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“Sir, your phone!” a woman’s voice rang out. There was urgency in her tone.
Claudia looked up from the drink menu she had been studying. A man seated near the pool had gotten up to order another cocktail from the nearby tiki bar. He had left his phone sitting on his lounge chair unattended.
“I’ll be right back,” he assured the concerned onlooker.
“No,” she said firmly, not bothering to hide her disapproval. “You take it with you. You always take your belongings with you. Never leave anything unattended. Not unless you want it to go missing. And especially not a nice phone like yours. It looks expensive. You’re a sitting duck.”
The strong words piqued Claudia’s interest. She craned her neck to see who was speaking. She was surprised to see it was Fatima, the crew member she’d had a suspicious run in with in her cabin. The woman was standing with her hands on her hips, a stern look on her face.
“Whatever,” the guy mumbled, grabbing his phone. He seemed embarrassed.
Fatima shook her head in disgust. Then she wheeled a large bucket full of cleaning solution over to an empty section of deck. She began to mop, all the while muttering to herself under her breath.
Claudia inched closer so she could hear what Fatima was saying.
“Try to help and no one appreciates it. Everyone is so wrapped up in what they’re doing, they don’t pay attention. Then when there are consequences, they point the finger and cast blame. Stupid, ungrateful idiots.”
Claudia cleared her throat.
Fatima visibly jumped. She looked over at Claudia and her eyes narrowed. “What are you doing, hiding over there? Are you trying to give me a heart attack?” she demanded with the lack of charm Claudia had come to expect from her.
“I’m not hiding,” Claudia replied. “I’m standing here reading a drink menu.” She held up the menu as proof, even though technically, she wasn’t reading it anymore.
“Harrumph!” Fatima retorted. She turned her back and continued with her mopping, clearly not interested in conversing any further.
“I’m sorry about her,” Rosa said quietly, appearing at Claudia’s side. “Fatima isn’t exactly a people person. Although I’m sure I don’t need to tell you that - it’s plain to see, isn’t it?” she chuckled. “Please don’t take it personally.”
She was carrying a stack of fresh towels piled so high they towered above her head. She walked over to a nearly-empty rack near the pool and began to restock it. Claudia followed, interested to hear what else Rosa had to say.
“Have you worked with Fatima for very long?”
“Unfortunately, yes,” Rosa groaned. “I can assure you, she’s as rude to her co-workers as she is to our guests. She’s not cut out for a job in the hospitality industry, I can tell you that. But she knows someone who knows someone...I’m sure you understand how it is.”
Claudia nodded.
“It’s lucky for her she has connections,” Rosa said, her lips pursed. “Otherwise, I don’t think Fatima would have been able to get a job with a cruise line. Or at least she wouldn’t have been able to keep it for very long.”
Claudia stared at her in surprise.
Rosa’s eyes widened and she covered her mouth. “I never speak poorly of people like that,” she gasped. “I’m so ashamed. It’s just that it’s been such a long day. My little boy is sick with a fever and I want to be with him so badly. I was up all night worrying.”
“I’m so sorry,” Claudia said. “I hope it isn’t anything serious?”
“It probably isn’t, but you know how mothers can be. Always worrying. I feel so much guilt that I can’t be there to sit with him when he isn’t feeling well. And then to top it all off, Fatima was snippy with me earlier today for no good reason. I suppose it was just Fatima being Fatima, but ugh! I am not in the mood for it today!”
“I wish I knew how to help.”
“It’s okay,” Rosa told her. “Don’t worry about me. You should be enjoying your vacation. If you were able to leave the ship, I would be recommending you go to Atlantis Paradise Island. Some people assume it’s only for gamblers, but they’re mistaken. Even if you aren’t interested in casinos, the place is a sight to see.”
“I wish I’d had an opportunity to go there,” Claudia lamented.
“Maybe next time?” Rosa smiled.
“Maybe. Although I’m not sure when I’ll ever go on a cruise again. This is my first one,” Claudia explained. “But it’s been a wonderful experience - aside from the obvious, I mean. I would love to book another one someday.”
