“Are you two going to play tourists today?”he asked, spearing a melon cube with his fork.
Osbourne leaned back and slipped his arm over the back of Melissa’s chair.“We live in Miami, brother.We can get a tropical tourist city vibe any time we want.”
Olive chuckled.“I’ve always wondered what people who live in tourist towns do when they go on vacation.”
Melissa took a sip of her coffee.“We know what not to do, mostly.”She set her cup back in the saucer.“It was so good to spend yesterday morning with you.”
“Same,” Olive answered.“I suddenly wish Kentucky wasn’t so far from Miami.”She spread cream cheese on a piece of toasted bagel and topped it with some smoked salmon.“What are your actual plans, if you’re staying on board?”
“We’re going to finalize everything for tomorrow.We have a little bit of coordinating to do today.And I’m going to spend as much time with Lola as possible.”
Olive swallowed the bite and then wiped her lips with her napkin.“It must be hard to be so separated from her.”
Melissa sat forward and grabbed Olive’s hand, inspecting the ring.“How did I miss this yesterday?”she gasped.“Have you made any specific plans yet?”
Osbourne raised an eyebrow and looked at Jerry, who shrugged nonchalantly.“No.”
Osbourne said, “You sneaky sniper, you.”
“We decided to get through your wedding before we started talking about ours,” Jerry said.“I’d be happy with an elopement next weekend.”
Heat filled Olive’s cheeks.“Oh yeah?”She leaned into him, and he hugged her against him.“I wouldn’t say no to that.Maybe the ship’s Captain can marry us.”
Osbourne chuckled.“I approve of an elopement,” he said, “especially after seeing the bill from the cruise line.”
“Oh, please,” Melissa said, “like that mattered to your parents.”
Olive looked over at Jerry.The glow of happiness on her face filled his chest.He squeezed the back of her neck.“I didn’t want to wait another second.”
“Don’t blame you,” Osbourne said.He held up his orange juice.“To love and forever.”
Olive considered Jerry’s suggestion to elope next week.She wondered what her family would say if she just announced that she’d gotten married.Her mom and her sister would have a fit.Maybe she and Jerry could just elope, and then they could throw a party in Mobile?But the more she thought about it, the more she thought about Mabel and how much she wanted Jerry’s sister to be a part of a ceremony.She needed to talk to him about that.
After the toast, Olive said, “Seriously, though.I doubt Jerry wants to wander around an island.We’re here for you.”
“We appreciate the offer,” Osbourne said.“My mother is the task master.We’re supposed to go to her suite at eleven.”
Rick set his tray on the next table over.“Morning, everyone.”
“Daddy,” Jerry said, knowing how much Rick hated that name outside of the times they wore the uniform.“Looks like you got some sun yesterday.Your freckles are redder.”
Rick cut his eyes to Jerry.“Unlike some of the other folks here enjoying this venture, you still work for me.”
Jerry bit the inside of his lip to keep from laughing.“Sir, yes, sir.”
Cynthia placed her tray next to her husband and settled into her chair.“Good morning.Isn’t the view stunning?”Jerry looked out at the shimmering turquoise waters of Nassau port.
“Quite striking.”
Cynthia tilted her head as she looked at her husband.“Looking at your burn with the full light, I’m thinking you should avoid the sun today.”
“That right?”He drained his water glass.“You’d think with as much time as I spend outside, this wouldn’t have happened.”
“Closer to the equator.Sun’s stronger.Plus you were hatless.”Cynthia spread her napkin in her lap.
“You’ve clearly never had the sun reflect off the Sahara’s sand right into your eyes.”
“You’ve never seen how red you are when you come home from some undisclosed desert,” Cynthia said.Then she winked at her husband and looked to Melissa.“How can I help?”
