exotic ships. Her mind whirled. What does Robert Redford want with Rex… She began to speculate.
Maybe Rex is in trouble. A parking ticket in a foreign port; some indiscretion that caused alarm with the police…
"It's a pleasure to meet you." Redford moved around the table to shake Rex's hand. Viv stepped back to give them room. But not so much that she couldn't overhear their conversation.
"How can I be of help?" Rex asked.
Redford gave Viv a quick glance and then gestured with a sweep of his hand. "Ms. Rose may stand over here. She's fully checked in. This shouldn't take a minute."
Viv moved aside as directed, giving Rex a slight wave of her fingers.
Standing at the edge of the pier, she looked toward the cruise ship. The Legend of the Sea flag waved from a pole high above the top deck. She felt a shiver of excitement. My first cruise. At my age. Will wonders never cease.
Workers bustled onto the pier, loading bags on wheeled platforms. Passengers straggled toward the ramp as staff greeted them. To Viv's eyes the ship seemed enormous. Like a floating apartment building, with all the windows and levels.
One open-air deck caught her attention. I bet that's the swimming pool and fancy spa and gym that Rex told me about.
"Excuse me, Ms. Rose." Allison Thompson stood at her elbow. "I've been asked to escort you to the lido deck while you wait. Apparently Mr. Redondo is still talking to Mr. Redford. It will take a bit longer."
"Of course." Viv stepped back, following Allison to the ramp. The smell of salt air tinged with diesel fuel clung to her nose. A seagull squawked overhead. The hint of anticipation brought on a giddy excitement. It's been a long time since I've felt this way.
Allison left Viv sitting in a chair on the lido deck. "It won't be long," she assured her.
"I don't mind waiting," Viv said. "I love people watching." Once Allison left, Viv realized how lame that must have sounded. No one's here to watch right now.
The pool water shimmered aqua blue, smelling slightly of bromine. A filter in the pool gurgled. She was familiar with the stories of people catching illnesses on cruise ships. She felt relieved that everything looked and smelled so clean.
Sitting back to make herself more comfortable, Viv watched as the glass door slid open and a staff member stepped onto the deck. They began work behind an expansive bar. Polished glasses were set in rows, and napkins fanned out over the bar's surface.
Another employee arrived. He released a large cloth and began to wipe down the chairs and stools. Within moments the area was alive with more workers, leaving small vases of flowers and cutlery wrapped in cloth napkins.
Viv's gaze took in the steaming spa on the far end of the pool. Behind that there were more doors with signs that read Massage, Nail Treatments, and Steam Bath. Lifting her eyes toward the sky, she saw that the lido deck included three levels.
She blinked at the brightness of the sun. Her gaze drifted downward again to stifle a sneeze. She blinked and then looked back toward a long line of elliptical machines. On the upper level they could be seen through expansive glass windows. The gym reminds me of New York. People exercising, looking down on the streets of Manhattan. Only in this case the machines faced the pool area.
Only one man exercised on the elliptical. His hands braced on both handles of the machine as he pushed and pulled, bending his head down. Legs pumping, arms moving, he raised his head to look through the window. She felt as if he caught her staring.
She averted her eyes, but then something made her look back again. The man's arms began to flail, as if he'd suddenly lost his balance. Tumbling forward, his head bounced on the arm of the elliptical, his left temple heading straight toward the handle of the machine right next to him. Bam, it made contact with the metal, making Viv wince.
"Oh no!" she cried, jumping to her feet. She waited, watching as his body slumped to the floor. She waited another minute. When he didn't move, she felt the rise of panic. One glance told her that the staff had left. And there was no other passenger in view.
Reaching for her cell phone, she heard the glass doors swish open.
Two stewards pushed a cart filled with food through the doorway. "Help," Viv called. "A man has fallen."
The men didn't seem to understand what she was saying. One shook his head and said, "No English."
She pointed to the window and to the bank of ellipticals.
Then her arm dropped, embarrassment flushing her cheeks.
Without thinking, she started to explain about the man but abruptly stopped. In the brief moment it had taken to turn and ask for help, the body had vanished. Sight unseen.