"A little bubbly before your massage?" the spa attendant offered. Dressed in a white formfitting blazer and white pants, she looked very clean and efficient.
Viv reached for the flute and then pulled back. It's barely eleven o'clock, for heaven's sake. She'd arrived early for her appointment to give herself plenty of time to eavesdrop. Left in the waiting lounge, no one else had joined her.
"Do you have water instead?" she asked the attendant.
Disappointment showed on the woman's face. "Of course. We have clear distilled, fruit-infused, or sparkling bottled—"
"Fruit-infused," Viv interrupted.
"Follow the signs to the dressing room, and when you're finished undressing I'll meet you at the reservation desk with your beverage." The woman walked away, looking crisp and germ-free. Hair tucked back into a neat bun, she could have been mistaken for a hospital employee.
Walking down the quiet corridor, Viv inhaled a pleasant flowery plumeria scent. In the dressing room, she took a towel from the top of the pile before looking around.
Like the performing theater, the spa reminded her of home. All the extras, cloth towels, pristine tile and paint, light music in the background, and the scent—not too flowery, nor too spicy, nor familiar for that matter. Plumeria, she thought. Plus something else I can't identify. Maybe a unique creation for this particular location.
She looked at a card that lay on the counter. The spa has its own name, she thought. Embrace. A spa for every need. On the back they'd listed every possible package treatment for nails, hair, body, and spirit. The spirit one included mantras and oil-infusion aroma therapy.
Her eyebrows lifted.
She put the card back, looking toward the sinks and counters. Also very clean. But not fussy. Stopping to listen, she realized even the New Age music wasn't over the top. No pan flutes. They put my nerves on edge.
At least my brain won't exhaust itself pushing away the sounds.
Walking down the hall, she found an empty dressing room. A fluffy white robe with the spa’s logo had been hung inside on a padded hanger. When she slipped it off the hanger she found a note: This item can be purchased in our gift shop and put on your account.
"Sure it can," Viv murmured. And wouldn't I like one just like this, with the Embrace logo on the front to remind me of my cruise. And once I bought the robe I'd end up needing the scent.
So I'd inquire about the fragrance, and by the time I realized how easy it is to buy items and just put them on my room number, I'd remember someone at home who'd like a bottle. So it would be two. And then maybe I'd be convinced to add the lotion. Just to treat myself…
She slipped her feet into the white oversized slippers that were placed in a basket labeled “for your use.” Then she folded her clothes into a bundle. But before she could pull the curtain back, she heard voices rise and fall in conversation.
"They replaced Mulroy," came the light tone of a female voice. "This guy is better, actually. They found him on the passenger manifesto of all things, and now he's sleeping in staff quarters."
"Older guy. Silver fox, right?" Another woman's voice, this one deeper.
"That's him. Rex is his name. I tried to chat him up before the show, but he seemed distracted. Kind of abrupt. Too bad. He'd be good for a week—you know, older guy boyfriend material."
"You already have your hands full, if I'm not mistaken," the deeper voice said.
"Stop that. I have to keep it under wraps. At least until his divorce."
Viv reached for the curtain and pulled it aside with a flourish.
Stepping outside the dressing room, she called, "Where are the lockers?"
A woman came from around the corner. She wore a different uniform, one with a matching blue top and slacks. "I can help you," the woman said. Viv recognized her voice as one of the women she'd heard talking earlier. The one with the deeper voice. "Right over here. Just take the key with you and keep it in your bathrobe pocket. It will be safe."
"Thank you so much," Viv said. "Are you a spa employee?"
"Oh no. I'm just walking through on my way to the Crow's Nest Beverage Bar. I'm the manager there."
"Where is that exactly?" Viv reached for a key on a locker door.
"It's right inside the gym, tucked behind an alcove. After people shower and work out they often stop to rehydrate and get a coffee. Enjoy your treatment. Try the Turkish Bath Gold Massage package. It's the most popular and well worth the cost."
Viv made her way down the corridor to the main desk. A woman held out her fruit-infused water with a lemon. "Here you go. If you sit over there, Courtney will be with you shortly. She's just finishing with another client."
Viv took her drink and sat down, carefully arranging her robe to cover her legs.
A phone rang. "Embrace." She spoke in a low voice. "How can I help you?"
The staff person tapped her pen on the counter as she listened.
"Yes, I have you down for noon. Oh, that won't be a problem. We'll have someone walk the dog while you're getting your manicure. Would you like to add a foot massage to your package? Of course, I'll put you down for another half an hour. See you soon." The woman placed the phone back in the cradle.
Viv hid her smile behind her hand. Another upsell. I wonder how much that cost…
The door closed behind her as Viv inhaled deeply. Lying on her belly, she relaxed her face into the horseshoe-shaped pillow. The now familiar flower scent permeating the air. Viv inhaled again. I do love plumeria. Eyes closed, she thought about the conversation she'd just had with her massage therapist.
"We have several packages for you to choose from." The name tag told her the therapist's name was Courtney. She handed Viv a sheet with a smile.
Even though the sheet listed a number of options—with no price listing—Viv pointed to Ayurveda massage. The one she'd booked originally.
She knew better than to ask about the cost. If she did, Courtney might conclude that she wasn't used to this kind of luxury. And Courtney might hurry the massage, hoping the next customer might be more lucrative.
Feeling of two minds, Viv vacillated while Courtney continued her sales pitch.
"I can also take you next door after I'm done for a lymphatic drainage. Women of your age benefit from the process."
"That will reduce my facial puffiness then?" Viv made every effort to sound interested and not annoyed.
Courtney warmed to her subject. "If you have special plans this evening, you'll be looking your best!"
Viv knew that special plans was code for having a date. And that she wouldn't be that person, since Rex was no longer available. She felt a tinge of disappointment. Maybe I should treat myself...
That's just what they want. To keep adding on the treatments, hoping I'm planning for a special night or that I'm just the opposite, sad I don't have a plan. Cruises are seductive. I might have been coerced if I were here with a partner, but I'm alone and not interested in anyone else.
She handed the sheet back to Courtney. "I won't be needing any other treatments."
Courtney's face grew stony with disappointment. "Okay then. Take off your robe. Lie on the table face down. I'll be right back."
Still appreciating the scent and the music, Viv heard the door close.
Minutes later she felt smooth hands travel down her back.
"Worked here long?" Viv asked, hoping she'd been forgiven.