7

REX REDONDO

After the show, Rex sat in front of his mirror, removing the makeup around his eyes. He stared at himself and sighed. Okay, Rex, old boy. You've made a big mistake. Just admit you won't be seeing much of Viv. The time on the ship will pass quickly if you stop wanting what you can't have.

The thrust of the matter was that he no longer welcomed the extra attention from adoring fans when he wasn't on stage. Plus he had yet to settle in to his staff berth.

A knock came to the door. Robert Redford poked his head inside the dressing room. "Great show, Mr. Redondo. People loved your entrance and how you took over."

Rex tossed a soiled tissue into the trash and then turned in his chair. "Good to know. First night feedback is important. Plus I'll be seeing most of the same audience for another three performances, so I have to keep on my toes. Totally different at a casino…" His voice trailed off.

Stop talking. He doesn't need to know how you do your job. Oversharing had become a bad habit of late. He used anecdotes for a purpose; if he kept talking, he controlled the conversation. And then he'd make a quick exit without being waylaid.

Even now all he wanted to do was settle in and put his feet up. Maybe watch a show on television and get some sleep.

"Good to know," Redford responded politely. "We've readied your quarters. I can show you the way."

Minutes later, Redford began the tour. "Over here we have the staff bar and dining room. That's where we hold our get-togethers and parties. And there is a private lounge and library. If you look through that door, you'll even find a private dining room."

A giggling couple walked past coming from the opposite direction. Arms draped around each other, their laughter made Rex feel self-conscious. A stab of regret pierced his heart. How did I let this cruise with Viv get away from me so easily?

Redford seemed to sense his discomfort because he said, "We'll be sure to comp you and Miss Rose another cruise. One of your choice. It's Aloha's way of saying thank you for stepping in at the last minute." He stopped and used his key card to open a room. Rex followed him inside.

One look around the room and he sighed. His mind raced, comparing his first stateroom to this. No veranda that connected to Viv's, for one. And it was smaller. He could barely walk past the end of the bed to get to the bathroom without bumping into the top of the dresser.

A tiny shower and a toilet with a basin. No fancy toiletries or fluffy towels. Three dispensers hung on the shower wall, each one carefully labeled: shampoo, conditioner, and soap.

Back to the closet, he slid the door open. Only a few inches of rod space to hang his clothing. Rex was a man who chose his wardrobe carefully, and this would not accommodate even half of what he’d packed for the cruise.

Giggling sounded from the neighbors next to him. "The walls are thin," he commented dryly.

Redford spoke matter-of-factly. "To be honest, Aloha encourages their employees to take it easy when they're not working a shift." He sheepishly grinned. "Happy couples make for better workers. And then when the cruise is over, they go their separate ways, none the worse for wear. We have lots of double rooms for that purpose."

Rex shrugged. He didn't plan on making anyone else's acquaintance on this trip. He'd promised Viv a vacation with lots of luxury and he couldn't wait to make up for his bad decision as soon as they got back to shore. Then he saw his worn travel bag shoved into the corner.

"I'm going to unpack and get to bed early. But before you go… I brought one tux for the fancy dress dinner, which I wore tonight. I usually have at least two at my disposal, especially when I do gigs back-to-back."

Redford assured him. "Just leave it out and I'll have your cabin steward take it to be cleaned on board. It will be hung in your closet freshly pressed before each performance."

"Okay then," Rex muttered. When Redford continued standing in his room, he asked, "This has been quite the day. Do I have to get up at any special time for breakfast?"

"Oh no, sir," Redford spoke emphatically. "You're the performer and you can pretty much make your own hours for meals. Just call anytime and we'll get you room service." He pointed to an old-fashioned phone on the desk. "I'll leave you now to unpack."

Once the door closed behind Redford, Rex flung himself face down on the bed, his face buried in a pillow. His eyes began to tear. Come on, be a man, he ordered himself, rubbing his sleeve across his forehead.

