“You’ve done so much already with your dad’s help with my sister,” Melissa said.“Relax.Enjoy the downtime with your husband.I have a feeling you don’t get a lot of that.”
Cynthia rubbed her hand over Rick’s shoulders.“True.We might find some shade and play some chess or something.”
“Is that what you kids are calling it these days?”Sanders asked, slipping his tray onto the table and taking the seat across from Cynthia.“I mean, I’m down with that vernacular.What exactly is castling?Is that when the knight jumps the queen?”
Laughter rippled through the group.“Morning, Lynda,” Cynthia said.“How was the movie last night?”
Lynda picked up her knife to butter her toast.“I enjoyed it.But it triggered something with Bill.I guess modern war movies play with some of his memories.He didn’t sleep well.”
Jerry remembered a nightmare he had after watchingBlack Hawk Down.“I feel that, bro.”
Sanders cleared his throat, and his cheeks turned red.Jerry continued, opening the door for Sanders to regain some footing.“Want to talk about it?I hear Melissa’s a pretty good counselor.”
“Hush your mouth, Jerry Maguire, ‘fore I stitch it shut like a hog’s ear.”He took a long drink of his cola.When he set it down, the flush had cleared his face, and he looked more relaxed.“We’re not venturing out today.Thought we’d enjoy some of this here ship’s amenities without the crowds.”
They chatted about their plans as more of their friends arrived for breakfast.Soon, they filled their corner of the dining room.At one point, Jerry leaned toward Osbourne.“This was a good idea.Not only for the reasons you did it, but because of this.If we were all just in hotels in Miami, we wouldn’t have this.”
“Yeah.”Osbourne looked around them.Jerry could see the raw emotion on his face.“You guys are my family.In a way, I wish we could freeze this in time.”
Lynda leaned over her husband to talk to Cynthia.“Is tonight your Captain’s dinner?”
Cynthia shifted her empty plate away and said, “Yes.Phil’s parents will be there, too.”
“The DVs among us,” Sanders said.“I bet the Captain looked at the roster and had a panic attack about a federal judge and VPOTUS’s daughter on board at the same time.”
Norton shook his head.“None of our names are on any itinerary.We’re all incognito.”
Melissa nodded.“That was part of the negotiations with the cruise line.”
“Then how did they know who to invite to the Captain’s table?”Olive asked.
“State Department gave them our VIP statuses.”Cynthia’s cheeks turned red.“I long for the days when that is no longer my identity.”
“It only is in official channels, my love,” Rick said.“To us, you’re either mom, wife, or free medical care.”
Lynda nodded.“Bill appreciates your skills.”
“My heart belongs to you,” Sanders said.He tossed his napkin.“Literally.”
Jerry could see the amusement on Olive’s face, even though he felt his own muscles tighten with tension.“You know that story?”
“Yeah, Cynthia told us yesterday.”
Sanders narrowed his eyes.“What else did y’all talk about?”
Lynda propped her chin in her hands and looked sideways at her husband.“Oh, you know, all of the things.Just girl talk.”
Olive fit in.He’d hoped she would, of course, but as he watched her tease Sanders and chat with Lynda, certainty chased away his doubts bit by bit.These were his people, lifetime friends as close as family, and she could claim them as hers, too.
He put his arm over her shoulders and leaned close to her ear.The smell of her strawberry shampoo teased his nose.“Want to go somewhere just the two of us?”
She shot a glance in his direction.“Sure.Do I need to get my bag?”
“I don’t necessarily want to leave the ship.”He shook his head.Almost as an afterthought, he asked, “Do you?”
“Not particularly.”She looked back at Melissa and Phil Osbourne.“Enjoy your prep time.Let us know if we can do anything for you.”
Melissa shot her a bright smile.“We have all hands on deck.You enjoy today.Tomorrow we’ll occupy all of your time.”
