Page 40 of Honeymoon for Seven

Knowing her cheeks were flushing at least a little pink, she spun around and grabbed her evening bag, before turning back. “I guess we’re ready for dinner.”

“Just a minute.” Never moving his gaze away from her eyes, he tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, then leaned in for the sweetest quick peck on the lips. “Now we’re ready.”

Nick’s family was already seated at the large table. Everyone dressed up and looking so elegant. Even the girls, including little Phoebe, had on pretty dresses and the boys button-down shirts. Settling in and placing orders, the conversation shifted to the other night.

“I would never have had the nerve to do what you did.” Now that they were back onboard again, Nick’s sister Theresa and her husband Alan were getting caught up on what the entire ship was still buzzing about.

“I didn’t really do anything. At least nothing anyone else wouldn’t have done.” At the time all she could think of was not letting the man jump. She hadn’t given any thought to how much danger she might be putting herself in.

Nick raised his hands. “I was there and my first thought was to find help, not wrestle the guy to the ground.”

“Well,” Ginnie shrugged, “that wasn’t my thought either. I had honestly hoped with all the things I’ve talked my sisters and cousin out of through the years, that I’d do a better job of talking him into living.”

“Don’t sell yourself short,” Mrs. Maroney chimed in. “When I went to the doctor for a follow-up on my foot, he told me that you couldn’t have done a better job if you were a professional negotiator. Once they got him into sick bay, the doctor learned that you bringing up how his mother would be sad was how you were able to catch him off guard long enough to grab him. The doc decided to have him call his mother. After he spoke to her, he broke down crying. Once he gets off the ship, he’ll be hospitalized for evaluation, but the doctor says that Bill is already doing better.”

“Bill,” Ginnie repeated. “Funny, I never even thought to ask his name.”

“You might also like to know that there’s a really nice nurse in sick bay who is helping cheer Bill up.” Nick’s mom smiled mischievously. “Ships really can be very romantic. I might have to bring your father on a cruise one of these days.”

“You should,” Ginnie agreed. “My mother keeps threatening to bring Dad on one to renew their vows.”

“Oh, what a sweet idea.” Theresa smiled.

Ginnie laughed. “Dad doesn’t seem to think so. At least not yet, but I’m sure Mama will convince him sooner or later that a vow renewal on a ship is one ofhisbetter ideas.”

All the adults at the dinner table chuckled. Nick’s mom was getting around better with a little knee scooter they’d given her, the kids were doing another pizza movie night on deck, and Phoebe was at the toddler care. Everyone making the best of their last nights on board ship.

Ever since the excitement the other night, Ginnie had spent as much time as possible with Nick and his family. From the minute Theresa and her husband rejoined the cruise, Nick’s sister had been full of stories about the misadventure. Once again the conversation had circled back to when the ship had to pull anchor.

“I honestly thought the island was going to blow away. The waves were so high.”

“Theresa, they weren’t that high.”

She shrugged. “They were high enough. There were so many of us left ashore that the locals had to open their doors to us.”

“Oh, that happened to my sister and her husband when they missed the sailing. Though in that case it was their fault,” Ginnie said.

“We had a great time with a lovely couple. It was so much better than a hotel.”

“That’s a surprise.” Mrs. Maroney tipped her head to one side. “I’d rather have room service.”

“The house was huge and we stayed in the guest cottage. We had a great view of the ocean from our room every morning. The wife would bring us coffee and breakfast on the terrace. I’m telling you, no better way to spend a honeymoon.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” Nick teased his sister.

“Hey, Grandma.” Jake came rushing up to the table.

“I thought you were at the movie?” his father asked.

“We are, but Monica is getting tired and was afraid she’d lose Bunny again so I told her I’d find you. Can you keep it safe for her?”

“Of course I can.” Nick’s mom beamed at her newest grandson. From what Ginnie had heard, the boys had been a little reluctant to call Theresa Mom, or Mrs. Maroney Grandma, but on this ship, they seemed to have turned a leaf and Mom and Grandma rolled easily off his and Jeff’s tongue.

“We don’t want to lose Bunny again,” Theresa added.

“I still can’t believe after everything, you guys still went hunting for Bunny.” Mrs. Maroney shook her head. “I didn’t know how we were going to get through the next twenty years without that rabbit.”

“It wasn’t that hard.” Ginnie shrugged. “We walked past the soft ice cream shop and saw Bunny still sitting on the table top where Monica had left it.”

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