“I guess you don’t get seasick,” Rosa deduced. “Lucky.”
“You do?”
Rosa nodded.
“Oh, how awful.”
“I don’t mind being stuck here at port,” Rosa confided. “At least the water isn’t choppy.” She collected all of the damp, used towels that were piled in a messy heap beside the rack. “I need to get these into the wash before they start to smell,” she said before hurrying away.
“Claudia!” a familiar voice called out. “I was hoping I would run into you!”
She turned to see Stan Howard headed straight for her.
Inwardly, she grimaced. He seemed like a nice enough guy, but she worried he had mistaken her friendliness for flirtation. He seemed to have taken quite a liking to her, and she didn’t know how to handle it in a kind, tactful manner. Avoidance seemed like the best bet, but now that she had been spotted, it was rather difficult to hide.
“Where’s your other half?” Stan asked cheerfully, looking around. “Trouble in paradise?”
“Er, no. He fell asleep by the pool.”
“Ah, so you made your escape, huh?” Stan teased.
“I needed to stretch my legs,” Claudia shrugged. “But I should be heading back now,” she added, hoping to make a hasty exit. “If I don’t wake him up soon and remind him to put on more sunscreen, he’s going to burn.”
Stan made a face. “Don’t you ever get tired of playing mommy to your significant other?”
She blinked. “I beg your pardon?”
“It just grinds my gears to see these fully grown men who are incapable of looking after themselves,” Stan grumbled. “What do women see in them? Take that speed dating event the other night, for example. Do you think any of the women were interested in talking to the older, more mature guy?”
Claudia didn’t make a guess. She was pretty sure Stan was going to tell her the answer whether she wanted to hear it or not.
“Women should appreciate a man like me,” Stan informed Claudia, his eyes flashing. “I cook, I clean. I do it all. I mean, I pretty much have to know how to do everything after being my father’s caretaker for so many years...”
––––––––
“Where is your father, anyway?” Claudia asked, hoping to change the subject.
“Napping. Anyway, as I was saying - why do these young, vibrant, beautiful women get starry eyed for some young, useless oaf who looks good shirtless? Because that’s who the women were swooning over at the speed dating event. I wish I had never gone. It was so demoralizing.”
“I’m sorry it didn’t work out for you,” Claudia told him. “But maybe it’s for the best. What if you had hit it off with someone from another state, or maybe even another country? Imagine the complications that would arise! Maybe it’s best if you look for love in your own city.”
“Been there, done that. I’ve already told you how it went,” Stan said impatiently. “Maybe I’m not meant to find love.”
Claudia cringed. She had no interest in attending the pity party Stan was throwing for himself, but it felt like she was being forced to take part. She wanted to make an excuse and leave, but she also didn’t want to come across as insensitive. It was a tricky situation to be in.
“Hey!” an abrasive voice called out. “You!”
Claudia turned to see Fatima approaching her.
“Yes?”
“Your man is looking for you,” Fatima informed her. “He says it’s important.”
“Oh, uh...thanks.” She turned to Stan. “I guess I’d better go.”
Grateful to have a reason to leave, Claudia hurried back to the side of the pool. Scott was exactly where she had left him. His hat was still perched on top of his face to block the sun and
he was snoring lightly.
It didn’t look as though he had moved a muscle since Claudia had gotten up for a stroll.
“Hey, Scott.” She nudged him.
“Huh?” he mumbled sleepily.
“Time for sunscreen,” she said, handing him the bottle. “Unless you’ve already put some on?”
“No,” he yawned as he squeezed a generous dollop of sunscreen into the palm of his hand. “I was sleeping.”
“That’s what I thought.”
Claudia looked across the pool. She could see Fatima on the other side, still vigorously mopping the deck. She paused to yell at some unruly children who were running around and causing a ruckus. Then she got back to work.
Fatima had picked up on how uncomfortable Claudia was talking to Stan and she had intervened. Claudia was grateful to the sour-faced woman, but also surprised. She hadn’t expected Fatima, of all people, to do something like that.
Maybe first impressions weren’t always accurate, Claudia mused. Sometimes there was more beneath the surface than first met the eye.
