Five hundred dollars later, Viv departed from Embrace feeling quite pleased with herself. Her toenails and fingernails sparkled with Delicious Apple, a color she'd never wear at home but one she fully embraced for her cruise. She'd been assured that the lacquer would stay on for days, as long as she let it thoroughly dry.
It better, considering I paid two dollars extra per nail over and above what I initially booked.
She wafted her way down the hall smelling of exorbitant amounts of body oil. She sniffed. Okay, so I smell a bit like Kevin when he comes back from the groomer. But at least I didn't buy into the upsell post-massage.
"I don't think I want to bring any home with me," she assured the attendant at the checkout desk. "I want to experience the scent and enjoy its essence on the cruise." Keeping her face straight was the hardest part after that overblown and overly wordy refusal.
So now Viv felt ready to take on her day. Until she remembered…
No matter how many questions she asked of her massage therapist or the nice girl who did her nails, they only smiled and kept working. Even when she brought up the elliptical incident, she'd received a polite, "Um-hum," from the massage therapist, and an, "Oh really?" from the nail technician.
Stepping into the ladies’ locker room, it took her five minutes to retrieve her clothes and get dressed. It was a relief to return her feet to her flip-flops. The Delicious Apple toenail polish made them look expensive. Once she'd returned her key to the locker, she made her way toward the gym and the coffee bar.
The Crow’s Nest manager she’d talked to at the spa, wearing a name tag with Tonya written on it, stood behind the counter. She handed a coffee to a man who smiled back at her. "Have a good workout?" she asked in a conversational tone.
"I did. My plan is to show up every morning of the cruise. Burn some calories. Add to my steps. That way I can consume more calories the rest of the day."
"This will be a good beginning," came her chipper reply.
He moved aside for Viv to give her order.
"Hello again," she said. "I'll have a large coffee, black."
"How was the massage?" Before Viv could answer, Tonya turned her back to grab a mug.
"Great. I feel wonderful. How's business?" Having failed to get anything from the spa people, Viv felt more determined than ever.
Tonya slid the full mug across the counter. "You get one free refill. Just write down your room number and that should do it."
Viv filled out the chit. "So I'm curious… How many people come and go during the day?"
"We're busy as soon as the gym opens at around six o'clock. We shoo people out for dinner and the show, then reopen for those who want a late-night beverage."
"How long have you worked for Aloha Cruises?"
"This will be my third year. My ninth voyage. I'm hoping to get promoted, maybe into management."
Viv felt confident that she and Tonya were hitting it off. I've got a talker. Now I just have to ask the right questions.
One more sip of coffee, then I'll ease my way into the elliptical guy.
She took advantage of the pause while Tonya wiped the counter. Once she was finished, Viv glanced over her shoulder to make sure no one else was in line. Then she leaned closer and spoke in a conspiratorial tone. "I got early boarding. Sat right over there." She pointed toward the pool area. "I saw a man fall off the elliptical."
"That's unlikely," Tonya said curtly. "Maybe you imagined it, because no one's allowed in the gym until everyone's boarded and assigned their room." Tonya dropped her hand under the counter.
"Oh, I know the regular customers aren't allowed that soon. But what about the special ones… I heard there are all sorts of extra perks, depending on how often you cruise and what you pay. Maybe the guy was one of those people and got to use the gym before everyone else."
Viv felt especially pleased with herself now. If staff was encouraged to upsell at the spa, she was pretty certain that carried over into the rest of the cruise line business practice, and it looked like she was right.
"There are special perks." Tonya took another swipe of the counter with her cloth. "Actually, there's an entire section of high-cost suites with a members-only lounge."
"And how do I qualify for that?" Viv asked.
"Spend lots of money and book another cruise before you leave. That will help. You can inquire at the concierge desk."
"So those special people board earlier and get to use the gym before other people get settled?" She felt sure that she was on to something. If I can narrow down my guy as a special passenger, then my search will be less cumbersome.
But to her disappointment Tonya shook her head.
"Nope. Not how it works. The private-hideaway people have their own exclusive gym. It's separate and located on their level. No one else can work out there. It's against the rules."
Viv put her empty mug down with a thump.
"Would you like a refill?" Tonya asked.
"I think I'll try signing up for an aerobic class before I head back to my stateroom. I can do that right over there?" She pointed to a counter close by.
"Yes, you can." Tonya turned to assist another customer.
Making her way out of the coffee bar, Viv stepped away from the alcove where the shop was hidden and right into the gym. The familiar smell of hardwood floor polish and perspiration met her nose. All of the elliptical machines were in use, men and women with headphones, arms and legs pumping.
Viv drew closer. She stood against the wall and glanced at her phone. People will think I'm waiting for a machine, she told herself. It’s a good thing I wore clothes that could pass for exercise garb. Each time she looked up she took in more detail.
If I'm not mistaken the fifth elliptical from the left is the one my guy fell off of. When he toppled over, he hit his head on the handle of elliptical number four.
A woman stepped off the machine, stopping to blot her forehead with a towel.
Viv hurried forward as the woman walked away. When no one else claimed the machine, she hoisted herself onto the pedals. Balancing both feet, her hands on the handle bars. When no one told her to get off, she pedaled for a minute and then stopped, pretending to inspect the pedal on the right side.
Hopping off, she ran her hands over the foot pedal. Her nose twitched with distaste. So many people sweating on these machines every day. I hope they clean all the surfaces.
She lifted the corner of the rubber mat underneath the flywheel, looking for a clue. Maybe a trace of blood. That would be perfect. Coming up with nothing unusual, she slid her finger under the mat.
A loud voice interrupted her search.
"Excuse me. This is my machine. My time slot, according to the schedule." The voice sounded like Cary Grant. Or someone trying to imitate the famous actor.
Twirling around, she faced the complainer, finding Rex Redondo with a grin on his face.
"Are you trying to sound like Cary Grant?"
"Trying out some personas. I was pretty good at that sort of thing in the early days."
Viv's heart skipped a beat. He did have that suave thing going for him. That was for sure. Her eyes drifted over Rex's comfy but obviously expensive tracksuit. If she didn't know better she'd think he was a handsome guy looking for company, the way his eyes widened as they continued to stare at her. She pointed to a bit of ecru-colored fabric hanging from his pants pocket.
"What's that?" Viv smirked. "A Cary Grant silk handkerchief?"
His face turned red. He shoved the fabric deeper into his pocket before explaining.
"If I'm not mistaken, those are a pair of panties," Viv said.
"I believe this is my elliptical time," announced a loud voice.
A stranger glared at Rex, and then his eyes rested on Viv before turning his gaze back to Rex. "Aren't you that mentalist guy? I saw you last night."
Viv chuckled. "See you," she muttered under her breath.
On the elevator ride down to poolside, she pondered Rex and the panties beyond the obvious, I wonder what he's up to…