When he sniffed, he realized it wasn't his emotions bringing up the tears. It was some kind of burning plastic smell making them sting. Probably coming from the air ducts. He coughed to clear a scratch at the back of his throat. Rubbing his eyes, he thumped the flat pillow. Allergies. They followed me on board.

It wasn't until the next morning that he read Viv's text from the night before.

Great show. The way you just jumped right in. Impressive.

Thanks.

He added a thumbs-up emoji and then looked down at himself. I didn't even undress last night, he realized.

Sitting on the side of the bed, his stomach growled. I think this whole job and upsetting Viv is making me feel terrible, he concluded. Might as well get out of bed and get this day over with.

On his feet, he reached for the desk phone. "Legend of the Sea," came a familiar voice.

"It's me, Redondo," Rex said.

"I can see that on my phone," Redford replied. "By the way, a woman just stopped by the activities counter to sing your praises. I guess you know your stuff. She'd scheduled a burial at sea for her father a month ago and you picked up her daddy issues on stage."

Rex made it a point not to respond to compliments. He was not easily flattered when it came to his show. "I called to make sure my tux will be picked up and laundered before my next performance."

"It will be returned to your room well ahead of the next show," Redford assured him. "Just like I told you last night. No need to be concerned."

Rex hung up the phone and edged his way around the sharp corner of his dresser. Leaving his clothes draped over a chair, he stepped inside the small bathroom and straight into the shower. As cold water sprinkled over his chest, he braced his hand on the wall.

No matter how he turned the dial, the water remained cold. Reminds me of the shower on a naval ship. The space was so narrow that he was only able to lift one hand at a time to scrub under his arm. At least there's plenty of water. But no sooner than he had the thought, the stream of water sputtered and died.

As he rubbed the rough towel over his skin, he realized the burning plastic smell before he fell asleep had somehow lodged itself in his nostrils. Rex scrubbed the towel over his hair, trying to recall what that smell reminded him of.

Because of his time in the Marines, he knew how ships collected bilge water in the lowest part of the hull. And that the water could contain grease, oil, and other contaminants. Waste from the showers, sinks, and laundry would be processed and then dumped at sea.

But the particular burning smell wasn't about bilge. Smells more like diesel fuel, he thought. But I think diesel is regulated as an environmental hazard, especially for cruise ships.

He sniffed, then coughed as his head began to throb. I'll take an aspirin later, he decided.

After a quick cup of coffee in the staff dining room, Rex decided a quick glance at Viv would lift his spirits. I don't have to talk and be seen with her. After searching the dining room areas, hustling past passengers with his baseball cap pulled over his face, he finally found her.

She and the woman from the night before were engaged in an animated conversation. He ducked behind the life boats to stay out of sight. This is complicated. I don't want to hear any more about Daddy in the box, and I don't want her to realize I know Viv.

You're such a fool, Rex Redondo, he told himself. If I hadn't opened my big yap and said yes to stepping in, I'd be walking with Viv myself. After enjoying a leisurely cup of coffee and return trips to the buffet for eggs and crispy toast.

But oh no, I had to say yes one time too many. And now I've probably lost this chance to woo her into the next step of our relationship. I’m an idiot, he concluded. He took a quick breath because he'd nearly shouted aloud.

He watched as Viv and Sandi turned the corner, coming straight at him. "Oh look, it's that handsome mentalist," Sandi said. She ran toward him.

"Good morning, Mr. Redondo. It's so good to see you because I wanted to thank you for last night. Just knowing that Daddy is happy…"

As she continued to talk in that breathy nonstop way, Rex pretended to listen. He glanced out of the corner of his eye at Viv. She looked slightly bemused, taking no part in his rescue.

He raised his eyebrow, but Viv looked away.

Once Sandi began to wind down, Viv interrupted. "I really must get going. I want to set up a spa treatment for later today. It seems I have a lot of time to spare." She turned on her heel, leaving him to fend off Sandi's attention.

Rex watched longingly as Viv disappeared around the corner.